General Biology Lab (Cell 211)
Spring 2010
Instructor: Cherif Boudaba, Ph.D., cherif@tulane.edu; Phone: 862 8725
Office: 4014 Percival Stern Hall; Office hours: Monday from 10:00 to 12:00 or by
appointment.
Lab classes are held in room 3011, Percival Stern Hall.
Class schedule: Depending on the section you enrolled in, your lab is Monday at 4:30
(cell 211-1), Wednesday at 4:30 (Cell 211-2) or Thursday at 3:30 (Cell 211-3).
Prerequisite: CELL 101 and CHEM 108
Course description: This one-semester class is designed for majors in cell and molecular
biology. This lab class focuses on general biology at macroscopic, microscopic and
molecular levels.
Textbook: Customized Biology Lab Manual, Sylvia S. Mader, tenth edition.
Course learning outcomes: Upon completion of this lab class, successful students will be
able to:
- Use metric system and different lab techniques such as microscopy, DNA extraction,
DNA fingerprinting and gene transfer.
- Determine chemical composition of cells and understand their structure and function.
- Understand the physical and chemical properties of an enzyme and relate it to
digestion in mammals.
- Understand mammal organization at tissue level and relate that to the function.
- Describe the anatomy of nervous system and its physiology.
- Explain DNA structure, describe the procedure of its isolation and its use in forensic.
- Understand the relation between genes and traits (proteins).
- Compare proteins encoded by a gene in its normal and mutated form.
- Understand the transmission of genes from parents to offspring.
- Understand the process of transferring a gene from an organism to another.
Exams: The grades for CELL 211 lab classes are determined as follows:
- Eight quizzes at 10 points each
- Two midterms at 50 points each. Each midterm test includes the previously
covered lab classes.
Missed class: No makeup is given for any missed lab class or exam, except for sickness
or death of an immediate family member.
If one of two cases happens to a student, he or she should notify the TA and me as soon as
possible. A makeup is given only for the quiz or the exam. If the missed lab class is still
running that week, student may make it up with another group.
Schedule of Labs
Month
Week of
Topic
January
11
Introduction to class,
lab techniques, metric system
18
Martin Luther King Holiday
No class
25
Chemical composition of cells
Chapter 3
1
Cell structure and function
Chapter 4
8
Enzymes
Chemical aspects of digestion
Chapter 5
Chapter 28
15
Mardi Gras
No class
22
Midterm I
1
Human genetics
Chapter 10
8
Animal organization
Chapter 25
And chapter11
(page 143-146)
15
Nervous system and senses
Chapter 30
22
DNA biology and technology
Chapter 11
and handout
29
Spring break
5
Spring break
12
Transformation
19
Midterm II
February
March
April
Chapter in manual
First pages of the manual
Chapter 2
Handout