Foundations of Biology Lab

Catalog description

The course will teach students the skills needed in molecular biology research such as the hand-on techniques of microscopy, transformation, gene expression, PCR, gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, and chromatography. The students will first learn these basic biological techniques in short experiment sets and then apply them as part of a Genetically-Modified Food project. The lab course will also emphasize literature search, scientific writing, peer reviewing, lab notes taking, poster and power point presentations, data analysis, and best practices in lab safety. FoS 5&6 labs are regarded as an extension to what the course lectures teach rather than a direct linear relationship whereby a lecture is directly applied in the lab. The pre-labs that are given as lectures before the actual lab begins span a weekly 30-45 min and explain the principles behind the techniques that the students will apply that lab. Students are required to study the lab procedure in advance and be prepared for a quiz and discussion of the material. Learning Outcomes: This course aims at teaching students how to think like a true researcher as well as apply the key molecular biology techniques. During this course, students will be expected to: gain an understanding of the basics of molecular biology techniques and be able to apply these techniques in the lab; acquire the habits of a good scientist including accuracy, cleanliness, orderliness, safety, honesty, teamwork, curiosity, good time management, and self-reliance develop the ability to convey scientific information; this includes keeping good records with in a lab notebook, writing a satisfactory report, and oral communication; draw conclusions from observed facts and support these conclusions with peer-reviewed literature. pre-reqs: ( MATH-SHU 131 Calculus or MATH-SHU 123 Multivariable Calculus or MATH-SHU 201 Honors Calculus) and BIOL-SHU 21…