BSC 219, General Genetics, Fall 2000
Course Information and Policies
Instructor: David Weber, Professor of
Genetics
Office: 127 SLB (Science Laboratory Building)
Office hours: 9-11 MWF
Phone: 438-2685
email: dfweber@ilstu.edu
In all email messages to me, always include "B219" in the
"subject"
line so that the message will be filtered into
my B219 mailbox
B219 web site: http://www.bio.ilstu.edu/weber/b219
Objectives of the course:
A. To learn important
"facts" about genetics
B. To understand how the science of genetics
developed
C. To develop a working knowledge
of genetics
Required Text:
Concepts of Genetics, W. Klug and M. Cummings ,
6th ed., 2000
Required Lab Manual: BSC 219, General
Genetics Laboratory Manual
Available for $5.00 from the Phi Sigma Bookstore, Felmley 101A
(The Phi Sigma Bookstore will only be open from 8:30 - 3:30
M-F during the first two weeks of classes)
Additional lecture material:
I will follow the lecture schedule as closely as possible.
It is important to read the assigned pages in Klug and Cummings 6th ed.before you come to
each lecture. I will also establish a web page with a highly detailed outline of
each lecture topic that will be linked to that topic on the lecture schedule web page.
I will distribute many additional handouts
during the lectures. You will need to keep all of these handouts in a well-organized
fashion in a three-ring notebook.
I will assign problems from Klug and Cummings
6th ed. and additional problems which will be related to the lecture topics. It is
essential for you to work all of the assigned problems. Do not look up the answer to any
problem until you have worked it to the best of your ability. I cannot overemphasize the
importance of working problems; genetics is a problem-solving science! The degree of ease
with which you can correctly work the assigned problems is one of your best indicators of
the degree to which you understand genetics.
You should also keep your work on the problems
in a neat, organized manner in a three-ring notebook. If you come to me or your laboratory
instructor with a question about a problem, we first will ask you to show us the work that
you have done on the problem. In this way, we can see the approach that you have taken and
more effectively advise you on how to proceed.
Solving Genetic Problems:
The following approach to solving genetics
problems is useful.
First, carefully read the
problem several times.
Second, write down all of the information that is given.
Third, write down precisely what you are being asked.
Fourth, solve the problem systematically.
About half of most exams will be problems,
and most students cannot solve them unless they have previously solved similar problems.
Additional Laboratory Material:
Please keep your Laboratory Manual and all of
the information from your laboratory work in a well-organized manner in a separate section
of your three-ring notebook.
Definitions:
A working knowledge of a
number of genetic terms is necessary to be able to discuss genetics. As you go through the
lectures, it is important to keep a list of each term that has been given along with its
definition. Write out the definition for each term and keep it in a separate section of
your three-ring notebook. This will be extremely helpful for your understanding of
genetics and studying for exams.
Attendance:
My past experience has convinced me that
regular attendance at the lectures and the laboratories is absolutely essential
for success in this course. Your attendance will be recorded for each lecture, and
your attendance may be taken into consideration in assigning grades (especially for
borderline cases).
Grading:
There will be a total of 550 points (four
100-point examinations, 100 points from laboratory worksheets, and 50 points from
quizzes). Grading for the semester will be:
90-100%
= A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
<60% = F
Some minor adjustments of
these values may occur (downward but not upward).
Lecture Examinations (400 points):
There will be four 100-point exams which will
be given on the following dates:
Exam 1, Friday, Sept. 15, 2000 (1 week before the last day to
withdraw with a WX)
Exam 2, Friday, Oct. 20, 2000
Exam 3, Friday, Nov. 10, 2000
Exam 4, Wednesday. Dec. 13, 2000, 1 PM (during finals week, not
comprehensive)
I will prepare examinations that you should be
able to complete in 1 hour; however, I would like to give you 2 hours to take each exam if
possible. In previous semesters, I have found that nearly every student has either 12-2 or
1-3 free (with no scheduled classes) on Fridays. If this works out this semester, you will
have two hours (from either 12-2 or 1-3) to take exams 1, 2, and 3. If you do not
have either of these times free, I will make other arrangements. Exam 4 will be given
during finals week and will only cover material given since exam 3 (it will not be
comprehensive). For exams 1, 2, and 3, I will give you copies of the corresponding
exam that I gave the previous semester.
About half of the points on each exam will be
from objective questions (definitions, short answers, multiple choice, etc.) and about
half will be from problems and short essays. There will not be separate laboratory
examinations, but some laboratory material will be included as approximately 10-15% of
each lecture exam. Exam questions will only cover material that was presented in
the lectures or the laboratory in this course.
Make-up exams will only be given in
cases of documented illness or documented circumstances that make impossible for you to
take the exam. Arrangements for make-up exams must be made with your lecturer prior
to the time the exam is given, and you must provide suitable evidence for the reason for
your absence (i.e., a physician's statement).
Laboratory Worksheets (100 points):
A total of 100 points will come from laboratory worksheets for
each laboratory exercise. You will only be eligible to turn in completed worksheets for
credit if you attended the laboratory period in which the experiment began and the period
in which it was completed.
Quizzes (50 points):
Six 10-point pop quizzes will be given in lectures during the
semester. Each quiz will cover material given in the previous lecture. The
grades for the highest 5 quiz will be counted (one will be dropped if all quizzes are
taken), and the quizzes cannot be made up except in cases of documented illness or
documented curcumstances that made it impossible for you to take the quiz.
Policy on Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty in any form will not be
tolerated. Anyone found to be giving or receiving information in any form during an
examination will receive a score of zero on that exam and the incident will be reported to
SCERB for appropriate disciplinary action.
Updated 8/19/2000
