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PHYSIOLOGY P416/P418
COMPARATIVE ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND LABORATORY COURSE SYLLABUS
S P R I N G 2 0 0 8
LECTURE (3 credits) and LABORATORY (2 credits): 5 credits total
Laboratory: Monday 2:35 - 5:25 PM in LF 339
Lecture: Monday and Wednesday 1:15 - 2:30 PM in LF 348
(Note: We will, on some occasions, perform the lab before the lecture.)
PERSONNEL:
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Kent E. Edmonds (Associate Professor of Biology)
Office: Life Sciences (LF) 308; Lab: LF 303
Phone: 941-2376 (office)
Office Hours: M, W 9:00A - 11:00A, Tu 11:00A - 12:00P
By appointment, or anytime you happen to see me in my office.
E-mail: kedmonds@ius.edu
TEXTS AND SUPPLIES: (Required!)
1. TEXT: Animal Physiology, R.W. Hill, G.A. Wyse, and M. Anderson, 2004, Sinauer Associates, Inc. 770p.
2. LAB MANUAL: None. However, handouts will be provided for some laboratories about 1 week in advance of the laboratory while other handouts are on Oncourse.
3. Lecture notes are provided on Oncourse. Please do not print them all out at once as I may periodically modify them.
PURPOSE:
The goal of this course is to provide a basic, but relatively thorough understanding of Animal Physiology from a comparative perspective. With two meetings each week throughout the semester, I will not attempt to present you with a complete understanding of the physiology of all the body's systems. However, I will attempt to present the systems in enough detail to prepare students continuing on to professional programs. I hope that everyone leaves with a thorough understanding of how the systems are organized (anatomy) and how they function (physiology). I will, for the most part, place equal emphasis on all of the topics we will cover. These topics will include the following: membranes, channels, and transport, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine and reproductive systems, muscular system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, urinary system, and digestive system. I will use any relevant sources and techniques (textbooks, lectures, laboratories, computer programs, group exercises, active learning strategies, etc) in order for you to gain an understanding and appreciation of the discipline of physiology. I wish you well in your quest for anatomical and physiological knowledge.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected (and required) to attend both the lecture and the laboratory. The lectures will not follow the organization of the textbook precisely, and information may be provided in lecture that is not contained in the book. Penalties will occur for such reasons as unexcused absences, and lack of preparedness and class participation and are shown in the Grading section. Please always communicate with me if, for any reason, you cannot attend class, are going to be late to class, or must leave class early.
Miscellaneous points are subtracted as follows:
Arrive late or leave early (but still attend most of class) - Minus 0.5 points
Miss lecture - Minus 2 points
Miss lab - Minus 3 points
Lack of preparedness/participation/checking cell phones/cell phones ringing during class/sleeping in class - Minus 1 point
GRADING:
Grading in this course will be as follows:
LECTURE PORTION:
3 Lecture Exams at 120 pts each = 360 pts 1 Lecture Exam at 100 pts each = 100 pts 1 Oral Presentation at 50 pts = 50 pts 1 PowerPoint Outline of Oral Presentation at 20 pts = 20 pts 1 Final Exam at 120 pts = 120 pts Miscellaneous Points (attendance, preparedness, class participation, etc) = 56 pts Utilization of 8 ADAM Software Modules Outside of Class at 10 pts/module = 80 pts LECTURE TOTAL = 786 pts
LABORATORY PORTION:
2 Full Length Laboratory Reports at 50 pts each = 100 pts 2 "Short" Laboratory Reports at 40 pts each = 80 pts 1 Laboratory Practical = 100 pts 1 Poster Presentation of Student Developed Lab at 75 pts = 75 pts LAB TOTAL = 355 pts OVERALL TOTAL = 1141 pts
Final grades are computed as follows:
A+ = 97% - 100% of point total A = 93% - 96.9% of point total A- = 90% - 92.9% of point total B+ = 87% - 89.9% of point total B = 83% - 86.9% of point total B- = 80% - 82.9% of point total C+ = 77% - 79.9% of point total C = 73% - 76.9% of point total C- = 70% - 72.9% of point total D+ = 67% - 69.9% of point total D = 63% - 66.9% of point total D- = 60% - 62.9% of point total F = < 59.9% of point total
NO MAKE-UPS WILL BE GIVEN for unexcused absences of any kind. Therefore, unexcused absences will result in the loss of points equal to the exam or presentation missed. For students with a valid University accepted excuse (e.g., illness, funeral) or an absence that is explained to the satisfaction of the instructor, an opportunity may be provided for making up any missed exam, presentation, or some laboratories. However, there will be a 10% deduction on missed exams and presentations that are not performed on the expected day.
EXAMS:
Exams (4 lecture exams and a final exam) will cover material from the textbook, lectures, and any additional readings. The final exam will not be comprehensive per se, but may include some questions from previous exams. Several types of exam questions (multiple choice, fill-ins, true-false, discussion, and drawings) are fair game for this course. Exams will be graded and shown to you within two days after the exam, provided there are no extenuating circumstances. You will not be allowed to keep them, but you will be allowed to examine them at any time throughout the semester. I strongly encourage you to examine them to make sure they have been graded and scored correctly and to learn from any mistakes.ORAL PRESENTATION:
The lecture presentation will be related to some aspect of animal physiology that you (or a pair of students?) are interested in exploring in more depth. Students are asked to research a topic in greater detail and enlighten the class regarding that topic. Presenters should provide the instructor and other students a PowerPoint outline of their presentation. Presentations should be about 10 minutes in length and utilize at least 5 additional references from the scientific literature. We may spend some time discussing the presentations after they are performed. Dates for presentations will be determined shortly. Please consult with Dr. Edmonds for the appropriateness of your topic before choosing the topic.
ADAM INTERACTIVE PHYSIOLOGY SOFTWARE:
Students have access to software that they will use to assist themselves in learning various physiological principles. You will, in most cases, have to utilize this software outside of class. The software is installed only on the computers in LF 339. This can be done anytime the Physiology room is not in use by other Physiology classes. You will be asked to keep track of the time you spend on the computer using the honor system. You will receive credit for each module you faithfully examine. Please do not rush through these modules. They are a tool to help you master various physiological concepts.
LABORATORY PRACTICAL:
One laboratory practical exam near the end of the semester will cover material from all the laboratories that are performed up to that point. More information about this exam will be provided at a later time.
LABORATORY REPORTS:
Reports written in the format of a scientific paper (introduction, brief methods, results, discussion, tables, figures and legends, references, etc) will be required for 2 laboratories performed. In addition, 2 "short" laboratory reports will be required for other laboratories performed. Short reports do not require an introduction or materials and methods. You may choose whichever laboratory experiments you desire to write your longer or shorter laboratory reports. The laboratories you can choose to write up are designated by asterisks in the syllabus. Laboratory reports will generally be due at the next laboratory session after the completion of the laboratory. However, because some labs take a couple of weeks to complete and will result in a backlog of laboratory reports due at the same time, I will be flexible in terms of due dates for some reports. Reports should be typed and double-spaced with one inch margins. There will be a deduction for late reports of 4 points/day for short reports and 5 points/day for long reports. A poster presentation will be given for the student developed laboratory at the end of the semester.
USE OF ANIMALS:
This course will involve the use of animals in order to assist students to understand various principles of physiology. If properly utilized, I believe the use of animals is an effective tool to learn physiology. We will utilize several different species of animals during the laboratory sessions. Consult the laboratory schedule on the syllabus for the dates of the experiments. If plans change, or other animals are used, I will convey that information to you as soon as possible. If you are uncomfortable using animals in a particular experiment, please notify the instructor immediately. However, be aware that this course will use animals in many different experiments. No penalties will occur, but I will look for alternative sources, such as computer programs or library assignments, to assist you with the material. In addition, you may be used as human subjects in some of the labs performed. Please be prepared to actively participate in all experiments. You may also be expected to assist with any animal care for some of the experiments.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty in this course will not be tolerated in any form. For exams, students will be expected to focus only on their exams. For laboratory reports students will also be held to high standards of conduct in terms of submitting their own work. A student will receive a zero for any assignment in which academic dishonesty is confirmed.
LABORATORY MAINTENANCE:
Please organize each table and all equipment in an orderly fashion before departing the laboratory. Failure to do so may result in a loss of points if Dr. Edmonds has to clean up after each student.
CELL PHONES AND PAGERS:
Please turn off before the start of class unless they absolutely have to be on for emergency reasons. Phones should not be answered during class time. I have been known to deduct points if cell phones go off during class.
DISABILITIES:
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please meet privately with me as soon as possible so that your learning needs can be met. If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Services Office. The office is located in the University Center South, Room 207. The phone number is 941-2243. To receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper forms from Disability Services at the beginning of the semester.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
DAY DATE TOPIC
M Jan 7
Lab: NoneLecture: Introduction to Course and Physiology and
Begin Membranes - Chapters 1 (3-5, 9-13), 2 (30-40), 3
W Jan 9 Lecture: Membranes, Channels, and Transport - Same as above
M Jan 14 Lab: *Membranes, Diffusion, Osmosis and Frog Water Balance* Oncourse
Lecture: Nervous System - Chapters 11 (all), 12 (313-334)
W Jan 16 Finish membrane lab
W Jan 16 Lecture: Nervous System - Chapters 10 (259-266), 11
M Jan 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - No class
W Jan 23 Lecture: Nervous System - Same as above
M Jan 28 Exam 1
Lecture: Autonomic Nervous System - Chapter 10 (271-274)
W Jan 30 Lecture: Sensory System - Chapter 13 (347-361, 365-367, 372-376)
M Feb 4 Lab: *Nerve Action Potentials* - Handout
Lecture: Sensory System - Same as above
W Feb 6 Lecture: Endocrine System/Biological Clocks - Chapters 10 (274-280), 14 (389-416)
M Feb 11 Lab: *Thyroid Hormone Regulation of Female Rice Rat Reproduction* Oncourse
Lecture: Endocrine System - Chapters - Same as Above
W Feb 13 Lecture: Endocrine System - Chapters - Same as Above
M Feb 18 Exam 2
Lecture: Reproductive System - Chapter 15 (426-438, 441-445)
W Feb 20 Lecture: Reproductive System - Same as above
M Feb 25 Lab: *Begin Reproductive System Lab* (Effects of Testosterone
on Reproduction in Laboratory Rats) (2 weeks to complete) Oncourse
Lecture: Muscular System - Chapter 17 (465-487), 6 (160-161)
W Feb 27 Lecture: Muscular System - Same as above
M Mar 3 Lab: *Physiology of Frog Skeletal Muscle* Oncourse
Lecture: Muscular System - Same as above
W Mar 5 Lecture: Cardiovascular System - Chapter 23 (609-626)
M Mar 10 Exam 3
Lecture: Cardiovascular System - Same as above
M/Tu Mar 10/11 Finish Reproduction Lab (Dissect animals)
W Mar 12 Lecture: Cardiovascular System - Same as above
F Mar 14 Last day to withdraw from class
M Mar 17 Lab: *Cardiovascular System (Physiology of Frog Heart)* Oncourse
Lecture: Digestive System - Chapter 4 (111-122)
W Mar 19 Lecture: Digestive System - Same as above
M,W Mar 24,26 Spring Break - No Class
M Mar 31 Lab: Effects of Photoperiod on GI Tract Development in Male Rice Rats - Handout
Lecture: Urinary System - Chapters 25 (665-669), 27 (721-725, 730-743, 750-754)
W Apr 2 Exam 4
M Apr 7 Lab Practical Exam
Lecture: Urinary System - Same as above
W Apr 9 Lecture: - Urinary System - Same as above
M Apr 14 Lab: Individual (or Team?) Project
Lecture: Respiratory System - Chapters 20, 21 (556-563), 22
W Apr 16 Lecture: Respiratory System - Same as above
M Apr 21 Lab: Poster Presentations of Student
Developed LabsFinal Lecture: Respiratory System - Same as above
W Apr 23 FINAL EXAMINATION!!! (1:15P - 3:05P)
SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING LABORATORY REPORTS
Like a piece of scientific research, a laboratory exercise is not finished until the data have been recorded, analyzed and discussed. Before coming to the laboratory, you should read the handout and try to understand it as much as possible. The laboratory report will follow the basic plan of a scientific paper. A suggested format is as follows:
Title and author. On a separate page, give the title of the exercise, your name, and the date the laboratory was conducted, the course number, and the instructor’s name. Introduction. Provide a brief review of the literature and, in the last paragraph, a statement of purpose. In your purpose you should also mention the experiments you will perform to help you achieve your purpose.Materials and Methods
. This section outlines the procedures you followed to complete the experiment. It should be sufficiently complete to enable someone else to repeat exactly your final experimental procedures, and without repeating your errors. Most of this information is provided in the handout, but you should also provide any information that was not included in the handout or any procedures that changed from what you were provided. Results. All observations made during the laboratory period are presented here in a written format. Include original data and averaged or derived calculated data in the form of tables, histograms (bar graphs) or graphs. Be sure to state all units used on each graph. Label all graph axes and record as Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc for ease of reference. Graphs cannot stand alone in this section. They must be interpreted. Selected sections of physiological recordings may be printed out and mounted in the report with complete explanatory notations. Discussion and conclusions. In this section you will discuss your results, explaining the significance of what you have observed, and drawing conclusions. Try to explain negative findings and comment on realistic sources of error. Put your results in a physiological context. It may be necessary to consult other texts and reference material in the preparation of this section. References. List references consulted. Use a conventional style for the citations.Once you have completed your report, then reread it several times to correct grammatical and/or spelling errors. Look for ways to make your report concise. Submit the best quality product you can.
Keeping all of these helpful hints in mind will often assure you that you have produced a quality report of which you can be proud.
Study Guidelines
P416/P418 - Comparative Animal Physiology
Physiology does not have to be a difficult subject. However, it can be challenging to learn because of the many facts there are to remember and organize.
To be successful in this course, you must perform 3 tasks in your studying:
1. Learn facts
2. Organize facts so they are easier to remember
3. Synthesize facts so that they fit together (the big picture)
Recommended weekly study habits:
1. Skim the assigned chapter before the lectures on that material to familiarize yourself with the terms and figures in the book.
2. Take notes in lecture, in your own words. Do not spend time copying figures and tables that are in the book.
3. Read the chapter in depth. Take notes on the text, possibly incorporating text notes into lecture notes.
4. Make flash cards for definitions of key terms, formulas, etc.
5. Make tables and flow charts to organize facts.
6. Look at any graphs and charts in the book. Make sure you understand what the figures show, and how they might change under different physiological conditions.
7. Outline the material in your notes to further organize it.
8. Test yourself using the review questions at the end of the chapter.
9. Go back to review material you don't understand. Don't spend time on material you already know.
10. Attempt to draw charts, graphs, and flow diagrams from memory.
11. Synthesize material. Think about what it all means and how it all fits together.
12. Test yourself again (and again and again).
I do not always recommend studying with friends. Students do not learn at the same rate or in the same way. If you do choose to study together, then be honest enough with yourself to recognize whether it is productive or not for you.
The study program outlined above takes a lot of time. A good rule of thumb for college courses is that you should study 3 hours per week for every lecture hour in class (9 hours per week for this class), if you are an average student who desires an average grade. More work will be required if you are not as "strong" a student or if you want a top grade. This does not include laboratory work.
If you do study the material weekly, you should find that there is very little last minute work to do before the exam. You should also find that your grade does reflect the work that you put into the course.
TAKE HOME MESSAGE: WORK HARD AND ABSOLUTELY DO NOT HESITATE TO SEE ME IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE WITH THE COURSE. THAT'S WHAT I AM HERE FOR.Anything worth doing is worth doing well. If you don’t have the time to do it well now, then when are you going to have the time to do it again.
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