Course Description-Grading-Exam Dates-Lecture Schedule-Laboratory Schedule
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
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:
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.
7 Feb. - Exam #1
8 March - Exam #2
10 April - Exam #3
10 May - Exam #4 (final exam)
|
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 |
|
|
7 Feb. (Tuesday) |
|
|
|
9 Feb. |
Chapter 6 |
|
|
14-16 Feb. |
Chapter 6 |
Integument cont. |
|
21-23 Feb. |
Chapter 7, 8 |
|
|
28 Feb.-1 March |
Chapter 9 |
Skull & Visceral Skeleton |
|
6 March |
Chapter 9 |
Skull & Visceral Skeleton cont. |
|
8 March (Thursday) |
||
|
20-22 March |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
27-29 March |
Chapters 11 & 12 |
|
|
3-5 April |
Chapter 13 |
|
|
10 April (Tuesday)
|
|
|
|
12 April |
Chapter 14 |
|
|
17-19 April |
Chapter 14 |
Circulatory System (cont.) |
|
24-26 April |
Chapter 15 |
|
|
1 May |
Chapter 15 |
Urogenital System (cont.) |
FINAL EXAM: The Final Exam for BIOL 306 is scheduled for Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 8:00am.
|
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 |
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