Skidmore College: Plant Biology
BI180: Economic Botany

SYLLABUS for BI 180-

Economic Botany

Fall, 2000

Lecture: T,Th 12:40-2:00 pm Davis

Labs: Section 1: Tu 9-11 am Dana 346 Section 2: Tu 2:10-4:10 " " Section 3: Thurs 9-11 am " " Section 4: Thurs 2:10-4:10 pm " "

Book: "Introductory Plant Biology, 8th edition" by Kingsley Stern. Lab manual,: "Introductory Plant Biology-Laboratory Manual" by Kingsley Stern.

Instructors: Dr. David Domozych, Dana 382, ext. 5075: e-mail: ddomoz Dr. Catherine Domozych, Dana 323, ext. 5074: e-mail: cdomozyc Website: Check out the Plant Biology website on Skidmore College's and the Biology Department's Home page BI 180:

Course goals: Economic Botany will introduce students to the concepts of plant and fungal biology and provide a hands-on survey of the practices associated with plant science and mycology. Lectures will focus upon the structure and mechanisms of plant/fungal systems, their evolution, their importance in the biosphere and their utilization in human affairs (including agriculture, agri-economics, horticulture, forestry). Laboratories will include field trips to areas of botanical/mycological interest, surveys of various taxonomic groups and experimental analyses of basic plant metabolism. This course fulfills either part of the "Nature" requirement.

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Lecture Schedule:

I. Introduction- Importance of plants and fungi - human uses of these organisms, impact upon various cultures. Welcome to the 21st century, the "Biology "century. CH 1,2. A.) Introduction to major plant groups, fungal groups. CH 16, 23, 24 1.) Focus on angiosperms- morphology, taxonomy, parts utilized by humans. 2.) Key plant families-identification and uses. B.) Brief survey of agriculture and its origins. II. Plant chemistry- the basis of life, building blocks A.) Basic chemistry- simple rules of a complex world B.) Fundamentals of chemistry C.) Survey of major biochemical groups 1) Carbohydrates- the staples of life; sucrose, starch, cellulose 2) Lipids- the borders of life and the basis of photosynthesis/fats, oils, isoprenoids 3) Secondary constituents- defense/attraction alkaloids, tannins 4) Proteins and nucleic acids- basics of genetics

EXAM # 1: Oct. 5, 2000 (225 points)

III. Metabolism- the processes of life A.) Photosynthesis- light and dark processes/evolutionary adaptations B.) Respiration- the carbon cycle C.) Nitrogen metabolism and other nutrient processing. CH 10 IV. Cell Biology- the functional units of life. CH 3 A.) Prokaryotes B.) Eukaryotes V. Plant genetics/ Biotechnology//Reproductive Biology. CH 13, 14 A.) Evolution of multicellularity B.) Fungal morphology C.) Vascular tissue D.) Organs of vascular plants E.) Reproductive strategies

EXAM # 2: Nov. 7, 2000 (225 points)

VI. Survey of various groups- basic life history/ taxonomy A.) Prokaryotic systems CH 17 B.) Fungi CH 19 C.) Algae CH 18 D.) Bryophytes CH 20 E.) Ferns/allies CH 21 F.) Gymnosperms CH22 G.) Angiosperms CH 23 1) Monocots 2) Dicots VII. Ecology and biogeography CH 25,26

EXAM # 3: Date to be announced by registrar- final exam week (250 points)

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BI 180 LAB SCHEDULE For Fall 2000

Week of 9/11 Lab# 1 Taxonomy and use of plant keys in the field using handouts and CD Rom:Woody Plant ID. Please read Chapters 16 and 24 in the text book before completing the first 3 labs. 9/18

Lab# 2 Field work in North Woods 9/25

Lab# 3 Field work continues 10/2

Lab# 4 Plant Propagation- Ch. 7 in Lab Manual. Also, please read Ch 14 in Text Book prior to the lab. 10/9

Lab# 5 Photosynthesis Experiments- Handouts. Also, please read Ch. 10 in Text prior to the lab. 10/16

Lab# 6 Microscopy and The Cell- Ch. 1 & 2 Lab Manual and Ch. 3 in Text read prior to the lab. 10/23

Lab# 7 Bacteria, Algae & Protozoa- Ch. 14 in manual and Ch. 18 in Text read prior to lab. 10/30

Lab# 8 Fungi and Lichens- Ch. 15 in manual and Ch. 19 in Text read prior to lab. 11/6

Lab# 9 Bryophytes and Ferns- Ch. 16 in manual and Ch. 20 -21 in Text read prior to lab. 11/13

Lab# 10 Gymnosperms- Ch. 17 in manual and Ch. 22 in Text read prior to lab. *

11/20-NO LABS THIS WEEK - THANKSGIVING BREAK 11/27

Lab# 11 Angiosperms- Ch. 18 in manual and Ch. 23 in Text read prior to lab. 12/4

Lab# 12 Fruits, Spices, Poisonous and Medicinal Plants- Ch. 19 in lab manual and handouts plus Ch. 8 in text read prior to lab.

Lab quizzes to be given at the beginning of lab each week starting on lab# 2. Each quiz will be worth 25 points. A total of 12 quizzes will be given for a final sum of 300 points. The final quiz for lab # 12 will be given at the beginning of the last lecture on Dec. 12. If you miss a lab and do not make it up in the same week ( during another regularly scheduled lab session) then you may take the quiz for that week at the end of the course during final exams. There will be no make-ups outside of regularly scheduled lab sessions. Labs are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 and 2-4pm in Dana 346.

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Course Ground Rules: PLEASE READ this syllabus, especially the following ground rules. 1) Attendance: Poor attendance is often the cause of poor grades. Please attend all lectures and labs. a) Each student is allowed three (3) lecture absences and one (1) lab absence. If you exceed these totals, you may automatically fail this course. b) You are responsible for obtaining any material given in your absence. This includes both lecture and lab. c) Attendance will be monitored by a sign-in sheet (in lecture) or by a roll-call in lab at the beginning of the class period. Make certain to sign-in and please note that signing in another individual is unacceptable. The instructors will treat this as a violation of the Skidmore Honor Code. d) Tardiness: If you come in late (i.e. 10 minutes late for lecture or 5 minutes late for lab), that will constitute an absence. It is your responsibility to make it to class on time. e) Absence on an exam or lab quiz: Please note that if you miss an exam or lab quiz and have a valid excuse, a reschedule or make-up of that exam or quiz will be made. The instructor has the right to schedule that make-up at any time during the semester. Also, note that make-up exams are usually more difficult than regular exams (e.g. students rarely do better on make-ups than on regular exams). It is to your benefit to take regularly scheduled exams and quizzes. f) Excused absences: If, for medical or personal reasons you miss a class or lab, contact us immediately at ext. 5074, 5075. For legitimate absences, please come and talk to us immediately so that your absence is excused. If you are to miss a lecture or lab for an athletic or club event, you must provide a note at least one week in advance from that coach, instructor, moderator.....in charge of that team, club, event....etc. Failure to do so will constitute an unexcused absence. The following are not considered excusable absences: sleeping late, too much work in other classes, yearning to have a long weekend........

The course and your grade: In this course there are 3 lecture exams and lecture exams are not cumulative. There are 12 lab quizzes. Make certain that you note the dates of exams and quizzes . If you are sick, call immediately. Exams and quizzes must be attended. Make-up exams may be scheduled with a written doctor's excuse.

Layout of grades: Lecture exams: 1 =225 points; 2= 225 points; 3= 250 points; 4 Lab quizzes =300 points TOTAL for course 1000 total points b) Grading: This course is based on 1000 points so to obtain a particular grade you must have the following scores: A+ 980-1,000 A 895-979 B+ 880-894 B 795-879 C+ 780-794 C 695-779 D+ 680-694 D 595-679 F Below 594 c) Individual tests may be curved depending on class results.