Animal Physiology (BIO 412)

Course Syllabus

Professor:  D. Andrew Crain, 112 Sutton Hall, 981-8238

Text:  Textbook of Medical Physiology, Tenth Edition.  2000.

A.C. Guyton and J.E. Hall.  W.B. Saunders Company. 

Lecture Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00-12:15

*All exam dates are tentative. 

Brief course description:

            This course is designed to introduce basic physiological concepts in human and comparative physiology.  For most topics included in the syllabus, we will examine basic concepts and the purpose of each physiological system as well as clinical aspects of disease states.  We will also examine modern advances in the study of the physiological system, and discuss the current gaps in our knowledge.  While lecture focuses primarily on human systems physiology, the laboratory explores physiological systems of other animals through an experimental approach.  This will provide an informative and exciting exploration of the biochemical and biophysical aspects of systems physiology.  

Course Objectives:  

1.      To familiarize the students with each human physiological system, and to understand the mechanisms through which these systems operate.

2.      To briefly examine variations in these physiological systems in other vertebrates.

3.      In the laboratory, to apply an experimental approach to understanding these physiological systems.

Attendance Policy:

Attendance at all exams and laboratories is mandatory.  Only valid excuses corroborated by written evidence (from a doctor, etc.) will be considered for make-up exams.  There will be no make up labs.  An unexcused missed exam will be scored as a 0, and an unexcused missed lab will result in a 0 for the quiz and laboratory report.

            Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day late.

Cheating:

            Any student caught cheating on an exam or quiz, or plagiarizing lab reports will receive a failing grade for the course.

Grading:

                 Laboratory (see below) ..............................35%

                4 Lecture exams @ 12% each.......................48%

                Cumulative final ..........................................17%

                                                                                        100%

                Laboratory grading:

                  10 Quizzes @ 3% each....................................30%

                  Laboratory reports (4 @ 10% each)...............40%  

                  Results on labs without report (3% each)...18%

                  Growth experiment laboratory report....... 15%

                                                                                           100%