Welcome to Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. The course is a combination of 3 hours per week lecture, plus 6 hours per week of labs and will be held virtually this year.

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University Catalog Description

BIO 3220-5 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (3+6)

Prerequisite: BIO 1080/1090 and BIO 1081/1091

A comprehensive study is made of the evolution of structure and function of vertebrates.  The laboratory portion of the course is emphasized and will consist of detailed  virtual dissections of vertebrates representing several classes.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS: 1. Comparative Anatomy Manual, of Vertebrate Dissection, 3rd Edition, Fishbeck & Sebastiani, Morton Publishing Company, 2015.  ISBN 978-1-61731-042-3   2.Hays Website Materials:  sites.msudenver.edu/haysc

Optional Course Materials:

1. Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates, 9th Edition, by Kent and Carr.  ISBN for text is 13: 978-0073038698.
2. Free Resource: Swislosky, E. & Roosa, K. (2017). Atlas of Comparative Anatomy. Lumen Learning. https://louis.oercommons.org/courses/atlas-of-comparative-vertebrate-anatomy/view

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Research and Citation Information

Purdue Owl: APA Style Introduction

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Instructor Information: Dr. Clare Hays. Office SI 2032; Phone 303-615-0777;  [email protected]

Office hours: 

Office hours are 8:00-1:00 Tuesdays for Teams meetings, in person meetings, email or phone calls.

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Schedule of Activities

 

Week/Day	Lecture	Lab	Reading
Week 1 (1/17-22)	Intro, Vertebrate Characteristics, Vertebrate Classes	Prochordate, Lamprey, Integument	Kent: Ch 1 and 2 Lab Manual: Ch 3, 4, 14
Week 2 (1/23-29)	Vertebrate Classes, Early Development	Skull	Kent: Ch 3 and 4 Lab Manual: Ch 16, 24, 26, 53
Week 3 (1/30-2/5)	Early Development and Integument (Integument not on Quiz 1) Quiz 1 (by 2/5 at 11:59 pm)	Skull and Trunk Skeleton	Kent: Ch 5 and 6 Lab Manual: Ch 16, 24, 26, 44, 53
Week 4 (2/6-12)	Integument, Intro to Skeleton	Appendicular Skeleton	Lab Manual: Ch 16, 26, 44, 53
Week 5 (2/13-19)	Vertebrae, Ribs, Sternum, Neurocranium Quiz 2 (by 2/19 at 11:59 pm)	Appendicular Skeleton Lab Assn 1 (by 2/19 at 11:59 pm)
Week 6 (2/20-26)	Head Skeleton	Muscle- Shark and Necturus	Kent: Ch 9 Lab Manual: Ch 17, 27
Week 7 (2/27-3/5)	Head and Appendicular Skeleton	Muscle – Cat	Kent: Ch 10 Lab Manual: Ch 54
Week 8 (3/6-12)	Appendicular Skeleton and Muscle (Muscle not on Quiz 3) Quiz 3 (by 3/12 at 11:59 pm)	Muscle – Cat
Week 9 (3/13-19)	Muscle and Midterm (through skeleton by 3/19 at 11:59 pm)	Digestive and Respiratory- Shark and Necturus	Kent: Ch 11 Lab Manual: Ch 18, 19, 28, 29
Week 10 (3/27-4/2)	Muscle and Digestive System	Digestive and Respiratory – Cat Lab Assn 2 (by 4/2 at 11:59 pm)	Kent: Ch 12 Lab Manual: 55 and 56
Week 11 (4/3-9)	Digestive and Respiratory Systems (Respiratory not on Quiz 4) Quiz 4 (by 4/9 at 11:59 pm)	Circulation- Shark and Heart	Kent: Ch 13 Lab Manual: Ch 21 and 58
Week 12 (4/10-16)	Respiratory and Circulatory Systems	Circulation- Cat	Kent: Ch 14
Week 13 4/17-23)	Circulatory System Quiz 5 (by 4/23 at 11:59 pm)	Excretory and Reproductive Systems	Lab Manual: Ch 20, 30, 57
Week 14 (4/24-30)	Urinary and Reproductive Systems	Nervous System	Kent: Ch 15 Lab Manual: 22, 59
Week 15 (5/1-7)	Nervous System Quiz 6 (by 5/7 at 11:59 pm)	Nervous System Lab Assn 3 (by 5/7 at 11:59 pm)	Kent: Ch 16
Week 16 (5/8-13)	Final Exam (muscles through nervous by 5/13 at 11:59 pm)

 

 

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COURSE FORMAT: All portions of this course are online through Canvas and links to the Hays homepage.  You will get behind quickly if you do not follow the weekly schedule. While the course is asynchronous, there are specific due dates for the quizzes, exams, and 3 lab assignments.

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IMPORTANT LINKS for Lecture: The Hays website contains detailed outlines, learning objectives, PowerPoint slides and pre-recorded lectures.  (Outlines, Learning Objectives, Recorded Lectures, and PowerPoint Slides all contain the same information, so choose a format that works best for you; you don’t have to look at all four formats.)

https://sites.msudenver.edu/haysc/biology-courses/comparative-vertebrate-anatomy-bio-3220/

IMPORTANT LINKS for Lab:  Lab Schedule and Lab Objectives

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EXAMS, ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES:

Assignment/Assessment	Points
Quiz 1	100
Quiz 2	100
Quiz 3	100
Quiz 4	100
Quiz 5	100
Quiz 6	100
Midterm (Intro-Appendicular Skeleton)	250
Final Exam (Muscles-Nervous)	250
Lab Assignment One	560
Lab Assignment Two	560
Lab Assignment Three	560
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE:	2780

 

Late Work Policy:

1. All Late Work (quizzes, exams, and lab assignments) has an automatic 10% deduction per day late. No late work is accepted once the semester ends on May 13.

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Grading Scale: The total number of points possible for the course is 2780. Letter grades will be assigned on a percentage basis, as follows:

A	2502-2780
B	2224-2501
C	1946-2223
D	1668-1945
F	Fewer than 1668

Criteria for Evaluation

Scores on quizzes, midterm and final, plus points for lab assignments based on the rubric found in the laboratory objectives

Types of Assessments/Assignments

LECTURE Quizzes and Exams:

There will be 6 quizzes each worth 100 points (600 total). Each quiz has 50 multiple choice, matching, true/false, ordering, fill in the blank questions, worth 2 points each. Fill in the blank answers must be spelled correctly.  These are open-note, open-book exams. However, you may not collaborate with your classmates. You can access the exams through Canvas. You can find them on the “quizzes” or “assignments” link, or through the modules, or the “calendar” link on Canvas.  You will have 1 hour to complete each quiz but only one chance to complete it. Online tests open at 12 a.m. Thursdays and close at 11:59 p.m. on the date listed above (Thursdays-Sundays). Late online exams will have an automatic deduction of 10 percent per day late. When you are ready to take the quiz, click on the quiz link, read the instructions, and then begin.  After you have answered all of the questions, click “Submit” at the bottom.  You will see your score immediately.  At any time, click on the “Grades” icon on the left menu of Canvas to see your gradebook for this course.

There will be an online comprehensive midterm and final each worth 250 points (500 total). These are open-note, open-book tests, but you may not collaborate with your classmates.  These exams consist of old (taken from prior quizzes) and new questions in the format of multiple choice, matching, true/false, ordering, fill in the blank questions, with each of the 125 questions being worth 2 points. Fill in the blank answers must be spelled correctly. The exams are taken through Canvas.  The midterm covers the first half of the course through the skeleton. The final covers the second half of the course, from muscular system through the nervous system. Online midterm and final open at 12 a.m. on the previous Sunday and close at 11:59 p.m. on the date listed. The midterm must be taken by Sunday March 19 and the final must be taken by Saturday May 13 (since the semester ends that day). You will have 2 hours to complete the exams. Late online exams will have an automatic deduction of 10 percent per day late. You can access the exams through Canvas. You can find them on the “quizzes” link, the “assignments” link, through modules, or the “calendar” link on Canvas. After you have answered all of the questions, click “Submit” at the bottom.  You will see your score immediately.  At any time, click on the “Grades” icon on the left menu of Canvas to see your gradebook for this course.

 

LABORATORY ASSIGNMENTS:

There will be 3 lab assignments which consist of answering laboratory objectives plus labeling and coloring pictures.  Each is worth 560 points, for a total of 1680 points.  The assignment consists of some questions that you are to answer as well as coloring and labeling illustrations.  A grading rubric is included in the lab objectives for the overall assignment and format, as well as instructions for labeling and coloring.  Refer to your laboratory objectives for a list of specific structures and specific questions, as well as due dates.  Any assignment turned in late will have a deduction of 10 percent per day late.  You may assemble your lab assignments by inserting scanned images of your drawings into your final document, or inserting pictures that you took with your phone and sent to your computer, into one final document. Turn in your assignment by clicking the “Start Assignment” on Canvas for each assignment.  You may find the appropriate assignment on Canvas through the Modules, the Assignment link or the Calendar link. Then, you have the option to upload a file from your computer.  Once it is uploaded, click “Submit Assignment.”  View my sample lab assignment closely before starting on your lab assignments.

Sample Laboratory Objectives

  – Fish illustration to color and label for sample assignment

  – Human illustrations to color and label for sample assignment

Completed Sample Laboratory Assignment for BIO 3220

 

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Tracking Your Learning Progress

 Click the My Grades link on the Canvas to view your grades at any time.