Course Syllabus

SYLLABUS AND COURSE SUMMARY

Syllabus

Instructor Information

Instructor(s)

Dr. Matthew Fujita and Dr. Todd Castoe

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Joshua Rivera

Office Number

ERB 429

Office Telephone Number

Dr. Fujita: (817) 272-1464 (If I do not answer, please follow up with an e-mail)

Email Address

Dr. Fujita: mkfujita@uta.edu

Dr. Castoe: todd.castoe@uta.edu

Joshua Rivera: jor3756@mavs.uta.edu

Please allow 48 hours for us to get back to you via e-mail, though we will strive to do as fast as we can.

Faculty Profile

Dr. Fujita: https://mentis.uta.edu/explore/profile/matthew-fujita

Dr. Castoe: https://mentis.uta.edu/explore/profile/todd-castoe

Office Hours

Office Hours will be held virtually on Teams (link)

Dr. Fujita and Dr. Castoe:
Monday 4-5 (Teams Link)

Tuesday 4:30-5:30 (Teams Link)

Joshua Rivera:
Monday 10-12 (Teams Link)

Wednesday 9-11 (Teams Link)

Wednesday 12-2 (Team Link)

Communication

The best way to contact us is by email and/or via the Canvas Inbox. Please add the course number in the subject of your email to make it easier for us to recognize course related messages. Be sure to address your messages to either Dr. Fujita or Dr. Castoe, and to sign your messages with your full name. We expect you to communicate professionally with us and with your classmates. Have Canvas notifications turned on as we will be posting notifications via Canvas.

Course Information

Section Information

BIOL 3315-001

Time and Place of Class Meetings

Life Science 119, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11-12:20 PM. IMPORTANT: Lectures 10-16 will be virtual and will be available on Canvas. For the first two weeks of class, students whose last names begin with the letters A-K will attend Tuesday lectures, and students whose last names begin with the letters L-Z will attend Thursday lectures. The Provost will provide guidance in September regarding course modality following these first two weeks.

Description of Course Content

This course will cover the fundamentals of the structure and function of DNA, RNA, and the genome. Topics include DNA and RNA structure, gene structure and regulation, transcription, translation, recombination, genomics, mutation, and genotype-to-phenotype processes. Prerequisite: BIOL 1441.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should have a solid understanding of the foundations of genetics, including the topics mentioned above.

Required Textbooks and Other Course Materials

Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach by Mark F. Sanders and John L. Bowman. Pearson; 2nd edition (2015; ISBN-13 978-0321948908). The book is available for rent at several locations (including an ebook subscription from the Pearson website) or purchase. We will also allow you to use the 1st edition, though page numbers and problems discussed on class will refer to the 2nd edition. Lectures and other materials will be distributed through Canvas.

Descriptions of major assignments and examinations

This course will consist of four online exams (three midterms and a cumulative final) and 5 online quizzes. Grades should be available within a few days of the exam or quiz date in Canvas. There are no make-up exams and no accepted excuses for late quizzes.

Technology Requirements

IMPORTANT: You will need access to a computer and stable Internet connection/browser are necessary to access course materials, including recorded lectures, exams, quizzes, office hours, and grades. These materials will be available in Canvas. You will need speakers and/or headphones to listen to lectures. A webcam will be required for Respondus Lockdown for the exams. Laptops can be checked out from the library; please visit https://libraries.uta.edu/services/technology for more information. Computer labs may be available for use as well but please check hours and availability (https://www.uta.edu/oit/cs/its/labs/).

Grading Information

Grading

You will be graded based on EIGHT components: your three (out of four) best-scoring exams (25% each) and five online quizzes (5% each for a total of 25%).

Grading scale

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F < 60

Students are expected to keep track of their performance throughout the semester and seek guidance from available sources (including the instructor) if their performance drops below satisfactory levels; see “Student Support Services,” below. Note that only under extraordinary circumstances and with the approval of the Biology Department leadership do we give Incompletes .

Make-up Exams

IMPORTANT: There will be no make-up exams . Instead, your lowest exam grade will be dropped, including a missed exam. Only one exam will be dropped . If you anticipate missing more than one exam due to scheduling, you should consider dropping the course and/or enrolling in a different section.

Expectations for Out-of-Class Study

Beyond the time required to attend each lecture, students enrolled in this course should expect to spend at least an additional 9 hours per week of their own time in course-related activities, including reading required materials and preparing for exams.

Grade Grievances

Any appeal of a grade in this course must follow the procedures and deadlines for grade-related grievances as published in the current University Catalog.

Conflict Resolution
If you are experiencing an issue in class, you should first arrange a meeting with your instructor to discuss the issue. If you feel the issue requires further attention, you may then consult the lab or course coordinator (if applicable). If the issue is still not resolved, you may then submit your concern to the Associate Chair of the Department of Biology by filing a grievance at https://common.forms.uta.edu/view.php?id=3403 . You must file the online form and have all supporting documentation to have your issue heard. Grievances must be filed in writing to be addressed. Please note, none of the listed personnel will discuss the issue with you until you have first consulted all of those preceding him/her. A disagreement with the judgment made by the instructor regarding a grade is not a valid reason for submitting a grievance. The department will not override an instructor's determination of a grade except in cases of documented policy violations or discriminatory practices.

Course Schedule

Please see the course schedule at the end of the syllabus.

Institutional Information

UTA students are encouraged to review the below institutional policies and informational sections and reach out to the specific office with any questions. To view this institutional information, please visit the Institutional Information page (https://resources.uta.edu/provost/course-related-info/institutional-policies.php) which includes the following policies among others:

• Drop Policy
• Disability Accommodations
• Title IX Policy
• Academic Integrity
• Student Feedback Survey
• Final Exam Schedule

Additional Information

Face Covering Policy

While the use of face coverings on campus is no longer mandatory, all students and instructional staff are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings while they are on campus. This is particularly true inside buildings and within classrooms and labs where social distancing is not possible due to limited space. If a student needs accommodations to ensure social distancing in the classroom due to being at high risk they are encouraged to work directly with the Student Access and Resource Center to assist in these accommodations. If students need masks, they may obtain them at the Central Library, the E.H. Hereford University Center’s front desk or in their department.

Attendance

At The University of Texas at Arlington, taking attendance is not required but attendance is a critical indicator of student success. Each faculty member is free to develop his or her own methods of evaluating students’ academic performance, which includes establishing course-specific policies on attendance. For this course, attendance will not be taken. However, while UT Arlington does not require instructors to take attendance in their courses, the U.S. Department of Education requires that the University have a mechanism in place to mark when Federal Student Aid recipients “begin attendance in a course.” UT Arlington instructors will report when students begin attendance in a course as part of the final grading process. Specifically, when assigning a student a grade of F, faculty report must the last date a student, and in this course that date will be the date of their last exam and/or quiz. This date is reported to the Department of Education for federal financial aid recipients.

Emergency Exit Procedures

Should we experience an emergency event that requires evacuation of the building, students should exit the room and move toward the nearest exit, which is located at the top of the classroom. When exiting the building during an emergency, do not take an elevator but use the stairwells instead. Faculty members and instructional staff will assist students in selecting the safest route for evacuation and will make arrangements to assist individuals with disabilities.

Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center (ASC) includes a variety of resources and services to help you maximize your learning and succeed as a student at the University of Texas at Arlington. ASC services include supplemental instruction, peer-led team learning, tutoring, mentoring and TRIO SSS. Academic Success Center services are provided at no additional cost to UTA students. For additional information visit: Academic Success Center . To request disability accommodations for tutoring, please complete this form .

 

The IDEAS Center (https://www.uta.edu/ideas/) ( 2 ^nd Floor of Central Library) offers FREE tutoring and mentoring to all students with a focus on transfer students, sophomores, veterans and others undergoing a transition to UT Arlington. Students can drop in or check the schedule of available peer tutors at www.uta.edu/IDEAS, or call (817) 272-6593.

The Library’s 2 ^nd floor Academic Plaza (http://library.uta.edu/academic-plaza) offers students a central hub of support services, including IDEAS Center, University Advising Services, Transfer UTA and various college/school advising hours. Services are available during the library’s hours of operation.

Emergency Phone Numbers

In case of an on-campus emergency, call the UT Arlington Police Department at 817-272-3003 (non-campus phone), 2-3003 (campus phone). You may also dial 911. Non-emergency number 817-272-3381

Course Schedule

“ As the instructosr for this course, we reserve the right to adjust this schedule in any way that serves the educational needs of the students enrolled in this course. –Dr. Matthew K. Fujita and Dr. Todd Castoe.”

F2F = Face-to-Face (LS 119); Online = lectures and exams are accessible via Canvas

 

Module	Date	Day	Topic	Reading	Professor	Modality	Minutes
1	Aug 26, 2021	Th	Introduction	Ch. 1	Fujita	F2F	80
2	Aug 31, 2021	Tu	Transmission Genetics	Ch. 2	Fujita	F2F	80
	Sep 2, 2021	Th	Transmission Genetics	Ch. 2	Fujita	F2F	80
3	Sep 7, 2021	Tu	Cell Division and Chromosome Heredity	Ch. 3	Fujita	F2F	80
	Sep 9, 2021	Th	Cell Division and Chromosome Heredity	Ch. 3	Fujita	F2F	80
4	Sep 14, 2021	Tu	Gene Interaction	Ch. 4	Fujita	F2F	80
	Sep 16, 2021	Th	Gene Interaction	Ch. 4	Fujita	F2F	80
5	Sep 21, 2021	Tu	Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes	Ch. 5	Fujita	F2F	80
	Sep 21, 2021	Tu	Midterm 1 Review Session	Submit Questions Here		4:30-6:30 PM, LS119
	Sep 23, 2021	Th	Midterm 1 (Modules 1-4)	ONLINE		Online	80
	Sep 28, 2021	Tu	Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes	Ch. 5	Fujita	F2F	80
6	Sep 30, 2021	Th	Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Bacteria and Viruses	Ch. 6	Fujita	F2F	80
	Oct 5, 2021	Tu	Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Bacteria and Viruses	Ch. 6	Fujita	F2F	80
7	Oct 7, 2021	Th	DNA and chromosomes	Ch. 7	Fujita	F2F	80
	Oct 12, 2021	Tu	DNA and chromosomes	Ch. 7	Rivera	F2F	80
8	Oct 14, 2021	Th	Transcription and RNA Processing	Ch. 8	Fujita	F2F	80
	Oct 19, 2021	Tu	Transcription and RNA Processing	Ch. 8	Fujita	F2F	80
	Oct 19, 2021	Tu	Midterm 2 Review Session	Submit Questions Here		4:30-6:30 PM, LS119
	Oct 21, 2021	Th	Midterm 2 (Modules 5-8)	ONLINE		Online
9	Oct 26, 2021	Tu	Translation	Ch. 9	Fujita	F2F	80
	Oct 28, 2018	Th	Translation	Ch. 9	Fujita	F2F	80
10	Nov 2, 2021	Tu	Chromosome Structure	Ch. 11	Castoe	Online	80
11	Nov 4, 2021	Th	Mutation	Ch. 12	Castoe	Online	80
	Nov 9, 2021	Tu	Mutation	Ch. 12	Castoe	Online	80
12	Nov 11, 2021	Th	Chromosomal Aberrations	Ch. 13	Castoe	Online	80
13	Nov 16, 2021	Tu	Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes	Ch. 14	Castoe	Online	80
14	Nov 18, 2021	Th	Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes	Ch. 15	Castoe	Online	80
	Nov 23, 2021	Tu	Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes	Ch. 15	Castoe	Online	80
	Nov 25, 2021	Th	Thanksgiving
	Nov 30, 2021	Tu	Midterm 3 (Modules 9-14)	ONLINE		Online	80
15	Dec 2, 2021	Th	Recombinant DNA: Forward/Reverse Genetics	Ch. 16/17	Castoe	Online	80
16	Dec 7, 2021	Tu	Genomics	Ch. 18	Castoe	Online	80
	Dec 9, 2021	Th	Final Exam (11:00 am - 1:30 pm; Comprehensive)	ONLINE		Online	150