Course scores are posted. 

If you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes to fill out the on-line course evaluations.  To access the course evaluation, please right-click one of the links below.  Most of you are are in the MWF 9 AM section (section A).  Your evaluation should open in a new browser window.  You will be asked for a userID and password – this is your PRIVATE user ID (the one you use to log into campus computers, but WITHOUT the @SGF).  When you have finished the evaluation, click on the Submit Survey button, and you will be taken to a Confirmation screen.  Please click on the Confirmation link, and you will be taken to a confirmation page.  You should then close your browser in order to protect your privacy.  Thanks for filling this out- I'm told that you are automatically entered into a lottery with a cash prize!

 For lecture section A (MWF 9 am):

If you are in the Honors lecture section, use this link:

You should also fill out an evaluation for Laboratory.  Be sure that you know your lab section before you log on.  Thanks.

Welcome back from the ice storm!  The extra-credit readings for the final are here.  I'll try to complete the lectures but if time or weather doesn't permit, just work from the lecture notes, text book, and the practice exam.

Saturday 11/18.   Exam scores are posted.  The graph below is the current lecture scores versus number of absences from lecture.  The equation on the graph describes the line through the data points- it says that the average score of students with perfect attendance is 87%.  The slope of the line (-1.7) suggests that missing a lecture reduces the average score by 1.7%.  That's the equivalent of 5 points per lecture missed.

The seminar speaker this week is a Springfield native- Jessica Hartmann is a PhD student at Harvard School of Public Health.  She will talk about the spread of infectious disease as a homeland security issue.  11/3 at 4 pm in PSU Theater.

We are a few lectures behind schedule, so I am going to skip lecture notes 15 (Chapter 11) material and move on to lecture notes 16 (Chapter 16) on DNA & molecular genetics on Monday.

Friday September 7 As you know, the first test is a week from today.  You will not need to bring anything except a number 2 pencil (and a headful of Biology of course).  The test will cover the lecture notes and related readings through Wednesday's lecture. 

In the text, the material is found in Chapters 1-5 and part of Chapter 8 (not chapter 6).   I overlooked the fact that the new edition of the text has moved what was chapter 6 to Chapter 8.  Please correct your reading assignment accordingly (see the revised schedule on this website).

There are a few questions in the practice test (#26-28) that refer to statistics- don't worry about those for now- statistical concepts are not covered on this test.

Wed September 5 - I've spent the last hour reading and reminiscing about Steve Irwin, who died Monday, as I'm sure that most of you know.  He was one of those great popularizers that come along about once or twice in a generation.  Crikey, he was entertaining!  He reminded us of how wonderful life is, and that we have responsibility for all the family on planet Earth.

Sorry to notice that I had a bunch of duplicate slides on Lecture set 4 and 5.  Probably led to a lot of wasted printing!  I've deleted the duplicates from #4.

We'll talk about water today, and then start on organic chemistry.

BY the way, what is "General Education", you might ask.  These are a set of courses that the University feels are important for everyone to take to be an educated person.  You choose from these courses to meet "breadth" requirements. They are about two thirds of your coursework - the other third is in your major & minor subjects.   

Anyway, Biology 121 is not typical of General Education courses.  I could argue that it shouldn't be classified as one, because it is fairly specialized (Biology 102 is the Biology course designed for General Education).  But, a lot of freshmen take Bio 121, and if you decide not to go on in Biology, you will still have fulfilled one of your GenEd requirements. 

I'll hand out the syllabus and schedule on Monday, and you can download it from the link at left.  Please read the Course Policy statement carefully.  If you want to know more about me- you can visit my home page.  See you in class on Monday.