BIOL 3810/7810 Syllabus

Description: BIOL 3810/7810 is a laboratory course designed to introduce the student to molecular and cellular techniques through the study of cellular molecules and processes. In this course, the student will learn proper procedures for making solutions, determining the pH of a solution, utilizing spectrophotometric techniques, observing microscopic specimens, studying properties of catalysts, isolating organelles, isolating and visualizing proteins and isolating and manipulating DNA. Students will be using writing as a tool for communication and for learning molecular cell biology.

Lab attendance is mandatory – 5 points (not 5%) will be deducted for every absence over one!!!!!

Fee Card: A $20 fee card(blue) must be turned in for each student by the end of the second week or they will be dropped from the roll.

Lab manual: All students will purchase a lab manual from the Printshop. Revisions have been made recently so be sure to get the latest version of the manual.

Lab notebook: It is extremely important for all scientists to keep accurate records of their experiments. All students will use a lab notebook for each lab session. Lab notebooks should be written as the student performs the experiment. Not photcopied from the lab book. Lab notebooks are string-bound; loose-leaf in binders is not acceptable. The bookstore as well as office supply stores carry string-bound notebooks that work well for lab notebooks. The lab notebook should have a table of contents. Each experiment will have an entry in the notebook. You should include a purpose and a brief description of what you will be doing. All materials and procedures must be clearly printed in the lab notebooks - NOT PHOTOCOPIED AND PASTED. If the students writes the notebook as the experiments are performed, then any deviations (time, temperatures, reagents) are clearly noted. All results are written in the lab notbook. The results should include all tables, graphs, pictures and/or drawing that will appear in the lab report (photocopies are OK). A short discussion and conclusion should also be present. The notebook is always a work in progress, thus, we do expect that there will be scratch-outs, nots in the margins, and comments directed to the student.

Lab notebooks will be graded on:

· content - Are all of the appropriate pieces of information and data present?

· organization - Are the procedures logical?

Are the data logically presented?

· neatness - Is the notebook legible?

· completeness - is enough information present to allow replication of the experiment without the laboratory manual? Can an outside reader understand the experiment and results?

· creativity – Is there any unique, interesting or additional points, reflections or information?

Grading: The final grade for BIOL 3810/7810 will be based on: two in-class problem sets, three graded lab reports, two short reports, two paper summaries, the lab notebook, class participation/quizzes, and a final exam.

The grades will be based out of 210 total points as follows:

A deduction of 5% day will be made for each day an assignment is late. So, if it is two days late, it will drop by one grade.

Do not turn any assignments into Dr. Poole. Turn in all materials to your TA!

Lab reports will be written in stages with comments provided by Dr. Poole or the writing TA. Thus, we expect that each lab report will go through at least two revisions before it is graded. Lab reports will be graded on:

· content - Are all of the appropriate sections present?

Is all of the pertinent information present in each section?

· organization - Are the sections in the correct order?

When possible, were graphs and tables used to present data?

Was the text written in a logical, coherent manner?

· synthesis - Was the student able to analyze the data?

Were appropriate conclusions drawn?

Were appropriate explanations given for unexpected results?

Lab reports must be written individually. Lab partners are free to discuss their ideas and data amongst each other but all of the report, including graphs and tables must be the student’s own work (not photocopies or printouts of the same graph, etc.).

Short reports will be written on the Restriction Analysis experiment and the PCR experiment.

1. For the restriction analysis, you must present your data including your gel picture, your standard curve, your band sizes, and the answers to the questions at the end of the lab.

2. The report for the PCR forensic analysis will include your gel picture and a statement written for a jury describing your findings and the conclusions you can make from your results. Only provide an analysis of whether it is possible or not for each suspect to have committed the crime.

Paper summaries will be explained later in class but include the analysis of an instructor-chosen paper and a summery of a student-selected paper.

Class participation: The Tas will define what they expect for this grade. It may include “pop” or announced quizzed that will be given at the TA’s discretion, questions asked during class, punctuality, activeparticipation in pipetting, measuring, weighing or other lab techniques during each lab section, etc. If you feel you are in a group that is not conducive to your participation, please notify your lab TA.

The final exam will be comprehensive encompassing all of the lab exercises. It will focus on the approaches and techniques used in the laboratory not specific details. You should be able to do any of the calculations, interpret graphs and understand the reason behind the methods. No makeups will be given. If you do not take the final, you must take an Incomplete in the course and take the final during the next scheduled final exam during the following semester to receive a grade. There are no exceptions!

A web-ct is set up for this course for your use. You are encouraged to use your account and participate in the discussion on the list serve. Detail will be given in class.

All students will be familiar with and follow the Academic Honesty Policy found in the Faculty Handbook, Section 409 (available on the web at http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwfhb). Plagerism is not permitted!!

Any students with a disability for which special arrangements are required must identify themselves to the professor during the first week of class so that the necessary arrangements can be made. Students requesting special arrangements must provide an Advocacy Letter from the Center for Learning.

The coruse syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.

Last updated 1/10/2000