MICR 302: Introduction to Molecular Biology · Intro to Molecular Biology - Spring 2018 MICR 302: Introduction to Molecular Biology Instructor: Dr. Bethany Rader Class Meeting: 12:00

Intro to Molecular Biology - Spring 2018

MICR 302: Introduction to Molecular Biology Instructor: Dr. Bethany Rader Class Meeting: 12:00 – 12:50pm MWF

Office: Lindegren Hall, Room 34 Class Location: Lawson 0131

Office Phone: 618-453-7821

Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: M 1:00 – 2:30pm, or by appointment

Course Objective:

To gain a fundamental understanding of the molecular biology of the cell, including the structures and

functions of biological molecules, microbial genetics, and the transfer, alteration, and regulation of

genetic information.

Course Description:

Molecular structure, dynamics, and genetics of living cells and viruses with particular attention to the

transfer of biological information.

Course Website:

All course material (except the text books) will be available through Desire2Learn (https://online.siu.edu).

Assigned Reading:

Required Text: Molecular Biology Made Simple and Fun, 4th edition (older editions are acceptable), 2010,

by D.P. Clark and L.D. Russell, Cache River Press.

Additional text (NOT REQUIRED): Molecular Biology, 2nd edition, 2012, by D.P. Clark and N.J. Pazdernik,

Academic Press. This text contains more detailed information about the class material, but is not required for

the class.

Office hours:

My office hour will be held on Mondays after class (1:00 – 2:30pm). If you are not free at this time, you may

schedule an appointment to meet with me at another time. You may also email me with questions or

comments ([email protected]). When emailing please include “MICR 302” in the subject line. This

ensures that I will see your email. I will try to answer your email in within 24 hours; however, I do not

always check my email in the late evenings or weekends.

Lecture Slides:

Lecture slides will be available for download as PDFs from the course website shortly before the lectures.

Grading Policy:

There will be four 100 point exams, a 100 point final, and ten 10 point quizzes for this course. Your two

lowest scoring quizzes will be dropped. In addition, your lowest scoring test will be dropped (the final may

not be dropped), resulting in a total of 480 points for this course. There will be no make-up quizzes - missed

quizzes will count as dropped quizzes or zeroes (after two missed quizzes). A missed exam will count as

your dropped exam. Any other rescheduling is at the discretion of the instructor.


Final grades will be based on the following scale:

A = 480 – 432 (100--90%)

B = 431 – 384 (89--80%)

C = 383 – 336 (79--70%)

D = 335 – 288 (69--60%)

F = < 288 (<60%)

Exams:

Exams may be rescheduled at the discretion of the instructor, however proof of absence (for example, a

doctor’s note) will be required for rescheduling. Failure to take an exam on the scheduled date without an

approved absence will result in a drop for the first absence and a zero (F) for any additional skipped exams.

Midterm exams will encompass material covered in lecture. Please note that the final exam is cumulative.

Any changes to material covered by exams will be added to syllabus updates and announced in class.

Cumulative Final Exam: 100 points covering ALL MATERIAL

Quizzes:

Make up quizzes will not be offered. As your lowest two quizzes are dropped, a missed quiz due to absence

will simply be considered one of your drops

Attendance:

I will not take attendance for this class. The responsibility to attend class is yours alone. Keep in mind that

there is a strong correlation between higher grades and attending lecture, and absences will negatively affect

your grade as material covered exclusively in the classroom (not in the books) will appear on exams.

Classroom Etiquette:

Please be respectful of your fellow students. This includes arriving on time and staying until the end of

lecture. Arriving late and leaving early can be disruptive. No cell phone use (calls or texting) is permitted

during class. Phones should also be in silent mode during class. This may seem like common courtesy to

most students, but unfortunately it has to be pointed out to some. If an emergency arises step outside the

classroom to use your phone. Phones (along with tablets and computers) may be used in class to take notes

and look up material related to class.

Students with disabilities:

If you think you need accommodation for a disability, please let me know at your earliest convenience. Some

aspects of the course may be modified to facilitate your participation and progress. As soon as you make me

aware of your needs we can work with Disability Support Services (DSS, 618-453-5738,

http://disabilityservices.siu.edu/)) to help us determine the appropriate academic action. Any information

provided is private and confidential and will be treated as such. When it comes to accommodations for the

exams and final, I require at least 5 days notice prior to the exam date. This ensures enough time to make the

proper arrangements.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY (adapted from the College of Science policy

http://www.science.siu.edu/_common/pdfs/oppaper):

Students may be subject to disciplinary proceedings resulting in an academic penalty or disciplinary penalty

for academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, or


collusion. Sanctions for academic dishonesty available to an instructor include: assigning a failing grade, or

zero, for a paper or exam; assigning a failing grade for a course (the instructor shall assign an “incomplete” in

lieu of a letter grade pending adjudication and final resolution of the complaint); recommending that a student

be dropped from a program; and recommending that a student be suspended from the University.

HINTS for SUCCESS:

1) Attend class.

2) Study often, not just the night before an exam.

3) Review lecture material the evening after a lecture. This will help you learn the material and will make

studying for exams much easier.

4) Read the chapters cited next to each lecture prior to class. It will help you better comprehend the lecture

material.

5) Ask questions! Come to office hours!

6) Seek out academic help before it is too late – it is very difficult to recover from two failed exams.

7) LEARNING ASSISTANCE: SIU Center for Learning Support Services - http://tutoring.siu.edu/index.html

Final note: The material on the syllabus is fluid and may fluctuate some during the term. This is due to the ever-changing

nature of scientific research and information, my desire to add and present material that is relevant, useful and

exciting, and the fact that the pace at which I present the material changes each time I teach a class. Therefore

please note that as the term progresses, the syllabus will not be strictly followed, and ANY information on the

syllabus, with the exception of exam dates, is subject to change. Any changes that are made to the syllabus as

the course proceeds will be announced in class.

Important Dates!!! 1/28/18 Last day to submit drop paperwork with a full refund

2/16/18 Exam 1

3/10/18 3/18/18 SPRING BREAK NO CLASS

3/19/18 Exam 2

4/1/18 Last day to submit drop paperwork

4/9/18 Exam 3

5/2/18 Exam 4

Quiz dates are denoted with a “Q” in the lecture topic column on the class schedule

Final exam schedule will be determined in week 4 of class.


Preliminary Class Schedule

Lecture Date Lecture Topic Text Chapter

1 1/17 Intro and Bacteria 1-2

2 1/19 Basic Genetics 3

3 1/22 Basic Genetics 3

4 1/24 DNA and Central Dogma Q1 4

5 1/26 DNA and Central Dogma 4

6 1/29 Replication 5

7 1/31 Replication 5

8 2/2 Transcription Q2 6

9 2/5 Transcription 6

10 2/7 Transcription 6

11 2/9 Translation 7

12 2/12 Translation 7

13 2/14 Translation Q3 7

2/16 ****Exam 1**** 1-7

14 2/19 Gene transfer in bacteria 8



17 2/26 Molecular Techniques Q4 9

18 2/28 Molecular Techniques 9

19 3/2 Molecular Techniques 9

20 3/5 Products from Biotechnology 10

21 3/7 Products from Biotechnology Q5 10

22 3/9 Products from Biotechnology 10

3/12 SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS



3/19 ****Exam 2**** 8-10

23 3/21 Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes 11



26 3/28 Mutations Q6 12


27 3/30 Inherited Human Diseases 13

28 4/2 Inherited Human Diseases 13

29 4/4 Cancer and Aging 14

30 4/6 Cancer and Aging Q7 14

4/9 ****EXAM 3**** 11-14

31 4/11 Transgenic Plants and Animals 15

32 4/13 Transgenic Plants and Animals 15

33 4/16 Polymerase Chain reaction Q8 17

34 4/18 Forensic Medicine 18

35 4/20 Molecular Evolution 24

36 4/23 RNA Regulation Q9 25

37 4/25 RNA Interference 25

38 4/27 Viruses/Transposable Elements 19

39 4/30 Plasmids 19

5/2 ****Exam 4**** 15,17-19, 24-25

5/4 Review for Final Q10

FINAL EXAM TBA

REO 11/17 Office of the Provost http://pvcaa.siu.edu/ Spring 2018

IMPORTANT DATES * Semester Classes Begin :…...……..……………………………….01/16/2018 Last day to add full-term course (without Dean’s signature): ..…..01/21/2018

Last day to withdraw from the University with a full refund: …….01/26/2018

Last day to drop a full-term course for a credit/refund:…………...01/28/2018

Last day to drop a full-term course (W grade, no refund): ………..04/01/2018

Final examinations: ………………………………………05/07–05/11/2018

The Final exam schedule will be posted the third week of class.

Please verify the above dates with the Registrar calendar and find more detailed

information on deadlines at http://registrar.siu.edu/calendars. For add/drop dates

that apply to shorter-than-full-term courses, please look at the Schedule of Classes

search results at http://registrar.siu.edu/schedclass/index.php

SPRING SEMESTER HOLIDAYS

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday Holiday 01/15/2018 Spring Vacation 03/10—03/18/2018

WITHDRAWAL POLICY ~ Undergraduate only

Students who officially register for a session must officially withdraw from that

registration in a timely manner to avoid being charged as well as receiving a failing

grade for those classes. An official withdrawal must be initiated by the student, or on

behalf of the student through the academic unit, and be processed by the Registrar’s

office. For the proper procedures to follow when dropping courses and when with-

drawing from SIU visit: http://registrar.siu.edu/students/withdrawal.php

INCOMPLETE POLICY~ Undergraduate only

An INC grade may be assigned when, for reasons beyond their control, stu-

dents engaged in passing work are unable to complete all class assignments for the

course. An INC must be changed to a completed grade within one full semester

(undergraduates), and one full year (graduate students), from the close of the term in

which the course was taken or graduation, whichever occurs first. Should the student

fail to complete the remaining course requirements within the time period designat-

ed, the incomplete will be converted to a grade of F and such grade will be computed

in the student's grade point average. For more information visit:

http://registrar.siu.edu/grades/incomplete.php

REPEAT POLICY

An undergraduate student may, for the purpose of raising a grade, enroll in a course

for credit more than once. For students receiving a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F,

the course repetition must occur at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Effective

for courses taken Summer 2013 or later, only the most recent (last) grade will be

calculated in the overall GPA and count toward hours earned.

This policy will be applied to all transferrable credit in that only the last grade will be

used to calculate grade point average. Only those courses taken at the same institu-

tion are considered repeats under this policy. See full policy at

http://registrar.siu.edu/students/repeatclasses.php

GRADUATE POLICIES

Graduate policies often vary from Undergraduate policies. To view the applicable

policies for graduate students, please refer to the graduate catalog at

http://gradschool.siu.edu/about-us/grad-catalog/

DISABILITY POLICY

Disability Support Services provides the required academic and programmatic sup-

port services to students with permanent and temporary disabilities. DSS provides

centralized coordination and referral services. To utilize DSS services, students must

contact DSS to open cases. The process involves interviews, reviews of student-

supplied documentation, and completion of Disability Accommodation Agreements.

http://disabilityservices.siu.edu/

PLAGIARISM

See the Student Conduct Code http://srr.siu.edu/student-conduct-code/

ADVISEMENT: http://advisement.siu.edu/

SAFETY AWARENESS FACTS AND EDUCATION

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender

is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the

same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories

such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been har-

assed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources here:

http://safe.siu.edu

SALUKI CARES

The purpose of Saluki Cares is to develop, facilitate and coordinate a univer-

sity-wide program of care and support for students in any type of distress—

physical, emotional, financial, or personal. By working closely with faculty,

staff, students and their families, SIU will continue to display a culture of

care and demonstrate to our students and their families that they are an im-

portant part of the community. For Information on Saluki Cares: call (618)

453-1492, email [email protected], or http://salukicares.siu.edu/

SIU's EARLY WARNING INTERVENTION PROGRAM (EWIP)

Students enrolled in courses participating in SIU’s Early Warning Interven-

tion Program might be contacted by University staff during a semester. More

information can be found at the Core Curriculum’s Overview webpage:

http://corecurriculum.siu.edu/program-overview/

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

We ask that you become familiar with Emergency Preparedness @ SIU.

Emergency response information is available on posters in buildings on cam-

pus, on the Emergency Preparedness @ SIU website, and though text and

email alerts. To register for alerts visit: http://emergency.siu.edu/

STUDENT MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER

The Student Multicultural Resource Center serves as a catalyst for inclusion,

diversity and innovation. As the Center continues its work, we are here to

ensure that you think, grow and succeed. We encourage you to stop by the

Center, located in Grinnell Commons, to see the resources available and

discover ways you can get involved on the campus. Visit us at http://

inclusiveexcellence.siu.edu/

LEARNING AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Help is within reach. Learning support services offers free tutoring on cam-

pus and math labs. To find more information please visit the Center for

Learning and Support Services website:

Tutoring : http://tutoring.siu.edu/

Math Labs http://math.siu.edu/courses/course-help.php

WRITING CENTER

The Writing Center offers free tutoring services to all SIU students and facul-

ty. To find a Center or Schedule an appointment please visit:

http://write.siu.edu/

DIVERSITY

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s goal is to provide a welcoming

campus where all of our students, faculty and staff can study and work in a

respectful, positive environment free from racism and intimidation. For more

information visit: http://diversity.siu.edu/#

MILITARY COMMUNITY

There are complexities of being a member of the military community and

also a student, and military and veteran related developments can complicate

academic life. If you are a member of the military community and in need of

accommodations please visit Veterans Services at http://veterans.siu.edu/

SIU ONLINE: https://online.siu.edu/

Need help with an issue? Please visit SALUKI SOLUTION FINDER at

http://solutionfinder.siu.edu/

MISSION STATEMENT FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE

SIU embraces a unique tradition of access and opportunity, inclusive excellence, innovation in

research and creativity, and outstanding teaching focused on nurturing student success. As a

nationally ranked public research university and regional economic catalyst, we create and

exchange knowledge to shape future leaders, improve our communities, and transform lives.

Syllabus Attachment Spring 2018

http://registrar.siu.edu/calendars

http://registrar.siu.edu/schedclass/index.php

http://registrar.siu.edu/students/withdrawal.php

http://registrar.siu.edu/grades/incomplete.php

http://registrar.siu.edu/students/repeatclasses.php

http://gradschool.siu.edu/about-us/grad-catalog/

http://disabilityservices.siu.edu/

http://srr.siu.edu/student-conduct-code/

http://advisement.siu.edu/

http://safe.siu.edu

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Information%20request%20for%20Saluki%20Cares

http://salukicares.siu.edu/

http://corecurriculum.siu.edu/program-overview/

http://emergency.siu.edu/

http://inclusiveexcellence.siu.edu/

http://inclusiveexcellence.siu.edu/

http://tutoring.siu.edu/

http://math.siu.edu/courses/course-help.php

http://write.siu.edu/

http://diversity.siu.edu/#

http://veterans.siu.edu/

https://online.siu.edu/

http://solutionfinder.siu.edu/

http://siu.edu/

http://siu.edu/about-siu/mission.php

http://pvcaa.siu.edu/forms/index.html

MICR 302: Introduction to Molecular Biology · Intro to Molecular Biology - Spring 2018 MICR 302: Introduction to Molecular Biology Instructor: Dr. Bethany Rader Class Meeting: 12:00

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