Syllabus

Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals

BIOL 1050: Cell Biology (Fall 2024)

Credits - 3

Description

This course will introduce and explore basic concepts and theories of cell biology with an emphasis on its application in understanding human health. Topics include an introduction to cell theory, the chemical composition of cells, cellular functions and cell signaling, reproduction, and genetics. Each of these topics will be explored through course readings, video lectures, and demonstrations, discussions, and a variety of experiential activities, including a course project. Students will demonstrate their mastery of cell biology concepts through quizzes and a cumulative final exam. Students will also have the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in this course to evaluate a human disease.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcomes

In lecture courses, students should be able to:

• Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
• Illustrate fundamental laws, theories, and principles of scientific disciplines.
• Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.

In lab courses, students should be able to:

• Ask a question or define a problem that can be tested.
• Hypothesize possible result(s).
• Plan and/or conduct an investigation individually and/or collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence.
• Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (i.e., computational, mathematical, graphical, etc.) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.
• Communicate the results by constructing an explanation based on multiple pieces of valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
• Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence gained from various experiments, as well as other observations and/or research, to provide an explanation of phenomena and solve design problems, taking into account possible unanticipated effects.

Course Objectives

1. Define and describe the structures and purposes of basic components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells with an emphasis on macromolecules, organelles, and membrane functions.
2. Explain how cells generate and use energy in cells and control metabolic reactions.
3. Identify and describe the stages involved in the cell life cycle, mitotic cell division, and sexual reproduction.
4. Describe and apply the principles of classical genetics for predicting inheritance.
5. Explain the processes by which DNA replicates and codes for proteins in the cell.
6. Examine various techniques in DNA technology.
7. Apply knowledge to understanding the cellular basis of diseases in the human body.

SELF PACED DESIGN

On the course start date, students will have access to orientation materials. These must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.

Please note that there are three “departmental blocks” built into the Cell Biology course. These blocks are at the end of modules 3, 7 and 10. In each of these modules, you will need to submit the application activity and wait for grading and feedback before progressing to the next module. Please plan accordingly.

Assignments

Application Activities (6)

There will be a total of six application activities in the course. The intent of the Application Activities is to serve as learning activities that will support your recall, application, and mastery of core cell biology concepts. You are required to research using additional reliable and credible sources (i.e., UNE Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.) to support and supplement the required readings and content in the classroom.  Responses to Application Activity questions/scenarios should thoroughly address the questions(s) being asked. These activities count toward 10% of the final grade in the course.

Discussion Assignment (5)

There will be a total of five discussion activities in the course.  The first discussion board is an ungraded introductory discussion. The other four discussion assignments are graded, and they are designed to encourage students to reflect on course readings and activities and to collaborate with their peers in the course. Each discussion assignment is worth 10 points, and these activities count toward 10% of the final grade in the course.

Discussion Board Posts 

Discussion questions cover interesting current events or materials that contribute to a deeper understanding of core concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates. Most of the discussion questions are designed to accompany chapters (see specific discussion questions for more information). Each question will require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials (a short journal or magazine article), visit a specific webpage, or view a short video. Then you will write a response following the guidelines in the discussion. Paraphrased information from sources used to support your writings must be cited per APA requirements.  APA information is linked in the Getting Started area of the classroom.

To earn full credit, you will need to post a response and respond to the original posts of at least two other students. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Discussion Question Guidelines

1. Read the assignment carefully so that you are familiar with the materials that you need to cover and how to craft your post.
2. Respect each other’s ideas, feelings, and experience. Some of the questions involve areas of disagreement. Expect your classmates to have different opinions.
3. Use proper writing style. Correct spelling and sentence structure are expected just as if you were writing a regular paper. Use spell check and grammar check before you submit.
4. Write your posting in a word document! That way you can save a copy and use spell check and grammar check.
5. Cite the sources that you use to write your response. Follow the APA guidelines.
6. Avoid posting large blocks of text. Break your writing into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs to make your posting easier to read online.
7. Use the “reply” button rather than the “compose” button when responding to someone else’s post.
8. When responding to a classmate, address them by name.
9. Do not use postings such as “I agree,” “I don’t know either,” or “ditto.” They do not add to the discussion, take up space on the Discussions, and will not be counted.
10. Everyone benefits from an active discussion. Check back in frequently to see what others are saying. Or subscribe to the respective discussion board so you are alerted when new posts are posted.
11. Plan your time carefully. You will need to give your classmates time to respond to your postings. This is an asynchronous class where students will be in different points of the class.
12. Contact your instructor if there are schedule problems or other issues that need to be resolved.

Homework Assignments

Each module contains homework assignments associated with the textbook.  You can access these on your Mastering Biology Assignments Page. Below are the Mastering Biology Student Registration Instructions for Brightspace.

You will have five attempts to complete each Mastering Biology homework assignment.  The highest score is kept.  Doing well on the homework assignments will prepare you for the midterm and final exams.  These activities count towards 10% of the course final grade.

Mastering Biology Student Registration Instructions for Brightspace

Access to your course content

1. Sign in to link your Pearson and Brightspace accounts. If you’re new to MyLab/Mastering, create an account.
2. Select any available access option, if asked.

• Enter a prepaid access code that came with your textbook or from the bookstore.
• Buy instant access using a credit card or PayPal account.
• Select Get temporary access without payment for 14 days.

3. Select Go to my course.

It is recommended that you always enter your Mastering Biology course through Brightspace.

Need help?

Make sure your browser is ready.  Check the system requirements at https://mlm.pearson.com/global/system-requirements/

For help with Mastering Biology for Brightspace, go to https://help.pearsoncmg.com/integration/cg/brightspace/student/en/

Quizzes (14)

There are 14 quizzes in this course. All quizzes are open book and open notes and are not timed.  Quizzes are taken once.  You will be able to see your answers immediately following submission. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.  Doing well on the quizzes will help prepare you for the midterm and final exams. These activities count towards 10% of the final grade in the course.

Diseases of the Cell Project

The Diseases of the Cell Project is a multi-week/module project that students will begin in Module 6 and conclude in Module 14 of the course. The project consists of 4 deliverables. Students will be given specific prompts and instructions for each deliverable of the project. The project is worth 100 points and counts towards 15% of your final grade in the course. 

Midterm Exam (Proctored) 

You must purchase a UNE-compliant External Webcam to take your proctored examinations. Remember to order your webcam at least three weeks prior to your first proctored exam.

A Midterm Exam Review Study Guide will be available to you in Module 8.  The midterm exam can be taken once you have completed all assignments for Modules 1 – 8, including the application activities, deliverables (#1 and #2), discussion boards, homework, and quizzes as well as the Midterm Exam Honor Pledge. It is a timed and proctored exam.

This is a closed-book and closed-notes exam. You may have a single whiteboard to use while taking this exam. You must show on camera that your whiteboard is clear at the beginning of your testing session, and you must erase your whiteboard on camera before disconnecting from your session. If you do not do this, your exam will not be credited.

You will not have access to any material saved on your or any other computer. No access to the internet or other communication devices is allowed during this exam. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

The exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions, and you have up to two hours to complete the exam. Information on the proctoring process is available below.

For all exams, you must review the Proctored Examinations information and requirements in the Policies section of this syllabus.

Final Exam (Proctored) 

A Final Exam Review Study Guide will be available to you in Module 16. The final exam cannot be taken until you have completed all the assignments for the course, including the homework, quizzes, discussion boards, deliverables, and the Diseases of the Cell Project, as well as the Final Exam Honor Pledge. The final will be a timed-proctored exam that covers modules 9 – 15.

This is a closed-book and closed-notes exam. You may have a single whiteboard to use while taking this exam. You must show on camera that your whiteboard is clear at the beginning of your testing session, and you must erase your whiteboard on camera before disconnecting from your session. If you do not do this, your exam will not be credited.

You will not have access to any material saved on your or any other computer. No access to the internet or other communication devices is allowed during this exam. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

The final exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions, and you can have up to two hours to complete the exam. You will need to arrange to take your final exam with Proctor U. Information on the proctoring process is available below.

For all exams, you must review the Proctored Examinations information and requirements in the Policies section of this syllabus.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment Category	Assignment Weight
Application Activities	10%
Discussions	10%
Homeworks	10%
Quizzes	10%
Diseases of the Cell Project	15%
Midterm Exam	20%
Final Exam	25%
Total	100%

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00