Table of Contents

COURSE INFORMATION

Section Information

Campus: Online

• BIOL 2316-002-27409

*All classes will be online and be conducted asynchronously. This means that you will not have regularly scheduled online lectures. You will work on the course during times that are convenient to you using the deadlines for assignments and quizzes as your guide.

Course Description

• Credit Hours: 3

• Classroom Contact Hours per week: 3

Genetics is an introduction to the basic concepts of human heredity and cytogenetics including Mendelian, molecular, and population genetics.

Online Course: This course is an online course. Online courses can be more difficult than a traditional course if you are not prepared for it. I will be expecting that you are working on the material in a timely fashion.

An online course also means that you will have to make a more concerted effort to stay on schedule and be aware of what assignments/quizzes/exams are coming up and what their due dates are. I have provided this information in several places in blackboard and here in the syllabus. You are responsible for staying up-to-date with the material.

Skills Requirements

Reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency as determined by the COMPASS or ASSET test, or by the statewide THEA test, or by providing an official transcript from another college.

Course Rationale

In support of Austin Community College’s Mission Statement to support skills for “life-long learning”, this course will challenge students to apply critical thinking skills to their readings, class activities, and classroom discussions. Although an emphasis is placed on each student’s resourcefulness and personal responsibility for constructing their new knowledge, opportunities for working collaboratively with groups will also be provided. An emphasis is given in this course on the practical applications of the study of genetics in human diseases.

Prerequisites

BIOL 1406 with a minimum grade of C.

Student Learning Outcomes

Course-Level

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Perform monohybrid and dihybrid crosses and determine phenotypic probability

• Solve problems in X-linkage, multiple alleles, pedigrees and epistasis.

• Describe chromosome structure, variations such as translocations, and gene mapping by linkage analysis.

• Identify types of mutations, mutagens and DNA repair mechanisms.

• Compare viral, bacterial, eukaryotic and organelle genomes and genomics.

• Illustrate DNA structure and replication, transcription, translation and regulation of gene expression.

• Identify different RNAs including their impact on selective splicing, editing, and inhibition of translation.

• Describe the genetics of cancer including proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressors, telomerase and DNA repair mutations.

• Describe the Hardy-Weinberg Law and its impact on population genetics.

General Education

As a Core Curriculum course, students completing this course will demonstrate competence in:

• Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information.

• Interpersonal Skills - Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals.

• Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods.

• Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Departmental Common Course Objectives

The ACC Biology Department has specified the content of this course in the departmental common course objectives. The departmental objectives are located at http://sites.austincc.edu/biology/common-course-objectives/ .

Instructional Methodology: Lecture

This course is divided into 5 Units (see the syllabus for more details on these units). Each unit consists of a series of chapter homeworks, concept maps and quizzes. You can find the due dates for all of these in the "course calendar" and in the syllabus. We will cover a unit every 3 weeks (21 days).

Blackboard: All material for this course can be found on and is delivered through the learning management system, Blackboard. You will be submitting assignments, taking quizzes and exams, and posting discussions on blackboard. You will be expected to use blackboard for all work and submissions.

Achieve Digital Conent: As part of the textbook content is a digital platform called Achieve. You will be completing assignments in Achieve but will access it through Blackboard. The grades from Achieve will migrate to Blackboard.

Grading System

Grading criteria: The course is divided into five modules. The learning assessments are broken down as follows:

Grading Scale: The grading scale is a standard percent scale.

• 0-59% F

• 60-69% D

• 70-79% C

• 80-89% B

• 90-100% A

Grades will be available through the “My Grades” link in Blackboard. Click on the icon and you will be able to see your grades as they become available.

Missed Quizzes/Late Assignments

Work (including exams) will be accepted for up to 7 days after the due date but will be penalized 20% off of the total possible points for lateness. Work will NOT be accepted after this one-week grace period. Missed exams and lab quizzes must be made up during class time or during office hours.

Unit Exams

• Unit Exams will be administered in Blackboard using the Respondus Lockdown Browser and a webcam.

Quiz, Assignment, Discussion and Exam due dates: Due dates for quizzes, discussions, exams and homeworks can be found in the schedule and online in blackboard. All materials that are turned in on blackboard are due by midnight (11:59 pm) of the due date.

The due dates for each assignment within each unit are listed at the end of the syllabus and in the calendar on blackboard. Please make every effort to stay up-to-date on your work!

Submit all work through the blackboard system or Achieve, as per the instructions. DO NOT email your work to me, as I will not accept/grade emailed assignments (This is a matter of keeping the grades organized within blackboard and allowing me to know what still needs to be graded).

All underlined text within the ‘Course Content’ area is a link to another part of the course. Click on these links to submit assignments, access websites and readings, etc. All assignments must be submitted electronically, and all documents must be saved in .doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, .xls, .xlsx, .rtf, .txt or .pdf formats. Please do not submit anything in a .pages format (this is a standard apple format).

**All assignments must be turned in and quizzes/exams taken by December 12, 2021.

Due to ACC policies concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), instructors cannot post grades or call or e-mail students with information about their grades. You can post grades on their Blackboard site for the class. In Blackboard, a student can only see his/her own grade.

Learning Assessment Descriptions

Below is a description of each of the learning assessments that are used in the course.

• Chapter Homework: These are homework assignments designed in the Achieve digital content. These are series of questions that cover the chapter material and is meant to help you make sure you are familiar with the material.

• Chapter Adaptive Quizzes: These quizzes are administered in the Achieve learning environment and are meant to give you sample questions that will help you study for the exam. They are structured to allow you to work on questions and get to the right answer without just giving you the answer.

• Discussions: Discussions are a chance for you to interact with other students over the topics covered in each chapter. Discussions will focus on relevant topics in genetics.

• Unit Exams: There will be an exam for each unit covering the chapters in that unit. These exams will be delivered through Blackboard using the Respondus Lockdown Browser.

• Final Exam: There is a comprehensive final at the end of the course that is NOT optional. It is worth 15% of the grade and will be delivered through Blackboard using the Respondus Lockdown Browser.

• Extra Credit: There are some review chapters for you to look at and you can take the exam for those chapters. This exam can be used to replace one of your lowest exam scores.

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance/Class Participation

It is expected that you log into the class weekly and complete and turn in materials in a timely manner. If a student falls significantly behind in the materials in class I will contact that student and may withdraw them if there is not significant progress made towards completing the material.

The student is responsible for communicating with their professor during the closure and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor.

Withdrawal Policy

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records.

Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate for that course.

State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog.

(Students who exit the course before the Official Reporting Date are considered to have “dropped” the course. Dropped courses are not considered withdrawals and are not posted on the student transcript and thus not affected by the Texas Six Drop Rule. Students who exit the course after the Official Reporting Date and before or on the Final Withdrawal Date are considered to have “withdrawn” from the course thus receive a “W” on their transcript and are affected by the Texas Six Drop rule.

I will initiate a drop of a student from the course under any of the following circumstances:

1. More than 4 missed assignments during the semester without sufficient reason.

2. More than 1 missed exam.

3. Abusive language in the discussions or in classroom meetings.

I may withdraw a student from this course through the Final Withdrawal Date.

Students cannot normally withdraw after the Final Withdrawal Date, and I won’t normally withdraw a student after that date as a rule. However, in exceptional circumstances, such as student misbehavior (disruptive behavior, cheating, violating lab safety rules) or compelling compassionate reasons (such as natural disasters or serious illnesses), I can withdraw a student after the Final Withdrawal Date. The Official Reporting Date and Final Withdrawal Date may be found in the Registration Calendar.

Reinstatement:

In the case that you are dropped and want to be reinstated I will require that we meet to discuss why you were withdrawn and come up with a plan that will justify reinstatement. In the case of being dropped for non-payment I will automatically approve a reinstatement request.

Incompletes

An incomplete (grade of "I") will only be given for extenuating circumstances. What constitutes “extenuating circumstances” is left to the instructor’s discretion. If a grade of I is given, the remaining course work must be completed by a date set by the student and professor. This date may not be later than two weeks prior to the end of the following semester. A grade of I also requires completion and submission of the Incomplete Grade form, to be signed by the faculty member (and student if possible) and submitted to the department chair.

Students may request an Incomplete from their faculty member if they believe circumstances warrant. The faculty member will determine whether the Incomplete is appropriate to award or not. The following processes must be followed when awarding a student an I grade.

1. Prior to the end of the semester in which the “I” is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date. This meeting can occur virtually or in person. The instructor should complete the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

2. The faculty member will complete the form, including all requirements to complete the course and the due date, sign (by typing in name) and then email it to the student. The student will then complete his/her section, sign (by typing in name), and return the completed form to the faculty member to complete the agreement. A copy of the fully completed form can then be emailed by the faculty member to the student and the department chair for each grade of Incomplete that the faculty member submits at the end of the semester.

3. The student must complete all remaining work by the date specified on the form above. This date is determined by the instructor in collaboration with the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent long semester.

4. Students will retain access to the course Blackboard page through the subsequent semester in order to submit work and complete the course. Students will be able to log on to Blackboard and have access to the course section materials, assignments, and grades from the course and semester in which the Incomplete was awarded.

5. When the student completes the required work by the Incomplete deadline, the instructor will submit an electronic Grade Change Form to change the student’s performance grade from an “I” to the earned grade of A, B, C, D, or F.

If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade automatically converts to an “F.” Approval to carry an Incomplete for longer than the following semester or session deadline is not frequently granted.”

In the biology department a requirement of requesting an incomplete is that a student must be passing the course with a minimum of a C to be considered for an "i".

Statement on Student Discipline

If I deem that there is a student issue worthy of discipline it will generally initiate contact from me regarding the incident. This will result in a warning at which time the student may have an opportunity to correct the problem or behavior. If the problem persists I reserve the right to withdraw the student from the classroom environment and refer the issue to the dean.

This most often shows up in the form of plagiarism. If I conclude that you have plagiarized an assignment then I will follow the steps outlined above.

Classroom behavior should support and enhance learning. Behavior that disrupts the learning process will be dealt with appropriately, which may include having the student leave class for the rest of that day. In serious cases, disruptive behavior may lead to a student being withdrawn from the class. ACC's policy on student discipline can be found on the ACC website at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow/.

Discrimination Prohibited

The College seeks to maintain an educational environment free from any form of discrimination or harassment including but not limited to discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

Faculty at the College are required to report concerns regarding sexual misconduct (including all forms of sexual harassment and sex and gender-based discrimination) to the Manager of Title IX/Title VI/ADA Compliance. Licensed clinical counselors are available across the District and serve as confidential resources for students.

Additional information about Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance can be found in the ACC Compliance Resource Guide available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o55xINAWNvTYgI-fs-JbDyuaMFDNvAjz/view

Use of ACC email

All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify students of any college- related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Information about ACC email accounts, including instructions for accessing it, are available at: http://www.austincc.edu/help/accmail/questions-and-answers

Use of the Testing Center

All testing is currently online using Respondus Lockdown Browser in Blackboard.

SAFETY

Health and safety are of paramount importance in classrooms, laboratories, and field activities. Students are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Emergency Procedures posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each classroom and should be reviewed at the beginning of each semester. All incidents (injuries/illness/fire/property damage/near miss) should be immediately reported to the course instructor. Additional information about safety procedures and how to sign up to be notified in case of an emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency

Everyone is expected to conduct themselves professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual may be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity and will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action.

Campus Carry

The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Beginning August 1, 2017, individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy.

It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 512-223-7999. Please refer to the concealed handgun policy online at http://austincc.edu/campuscarry

COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

Operational areas of ACC campuses and centers are fully open and accessible through all public entrances. While some health & safety protocols are no longer mandatory, the college encourages its staff, faculty, and students to be mindful of the well-being of all individuals on campus. If you feel sick, feverish, or unwell, please do not come to campus.

Some important things to remember:

• If you have not done so, ACC encourages all students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available throughout the community. Visit www.vaccines.gov/ to find a vaccine location near you.

• If you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, please get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible before returning to an ACC facility. Testing is now widely available.

• If you test positive, please report it on the ACC self-reporting tool located here.

• ACC continues to welcome face masks on campus. Per CDC guidelines, face masks remain a good way to protect yourself from COVID-19. The college cannot mandate indoor masking, but is encouraging it during this spike in cases as a result of the Delta variant.

• The college asks that we all continue to respect the personal space of others. We are encouraging 3 feet of social distancing.

• Please be sure to carry your student, faculty, or staff ID badge at all times while on campus.

Because of the everchanging situation, please go to ACC’s Covid website at https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus?ref=audiencemenu for the latest updates and guidance.

COLLEGE POLICIES

Campus Operations

The situation regarding COVID-19 remains fluid for ACC and the entire state. Currently face to face courses are suspended for the first few weeks of the Fall 2021 semester. This does not affect this class but may affect some of your other courses. Please use the ACC website to keep updated with changes in ACC procedures.

Statement on Academic Integrity

Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process. Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements, and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources. Further information is available at https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process

Student Rights & Responsibilities

Students at ACC have the same rights and protections under the Constitution of the United States. These rights include freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition and association. As members of the community, students have the right to express their own views, but must also take responsibility for according the same rights to others and not interfere or disrupt the learning environment. Students are entitled to fair treatment, are expected to act consistently with the values of the college, and obey local, state and federal laws. www.austincc.edu/srr

As a student of Austin Community College you are expected to abide by the Student Standards of Conduct. https://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-standards-of-conduct

Senate Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements

Under Senate Bill 212 (SB 212), the faculty and all College employees are required to report any information concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking committed by or against an ACC student or employee. Federal Title IX law and College policy also require reporting incidents of sex- and gender-based discrimination and sexual misconduct. This means faculty and non-clinical counseling staff cannot keep confidential information about any such incidents that you share with them.

If you would like to talk with someone confidentiality, please contact the District Clinical Counseling Team who can connect you with a clinical counselor on any ACC campus: (512) 223-2616, or to schedule online: https://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .

While students are not required to report, they are encouraged to contact the Compliance Office for resources and options: Charlene Buckley, District Title IX Officer, (512) 223-7964; compliance@austincc.edu .

If a student makes a report to a faculty member, the faculty member will contact the District Title IX Officer for follow-up.

Student Complaints

A defined process applies to complaints about an instructor or other college employee. You are encouraged to discuss concerns and complaints with college personnel and should expect a timely and appropriate response. When possible, students should first address their concerns through informal conferences with those immediately involved; formal due process is available when informal resolution cannot be achieved.

Student complaints may include (but are not limited to) issues regarding classroom instruction, college services and offices on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability.

Further information about the complaints process, including the form used to submit complaints, is available at: http://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-complaint-procedures

Statement on Privacy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of students’ educational records. Grades cannot be provided by faculty over the phone, by e-mail, or to a fellow student.

Recording Policy

To ensure compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in the class section. Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through BlackBoard Collaborate or another platform. Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded during the instructional activity. Such recordings are intended for educational and academic purposes only.

SUPPORT SERVICES

The success of our students is paramount, and ACC offers a variety of support services to help, as well as providing numerous opportunities for community engagement and personal growth.

Technology Support Services

Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Support

ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these campus services and resources is available at http://www.austincc.edu/students . A comprehensive array of student support services is available online at: https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/remote-student-support

Student Accessibility Services

Austin Community College (ACC) is committed to providing a supportive, accessible, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Each campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of each semester they are enrolled, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed. Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the legal document titled “Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA)” from SAS.

Until the instructor receives the NAA from the student accommodations should not be provided. Once the NAA is received, accommodations must be provided. Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is in the student’s best interest to deliver the NAA on the first day of class.

Please contact SAS@austincc.edu for more information.

Academic Support

ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. These services, which include online tutoring, academic coaching, and supplemental instruction, are free to enrolled ACC students. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects ranging from accounting to pharmacology. Students may receive these services on both a drop-in and referral basis.

An online tutor request can be made here: https://de.austincc.edu/bbsupport/online-tutoring-request/

Additional tutoring information can be found here: austincc.edu/onlinetutoring

Library Services

ACC Library Services will be offering both in-person and extensive online services for Fall 2021, with research and assignment assistance available in-person during limited hours of service. Although all college services are subject to change this fall, plans include ACC students signing up for study space and use of computers at open libraries, extensive online instruction in classes, online reference assistance 24/7 and reference with ACC faculty librarians. In addition, currently enrolled students, faculty and staff can access Library Services online (also 24/7) via the ACC Library website and by using their ACCeID to access all online materials (ebooks, articles from library databases, and streaming videos). ACC Libraries offer these services in numerous ways such as: "Get Help from a Faculty Librarian: the 24/7 Ask a Librarian chat service," an online form for in-depth research Q and A sessions, one-on-one video appointments, email, and phone (voicemail is monitored regularly).

• Library Website: http://library.austincc.edu

• Library Information & Services during COVID-19: https://researchguides.austincc.edu/LSinfoCOVID19

• Ask a Librarian 24/7 chat and form: https://library.austincc.edu/help/ask.php

• Library Hours of Operation by Location: https://library.austincc.edu/loc/

• Email: library@austincc.edu

Student Organizations

ACC has over seventy student organizations, offering a variety of cultural, academic, vocational, and social opportunities. They provide a chance to meet with other students who have the same interests, engage in service-learning, participate in intramural sports, gain valuable field experience related to career goals, and much else. Student Life coordinates many of these activities, and additional information is available at http://sites.austincc.edu/sl/ .

Personal Support

Resources to support students are available at every campus. To learn more, ask your professor or visit the campus Support Center. All resources and services are free and confidential. Some examples include, among others:

• Food resources including community pantries and bank drives can be found here: https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/food-assistance/get-food-now

• Assistance with childcare or utility bills is available at any campus Support Center: http://www.austincc.edu/students/support-center .

• The Student Emergency Fund can help with unexpected expenses that may cause you to withdraw from one or more classes: http://www.austincc.edu/SEF .

• Help with budgeting for college and family life is available through the Student Money Management Office: http://sites.austincc.edu/money/. A full listing of services for student parents is available at: https://www.austincc.edu/students/child-care

• The CARES Act Student Aid will help eligible students pay expenses related to COVID-19: https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/cares-act-student-aid .

Mental health counseling services are available throughout the ACC Student Services District to address personal and or mental health concerns: http://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .

If you are struggling with a mental health or personal crisis, call one of the following numbers to connect with resources for help. However if you are afraid that you might hurt yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.

Free Crisis Hotline Numbers:

• Austin / Travis County 24 hour Crisis & Suicide hotline: 512-472-HELP (4357)

• The Williamson County 24 hour Crisis hotline: 1-800-841-1255

• Bastrop County Family Crisis Center hotline: 1-888-311-7755

• Hays County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Crisis Text Line: Text “home” to 741741

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

COURSE OUTLINE/CALENDAR