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overview

An intensive introductory lecture and laboratory course covering the cell and molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry of bacteria, animals, plants and viruses. This course is comparable to Biology 101, but places greater emphasis on molecular mechanisms and experimental aproaches. Particular attention will be devoted to the ways in which modern cell biological and molecular genetic methods contribute to our understanding of the evolution of life, the mechanisms underlying human disease, and applications in biotechnology.

professors

teaching assistants

Michael Smith (Head TA) msmith4@sas.upenn.edu Steve EauClaire stevenec@sas.upenn.edu Baoming Ji baoming@sas.upenn.edu Lili Jing lilij@sas.upenn.edu Rui Liu ruiliu@sas.upenn.edu Megan Phifer-Rixey mrixey@sas.upenn.edu Jennifer Stein prim8srfun@yahoo.com Xiaoli Sun xiaoli@sas.upenn.edu Leo Cherkassky cherkass@sas.upenn.edu (Discussion leader)

course information

textbook

BIOLOGY, 6th edition, by Campbell et al. (dark green cover). The Study Guide is not necessary but may be helpful. Reading assignments indicate chapters and page numbers to be read before each lecture. Several copies are also available in Rosengarten Reserve Room. From time to time, additional required or optional readings will be distributed via the BIOL 121 website.

grading and exams

This course is graded on a 450-point scale. The laboratory will count for 150 points of your grade. Three 100-point mid-term examinations will be given during regular class periods. Each will cover one-third of the course. The lowest of your three mid-term grades will be dropped in computing your course grade. No make-up exams will be offered for the hour exams; if you miss one exam, that exam will be the one that is automatically dropped. The final exam will be a comprehensive exam that all students must take, and counts for 100 points of your course grade. Requests for exam regrades will only be considered for one week after the exam is returned to you, and all answers are subject to reconsideration at that time.

lecture schedule

Please refer to the BIOL 121 PDF talk schedule for more information on this course.

academic integrity

All relevant University policies regarding Academic Integrity must be followed. This includes no cheating, no plagiarism and reporting any knowledge thereof. Please consult the Student Handbook or the appropriate web-page: http://www.college.upenn.edu/responsibilities/integrity.html

downloads

course updates

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