Dr. T. Tomasi        
tomtomasi@missouristate.edu
Office Hr: M & W 10-11:45: TEM 271
CAR 308;  836-5169

Welcome to General Physiology. This course will cover basic mammalian physiology, and will provide a basis for future classes such as advanced physiology, comparative physiology, physiological ecology, and patho‑physiology. Since humans are mammals, this course will have much in common with human physiology courses, and will often utilize humans as experimental subjects for laboratory study. In addition, we will use a text entitled "Human Physiology" because I feel that it is the best text for presenting physiological concepts. This course will differ from standard human physiology courses in that we will only discuss physiology in common to all mammals, and will not be concerned with pathology and diseases.

 GOALS: Our primary goal in this class is for you to understand the basic CONCEPTS in physiology, with a lesser emphasis on specifics. However, specifics are needed to earn an A in the class. A secondary goal is to promote and develop your skills in "critical thinking" and written communication. This is NOT an easy class.

 TEXTS: The text books for this course are:

    Vander et als Human Physiology by Widmaier et al. (10th) (required: includes CD)
    The Physiology Coloring Book by Kapit et al. (optional)
    In place of a lab manual, you'll copy/print pages from the class website each week to read prior to lab.

A looseleaf notebook and a 3.5" floppy disk for recording laboratory observations and data, and a multicolored writing instrument(s) are recommended.

FORMAT: This class will meet for three hours of lecture and three hours of lab. Student participation in the lectures is specifically encouraged. Attendance is required at all meetings. You are responsible for all material, whether present or not.  Absences will likely hurt your test performance and lab reports.

 GRADING: Exams (4)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 400 points

Lab reports:    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 points
    8 questions sets (10 pts. ea.); 
   formal lab (20 pts);
    independent lab (10 pts)

Final Exam   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
                                                                                                      TOTAL     700

 The final exam will be comprehensive and is optional; if you have taken all 4 exams and are satisfied with your scores to that point, you need not take it. There are no make‑up exams; if you miss an exam, the final is mandatory. If you do take the final, the score is averaged (weighted) with those from the exams and labs. Grades will be calculated on the basis of overall percentage of points: 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D. In addition, your final score can be adjusted by up to +5 percentage points based on a subjective evaluation of your performance. For most students, no adjustment is made: this is reserved primarily for extenuating circumstances or extra‑ordinary conduct. Included in this subjective evaluation are lab technique, preparedness, promptness, cooperation with others, participation, etc. Any student participating in academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in the Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures (http://www.missouristate.edu/assets/provost/AcademicIntegrityPolicyRev-1-08.pdf ),  including an XF for the course.  It is the student's responsibility to understand what constitutes "academic dishonest".

LABS: For many of the experiments, we will use computers/software to collect and analyze the data. Most experiments will utilize students as subjects, but four experiments use living tissues from recently killed animals. This allows for the demonstration of physiological principles not easily observed in students. Non‑mammals are used, but they demonstrate the same characteristics seen in mammals. If you chose not to work directly with these animals, you may assist your laboratory partners in other ways, and are still responsible for the information and lab report. In addition to the scheduled labs, each group will perform one independent lab, in which they repeat an experimental protocol, but ask a novel question(s). This lab must be discussed with the instructor prior to conducting it, and will be done outside of class time (open lab is on Fridays, but other times can be arranged).

LAB REPORTS: Each week at the end of lab, you will receive a page of instructions and questions for your lab report (no reports are required for the first or last labs). At the end of each report, you will also be asked a subjective or speculative question for that lab. These reports should be completed neatly, stapled to the questions, and turned in before the start of the next lab. Late reports will be docked 1 point per day, unless the reason for tardiness has been previously approved.

The "20 point lab report" is for one experiment of your choosing (select by second week), which you will write up as a formal lab report instead of the normal abbreviated report. You will write this lab report on your own, following the standard format of Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion (see separate page). You will have 2 weeks. Assistance can be obtained for this report by submitting a rough draft to the instructor for comments. This will generally be returned in 48 hours so that you can work on your final draft. You can also obtain assistance in writing this report from the campus Writing Center (6‑6398: bring your handout on lab reports).

The independent research lab will also be written up as a "formal report" (one copy per group), and the score (out of 10) will be given to each member of the lab group. This report is due two weeks after the experiment is conducted, or the last class period, whichever comes first. [HINT: a draft of the Intro & Methods can be written before the experiment is even conducted.]

Note that you have 110 points worth of lab reports to earn up to 100 points.

---------------------------------------------

Anyone with a handicap which might affect their performance or participation in this class should contact the instructor and/or Katheryne Staeger‑Wilson at Disability Services (836‑4129 or http:www.missouristate.edu/disability ).

The Missouri State non-discrimination policy can be found at:   http:www.missouristate.edu/human/eoaa.htm 

This class is taught with the affirmative action/equal opportunity philosophy. Inquires or concerns should be directed to the instructor, the instructors department head, or Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity officer (836‑4252 or http:www.missouristate.edu/human/eoaa ).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PARTICIPATION RELEASE FOR BIO 361