BISC403
Genetic and Evolutionary Biology
Fall, 2008

1. Dr. D. W. Smith

Office: 237 Wolf Hall
Phone: 831-2275 Electronic mail: dwsmith@udel.edu
Office Hours: M 3:00 PM, W 3:00 PM and other times.  Scheduling ahead strongly advised.

2. Textbook: Genetics by Hartwell et al, 3rd edition (2008)

3. The attached outline of proposed lectures is provided as a guideline, but is subject to variation. In addition the assigned readings may change. Any changes will be announced as far in advance as possible.  Examination dates will not change.

4. Problems from book.  From time to time during the course problems from the book will be recommended.  Although these are not assignments in the usual sense and they will not be collected or graded, it is highly recommended that students take the time to work through them.  They will provide excellent reinforcement of principles from the lecture and the text and they will also be good practice in preparation for exams.

5. Grades: BISC403 is a 3-credit course.  The grade will be determined by four examinations (three midterms and a final). Each midterm covers the immediately preceding one quarter of the course. The final exam is essentially a fourth midterm covering the last part of the course. The laboratory which corresponds to this course is BISC413, a 2-credit course. The lecture course must be completed before the laboratory course is taken.

The contribution of exams will be based on accumulation of points, not letter grades of individual exams. Each exam will consist of 30-40 multiple choice questions plus three short answer questions or problems.  Sample questions, with answers, will be posted on the course web page or distributed to the class via e-mail.

Make-up examinations. If you are unable to attend a scheduled examination, you must contact the instructor before the exam. If the excuse is acceptable, a make-up will be given the following week.  All makeup exams will be of the short-answer/problem type. No additional make-ups will be given. There will be no make-up for the final.

Course grading will follow a guideline of percentages.  The proposed grade divisions for this course will be:

      A 93-100

  A- 90-92

  B+ 87- 89

  B 83-86

  B- 80-82

  C+ 77- 79

  C 73-76

  C- 70-72

  D+ 67- 69

  D 63-66

  D- 60-62

  F 0- 59

6. Academic Honesty: Students are responsible for understanding the appropriate sections of the Student Guide to Policies. Every effort will be taken to enforce these policies and all suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be prosecuted through the Student Judicial System.