bio478l generalinfo fall2015 v1

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Fall 2015 General Information page 1 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy BIO 478L. Fall 2015 This document is available on Canvas (canvas.utexas.edu) What is this course about? It will introduce you to the evolution of form and function in vertebrates. We will look at the evolutionary history and diversity of body form in vertebrates, including some extinct species. The lab part of the course will give you hands-on experience through dissections of a diversity of vertebrates. Class Meetings MWF 900-1000 Welch 2.256 (WEL) Co-Lecturers David Cannatella, PAT 121A; [email protected] Office hours: MW 10:00-11:00, or by appointment. Blinda McClelland, PAI 1.48A; [email protected] Office hours: MW 11:00-12:30, or by appointment. Lab Meetings MW 1000-1200p (48895) MW 400p-600p (48905) Teaching Assistants (office hours to be announced by the TA) Chris Torres. crtorres at utexas.edu Taylor Gullett. taylor.gullett at gmail.com Course Materials 1. Lecture textbook (optional). Vertebrates, 7th Edition, by Kenneth Kardong. Publisher: McGraw- Hill; (2015). ISBN 978-0-07-802302-6. You can also use the 6th ed; it is roughly the same price (on Amazon) as the 7th ed for an unused copy. However, there are probably more used copies of the 6th ed available. We realize that books are extremely expensive. You can also rent the textbook from Amazon or from the Coop. 2. Lab manual (required). Comparative Anatomy, Fishbeck and Sebastiani, 3rd Ed. Be sure to get the 3rd Edition, not the 2nd. 3. Dissecting Kit (required). See the section below on lab materials.

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Page 1: BIO478L GeneralInfo Fall2015 v1

Fall 2015 General Information page 1

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy BIO 478L. Fall 2015

This document is available on Canvas (canvas.utexas.edu)

What is this course about? It will introduce you to the evolution of form and function in vertebrates. We will look at the evolutionary history and diversity of body form in vertebrates, including some extinct species. The lab part of the course will give you hands-on experience through dissections of a diversity of vertebrates. Class Meetings MWF 900-1000 Welch 2.256 (WEL) Co-Lecturers David Cannatella, PAT 121A; [email protected]

Office hours: MW 10:00-11:00, or by appointment. Blinda McClelland, PAI 1.48A; [email protected]

Office hours: MW 11:00-12:30, or by appointment. Lab Meetings MW 1000-1200p (48895) MW 400p-600p (48905) Teaching Assistants (office hours to be announced by the TA) Chris Torres. crtorres at utexas.edu Taylor Gullett. taylor.gullett at gmail.com

Course Materials

1. Lecture textbook (optional). Vertebrates, 7th Edition, by Kenneth Kardong. Publisher: McGraw-Hill; (2015). ISBN 978-0-07-802302-6. You can also use the 6th ed; it is roughly the same price (on Amazon) as the 7th ed for an unused copy. However, there are probably more used copies of the 6th ed available. We realize that books are extremely expensive. You can also rent the textbook from Amazon or from the Coop.

2. Lab manual (required). Comparative Anatomy, Fishbeck and Sebastiani, 3rd Ed. Be sure to get the 3rd Edition, not the 2nd.

3. Dissecting Kit (required). See the section below on lab materials.

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Assessment and Grading

The lecture and lab are part of the same course, and only one grade is given. Final grades will be assigned using plus/minus grading; see below. There is no "curve" of grades. Misspellings on both lecture and lab exams may be penalized. Questions about lab exams should be directed to your TA. Questions about lecture exams should be directed to Cannatella and McClelland. The material to be covered in each exam may deviate slightly from the syllabus, but this will be made clear before the exam. No additional work for extra credit (term papers, etc.) will be accepted. The days for the lab and lecture exams are firm (see Syllabus)!

Lecture Exam I 100 Lecture Exam II 100 Lecture Exam III 100 Comprehensive Lecture Final 100 "Pre-Class" Lecture Quizzes (Canvas) 100 Lab Exam I 100 Lab Exam II 100 Lab Quizzes/Participation 100 TOTAL 800 points

Final grades are assigned according to the plus/minus system, as follows: A 4.00 credits. >93.33% A– 3.67 90.00-93.32% B+ 3.33 86.67-89.99% B 3.00 83.33-86.66% B– 2.67 80.00-83.32% C+ 2.33 76.67-79.99% C 2.00 73.33-76.66% C– 1.67 70.00-73.32% D+ 1.33 66.67-69.99% D 1.00 63.33-66.66% D– 0.67 60.00-63.32% F 0.00 <59.99% The "Pre-Class Lecture Quizzes" will be explained in class. These are no-brainer review exercises that are done online outside of class, but if you don't complete it by the specified deadline, usually midnight the day before class, you receive 0 points. Attendance at lecture and lab is required, and attendance will be checked periodically; if you arrive after attendance has been taken, you will be counted as absent. Three regular lecture exams and a comprehensive final will be given (see Syllabus for dates). If you will miss a lecture exam because of illness you are required to email Cannatella or McClelland before the exam, and you must present a physician's excuse to be considered for a make-up exam. Otherwise, you will not be able to make up the exam and will receive 0 points.

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Lab for Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

BIO 411 Each lab section meets twice a week for two hours. Exams and Grading There are 300 possible points for the lab part of the course; 200 for two lab exams, and 100 for quizzes and lab participation. The final grade is based on the combined lab and lecture scores. See Assessment and Grading above. There are two lab exams, each worth 100 points (200 total). The exams will be given as "practical" exams; that is, students will identify anatomical structures on the specimens within a brief time period. Because of the difficulty and time involved in setting up the lab exams, makeup exams will be given only in extremely unusual cases. A number of short quizzes will be given during lab, totaling ~50 points. Attendance and participation in lab together will total another ~50 points. Read the assigned sections of the manual before the lab session; unassigned pop quizzes are always possible. If you do not contribute to performing dissections, you will not receive the possible points. "Active participation" also means that students who are late or leave early may not receive the full number of points. In the past, some students have been concerned that the average grade on the lab exams varies a lot among the different sections. Each lab has a different TA, and each class on average has a different level of performance. From past years we know that even if the same TA teaches two different lab sections, the averages for the lab exam may differ as much as 10-15 points. So we don't expect that the lab averages will be the same. The TAs work together to make up the questions on the lab exams. Even though the questions are different, the level of difficulty for the questions among the three labs is the same. Attendance and General Lab Procedures Attendance at lab is required, and if you miss lab you will lose points; all students must participate in dissections. You may attend only the laboratory section in which you are enrolled, unless the instructors allow otherwise. If you fail to attend the correct lab and miss a quiz, you will receive no points for that quiz. No make-up or early quizzes or exams will be given except in the most extreme circumstances. Lab exams will be given during the regular lab time. UT policies on academic honesty will be enforced. We need your help to keep the lab clean. Each student should clean his/her dissecting tray, lab table, and the surrounding floor area after each lab. Students may be assigned duties (e.g., cleaning sinks) on a rotating basis. All students will participate in takedown of lab exams and cleaning of lab after exams. The very last day of lab (after Thanksgiving) will be used for lab clean-up. Students are expected to help out, and non-attendance will reduce your grade. Lab specimens are UT property, and cannot be removed from the lab. You must replace the specimens if loss or damage occurs. The lab can be used for review outside of regularly scheduled lab hours, except during lecture. You cannot work in lab while another class is meeting. No food or drink is allowed in the lab; this is UT policy. You may lose participation points if you violate this rule. Shorts and open-toed shoes (flip-flops, etc.) are not allowed; this is a safety issue and is UT policy. If the lab rules are not followed, all labs will lose the privilege of access for review. The required laboratory text is Comparative Anatomy by Fishbeck and Sebastiani (see above for complete details). Each student must have one; sharing is not allowed. Get your lab manuals

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before the first lab meeting; dissecting instruments will be needed for the second lab (lamprey dissection). The Dissection Kit is required for each student. These can be purchased at the University Co-op Art Supply store, next to the Co-op bookstore. Be careful; do not buy the cheaper kits that are used by freshman biology courses. The kit for this course has been specially assembled by the instructors. It includes: Large scissors (5 1/2"); Small scissors (4 1/2") with straight, sharp tips; Large, straight forceps with blunt tips; no hooks at tips; Small, straight forceps (4 1/2"), pointed tips, no hooks at tips; Huber probe; dissecting needles; metal scalpel handle (#4 size) and scalpel blades; do not buy the cheap blue plastic ones; they break easily and are not safe. Get extra scalpel blades. Additionally, you will need rubber gloves (either disposable or not) and a lab coat. An old, oversized shirt to protect your clothes is OK also. Other Required Information University of Texas Honor Code. The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community. (registrar.utexas.edu/catalogs/gi09-10/ch01/index.html) Documented Disability Statement. The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone), or www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd. Use of E-Mail for Official Correspondence to Students. Email is recognized as an official mode of university correspondence; therefore, you are responsible for reading your email for university and course-related information and announcements. You are responsible to keep the university informed about changes to your e-mail address. You should check your e-mail regularly and frequently—daily is recommended—to stay current with university-related communications, some of which may be time-critical. You can find UT Austin’s policies and instructions for your e-mail address at www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.php. Religious Holy Days. By UT Austin policy, you must notify Cannatella/McClelland of your pending absence at least 14 days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, we will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL). If you are worried about someone who is acting differently, you may use the Behavior Concerns Advice Line to discuss your concerns about another individual’s behavior. This service is provided through a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Call 512-232-5050 or visit www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal. Emergency Evacuation Policy. Occupants of buildings on the UT Austin campus are required to evacuate and assemble outside when a fire alarm is activated or an announcement is made. Please be aware of the following policies regarding evacuation:

§ Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of the classroom and the building. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when you entered the building.

§ If you require assistance to evacuate, inform me in writing during the first week of class. § In the event of an evacuation, follow my instructions or those of lab instructors.

Do not re-enter a building unless you’re given instructions by the Austin Fire Department, the UT Austin Police Department, or the Fire Prevention Services office. Use of Class Materials. The materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, exams, quizzes, and homework assignments are copyright-protected works. Any unauthorized copying of the class materials is a violation of federal law and may result in disciplinary actions being taken against the student. Additionally, the sharing of class materials without the specific, express approval of the instructor may be a violation of the University's Student Honor Code and an act of academic dishonesty, which could result in further disciplinary action. This includes, among other things, uploading class materials to websites for the purpose of sharing those materials with other current or future students.