Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2018 - BISC 102 D100

General Biology (4)

Class Number: 1224

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Tue, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Thu, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 20, 2018
    Fri, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    High school biology 12 (or equivalent) with a C grade or better, or BISC 100 with C- or better, or BISC 113 with C+ or better, or HSCI 100 with C+ or better.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Survey of the diversity of life, and its evolutionary history on earth. The student is introduced to the study of genetics, development, and evolution, giving an overview of how these processes interact to produce form and function. Also included are principles of behavior and ecological relationships of organisms to each other and their environment. Breadth-Science.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description:
The central theme of this course is the diversity of life and its evolutionary history on Earth. The student is introduced to the study of genetics and evolution, and examines how these processes interact to produce form and function. Also included are principles of behaviour, and ecological relationships of organisms to each other and to their environment.  

Outline of Laboratory Topics

Week of Jan 1                Introduction (no lab)
Jan 8                            Diversity of life
Jan 15                          Adaptation and natural selection
Jan 22                          Phylogeny
Jan 29                          Legacy of the past
Feb 5                           Inheritance
Feb 12                         Reading week (no lab)
Feb 19                         How and why
Feb 26                         Macroevolutionary patterns
Mar 5                           Ecology
Mar 12                         Human evolution and ecology
Mar 19                         Forest walk
Mar 26                         no lab
Apr 2                           Lab Exam

Grading

  • Lab Assignments 5%
  • Tutorial Participation (mandatory) 10%
  • Clickers 10%
  • Inquiry Assignment 20%
  • Midterm Exam 10%
  • Lab Exam 25%
  • Final Exam 20%

NOTES:

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities (778-782-3112 or csdo@sfu.ca).

Letter grades will be assigned as follows.
The boundary between B and C letter grades will be set at the overall class average. Therefore, half the assigned letter grades will be ‘B-’ or higher, and the other half ‘C+’ or lower.  

Scores more than one standard deviation above the average              ‘A’ letter grades.
Scores within one standard deviation above the average -                  ‘B’ letter grades.
Scores within one standard deviation below the average -                  ‘C’ letter grades.
Scores more than one standard deviation below the average -            ‘D’ letter grades.
Scores more than two standard deviations below the average -           ‘F’ letter grade  

A ‘standard deviation’ is a statistical measure of the spread in a distribution. If you’re new to statistics look up http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/standard-deviation.html. In a true normal distribution, (i.e. the ‘bell-shaped’ curve) about 68% of the grades can be expected to lie within one standard deviation of (above and below) the mean, so most grades will be ‘B’ or ‘C’.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

iClicker or equivalent response system on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Check https://www.iclicker.com/students if you do not already own a clicker.

REQUIRED READING:

Biological Science, by Freeman, Harrington and Sharp. Second Canadian Edition, Pearson

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS