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 Faculty Contact

Mary Ayuk mary.ayuk@faculty.umuc.edu

 Course Description

(Not open to students who have completed BIOL 101 or BIOL 102. For students not majoring in a science. Fulfills the laboratory science requirement.) An introduction to the structure and function of living organisms. The aim is to apply the scientific method and use scientific and quantitative reasoning to make informed decisions about experimental results in the biological sciences. Topics include the chemical foundations of life, cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecosystems, and interdependence of living organisms. Discussion also covers the importance of the scientific method to biological inquiry and the impact of biological knowledge and technology on human societies. Laboratory activities emphasize the scientific method. Students may receive credit for only one of the following: BIOL 101 - BIOL 102, BIOL 103, BIOL 105, or BSCI 105.

 Course Introduction

This course is an introductory course in biology, the study of life, in which we will explore unifying themes and concepts, including biodiversity, the principles of evolution that underlie biodiversity, and the criteria that serve to characterize life and living systems. We will also study concepts underlying the organization and interrelationships of living organisms through experiments based on the scientific method. Further discussion will also include how the scientific method and technological advances have led to the significant body of knowledge that now exists in biology as well as in all other scientific disciplines.

Living organisms are built from a very specific set of building blocks-atoms, molecules, and cells. We will begin with a study of these building blocks and their importance to living things. Next, we will examine the ways in which these building blocks interact to provide the energy living things need to develop, grow, move, work, and respond. The power and elegance of DNA and genes will be discussed, as well as their role in inheritance, human diseases, biodiversity, and evolution.

We will look at plants and animals to understand how atoms, molecules, and cells work together in balanced, interrelated systems that are critical to the health and well-being of living organisms. We will also look at the way in which living things interact with one another and with the nonliving parts of their environment. These interactions play a major role in the overall health of populations, ecosystems, and planet Earth.

In the laboratory portion of the course, we will apply the scientific method to scientific experiments, as well as to everyday questions and problems. Upon this foundation, the molecular and cellular processes common to all living organisms will be studied. We will then investigate scientific classification in the context of the importance of DNA to individual living organisms and to species of organisms as a whole. Finally, we will examine the interdependence of living organisms with each other and the environment, especially with respect to the impact of human populations on the environment and other organisms.

 Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you should be able to

· recognize and explain how the scientific method is used to solve problems

· make observations and discriminate between scientific and pseudoscientific explanations

· weigh evidence and make decisions based on strengths and limitations of scientific knowledge and the scientific method

· use knowledge of biological principles, the scientific method, and appropriate technologies to ask relevant questions, develop hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, interpret results, and draw conclusions

 Course Materials

Click to access your course materials information

 Class Guidelines

Contacting your Faculty Member

You can use the Instant Messages feature within the classroom to send a message to your faculty member.

Click the Classroom Walkthrough Videos link below, and then click The Pager link (old term for Instant Message), to view a how-to video on how to use the Pager/Instant Messages function within the classroom:

Classroom Walkthrough Videos Link

Within the Content section of your classroom, view the Start Here section to learn more about contacting your faculty member.

Course Materials

You will use a number of different materials in this class:

· a free online text book: Open Stax Concepts of Biology

· an online lab manual

· a lab kit

· various common items that you will gather from around your home or purchase at a grocery store

· asynchronous discussions

Lab Kit

To complete this course, you are required to purchase a Custom Biology Lab Kit from eScience Labs Inc.

Lab Kit Ordering Method 1:

If you use financial aid for course materials the lab kit must be purchased through MBS Direct, which is UMUC's virtual bookstore (Bio Lab Kit Sku 1589). Important: You will receive a redemption code from MBS Direct by email that must be entered at the eScience Labs' web-site before the lab kit is shipped to you:

1. Create an account: https://esciencelabs.com/user/register

2. After creating an account, or logging back in again with your email and password, click on “Have a code” in the upper right corner, or use this link: http://esciencelabs.com/have/code

3. Under Code enter your redemption code (received by email), click submit and follow the directions.

***Note: If you do not redeem the code, your kit will not be sent.

Lab Kit Ordering Method 2

If you do *not* use financial aid for course materials it is cheaper to order the lab kit directly from the eScience Labs' web-site using the following directions:

1. Create an account: https://esciencelabs.com/user/register

2. After creating an account, or logging back in again with your email and password, click on “Have a code” in the upper right corner, or use this link: http://esciencelabs.com/have/code

3. Under Code enter kit1589, click submit and follow the directions to purchase the Custom Biology lab kit ($79)

***Note: Regardless of the ordering method used, the kits are the same. When using option 1, you pay MBS and then they send a code via email (MBS sends the code). You must then log in to the eScience Labs’ web-site to redeem the code (mailing address will be entered at their site). When using option 2, you go to the eScience Labs website. At the site, you must enter the following custom kit code, kit1589, and you will then pay eScience Labs directly.

The key differences in the ordering options are:

1. Number of steps: the first option requires 2 steps, whereas the second option requires 1 step.

2. Cost: the second option saves money because you avoid the MBS fees.

3. Payment mode: option 1 accepts credit cards/electronic payments and book vouchers, whereas option 2 only accepts credit cards/electronic payments.

4. Delivery time: kits ordered via method 1 may take up to 7 days longer to be delivered.

Processing Timeline:

Please allow up to 3-5 business days to process your order and an additional 3-5 business days for delivery. eScience Labs ships all lab kits through standard UPS Ground. Kits may be expedited for an additional charge if needed. Please call 1-888-ESL-KITS for more information.

Getting Help from eScience Labs:

If you need any further assistance, our Customer Support team can be reached over the phone (888-375-5487) Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm Mountain Standard Time. For after hours or weekend help, please email info@esciencelabs.com for assistance.

This comprehensive kit contains the majority of the materials needed to complete each lab exercise but please note that some labs do require students to supply a few additional materials. The kit also provides students with access to the eScience Labs’ Student Portal, which contains several online tutorials and learning tools aimed at increasing the understanding of the various concepts. It is important to remember that while these kits are easy to use, the lab activities and the contents of the lab kit are intended for adults enrolled in this course. Thus, use of the kit and the materials are used at your own risk.

Important: When you receive your lab kit from eScience Labs, check it to make sure all components are provided and are in good working order. eScience Labs will replace any damaged items at no cost. Find their contact information at www.esciencelabs.com.

Lab Manual

The Lab Manual is located in the weekly modules under Content. Before you start conducting your labs, please read the Lab Safety section of the laboratory manual and watch the safety video.

For each lab read the introduction and instructions for each exercise/experiment carefully. You can complete lab 1 without the lab kit.

Pictures Required

You are required to take pictures of your results in the experiments in labs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and the final applied lab project. Write your name and date on an index card (piece of paper) and include it within the picture. Insert the pictures as directed in the lab answer sheets. If you do not have access to a digital camera/phone please contact the professor to discuss alternatives.

Additional Materials needed for the labs (not included in lab kit)

Lab 2:

Experiment 1: egg white, potato, onion, hot water, fork, knife, hot water bath, tap water

Lab 3:

Experiment 1: scissors, paper towels, tap water.

Experiment 2: four liquid household products to test (for example: lemon juice, shampoo).

Lab 4:

Experiment 1: cutting board, 2 food products, kitchen knife, paper towels, saliva sample, tap water.

Experiment 2: hot water bath, tap water.

Lab 5:

Experiment 3: fresh soft fruit (one of the following: banana, grapes, strawberries), scissors.

Lab 7:

Experiment 1: paper towels, scissors, sunny location, tap water.

Labs 1 and 6 do not require any additional materials

Copy-right Protected Course Materials

All UMUC course materials, including quiz and exam questions, discussion questions, lab and writing assignments are copyright protected and the property of UMUC. Do not share any course materials on the internet. Sharing, or submitting, any materials from this course is a direct violation of U.S. and International Copyright Law. Civil Penalties for Copyright Violation currently range from $750 to $30,000 per violation.

Additionally, posting of quiz or assignment questions to online "answer" or "homework" websites is academic fraud. This type of activity is a direct violation of

· UMUC's code of conduct, Policy 151.00 section III A, and

· UMUC's Policy 150.25 - Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

If you are caught engaging in this type of activity you risk sanction by the university. Possible sanctions include:

· A grade of F on the work in question

· A grade of F in the course

· Suspension from the university for Academic Dishonesty

· Expulsion for Academic Dishonesty

 Please do your own work and don't risk these consequences!

Helpful Resources

A. Orientation to Science Courses

The Science Learning Center (SLC). You can enter this site from under Content, Course Resources. The SLC houses a set of instructional and support materials of use across the science curriculum. Currently, the SLC houses two items:

1. The Scientific Method Tutorial - This module provides an excellent description of the Scientific Method. This method is integral to all science, and is important for our course.

2. The Science Studies Tutorial - This piece is designed to provide students with some tips and strategies for taking a science course. Some of the strategies in this unit are generic and apply to students' general study habits for all courses. Other segments of the unit are specific to taking a science course. This unit is short and should not take more than 30-40 minutes to complete. I recommend that you read the unit during the first couple of weeks of the semester. If you have difficulty with science, then the Science Study Skills Unit is a MUST READ.