Bio3620                                                                                                               Autumn 2007

Functional Comparative Anatomy (of Vertebrates)

Professor:  Stephen Mullin                                                 Office: LS 1114

tel: 217.581.6234                    Internet: <sjmullin@eiu.edu>                                                                                                                          mailbox: LS 2070

Office Hours: 1000-1130 h Mon. & Wedn.; or, by appointment.

Synopsis – This course features an anatomical survey of the vertebrate subphylum, with emphasis on functional morphology and adaptive structures within representative taxonomic groups.  Material presented in lecture will be supplemented with detailed laboratory dissections and examinations of preserved specimens representing various vertebrate species.  Evolutionary relationships between major clades within the subphylum will be emphasized throughout the semester.

 

Prerequisites – Prior to taking this course, you should have successfully completed bio1300g.  Concurrent enrollment in the laboratory section is required.

Note, that there is a course fee of $25¡¡ that will appear on your tuition bill (i.e., you do not pay me or the dept. directly).  This fee is assessed to all students to partially defray expenses associated with laboratory supplies.

 

Required Materials – lecture:

Kent, G.C., and R.K. Carr.  2001.  Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates, 9th ed.  New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

– laboratory:  Walker, W.F., and D.G. Homberger.  2004.  Vertebrate Dissection, 9th ed. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

                                      [each student should purchase a copy of this text from the Union bookstore]

                                      a dissection kit

                                      [each student should purchase a kit from the instructor – $11¡¡]

                                      a lab animal pack

                                      [pairs of students will be issued a pack to share; stored in walk-in cooler]

Optional Materials –

A lecture note ÒreaderÓ (available from BGSA, in the Grad. Pit – LS1120)

A laboratory coat

A sketch notebook

Reserve Materials – Several resources will be available to help you with information presented throughout the course.  I will have them available for check out during my office hours:

Kardong, K.  2002.  Vertebrates:  Comparative Anatomy, Function, & Evolution, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Kardong, K., and E.J. Zalisko.  2002.  Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy:  A Laboratory Dissection Guide, 3rd ed.  New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

 

Attendance – Lecture

  With the exception of school holidays, lecture sections will meet on Mon. & Wedn. from 0900-0950 h; please avoid the embarrassment of arriving late.  I won't take attendance regularly, but I can guarantee that anyone noticeably absent during the semester will not receive any leniency should I decide to curve grades at the end of the term.  At my discretion, Òpop quizzesÓ will be given when attendance is poor; make-up quizzes are not an option.  Note: the lecture note reader is not a substitute for attending class – I will regularly embellish on the material contained in the reader, and I expect students to understand this additional information and all examples offered in class.

 

– Laboratory

  Attendance is mandatory for the lab section (Tues. @ 0800-1150 h): more than two unexcused absences during the term will result in your receiving a failing (ÒFÓ) grade for the entire course.  If you expect to miss a particular lab meeting because of a university-related function, please see me by the end of the prior week.  At my discretion, portions of lab meetings will be used to present additional lecture material.

 

Lecture/Lab Etiquette

  I would like to discourage distractions during our meeting times.  Therefore, any student will be penalized ten (10) points if their pager/cellular telephone/alarm emits any audible noise (buzzing, humming, catchy tunes, etc.) during any class meeting.

  It is not unusual during any part of this class to use live humans as examples (we are vertebrates too, after all!).  As such, we will likely learn more about each other than would normally be divulged in everyday conversation.  I will not tolerate anyone making disparaging remarks about another studentÕs anatomical or physiological peculiarities.

  Close-toed shoes must be worn during lab exercises – I will send you home to change footwear if you show up with anything else.

  Other classes that might be as ÒmessyÓ as ours use the lab room.  It is not the job of either myself or a teaching assistant to serve as your maid.  Thus, any student failing to adequately clean their workspace will be penalized five (5) points per occurrence.  Set a good example for your peers to follow!

 

Grading – Lecture

  There will be 3 exams given over the course of the semester, plus a final exam.  Each midterm exam is worth 80 points and covers only the portions of the course prior to its test date (i.e., none are comprehensive).  The final exam is worth 150 points and is comprehensive – although the last 20 % of the course will be emphasized, this exam includes questions concerning material presented throughout the semester.

– Laboratory

  There will be 3 practical exams given over the course of the semester during lab periods – none of these exams will be comprehensive (each covering only material directly preceding the exam date).

 

Mid-term exams (3 @ 80 points each)                                                    240 points

Laboratory practicals (3 @ 60 points each)                                    180

Lecture final exam                                                                                                                 150

Miscellaneous (assignments, "pop quizzes," etc.)                   30

TOTAL                                                                                                                                                     600 points

Thus, your awarded grade for the class will be determined on a 600-point scale.  The grade distribution may be curved at my discretion, and only for your performance in the entire course at the end of the semester.  Generally, however, I will follow the standard 10-%age point scale (90-100 % = ÔAÕ, 80-89 % = ÔBÕ, etc.).

 

Exams – Unless otherwise noted, exam format will generally consist of short answer, essay and matching questions.  Spelling counts!  One point will be deducted from your exam total for every 5 spelling/grammatical errors on each exam.  If you miss an exam, it is your responsibility to contact me before the next class meeting -- failure to do so will result in a zero grade for that exam.  Written make-up exams are given only at my discretion – if you miss an exam with an excused absence, the make-up will be administered as soon as is mutually convenient and typically comprised of oral responses to my questions.

  There are no make-up exams for laboratory practicals under any circumstances.

 

Academic Integrity -- I expect that you will never passively or actively cheat on any of my exams, or those administered by your other instructors.  Any documented incidence of cheating or plagiarism will result in a failing grade (ÒFÓ) for the course and a notification to the DeanÕs office and Judicial Affairs.  Please feel free to speak with me, or consult your Student Handbook, if you have any questions concerning this matter.

 

Further Assistance with course material -- If you suddenly find yourself with a question that is burning a hole in your brain, and cannot reach me, there are several ways of obtaining the answer.

In addition to several sources in the library, here are some examples:

1.  The authors of your text have thoughtfully provided a variety of resources for you to follow up on presented material.  The citations and websites are listed at the end of each chapter.

2.  Help each other -- get to know your fellow students!  Active learning through testing each other on the material is one of the most effective ways of learning where your weaknesses lie with this subject matter.

3.  Seek help at the Learning Assistance Center (x6696) or the Counseling Center (x3413) to obtain help with studying for this class.  Also, as a service to EIU students, the Academic Success Center provides a list of individual tutors via the web page <www.eiu.edu/~success>

4.  I prepare for labs by reviewing all structures for all specimens on Monday afternoons.  If youÕd like to join me (either reviewing on your own, or getting ahead with new material), feel free to show up and we can work together.

 

 

 

Disabled Students should contact the Office of Disability Services (9th St.Hall 2002; x6583) for any arrangements that need to be made in order to ensure that you get the most out of this course.  Within reason, I am willing to make whatever accommodations are necessary to facilitate your learning of this material.

 

 

Assignment #1:  (5 points; due 24 Aug.) Send me an internet message containing the following information, each item (un-numbered) on a new line of text:

your name as you wish to be addressed

last 4 digits of your SSN#

your phone #

your class standing

your major

and two statements:  "Yes/No you may/may not post my grade by special code."

[If "yes," then provide 6-digit code -- you may use any sequence of numbers or letters.].

"Yes/No you may/may not release my phone number to the rest of the class."

 

––––––

 

 

Cool course-related websites!

<http://www.digimorph.org/>

<http://brainmuseum.org/index.html>

<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html>

<http://biology.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=biology&cdn=education&tm=3&f=00&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//froguts.com/flash_content/demo/frog.html>

 

Bio3620 – Mullin                                                                               Autumn 2007

Functional Comparative Anatomy (of Vertebrates)

                                                                                                                      Lecture Schedule  

                                                                                                                                                             Chapter

Week of            Topic                                                                                           Readings

20 Aug.                 Introduction:  Anatomical & functional orientation       1

                                           Chordates:  Their common traits and evolution            3

27                                   Vertebrates:  Evolution & survey of the clades                      4

                                           Tissues & Skeletal systems I – bone formation & structure                                                                                                         5, 7

4 Sept.                    Skeletal systems II – axial elements                         8

10                                   Skeletal systems III – cranial & visceral elements              9

                                           1ST Mid-term examination

17                                   Skeletal systems IV – appendicular elements                                           10

                                           Integument & its derivatives                                                6

24                                   Muscular systems                                                                               11

1 Oct.                       Digestive systems                                                                              12

8                                       2nd Mid-term examination

                                           Respiratory systems                                                                        13

15                                   Circulatory systems I – blood elements & the lymphatic system                                                                                                              14

22                                   Circulatory systems II – evolution of the heart & blood flow                                                                                                                      14

29                                   Excretory systems                                                                             15

5 Nov.                     3rd Mid-term examination

                                           Reproductive systems                                                                  15

12                                   Nervous systems I – development and cranial elements                                                                                                                              16

                                           Nervous systems II – sensory organs                   17

19                                   Thanksgiving Break

26                                   Endocrine systems                                                                            18

3 Dec.                      Catch-up day (brought to you by Heinz¨!)

                                           Course evaluation & review

11 Dec. (Tuesday)  Final exam at 0800 h.

                                                                                                                                                                                          


Bio3620 – Mullin                                                                               Autumn 2007

Functional Comparative Anatomy (of Vertebrates)

                                                                                                          Laboratory Schedule                                                                                              

 

Week of                               Subject matter

21 Aug.                               Introduction – anatomical and functional orientation

                                                          – non-gnathostome anatomy

28                                                 Squalus & Amia skeletons

4 Sept.                                  Necturus, Chelydra and Gallus skeletons

11                                                 Felis and Homo skeletons

18                                                 1st practical exam

25                                                 Squalus muscles

2 Oct.                                     Necturus, Chrysemys and Gallus muscles

9                                                     Felis muscles I – cranial & thoracic regions

16                                                 Felis muscles II – visceral & appendicular regions

23                                                 2nd practical exam

30                                                 Squalus visceral & circulatory systems

6 Nov.                                   Necturus visceral & circulatory systems

13                                                 Felis visceral & circulatory systems

20                                                 No lab – Gobble, gobble!

27                                                 Comparative neuro-anatomy lab

4 Dec.                                    3rd practical exam

                                                                                                                                                                                          

      Note:  Tentatively plan on practical exams commencing at 1015 h on the day of the exam.

  Reminder – please do not wear open-toed shoes to any lab session.