Laboratory Objectives

The overall objective of this introductory laboratory is to expand the student's repertoire of laboratory techniques that can be applied to the planning, execution and presentation of a research project. The class will be divided into small research teams whose members will work together.

The student's laboratory notebook, summaries, reports and final exam will be used to assess the following objectives:

• The ability keep a complete and well-organized laboratory notebook.
• The ability to formulate a simple hypothesis and to make predictions following from it.
• The ability to evaluate a hypothesis by examination of experimental data.
• The ability to choose and construct appropriate modes of data display.
• The ability to read and explain simple data displays of different types.
• The ability to apply descriptive statistics to a data set, when appropriate.
• The ability to apply simple statistical analysis to a data set, when appropriate.
• The understanding of principles underlying the basic laboratory techniques covered in this course.
• The ability to execute the basic laboratory procedures covered in this course.
• The ability to consult and navigate genetics databases to obtain information about the structure, location and function of genes and proteins.
• The ability to connect observations from multiple data sets into a coherent explanation.
• The ability to write a clear and concise laboratory report in scientific style.

The instructor will observe the student's competence in the following areas.

• The awareness and practice of laboratory safety, including appropriate dress and behavior in the laboratory, the appropriate use of protective equipment, and the proper disposal of hazardous materials.
• The ability to work productively with others in the execution of a project.

Pedagogical Strategies:

In addition to those general strategies outlined in the General Course Information, learning in the laboratory will be supported as follows:

• exposition of the principles and techniques related to each laboratory procedure.
• supervision and guidance of students as they learn and practice these procedures.
• engagement with the student in discussion of experimental design.
• demonstration of data display and analysis procedures.
• directed analysis of professional literature.
• instruction in the use of genetics databases.
• explanation and demonstration of laboratory safety.
• explanation and demonstration of scientific writing, including record keeping and report writing.
  

Laboratory Activities and Policies :

• The student is expected to attend all laboratory sessions on time on the day assigned. With a few exceptions, it is difficult to keep living materials and reagents in a useful condition after the date for which they are prepared. Students who miss a laboratory because of participation in official university functions may attend laboratory on a different day or time than their usually scheduled section.
• Some laboratory activities will not require the three hours allotted to the laboratory. Others may require additional time either on the day of the laboratory or on another day during the week. Such extra duties must be shared equitably among members of a research team.
• Each student is expected to participate as a productive member of his or her research team. Students missing a laboratory session for participation in official university activities or for compelling personal reasons must provide compensatory service to his or her research team.
• Each student will maintain a laboratory notebook. Notebooks should be kept current and must be left with the instructor at the end of each laboratory period. However, students may consult their notebooks at any time. Notebooks will be checked periodically, and written suggestions made for improvement of the data record.
• Students will write a brief summary of the previous laboratory in the laboratory notebook at the end of the laboratory period or the beginning of the following period, using information from the laboratory notebook.
• Students will prepare formal reports for two selected laboratory projects. Laboratories for which a report is to be written for evaluation will be selected during the semester and announced at least 10 days before the report is due. Relevant pages from the laboratory record may be copied and taken home for the preparation of these reports.
• All laboratory reports or summaries must be presented in electronic form as MS Word documents attached to WebCT Email. Students are responsible for verifying that attachments are indeed attached to report messages.
• Although students will be working in investigative teams, each student is expected to keep a full laboratory record and to write an independent report or summary.
• Each students must keep all outgoing Email and Discussion Board records of course-related correspondence and reports submitted throughout the semester on the WebCT communications software. These records will provide documentation of completed assignments.
• The final laboratory exam will be given in the last laboratory period of the semester and will include questions covering laboratory techniques, theory underlying laboratory methods, and data interpretation.

Determination of the Laboratory Grade

• Notebook: 40%
• Laboratory Reports: 40%
• Final Exam: 20%

Grading

• A: 91-100
• B: 81-90
• C: 68 - 80
• D: 50 - 65