COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY - BIOLOGY 306



Course Description-Grading-Exam Dates-Lecture Schedule-Laboratory Schedule


LECTURE INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL

Lecture: T-Th. 9:25-10:40, SCPL Room 109

 Dr. Philip D. Sudman
 Office: 203B Science Bldg, Office Phone:   968-9154
email:  sudman@tarleton.edu
 Office Hours: MF 2:00-4:00 pm or by appointment



Course Description:

     The course description for Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, as it appears in the 2011-2012 Tarleton State University Catalog is as follows:

The morphology, physiology, and phylogeny of the organ systems of vertebrates.  Laboratory study of representative vertebrates.  Prerequisite:  8 hours of biology.

     The science of comparative vertebrate anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in structural organization, entailing detailed comparisons of the data and derivation of general principals from which deductive conclusions can be drawn.  The purpose of such an analysis is to construct logical explanations to the variations in the structures of the bodies of vertebrates and their close relatives.  The intent of this course is to introduce you to the science and principles of comparative anatomy and hopefully, to increase your understanding and appreciation of the vast complexity of vertebrate organisms.



Texts:



Grades:

Your final grade in this course is a combination of your grades in lecture and lab.

Lecture grades - Lecture comprises 60% of your final grade in BIOL 306.  There will be 3 lecture exams and a final exam.  All lecture exams will be cumulative and of equal weight.  The exams will consist of both objective (short answer) and subjective (essay) portions.  The basis for all lecture exams will be the material presented and assigned in lecture.  Class attendance will be factored into your final grade!

Laboratory grades - Laboratory grades constitute the remaining 40% of your total grade. There will be weekly quizzes in the laboratory and 4 laboratory practical exams.  Laboratory grades will be further discussed in lab and are described in your laboratory introductory material.



Make-up Exams:
 

Lecture - Should you miss a lecture exam for a University authorized absence, you may arrange to take a make-up exam. Pursuant to the University Catalog, you are responsible for providing evidence to substantiate the reason for any absence.  Evidence of a University authorized absence will be required and authenticated prior to my scheduling a make-up exam.  You should notify me of your intent to take a make-up and provide substantiating evidence as soon as possible.  Except in the case of a prolonged illness, make-up exams will be administered within one week of the regularly scheduled exam.

Laboratory - See Laboratory Introductory Material.



Drop:

Deadline - Friday, March 30th, 2012.  This is the last date for dropping a course with no grade (W grade).  If you have any question as to whether or not to drop, see me before this date.  After this date you must take a letter grade or withdraw from the University.  Courses may be dropped with no record appearing on the student’s record - deadline for no record drop is Wednesday, February 1st, 2012.



Optional References:

During this course you may wish to consult additional chordate anatomy texts.  The following texts are those optional references suggested by me.

·  Analysis of Vertebrate Structure.  M. Hildebrand, John Wiley and Sons.

·  Chordate Structure and Function.  A. G. Kluge (ed.), Macmillan Publishing Co.

·  Hyman's Comparative Anatomy.  M. H. Wake (ed.), University of Chicago Press.

·  The Vertebrate Body.  A.S. Romer and T.S. Parsons.  Saunders College Publishing.

·  Vertebrate Paleontology.  A. S. Romer, University of Chicago Press.

 


Academic Standards:  Tarleton State University expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonesty that occurs in his/her class.


 

Student Disabilities:  It is the policy of Tarleton State University to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws. If you are a student with a disability seeking accommodations for this course, please contact Trina Geye, Director of Student Disability Services, at 254.968.9400 or geye@tarleton.edu. Student Disability Services is located in Math 201. More information can be found at www.tarleton.edu/sds or in the University Catalog.

 



Exam Dates:

7 Feb. - Exam #1
8 March - Exam #2
10 April - Exam #3
10 May - Exam #4 (final exam)


 TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE - BIOLOGY 306

DATES

READINGS IN TEXT

TOPICS

17-19 Jan.

Chapters 1, 2, 3

Introduction; Chordate Characteristics; Protochordates

24-26 Jan.

Chapter 4

Geologic Time; Vertebrate Phylogeny;  TheVertebrates

31 Jan.-2 Feb.

Chapter  5

Basic Embryology

7 Feb. (Tuesday)

 

LECTURE EXAM 1

9 Feb.

Chapter 6 

Integumentary System

14-16 Feb.

Chapter 6

Integument cont.

21-23 Feb.

Chapter 7, 8

Skeletal Tissues/Axial Skeleton

28 Feb.-1 March

Chapter 9

Skull & Visceral Skeleton

6 March

Chapter 9

Skull & Visceral Skeleton cont.

8 March (Thursday)

LECTURE EXAM 2

20-22 March

Chapter 10

Appendicular Skeleton

27-29 March

Chapters 11 & 12

Muscular & Digestive Systems

3-5 April

Chapter 13

Respiratory System

10 April (Tuesday)

 

LECTURE EXAM 3

12 April

Chapter 14

Circulatory System

17-19 April

Chapter 14

Circulatory System (cont.)

24-26 April

Chapter 15

Urogenital System

1 May

Chapter 15

Urogenital System (cont.)

FINAL EXAM: The Final Exam for BIOL 306 is scheduled for Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 8:00am.


 

LABORATORY SCHEDULE - BIOLOGY 306

 

Week No.

Dates

Topics to be Covered

1

17 Jan.

 Lab #1:  Introduction; Protochordates

19 Jan.

Lab #1 cont.:   Chordate Diversity; Anatomy of the Lamprey

2

24-26 Jan

Lab #2: Anatomy of the Dogfish Shark: External Morphology; Muscular System;  Digestive and Respiratory Systems; Urogenital System

3

31 Jan.-2 Feb.

Lab #3: Anatomy of the Dogfish Shark: Circulatory System; Sense Organs; Nervous System

4

7 Feb.

Review for lab exam

 

9 Feb.

PRACTICAL EXAM 1

5

14 Feb.

Lab #4: Skeletal Systems: Shark; Fish; Frog

16 Feb.

Lab #5: Skeletal Systems: Necturus; Reptiles; Birds

6

21-23 Feb.

Lab #6: Skeletal Systems: Mammals

7

28 Feb. 

Review for exam

 

1 March 

PRACTICAL EXAM 2

8

6-8 March

Lab #7: Anatomy of the Cat: External Morphology; Muscular System(head + neck)

9

20-22 March

Lab #8: Anatomy of the Cat: Muscular System (cont'd.)

10

27 March

Lab #9:  Anatomy of the Cat: Digestive and Respiratory System

29 March

PRACTICAL EXAM 3

 11

3-5 April

Lab #10A: Anatomy of the Cat: Circulatory System

12

10-12 April

Lab #10B: Anatomy of the Cat: Circulatory System (cont'd)

13

17-19 April

Lab #11:  Anatomy of the Cat: Urogenital, Reproductive Systems

 14

24-26 April

Lab #12: Nervous System & Review

15

1 May

PRACTICAL EXAM 4

 



Return to: