Primary Literature Pre-lab Assignment (12 points)
Welcome to BIOL 005B: Introduction to organismal Biology lab! As you learned in the
introductory video, you will be completing a CURE project in this course. You will be working in
groups to ask and answer novel scientific questions about the sexual dimorphism patterns in
Pieris rapae butterflies. One skill that is important for scientists is the ability to read scientific
literature. This exercise, and the in-class exercise, will help you gain skills in reading and
understanding primary scientific literature. You will then look up primary literature papers to
support or give context to your project questions. This assignment is due at the start of your lab
section.
Checklist to complete before class:
1. Watch introductory video - on Canvas
2. Complete self-reflection #1
3. Complete the primary literature pre-lab assignment
a. Due at the start of class – please staple everything together as one packet:
i. The primary paper (Stoehr et al 2008) with your color coding
ii. The list of defined terms (highlighted in yellow on the primary paper)
iii. The flow chart of your methods
iv. The answers to the guided questions
v. The APA style citation of the paper
Instructions for completing the Primary Literature Pre-lab Assignment. NOTE: Everything must
be handwritten. Failure to be handwritten will be a 1-point deduction per section.
1. Read over the example annotated primary paper (Oliver et al 2012) and pay attention to
the color-coding, definition of terms, and flow chart. This is an example of what you are
expected to do.
2. Download the assignment paper: Stoehr et al 2008. (5pts)
a. Read the paper and highlight key terms or terms you are unfamiliar with in
yellow. Note: skip the methods section.
i. On a separate sheet of paper look up the key terms and define them
(handwritten). Take your time with this. Defining the terms will help you
understand the paper. Be sure that you are defining the terms to
understand them. (2pts)
b. Re-read the paper and highlight (NOTE: as long as you have four different
colors, that is OK. Does not need to be the four colors listed exactly.) Again, skip
the methods section. (3pts)
i. Previous work/what is previously known about the topic - Green
ii. The author’s experiments being performed in the paper - Blue
iii. The results found from performing the experiments – Red
3. Read over the methods section, and create a flowchart summary of each method on a
separate sheet of paper (handwritten). This should be a summary of the methods used,
and should mimic the example given. Try to use images as much as possible. (2pts)
4. Read over the entire paper a third time, including figures, and answer the guided reading
questions below (handwritten). (4pts)
a. What is the question the authors are trying to address, and why is this important?
b. What is the experimental approach that they use to answer the question?
c. Does the data presented in the figures support all of the conclusions drawn by
the authors? Why or why not?
d. What experiments can be done, or how could have this experiment been
changed to add to, or clarify, results of this paper?
5. Write the citation for this paper. Should be in APA format (handwritten). (1pt)