Science School of Science and TechnologySCIN130 Introduction to Biology with Lab4 Credit Hours 8 Week Course Prerequisite(s): None Table of Contents Instructor Information Evaluation Procedures Course Description Grading Scale Course Scope Course Outline Course Objectives Policies Course Delivery Method Academic Services Course Materials Selected Bibliography Course Description (Catalog) SCIN130 Introduction to Biology w/ Lab (4 Credits) This course introduces students to the biological systems within their associated environments.  The course furnishes an understanding of biological principles and the properties of life.   Topics covered in this course include the structure and function of plants and animals, cell biology principles, genetics, reproduction, development and growth, biological diversity, principles of evolution, and interactions among organisms and with their environment.  Online laboratory experiences are incorporated which are designed to correspond to, complement, and reinforce the concepts presented in the assigned reading material.  The lab involves study through interactive simulations, videos, and animations which will be provided to the student in the form of exercises provided throughout the semester.  Table of Contents Course Scope This course is an introduction to the biological systems within their associated environments. It includes a basic introduction to biological systems, the interaction of these systems, and the structure and function of cells and animal organ systems. Because it is a survey course of a broad subject, it will out of necessity cover each topic with a broad brush. Specific topics will include basic principles in the study of life, cells and how they transform energy, DNA and cell reproduction, biological diversity and its evolution, anatomy and physiology of plants, anatomy and physiology of the various animal organ systems, ecology, and the biosphere. In addition to utilizing the assigned biology electronic text, this course is combined to include a virtual laboratory component which uses simulated laboratories to provide the student with a deeper and practical understanding of the basic principles of biology. Unlike an actual laboratory class, with beakers and test tubes, you are able to repeat labs as often as you like, perform experiments without harming live animals, and conduct experiments that may be difficult to perform in an actual lab environment due to time, cost, or location. This course promises to give you a much greater understanding of the complexities that are the study of life. Table of Contents Course Objectives The successful student will fulfill the following learning objectives: CO-1 Describe the approaches used and the basic tenets of the science of biology. CO-2 Identify the principles of evolution. CO-3 Describe the structure and division of living cells. CO-4 Explain DNA biology and how it influences cancer and other diseases. CO-5 Compare and contr.

1. Science
School of Science and TechnologySCIN130
Introduction to Biology with Lab4 Credit Hours
8 Week Course
Prerequisite(s): None
Table of Contents
Instructor Information
Evaluation Procedures
Course Description
Grading Scale
Course Scope
Course Outline
Course Objectives
Policies
Course Delivery Method
Academic Services
Course Materials
Selected Bibliography
Course Description (Catalog)
SCIN130 Introduction to Biology w/ Lab (4 Credits) This
course introduces students to the biological systems within their
associated environments. The course furnishes an
understanding of biological principles and the properties of
life. Topics covered in this course include the structure and
function of plants and animals, cell biology principles, genetics,
reproduction, development and growth, biological diversity,

2. principles of evolution, and interactions among organisms and
with their environment. Online laboratory experiences are
incorporated which are designed to correspond to, complement,
and reinforce the concepts presented in the assigned reading
material. The lab involves study through interactive
simulations, videos, and animations which will be provided to
the student in the form of exercises provided throughout the
semester.
Table of Contents
Course Scope
This course is an introduction to the biological systems within
their associated environments. It includes a basic introduction
to biological systems, the interaction of these systems, and the
structure and function of cells and animal organ systems.
Because it is a survey course of a broad subject, it will out of
necessity cover each topic with a broad brush. Specific topics
will include basic principles in the study of life, cells and how
they transform energy, DNA and cell reproduction, biological
diversity and its evolution, anatomy and physiology of plants,
anatomy and physiology of the various animal organ systems,
ecology, and the biosphere. In addition to utilizing the assigned
biology electronic text, this course is combined to include a
virtual laboratory component which uses simulated laboratories
to provide the student with a deeper and practical understanding
of the basic principles of biology. Unlike an actual laboratory
class, with beakers and test tubes, you are able to repeat labs as
often as you like, perform experiments without harming live
animals, and conduct experiments that may be difficult to
perform in an actual lab environment due to time, cost, or
location. This course promises to give you a much greater
understanding of the complexities that are the study of life.
Table of Contents
Course Objectives

3. The successful student will fulfill the following learning
objectives:
CO-1 Describe the approaches used and the basic tenets of the
science of biology.
CO-2 Identify the principles of evolution.
CO-3 Describe the structure and division of living cells.
CO-4 Explain DNA biology and how it influences cancer and
other diseases.
CO-5 Compare and contrast the characteristics of viruses,
bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals.
CO-6 Describe the concepts of ecology, population, community
and ecosystems.
CO-7 Describe the human impact on the earth.
CO-8 Compare and contrast the basic functions, major
components and the cell types found within human organ
systems.
Table of Contents
Course Delivery Method
This science course delivered via distance learning will enable
students to complete academic work in a flexible manner,
completely online. Course materials and access to an online
collaborative learning environment will be made available to
each student.Online assignments are due by Sunday evening of
the week as noted and include Forum questions (accomplished
in groups through a threaded forum), quizzes, and individual
assignments submitted for review by the Faculty Member.
Assigned faculty will support the students throughout this
course.
The nature of an online course requires a significant amount of
independent work. The student will be provided with structure,
resources, guidance, and instructor experience for learning the

4. course material. The student, however, is responsible for
managing time, completing the readings, completing
assignments on time, and making inquiries as needed to
complete the course effectively. This course requires
dedication and diligence on the part of the student.
It is important for the student to check his/her messages and
posted “Announcements” area on at least a weekly basis.
Assigned readings, Internet-work, homework assignments, and
quizzes will be posted inside the electronic classroom under the
“Lessons” link and are also listed in detail in the course
syllabus. All assignments will have due dates of a week or
more, therefore, no extensions or last-minute exceptions are
anticipated. The student is expected to complete all work on
time. For the purposes of this course, a “week” is defined as
the time period between Monday and Sunday, unless otherwise
notified by your professor. The first week begins on the first
day of the course and ends on 11:55 PM Eastern Time of the
first Sunday following the first day of the course. In addition,
since this is a distance learning course and students and
professors are located within many different time zones, and for
the purpose of keeping everyone consistent, all times listed
inside the classroom (including deadlines on assignments and
quizzes) are referenced in the Eastern Time Zone. Students are
encouraged to carefully check due dates and times on
assignments/quizzes so as not to miss a submission.
Table of Contents
Course Materials
Required Texts
Assigned Textbook:
Mader, Sylvia S. (2015). Essentials of Biology, 4th ed. New
York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies. ISBN 978-0-07-
802422-1

5. The VitalSource e-book is provided via the APUS
Bookstore. Please visit http://apus.libguides.com/bookstore for
more information.
Assigned Lab Material:
McGraw-Hill Learnsmart Laboratory Simulations found inside
the APUS classroom
Required Software
· Microsoft Office (MS Word)
*If you do not have Microsoft Office, you may use any office
suite that is capable of reading Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
files. A free, open-source alternative to Microsoft Office may
be downloaded from OpenOffice.org
· Adobe Acrobat Reader
* A free download is available from
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html)
Required Technology
See the Technology Requirements chart, found under the
Student Experience navigation tab, on the APUS website, which
outlines the minimum technical requirements for the hardware
and software needed to access your course work. Also included
in the chart are recommended requirements, which if followed,
will make your online learning experience more fulfilling.
Table of Contents
Evaluation Procedures
The grading will be based on the following:
· Eight Forum Assignments
· Five Laboratory Assessments
· Four Online Quizzes

6. · Eight Formative Assessments
· Five Part Course Project
Detailed directions on each of these assessments are provided in
the classroom.
Evaluation Criteria:
The final grade in this course will be based on total points
earned. Grades will be based on the following composite
scores:
Assessment
Points Possible
% of Final Grade
Forum Assignments (8)
400 (50 points each)
20%
Quizzes (4)
800 (200 points each)
40%
Laboratories (5)
250 (50 points each)
12.5%
Homework (18)
180 (10 points each)
9%
Course Project
Assignment 1: Plagiarism

7. Assignment 2: Outline
Assignment 3: Abstract
Assignment 4: Profile
Assignment 5: Presentation
370
(each of these are graded on a 100 point scale)
9.72
48.6
24.48
48.6
48.6
18.5%
0.999%
4.995%
2.516%
4.995%
4.995%
TOTAL
2000 total points possible
100%
LATE POLICY:Quizzes cannot be made up without advance
permission from the professor. If there is a technical problem
on the day the quiz is due the quiz may be reset at the discretion
of the instructor, but it must be completed within 24 hours of
the due date.
Assignments 1 – 5 will be accepted up until seven days late
with a five percent deduction for each day the assignment is

8. tardy.
Formative Assessments, Laboratories and Forum posts are not
accepted late without express permission of the instructor.
Table of Contents
Grading Scale
Please see the student handbook to reference the University’s
grading scale. The grade scale can also be directly accessed
inside the APUS classrooms under the “Syllabus” link on the
menu bar to the left.
Table of Contents
Course Outline
8 Week Course
Week
Topic(s)
Learning Objective(s)
Reading(s) and Lab(s)
Assignment(s)
1
Student Introductions
CO-1, CO-2

9. Course Project Guide
Mader Text:
Chapter 1
Chapter 14
Lab 1
Lab 1: The Scientific Method
Week 1 Forum
Homework: Chapters 1, 14
2
CO-2
Mader Text:
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Assignment 1—Plagiarism, Writing Tutorial and Academic
Honor Pledge

10. Week 2 Forum
Homework: Chapters 15, 16
Quiz 1:
Chapters 1, 14, 15, 16
3
CO-3
Mader Text:
Chapter 4
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Lab 2
Assignment 2—Outline of the Paper
Lab 2: Microscopes
Week 3 Forum
Homework: Chapters 4, 8, 9

11. 4
CO-3, CO-4
Mader Text:
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Lab 3
Assignment 3—Abstract Draft
Lab 3: Cell Anatomy
Week 4 Forum
Homework: Chapters 10, 11
Quiz 2:
Chapters 4, 8, 9, 10, 11
5
CO-4, CO-5
Mader Text:
Chapter 12

12. Chapter 13
Chapter 17
Lab 4
Lab 4: DNA Biotechnology
Week 5 Forum
Homework: Chapters 12, 13, 17
6
CO-5
Mader Text:
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Assignment 4—Organism Profile
Week 6 Forum

13. Homework: Chapters 18, 19
Quiz 3:
Chapters 12, 13, 17, 18, 19
7
CO-3, CO-8, CO-6
Mader Text:
Chapter 22
Chapter 30
Lab 5
Assignment 5—Multimedia Presentation
Lab 5: Mendelian Genetics
Week 7 Forum
Homework: Chapters 22, 30,
8
CO-6, CO-7

14. Mader Text:
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Week 8 Forum
Homework: Chapters 31, 32
Quiz 4:
Chapters 22, 30, 31, 32
Social Media Extra Credit
Table of Contents
Polices
Please see theStudent Handbook to reference all University
policies. In addition to other important policies, the Student
Handbook will cover the:
Drop/Withdrawal Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Extension Process and Policy
Disability Accommodations
WRITING EXPECTATIONS
All written submissions should be submitted in a font and page
set-up that is readable and neat. It is recommended that students
try to adhere to a consistent format, which is described below.
1. Typewritten in double-spaced format with a readable style
and font and submitted inside the electronic classroom (unless

15. classroom access is not possible and other arrangements have
been approved by the professor).
1. Arial 12-point font or Times New Roman styles.
1. Page margins Top, Bottom, Left Side and Right Side = 1
inch, with reasonable accommodation being made for special
situations and online submission variances.
CITATION AND REFERENCE STYLE
Assignments completed in a narrative essay or composition
format must follow APA guidelines. This course will require
students to use the citation and reference style established by
the American Psychological Association (APA), in which case
students should follow the guidelines set forth in Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).
(2009). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
PLAGIARISM
All instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Registrar,
and an appeals process lies therein. Your instructor will assign
a zero for the assignment and may also fail you from the course
upon repeated or egregious cases. Please see the “Academic
Honesty and Honor Pledge” section of Lesson 1 inside the
APUS classroom for more information.
NETIQUETTE
Online universities promote the advance of knowledge through
positive and constructive debate--both inside and outside the
classroom. Discussions on the Internet, however, can
occasionally degenerate into needless insults and “flaming.”
Such activity and the loss of good manners are not acceptable in
a university setting--basic academic rules of good behavior and
proper “Netiquette” must persist. Remember that you are in a
place for the fun and excitement of learning that does not
include descent to personal attacks, or student attempts to stifle
the discussion of others.

16. 1. Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to
explore the full-range of creative composition in your formal
papers, keep e-mail layouts simple. The Sakai classroom may
not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which
means that bold face, italics, underlining, and a variety of
color-coding or other visual effects will not translate in your e-
mail messages.
1. Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and--
especially--satire can easily get lost or taken seriously. If you
feel the need for humor, you may wish to add “emoticons” to
help alert your readers: ;-), : ),
DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
Course content may vary from the outline to meet the needs of
this particular group.
Table of Contents
Online Library
The Online Library is available to enrolled students and faculty
from inside the electronic campus. It provides access to
subscription article databases, periodicals, books, video and
more to support your research and studies. In addition, the
Online Library provides access to special learning resources
like tutoring services and Turnitin.com, which the University
has contracted to boost your academic success.
1. Ask a Librarian: librarians are on duty approximately 18
hours per day, 365 days per year. At
http://apus.libanswers.com/, you can search for answers to
library questions, or use the “Ask” button to submit a question
of your own.
1. Electronic Books and Journals: You can use the online library
to access over 150,000 ebooks and 40,000 journals, which are
licensed for use by APUS students and faculty only. Visit the
Licensed Library Databases guide to explore search options.

17. 1. Research and Writing Help: librarians have created tutorials
for college-level research and writing. Click here to explore
them all.
1. Online Tutoring: AMU and APU students are eligible for up
to 10 free hours of online tutoring provided by APUS. Some
military students are eligible for additional hours through their
Armed Forces education offices. For more information, visit
http://apus.campusguides.com/tutor.
1. Interlibrary Loan and other services: when you need a book
or article not held in the APUS Online Library, you may request
it via interlibrary loan (ILL). Read more about ILL and other
library services.
Table of Contents
Selected Bibliography
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Link to the APA citation style handbook as provided by the The
Owl at Purdue.
http://www.cellsalive.com/
Link to the “Cells Alive” site
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/baby/divi_flash.html
Link to Nova Online’s Mitosis versus Meiosis Comparison
Animation
http://www.johnkyrk.com/meiosis.html
Link to Meiosis Animation
http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=swf::535::535::/sites/dl/fr
ee/0072437316/120073/bio14.swf::Mitosis and Cytokinesis
Link to McGraw-Hill’s Mitosis and Cytokinesis Narrated

18. Animation
http://www.maxanim.com/genetics/Comprarison%20of%20Meio
sis%20and%20Mitosis/Comprarison%20of%20Meiosis%20and%
20Mitosis.htm
Link to McGraw-Hill’s Comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis
Narrated Animation
http://www.cdc.gov/
Link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://biosingularity.wordpress.com/2007/02/28/fantastic-
animation-that-visualizes-physiology-of-the-body/
Link to an incredible 4+ minute video that takes you on a
journey through the human body--A must see!
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hhw/hhw_pumpin
g.html
This web site offers a wonderful narrated animation illustrating
the contraction of the heart and its blood flow.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hhw/hhw_electric
al.html
This site offers a narrated animation of the heart's
conduction/electrical system.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/matthews/actionp.html
Link to an animation illustrating action potential propagation in
both an unmyelinated and myelinated axon.
http://www.bishopstopford.com/faculties/science/arthur/synapse
.swf
Link to an animation illustrating the events which occur as an
action potential crosses over a synapse.
http://www.wiley.com/college/pratt/0471393878/student/animati

19. ons/actin_myosin/actin_myosin.swf
Link to a narrated animation of actin and myosin and their
interaction during a muscle contraction.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/matthews/myosin.html
Link to an interactive site illustrating the mechanism of a
filament sliding during the contraction of a myofibril.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/program.html
Link to "Life's Greatest Miracle", an extraordinary program that
tracks human development from embryo to newborn.
Table of Contents
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