BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring

2013
Professor Tara Scully
Lisner Hall Rm 351: Office Hours Tuesday 1-2pm
202-994-7195; tscully@gwu.edu
Course Description:
This course delves into the evolution of life. The class will explore the evidence and mechanisms
of evolution. The course will use the structures of the human body as the main area of
concentration to explain evolution by comparing these structures to their counterparts in other
organisms. These concepts will be paired with the understanding of how genetics and the
environment influence the formation of new groups of organisms. Next, the context of human
life and its relationship and impact on other populations of organisms will be examined. Lastly,
the course examines the impact of the human population on other populations of organisms and
the biosphere.
Course Objectives:
The primary objectives of this course are to provide students with (1) an understanding of the
major physiological systems of the human body, (2) the underlying principles of life and the
evolution of life, (3) how the environment shapes life, (4) the human impact on the ecological
systems and (5) the value of the diversity of life.
Grading and Policies
Exams
Exam 1 (in lecture): 12 laboratory questions and 28 lecture questions = 100
points
Exam 2 (in lab): lab practical including 24 laboratory questions and 32
lecture questions = 140 points
Exam 3 (date of the final exam for lecture): 12 laboratory questions and 28
lecture questions = 100 points
Both exams 1 and 3 are multiple choice questions. Exam 2 is a combined
multiple choice exam and laboratory practical based mainly on the fetal
pig dissection.
No makeups are given unless there is contact prior to the exam unless
prohibited by the situation. In the case of a makeup, a note confirming
the situation such as a doctors note is required.
Additional points for lecture
In-class questions =
45 pts (15 pts/exam)
Connections=
25 pts
Clicker questions will be given during lecture to assess in-class points.
You must answer all questions during the lecture period to get credit for
attending. You must attend 50% of lectures to receive full attendance
credit, only 2 points per lecture will be given otherwise.

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BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring

2013

The connections assignment is a short one page assignment (there will

be a template on Blackboard for this assignment) to understand the
purpose of learning the topics of this semester. In this assignment you
will describe 1. How one topic relates to your life, 2. One problem
humans have with that topic and 3. One potential way to solve that topic.
This assignment is posted on Blackboard and will be submitted in
Blackboard.

Additional points for laboratory

Laboratory evaluation (9)
=
10 pts/lab with the lowest lab evaluation
dropped
Blackboard pre-quiz =
5 pts /lab
o Each pre-quiz covers any information within the chapter
introduction or within the lab activities assigned that week. The
quizzes are posted 24 hours prior to the start of your lab period
and close at the start of your lab period. No excuses will be
accepted for not completing these quizzes. Please do not rely on
wireless connections because if they fail then it will stop the
quiz and an error will occur. If there is an error with the prequiz
then a student may have one quiz/semester reset due to a
connection problem but you must email your instructor prior to
lab in order to have this done.
In Class Evaluation
=
5pts/lab
o The in-class evaluation will include on-time attendance of lab,
attending the correct lab section, possession of the lab manual
for that days activities, participation during lab activities, and
completion of the manual questions for each assigned activity.
Grading of lab activity questions includes grammar, spelling, the
accuracy of answers and the use of ones own wording. DO NOT
copy answers from another student. If answers are exactly the
same for these questions, both students will receive a zero for
that assignment and be turned into the Academic Integrity
Council.
Attendance policy, makeup labs, and grading
You are required to attend lab. No makeup is allowed unless a student has a
documented excused absence, this includes a doctors note, a death
notice or some other written confirmation of absence. In this case,
you can only make up a lab during the same week. If a student
with a written excuse cannot attend another lab section within the
same week, then this lab will be there dropped lab for the semester.

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BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring

2013
No student will be allowed to attend another lab section unless they
have contacted their instructor prior to missing lab and then the
instructor listed for the lab section you will attend. You are
responsible for rescheduling a lab you have missed. The schedule of
other lab sections is on Blackboard. If there is a legitimate excused
absence because an emergency then the student is responsible for
getting their instructor a written confirmation of absence within one
week of the absence. If it is not received within that week then the lab
will not be dropped. Once the grades are posted you have 1 week to
contact your instructor with any concerns. If you dont the grades will
be submitted as is and no adjustments will be made.
Required Material
Lecture:
Lecture Textbook: Discover Biology, 5th Edition, Singh-Cundy and Cain
Laboratory:
Lab book: Discovering Biology in the Laboratory: second edition, Scully,
Norton Publishing
Only the labs covered during this semester. Please review the lab chapter
names to ensure you are purchasing the correct lab manual.
Lecture Topic

Themes of
Biology
Evolution and
Phylogeny

Textbook
Chapter

Laboratory Topic

Date

Lab 1: Biodiversity and

Evolution Activities 1 and
2;
Common Ancestry and
Invertebrates Activities
1-3

Jan 14th 18th

Chapter 1
Chapter 2 and
17
Lab 2: Common Ancestry
and Invertebrates
Activities 4-9

Microevolution

Chapter 18
Lab 3: Evolution of
Resistance

Revised:

Jan. 15th
and 17th
Jan. 22th and
24th
Jan. 28rd
Feb.. 1st
Jan. 29th and
31st
Feb. 4th 8th

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BISC 1006: Ecology and Evolution of Organisms Spring

2013

Lecture Topic

Textbook
Chapter

Laboratory Topic

Date

Activities 1, 2 and 4
Macroevolution

Chapter 19

Exam 1

Covers 1, 2,
17- 19
Chapters 28

Gas Exchange
and Circulation

Covers Labs 1-3

Lab 4: General
Mammalian Anatomy
Activities 1-6
Sensing and
Movement

Chapters 30
and 31
Lab 5: Blood and
Circulation
Activities 2 and 3; The
Cardiovascular System
Activities 1 and 3

Defense

Chapter 32
Lab 6: Senses and
Reflexes
Activities 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7

Reproduction
and
Development

Revised:

Feb. 26th and

28th
Mar. 4th 8th

Mar. 5th and

7th
Mar. 18th
Mar 22nd

Mar. 25th
Mar. 29th

Covers Labs 4-7

Mar. 26th and

28th
Apr. 1st -5th

Lab 8: Populations and

Apr. 2nd
Apr. 4th and
9rd
Apr. 8th 12th

Medical Issues
Covers 28,
30-33
Chapter 21
Chapter 22

Feb. 14th,
19th and 21st
Feb. 25th
Mar. 1st

Mar. 19th and

21st

Chapter 33

Lab 7: Human Urinary

and Reproductive
Systems Activities 1, 2,
and 3

Exam 2 in the
lab
Biosphere
Population
Ecology

Feb. 5th and

7th
Feb. 12th

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Lecture Topic

Textbook
Chapter

Laboratory Topic

Date

Communities of
Organisms Activities 1
and 4
Community
Ecology

Chapters 23
Lab 9: Populations and
Communities of
Organisms Activities 2
and 6

Ecosystems

Chapter 24
Lab 10: The Impacts of
Global Change on
Ecosystems Activities 2
and 5

Global Change

Chapter 25

Final Exam

Covers 21-25

Revised:

Covers labs 8-10

Apr. 11th and

16th
Apr. 15th
19th

Apr. 18th and

23th
Apr. 22nd
26th

Apr. 25th and

30th
date of
final exam

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