BackBIO 131 Laboratory Syllabus and Course Structure: General Biology
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Course Overview
Introduction to BIO 131 Laboratory
BIO 131 is an introductory laboratory course in biology designed to complement lecture-based courses such as BIO 121. The course focuses on essential biological concepts including cellular biology, heredity, genetics, and evolution, with an emphasis on hands-on laboratory experience.
Purpose: To provide practical laboratory skills and reinforce theoretical concepts from lecture courses.
Topics Covered: Cells, enzyme function, respiration, mitosis/meiosis, DNA, and evolution.
Skills Developed: Scientific observation, hypothesis formation, experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing.
Course Goals
Learning Objectives
The course is structured around three main goals to foster scientific thinking and laboratory proficiency.
Goal 1: Exposure to Scientific Methods – Students will engage in activities such as making observations, collecting data, and interpreting results using scientific tools (e.g., notebook keeping, charts, tables).
Goal 2: Critical Analysis and Hypothesis Testing – Students will learn to analyze information, construct and test hypotheses, and design experiments to answer scientific questions.
Goal 3: Communication of Scientific Findings – Students will develop skills in scientific writing and reporting, culminating in the ability to communicate results and conclusions effectively.
Course Materials
Required Resources
Lab Notebook: Students must maintain a notebook for recording observations, data, and experimental results. Digital submission of notes is required.
Textbook: Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, 6th edition (or later editions).
Online Platform: Assignments and lab reports will be submitted via Canvas; SafeAssign will be used for plagiarism checking.
Grading Structure
Assessment Components
Grades are based on a combination of practical exams, lab notebooks/reports, and quizzes.
Practical Exams: 2 exams, 15 points each (total 30 points)
Lab Notebooks/Reports: 7 assignments, 7 points each (total 49 points)
Quizzes: 7 quizzes, 3 points each (total 21 points)
Total: 100 points
Attendance Policy
Laboratory Participation
Lab Sessions: BIO 131 meets 9 times during the semester for hands-on laboratory activities.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory; missing more than 2 labs will result in an automatic reduction of the final grade.
Make-up Policy: Make-up assignments are permitted at the instructor's discretion for excused absences.
Lab Reports and Assignments
Submission Guidelines
After each lab, students must submit a digital copy of their notes and answer questions provided by the instructor.
Notes must include the hypothesis/question, logic, results, and analysis for each experiment.
Charts, tables, and digital photographs of notes are encouraged for clarity.
All notes/reports must be submitted via Canvas and checked using SafeAssign for academic integrity.
Course Schedule
Weekly Lab Activities and Assignments
The following table outlines the weekly schedule of lab activities and assignment due dates.
Date (Week of) | Lab Activity | Assignment Due |
|---|---|---|
Sep. 3 | No class (short week) | |
Sep. 8 | Lab 1: Introduction to lab/Everyday science | Lab 1 notes due |
Sep. 15 | Lab 2: Cells | Lab 2 notes due |
Sep. 22 | Lab 3: Enzyme function | Lab 3 notes due |
Sep. 29 | Lab 4: Respiration | Lab 4 notes due |
Oct. 6 | Lab 5: Mitosis/Meiosis | Lab 5 notes due |
Oct. 13 | Indigenous People's Day - No labs this week | |
Oct. 20 | Exam #1 (Labs 1-4) | Lab 5 notes due |
Oct. 27 | No class (short week) | |
Nov. 3 | Lab 6: DNA | Lab 6 notes due |
Nov. 10 | Lab 7: Evolution | Lab 7 notes due |
Nov. 19 | No class (Veteran's Day) | |
Nov. 24 | Thanksgiving - No labs this week | |
Dec. 1 | Exam #2 (Labs 5-8) | Lab 7 notes due |
Quizzes and Exams
Assessment Details
Quizzes: Short assessments designed to test knowledge of lab concepts and reinforce learning.
Exams: Two practical exams covering the material from the laboratory sessions.
Additional Information
University policies on attendance and academic integrity apply.
Students are encouraged to seek feedback and clarification from instructors during office hours.
