Course Syllabus

Download this syllabus as a Word file

BIOLOGY 223:  HUMAN GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 to 10:45
EDUC 353
SPRING SEMESTER 2007

Instructors:

Therese Markow
Phone:  621 - 3323
Office:  BSW 416
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00 PM-2:00PM; Wednesday 9:00AM-10:00AM
tmarkow@arl.arizona.edu

Mary Walkinshaw
Phone: 206-2249
Office Hours:  By appointment. 
mwalkinshaw@pima.edu
           

Teaching Assistants:

Jeff Good                   
Recitation Sections:  Monday, Tuesday        
Office: BSW 333
Phone: 626 4747
Office Hours: By appointment
jgood@email.arizona.edu

Geoff Mitchell                       
Rectation Sections: Thursday, Friday
Office: Shantz 438     
Phone: 626 2223
Office Hours:  By appointment
gmitchel@email.arizona.edu

Text:

Human Genetics Concepts and Applications  Seventh Edition
Ricki Lewis

Course Web Site: http://eebweb.arizona.edu/Courses/ECOL223/

Course Objectives: 

The objective of this course is to understand how all aspects of biology relate to humans, and it will therefore, build upon concepts included in a Tier I Biology course.  The study of humans is intimately related to the study of other organisms. Understanding human biology is important because our own health and welfare as well as the health and welfare of other organisms may depend on this understanding.

Human Genetics and Evolution are active areas of research with regular announcements in the scientific literature and the popular press about the identification or chromosome location of genes controlling traits from dwarfism to eating habits to behavior and disease susceptibility.  There are frequent accounts of new fossils, and molecular evidence that relates to the origins and evolution of humans  To study human biology it is essential to have an understanding of genetics, molecular biology and evolutionary biology. 

Examinations:           

There will be three exams during the semester and a comprehensive final, with the lowest score dropped.  Because one score is dropped, there will be no make-up exams under any circumstances.  If you are satisfied with your scores on the first three exams, you may skip the final.

Weekly Quizzes:

Each week a five point quiz will be given during lecture.  The quiz may be given on either Tuesday or Thursday.  It may take place at the beginning or end of lecture.  No makeup quizzes will be given.

Problem Sets and
Reading Assignments: 

Over the course of the semester, there will be several problem sets and reading assignments, designed to help you understand concepts covered in lecture.  These problem sets may contain an essay question pertaining to the material covered in the course.

Students are expected to work the problem set prior to discussing their answers during the recitation period.  Completion of these assignments should reflect your own work. These assignments and their grades will be part of points earned in the recitation sections.

Grading:        

            Lecture Exams: 300 points
            Weekly Quizzes: 70 points
            Recitation Assignments, attendance, participation: 100 points                 

General Information:           

Class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in Education 353.  You will need to sign up for a recitation section, which will serve to review the material presented in the course and discuss any problem sets and reading assignments. 

Recitation sessions are as follows:

M         1 – 1:50      EDUC    353   Jeff Good

T          8 – 8:50      Bio W     212   Jeff Good

Th        8 – 8:50      BIO W   212   Geoff Mitchell
Fri        1 – 1:50     HARV    130   Geoff Mitchell

Attendance and Participation

Attendance will be taken at every recitation session. If you miss recitation you will loose points for that week. You must come to recitation prepared to participate in the weekly discussion topic. If you miss recitation, you must do the following to receive homework/attendance/participation credit.

1)  Contact your TA and let them know why you have missed recitation
2)  Turn in your homework to your TA, prior to the following recitation.
3)  If possible make up the recitation session by attending an alternate session that week.

Grading Breakdown

20% of your final grade is determined by your TA, based on your performance in recitation. 

            5 points for each recitation assignment
            2 points each week for participation

Academic Integrity:

Please read the Dean’s memorandum concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty.  All cases of suspected dishonesty will be submitted to the Board of Academic Honesty.

ADA
Any students requiring accommodation in testing or note taking please notify Dr. Mary Walkinshaw at 206-2249 or Dr. Therese Markow at 621- 3323

You will need to provide a faculty letter from the Disability Resource Center. 
 
If you have any questions about disability resources, call Judith Parrish  621-4091.