Spring 2003
Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics
Laboratory Syllabus Information
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LAB MANAGER: Dr. Angela Caines
Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics
3105 H.J. Patterson Hall
Phone: 301-405-1638
Email: ac193@umail.umd.edu
TEACHING ASSISTANTS: Kathy D’Ovidio,
Mandy Kendrick, John Hall, Linda Pope, Wanda Kelly, Buvaneswari Narayanan,
Vijayakala Vydeeswaran,
David Ruppert, Jeremiah Sawma, Michael Tims, Rajesh Kasiviswanathan
LABORATORY ROOMS: 3104 and
3127 HJ Patterson Hall
GENERAL INFORMATION
Course Description: Welcome to BSCI 125, a 1-credit course
in plant biology specifically designed for non-science majors. In
this lab course, you will investigate the processes by which plants function,
develop an understanding of the great diversity of plants and their importance
on earth, and gain an understanding of the complex role of plants in the
environment and in our society. BSCI 125 and BSCI 124 must be taken
in the same semester to count for thhe CORE Lab Science requirement.
BSCI 124 taken alone will not count as a non-lab science for CORE.
LABORATORY MANUAL
You must purchase a NEW laboratory manual to complete the exercises.
You can get the lab manual, Experiments in Introductory Botany, Revised
Third Edition (light green cover) by Angela Caines, at the University Book
Center in the lower level of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. Bring
your lab manual with you every time you come to lab. All assignments
completed in lab will be handed in at the end of each lab period.
LAB POLICIES
Student Responsibilities and Preparation for Lab:
1. You are required to read the entire assigned
laboratory exercise and to complete the pre-lab questions before
attending lab.
2. Be on time for lab! During the first
fifteen minutes of each lab, your TA will administer a pre-lab quiz.
The quiz will cover the pre-lab questions and introductory material of
the exercise in the lab
manual. If you arrive late,
you will have only the remaining quiz time to take the quiz.
3. During the lab, record data and observations in the data section of your lab manual. Ask questions during the lab if the material is unclear.
4. Answer the end-of-lab discussion questions (handed out in each lab).
5. Tear out, staple together, and hand in the data section and completed discussion questions.
Students are required to observe the following lab rules:
1. No eating, drinking, handling of contact lenses,
or application of cosmetics in the laboratory room!
2. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off while in the laboratory room.
3. No open-toed shoes or bare feet in the laboratory room.
4. Do not write on the laboratory benches.
This action is subject to disciplinary action by the Judicial Board.
Do not jeopardize your lab grade!
Any student found defacing
University property will be told to leave the lab room and will receive
a zero for the lab exercise on that day.
5. Only students who are registered for the course are allowed to attend the labs. Children are not permitted in the laboratory room.
6. Keep your lab bench area free of clutter at all times. Unnecessary books, backpacks, and purses should be placed under the lab bench on the floor.
7. Any accident or injury, no matter how minor, must be immediately reported to your laboratory TA.
8. All broken glassware and used microscope cover
slips must be disposed of in the broken-glass container, NOT in the regular
trash can.
Report any broken equipment
to your laboratory TA.
Lab Attendance policy:
Attendance in the laboratories is mandatory and expected. There
are NO MAKE-UP LABS or QUIZZES for illnesses or excuses other than those
for
prescheduled participation in official athletic competition for
the University of Maryland and for intended absences for valid religious
observances.
Students can miss only one lab and one quiz without penalty (see Grading). The following regulations will be strictly enforced:
1. Religious observances and Athletic excuses:
Limited lab rescheduling can be arranged only for valid athletic excuses
and for religious observances. With written permission from Dr. Caines,
you
will be assigned to attend
another lab section, but only in the same week as the absence. Students
who contact Dr. Caines the week after the missed lab will NOT be eligible
to make up the lab and will
receive a zero score for
that lab exercise and quiz.
2. It is the student’s responsibility to inform Dr.
Caines in advance of any intended absence for religious observances or
athletic travel dates. Notice should be provided as soon as possible,
but no later
than February 10, 2003 (the
schedule adjustment period deadline).
* A note on proper documentation:
The only acceptable form of documentation for an athlete will be a written
note from the athletic department stating explicitly that the student will
be unable to attend
class on the date of the lab to be missed due to participation in athletic
competition for the University of Maryland. We check all excuses
with your coaches, so please inform them that we will be
calling to verify any specified travel dates.
3. Refer to the current edition of the UMCP Undergraduate Catalog for additional general policies and procedures.
4. You must attend the laboratory for which you are registered. You may not attend a different lab section unless you have written permission from Dr. Caines.
5. Early completion of this lab course is not an option. You are required to attend labs for the entire semester.
6. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
students with disabilities should inform Dr. Caines of their needs as soon
as possible, but no later than February 10, 2003.
Academic Integrity:
1. While you will often be working with lab
partners discussing lab ideas, you may not copy each other’s lab work.
All drawings and written work, including the research paper, are to be
the product of
your own individual
effort.
2. By enrolling in the course, you agree to abide
by the University's Code of Academic Integrity. The Code prohibits
students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers,
submitting fraudulent
documents, and forging signatures. If you are unfamiliar
with these guidelines, consult the University's Student Catalog.
THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THESE POLICIES. PLEASE DO NOT ASK.
GRADING
1. There are a total of 11 lab exercises. The
lowest lab exercise and quiz will be dropped (this does NOT include the
research
paper/presentation lab,
which all students are expected to complete). Your grade will
be calculated as follows:
9 lab exercises x 32 points each
= 288
9 lab quizzes x 12 points each
= 108
1 Research paper/presentation
= 84
Research paper topic form handed in on time
= 10
Research paper references handed in on time
= 5
Copy of peer reviewed scientific journal article handed in on time
= 5
Total 500
483-500 A+
432-449 B+
382-399 C+
332-349 D+
465-482 A
414-431 B
364-381 C
314-331 D
450-464 A-
400-413 B-
350-363 C-
300-313 D-
< 300 F
2. Three invalid or unexcused lab absences
(not including the one dropped lab exercise/quiz) will result in a grade
of ‘F’
for the course.
3. Lab grades will be assigned on the basis of the quality of your lab work and weekly quizzes.
4. BSCI 124 and BSCI 125 are separate courses. You will receive a separate grade for each course.
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Your continued enrollment in this course constitutes a binding
contract. Therefore, all course participants hereby agree to this
grading system.
There will be no competition among participants and final course
grades will not be discussed or negotiated. You either have the points
or you do not.
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BSCI 125 - LABORATORY EXERCISE SCHEDULE
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Feb 3 |
Introduction and Check-in |
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Feb 10 |
1. Cell Structure Exercise #1 |
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Feb 17 |
2. Plant Genetics Exercise #2 |
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Feb 24 |
3. Biological Diversity Exercise #3 |
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Mar 3 |
4. Plant Adaptations Exercise #4 * Start thinking about your research paper topic! |
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Mar 10 |
5. Gymnosperms Exercise #5 |
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Mar 17 |
6. Flowers and Pollination Exercise #6 |
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Mar 24 |
SPRING BREAK - No Labs this week |
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Mar 31 | 7. Library Lab Exercise #11
* Meet in your lab classroom first for a quiz * Research Paper Topic Form due (page 145) |
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Apr 7 |
8. The Movement of Water in Plants Exercise #7 |
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Apr 14 |
9. Photosynthesis Exercise #8 * Research Paper References Form Due (page 147) * Peer reviewed scientific journal article due |
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Apr 21 |
10. Supermarket Botany Exercise #10 |
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Apr 28 |
11. Research Paper Presentation Exercise #11 * Research Papers Due in lab |
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May 5 |
Go to lab and pick-up leftover graded labs and visual aides from your TA. |
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Linda Pope | pope@wam.umd.edu | 1102 and 1115 |
Rajesh Kasiviswanathan | rajeshk@wam.umd.edu | 1111 and 1113 |
Kathy D'Ovidio | kd93@umail.umd.edu | 1121 and 1108 |
Mandy Kendrick | mdkend@wam.umd.edu | 1114 and 1116 |
John Hall | jdhall@wam.umd.edu | 1101 and 1103 |
Buvaneswari Narayanan | cnbuvana@yahoo.com | 1104 and 1110 |
Vijayakala Vydeeswaran | vvkala@wam.umd.edu | 1109 and 1112 |
David Ruppert | druppert@wam.umd.edu | 1122 and 1120 |
Jeremiah Sawma | jersawma@hotmail.com | 1107 and 1119 |
Michael Tims | mct@wam.umd.edu | Prep TA |
Wanda Kelly | wjkelly@wam.umd.edu | Prep TA |
last modifiied; 01/14/03 by A.Caines