Bio Sci 93: From DNA to Organisms (Fall 2025)

Introduction

Welcome to From DNA to Organisms! The goal of this course is for you to gain an understanding of basic biological sciences concepts. In this class, you will learn about cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, and the biology of organ systems. In addition, you will be exposed to experimental data analysis, techniques used to study biology, and current topics in the field.

Prerequisites

None

Add/Drop Deadline

The last date to add or drop classes without the approval of the dean is 2 weeks after the start of the quarter. This must be handled through the university registrar, not through the professors directly. We do not have any way to directly add or remove students from the course.

Course Goals

After successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1.      Discuss basic concepts of cellular and molecular biology using correct terminology

2.     Explain how cellular components work together to support life

3.      Illustrate the molecular mechanisms of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis

4.    Use the scientific method to develop and test a hypothesis, design experiments, make predictions, and interpret scientific data

5.     Work in teams to critically think about and analyze scientific issues

How to Succeed

1.    Play an active role in your education (do not just sit there and wait for us to teach you – actively engage in your learning).

2.     Come to each class prepared (complete readings, participate, etc.).

3.     Ask questions (either in class, during office hours, via e-mail, or on the discussion board)!

4. Focus on learning and the grades will follow (grades are important, but you should focus on what you need to do to be successful in your future goals. Picture that goal and work backwards on what you need to do to achieve that goal. The better your grasp on the course material, the better your grade will be, and the more successful you will be at tackling real-world biology issues in your future).

5.   Trust yourself and respect your peers (trust your ability to solve problems and integrate concepts and be able to discuss solutions and potential alternatives with your classmates).

Textbook and Mastering Biology

This course will be using the 12th edition of Campbell Biology (Urry et al.) or UCI’s custom 7th edition Biology 93 textbook. The pages between these two textbooks will be identical. In addition, we will provide you with the page numbers that correspond to the 11th  edition Campbell Biology (6th  edition UCI Custom Biology 93). While you are free to use older versions of these textbooks as well, be advised that the page numbers  are  not  guaranteed  to  be  identical,  and  you  will  be  responsible  for  identifying  the  correct sections to read.

In addition to the textbook, this course will REQUIRE a subscription to Pearson’s Mastering Biology. Our suggestion is that you purchase the eText + Mastering Biology subscription, as Canvas contains digital links to all the readings and Mastering Biology assignments, allowing you to complete all your assignments directly in your  browser. The eText also has supplementary material (questions, videos, etc.) directly embedded into the text, making the topics much easier to follow and understand.  For students who choose to  purchase  paper textbooks, the supplementary videos  can also  be found  on the  Mastering Biology course site and relevant videos will be posted on Canvas.

Canvas

This course will be using Canvas (https://canvas.eee.uci.edu/) to organize your weekly assignments and relevant course files (this syllabus, lecture slides, supplementary videos, practice exams, etc.). You should be checking Canvas often, as you may not always receive notifications when content is uploaded or made available. If you are not familiar with Canvas, there is a video reviewing how to navigate our Canvas page in the “Course Introduction” module in the lecture course space.

Office Hour and Canvas Discussion Board

The Professors' office hour will be held EVERY Thursday from 4:00PM-5:00PM Pacific Standard Time. These meetings are meant to address any of the course topics that are unclear or additional questions that were  not  addressed  in the  material.  If  you  are  unable to  attend the  office  hour,  we encourage you  to  post  your  questions  to  the Canvas Discussion Board.  While  we  will  be  actively monitoring the discussion board to ensure questions are  being answered accurately and  in a timely manner, we encourage you  all  to  answer  each  other’s  questions. Explaining  a  topic  is  one  of the best ways to reinforce the knowledge for yourself and students who actively participate in the discussion board are more   likely  to   be   noticed   by   the   professors   (which   can   come   in   handy   for   future   letters   of recommendation,  research  positions,  learning  assistant  positions,  etc.).  Additionally,  if  you  need  to discuss something of a more personal nature, we are always available by email and, depending on the circumstances, we can arrange a private Zoom meeting.

Contact via Email

For all grading related questions, please contact the TA Johnny Boutros ([email protected]). We will do our best to respond to your emails within 48 hours, although emails sent on the weekends may not receive a response until the following week. There are also times when we accidentally overlook things (we’re only human after all), so, if we do not respond within that time frame, please follow  up  with  an  email that contains “Second Attempt” in the subject line. Additionally, as we receive a ton of emails, we ask that you format your email in the following way to ensure a response:

Subject: Bio Sci 93: [First Name] [Last Name] – [Subject]

Dear (or some other greeting, with the appropriate title: Professor, Dr., etc.)

[A line that recognizes our common humanity. For example, “I hope you are enjoying your weekend.”]

My name is and I am in Section X of your Bio Sci 93 course. I have a question regarding . [Use proper grammar and spelling, making sure you consulted your notes, the syllabus, and your classmates/discussion board first]. Can you please clarify?

Thank you for your time, [Your name, first and last]

Syllabus Quiz

There will be a 10-question quiz that covers the content of the syllabus and is aimed at ensuring that you are familiar with the details of the course structure and policies. You will be given three attempts and your most recent score will be kept. This assignment must be completed by the end of the first full week in class and will open on Friday, September 26th and will be due Friday, October 3rd.

Pre-class Assignments

These are 20-30 minute assignments designed to reinforce your understanding of the reading material and the topics covered in the lecture videos. All assignments will be completed in Mastering Biology with links that can be found on the Canvas course page. These assignments are graded based on accuracy, but you will have 3 attempts for each assignment. Since we are giving you a full week to complete the assignments, late assignments will be given a 0 without exception.

Exams

Exams will be multiple choice + short answer questions, and you will need to bring a device capable of accessing Canvas Quizzes to the lecture hall when there is an exam. You will  have two 45 minute exams and a cumulative one and a half-hour final exam. You will need to bring a recognizable physical photo ID to each exam. Exams must be taken at the assigned time, and there will be no makeup exams for any reason.

Additionally, we take reports of cheating, or any other academic dishonesty, very seriously. If we are made aware of students cheating on the exams, you will be held accountable in accordance with UCI’s Academic Dishonesty Policy (see below).

Academic Honesty

All students will adhere to the UCI Academic Dishonesty Policies. Failure to comply will result in failing the course and suspension/expulsion from the university. In addition, a letter detailing the incident will be placed in your academic file, which may be requested by future schools and employers.

Disabilities

If  you  have  a  documented  disability   and  require  accommodations,  you   must  register  with  the Disability Services Center prior to requesting accommodations. While there are no in-person services currently being offered by DSC, once we receive confirmation of your registration, we can arrange the appropriate accommodations. Additionally, every video that we  have  uploaded to Canvas contains accurate closed captioning to improve accessibility.