PIKEVILLE COLLEGE

COURSE REQUIREMENT FORM

 

BIO 330:  COMPARATIVE ANATOMY

OF THE VERTEBRATES

 

Instructor:  Joe Whittaker                                                                               Lecture:  T, H 9:30 – 10:45 AM

                                                                                                                                    Room:  ARM 102

            Office:  ARM 105                                                                               Lab:  T 3:00 – 5:50 PM

                                                                                                                                    Room:  ARM 112

            email:  jwhittak@pc.edu                                             

Office Phone:  218 – 5467

                                                                                                                        Division Phone:  218 – 5460

 

Office Hours:  See posted schedule.

 

Pre-or Corequiste:  BIO 151 & BIO 152

 

Required Textbooks:  Kardong, K.V.  2002.  Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution, 3rd ed.  McGraw-Hill, New York.  762 p.

 

Homberger, D.G., and W. F. Walker, Jr.  2004.  Vertebrate Dissection, 9th ed.  Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA.  430 p.

 

Goals and Objectives:  The course is designed to provide an overview of vertebrate morphology. Emphasis is placed on ways that the anatomy of vertebrates has changed through evolutionary time by examining primitive and derived anatomical characteristics. You are expected to develop an understanding of basic body plans of vertebrates, evolutionary changes in anatomy of particular organs and organ systems, evolutionary relationships among vertebrate groups as well as other animals, and relationships between form and function. Laboratories are designed to provide you with hands-on study and comparison of vertebrate anatomy. You are expected to learn and develop skills related to dissection, such as the systematic removal and exposure of various tissues, for the ultimate goal of visualizing anatomical relationships and inferring their development and function.

 

Attendance Policy:  Lecture and laboratory contribute equally to an understanding of vertebrate anatomy. Additionally, there will be a large amount of material covered in a relatively short time. Therefore you are expected (and strongly encouraged) to attend all lectures and labs – and to be on time for class.  If you miss a lecture or lab, you are responsible for getting the material you missed.  As a Tuesday/Thursday class, we will only meet 26 times for lecture.  Missing 3 lectures means you have missed over 10% of the lecture material.  After 4 absences (without a valid, college-recognized excuse, I will deduct points from your total grade.  After 6 absences, missing Ľ of the lecture material, I will assign a grade of F for the course.  If you know ahead of time (athletic activities, etc.) that you will be missing an assignment, you must contact me at least 24 hours in advance concerning your absence in order to make arrangements to make-up any missed assignments. You must make-up any missed assignments either before your absence or before the next class meeting. Any work missed because of valid emergency absence (must be accompanied by a written excuse, (e.g. physicians note, etc.)) must be made-up as soon as possible after your return. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period unless otherwise specified. Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day (starting with – 10% after the assignments are collected in class).

 

In the event you must miss a lecture OR lab exam you must contact me BEFORE the exam.

If you miss a test or other assignment due to an emergency (illness, etc.), you must have a valid written excuse (physician’s note, etc.). Any exam missed without notifying me or without a valid excuse will be assigned a grade of “0” on the exam. A word of warning: make-up exams will not be identical in content or format to original exams (often in essay format and therefore may seem more difficult than the original exam).  Typically make-up exams are given during finals week.  Missed lab exams CAN NOT be made up.   

 

Grading Policy:  There will be 3 lecture exams and a cumulative final. Additionally, there will be 3 laboratory exams. In addition you will be conducting a literature review. In the case of particularly skillful dissection, I will reward you with extra credit points (not to exceed 10% of the course grade). Conversely, in the event of particularly poor dissections you will be penalized (again, not to exceed 10% of the course grade).  Unethical treatment of specimens will result in loss of points at my discretion.

 

Exams:  will be comprised of a variety of question formats: multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, short answer and brief essay.

 

Lab Exams:  will be objective in nature. You will be asked to recognize and identify taxonomic designations, identify structures, identify homologous structures in other groups, and describe functions.

 

Literature Review:  You will find a list of “Selected References” at the end of each chapter of your text. Choose one of the references, obtain a copy (start early – you will need to use interlibrary loans), read it, and prepare a 5 – 10 page paper (typed, double-spaced) summary and analysis of it. Your review should introduce the topic by giving appropriate background for a non-specialist, summarize the content of the paper (or chapter, or book), critique the content, and assess the general significance of the author’s contribution to comparative anatomy. Your chosen reference must be approved by me and only one student may use a particular reference (so make your selection quickly).  You will not be allowed to change topics at the last minute.  I will review draft papers up to one week prior to the paper due date. Plagiarism on this assignment will result in the student’s failure in the course (see Academic Dishonesty section below).  I would expect at least 7 to 10 additional peer-reviewed sources to be used in the writing of this paper.  Additionally, you will be present information on your selected topic in the form of a formal poster presentation.  Additional information will be provided concerning the poster presentation in the near future.

 

If you withdraw from this course after the last day to receive a “W”, I will have to assign a grade of “WP” (withdraw passing) or “WF” (withdraw failing).  Do not expect to automatically get a grade of “WP.”  I will look at your percentage of the available points at the time you drop the course and make a determination of whether you are passing or failing the course.  All assignments and exams prior to your dropping the course will be included in this calculation. 

 

GRADING

 

Your grade will be based on your percentage* of the total points as follows:

 

                                    Percentage                                           Grade

 

                                        ≥90                                                      A

                                       80-89                                                    B

                                       70-79                                                    C

                                       60-69                                                    D

                                         ≤59                                                     F

 

* Your percentage = Your total points / Total number of points possible *

 

Special Considerations:  Due to the nature of this course and material, there will be considerable overlap between labs and lectures. I recommend using this overlap when studying. Material presented in lab may help you visualize or provide a different explanation of material presented in lecture. Additionally, the laboratory portion of this course will require a large time commitment outside of the scheduled lab time. I will make arrangements for you to have access to the specimens and the labs, when possible, as well as providing official review times – IF students are effectively using scheduled laboratory time. In special cases, students not using the scheduled laboratory time will not be allowed to participate in laboratory reviews.  A word of warning:  do not wait until the last minute to study or review.  Setting up lab exams takes several hours and will necessitate the lab being closed the day prior to the exam.  This is an intense course that is frequently recommended by medical schools both because of the content and also because of the time and commitment required.

 

Academic Dishonesty:  Pikeville College views academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, fabricating, or facilitating academic dishonesty.  I will not tolerate any instance of academic dishonesty.  Science depends on the integrity of those contributing to it.  As such, instances of plagiarism or academic dishonesty will result in either:  the student receiving a failing grade for the activity or receiving a failing grade for the course, according to the perceived intent and extent of the instance(s) of academic dishonesty.  This policy will be rigidly enforced.  This policy will be rigidly enforced. Please see the Pikeville College Course Catalog or ask me if you have questions about academic dishonesty.  It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty.

Vandalism, intentional destruction and theft of Pikeville College property (including specimens, models, slides, or facilities) and/or endangering other people through negligent or irresponsible behavior will result in your immediate dismissal with a grade of "F" for this course and may result in legal action by Pikeville College.   

Tentative Lecture/Lab Schedule:

 

 DATE

                    LECTURE(Chapter)

                  LAB (Chapter)

 8 Jan

Introduction, general considerations (1)

 

13

Concepts of evolution, early morphologists (1)

Introduction/Protochordates/Lamprey

15

Homology, homoplasy, analogy, phylogenetics (1)

(1,2)

20

Paleontology, classification, vertebrate origins (1,2)

Integument/Axial & Append. Skeleton

22

Vertebrate origins, vertebrate phylogeny (2,3)

(3,5,6)

27

Vertebrate phylogeny (3)

Skull/External Shark & Necturus (4)

29

Biological design (4)

                        

 3 Feb

Embrological considerations (5)

Skull/External Cat (4)

 5

Exam 1

 

10

Integument and its derivatives (6)

Lab Practical I / Shark Muscles (7)

12

Skeleton: Skull (7)

 

17

Skeleton: Skull (7)

Shark, Necturus, Cat Muscles (7)

19

Muscular system (10)

 

24

Muscular system (10)

Cat Muscles & Sense Organs (7,8)

27

Muscular system (10)

 

 2 Mar

Exam II

Digestive Shark, Necturus, Cat (10)

 4

Digestive system (13)

 

 9

Digestive system (13)

Lab Practical II

11

Respiratory system (11)

 

16

Spring Break

No Lab

18

Spring Break

 

23

Respiratory system (11)

Circulatory (11)

25

Circulatory system (12)

 

30

Circulatory system (12)

Circulatory/Urogenital (11,12)

 1 Apr

Circulatory system (12)

 

 6

Exam III

Nervous (9)

 8

Urogenital system – Urinary (14)

 

13

Urogenital system – Reproductive (14)

Catch Up & Review

15

Endocrine system (15)

 

20

Nervous system (16)

Lab Practical III

22

Nervous system (16) and Sense organs (17)

 

 

 

 

29

FINAL EXAM –  THURSDAY 9:30 AM

 

 

Disclaimer: The schedules and policies associated with this course may be subject to revision or change as a consequence of changing circumstances or events. Reasonable notification will be provided to students prior to any major changes in course policies or procedure.

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Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to inform me (the instructor) at the start of the semester. Methods, materials, or testing may be modified as required to provide for equitable participation.

 

 

Course Requirement Sheet Acknowledge Form

 

I ________________________________ have received a copy of the Requirement Sheet for BIO 330:

                    (Printed Name)

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE VERTEBRATES, and understand all the policies and procedures outlined therein.

 

 

 

_________________________________                                                      ______________________

                        (Signature)                                                                                                 (Date)

 

Please fill out the optional information request below:

 

Major: ____________________________

 

Contact Phone Number: _____________________________

 

E-mail Address: ____________________________

 

Medical information that the instructor should be aware of:

 

 

 

 

 

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Previous biology background (high school and college):