BIOL 22L Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab
Fall 2010 Syllabus
Instructors:
Office Hours:
Dr. Joanna Miller
Hall of Sciences 138, x3656,
jmiller1@drew.edu (note “1”)
MW 10-11 am, TR 4:15-5:15 pm,
and by appointment (email first)
Dr. Regina Wilson
Hall of Sciences 145
rwilson2@drew.edu
W 4:15-5:15 pm, and
by appointment (email first)
Course Objective: Students will be introduced to current molecular and cellular biology
research procedures in a hands-on environment. Emphasis will be placed on
developing good laboratory practices, including critical thinking, proper technique,
record-keeping, and scientific writing. This course, along with BIOL 7 and 9, fulfills the
Biology Writing in the Major [WM] general education requirement.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. explain how to design experiments, including proper controls,
2. perform a variety of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including restriction
digestion, polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunostaining,
3. develop practical proficiency with aseptic technique when handling bacteria, yeast
and cell culture cells,
4. utilize online tools to manipulate nucleic acids and proteins,
5. critically analyze experimental data, and
6. concisely report findings in a scientific writing format including proper citations and
figures.
Laboratory Time and Location: 1:15 – 4:15 pm in Hall of Sciences room 133.
Grading: 10% Laboratory notebook
15% Pre-lab assignments
46% Laboratory reports:12% from first,17% from second and 17% from third
24% Laboratory worksheets (2)
5 % Laboratory conduct: punctuality, courtesy, cleanliness, participation in
discussions
Supplies: You must keep a bound lab notebook (a composition pad may be used if you
number the pages in advance). You should also have a lab coat and safety goggles to
bring to designated laboratory periods.
Lab Protocols: Lab protocols will be posted on Moodle (http://moodle.drew.edu; login
with your Drew University uLogin and password) at least one day before lab. Prior to
coming each lab session, it is your responsibility to print out, to read the protocol, and to
secure in your notebook each page of the protocol, e.g., using tape or staples, in a
manner in which the pages are easy to see and read (no folding of pages but you can
remove margins).
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BIOL 22 Lab Syllabus
Fall 2010
Lab Notebook: Must be a bound notebook; no spiral or loose leaf pages, no
exceptions! Reserve the first page for a Table of Contents. You must complete your
notebook entry as indicated in the notebook guidelines before leaving the lab in order to
receive credit; your instructor or teaching assistant will initial your notebook only if it is
complete. The notebook in its entirety will be graded at end of the semester; see
notebook guidelines for details.
Pre-lab Assignments: A downloadable (from Moodle) Pre-lab assignment is due at the
very beginning of each lab period before the start of the introduction to the lab- this is
incentive to come to class prepared and on time. Late students will NOT be able to turn
in the Pre-lab and will receive a zero. If you know you will be late on a given day,
discuss this in advance with your instructor. You may discuss the Pre-lab with others,
but answers must be written independently.
Lab Reports: Lab reports must be typed. Guidelines for writing reports will be posted
and discussed. Hard copies of the lab reports are due on time at the *beginning* of the
lab period. A grade penalty will be assessed on late assignments and NO reports will
be accepted after they are one week late. You may discuss results and conclusions with
others, but the entire report must be written independently.
Lab Worksheets: Worksheets must be typed. Hard copies of the lab worksheets are
due on time at the *beginning* of the lab period. A grade penalty will be assessed for a
late lab worksheet and NO assignments will be accepted after they are one week late.
You may discuss the worksheets with others, but they must be written independently.
Attendance Policy: Attendance at ALL laboratories is mandatory as many laboratory
exercises and skills build upon each other. Moreover, you will often be working in
groups of two; failure to attend and to have read the laboratory protocol in advance will
place an undue burden on your lab partner. Each unexcused absence from lab will
result in a reduction of one full letter grade (10 points) from your overall laboratory
grade.
If you know in advance that you will be absent (e.g., for sports), notify me as soon as
possible or at least two weeks before the missed class, and we will try to schedule a
make-up day. Make-up labs will be done at the discretion of the instructor and will most
likely occur during one of the other sections. You are responsible for the material
covered in class, and any assignments due that day must be turned in prior to the
missed class.
If you are ill, please notify me (e.g., via email) within 48 hours of the missed lab to set
up an appointment to discuss the missed class (make-up labs may only be possible in a
different lab section) and to establish deadlines for any missed assignments. If you do
not contact me, then any missed assignment is due when you return to class. The
absence will be excused only if a doctor’s note is provided.
Please make an effort to arrive on time as instructions will be given at the beginning of
each lab period and Pre-labs are due before the start of the introduction. Two
unexcused "lates to lab" by 30 minutes or more will count as an unexcused absence.
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BIOL 22 Lab Syllabus
Fall 2010
Academic Accommodations: Should you require academic accommodations, you
must file a request with the Office of Educational Affairs (BC 114, extension 3327). It is
your responsibility to self-identify with the Office of Educational Affairs and to
provide me with the appropriate documentation from that office at least one week prior
to any request for specific course accommodations. We will set up a meeting to discuss
the accommodations. There are no retroactive accommodations.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to strictly adhere to Drew University
College of Liberal Arts Standards of Academic Integrity, see
https://depts.drew.edu/cladean/drewonly/Academic%20Integrity%20Booklet2.htm. You
may discuss your assignment with others, but written assignments must be your own
words and represent your understanding of the material. To avoid “accidental
plagiarism” do not read someone else's written assignments (from past or current
students) nor forget to properly cite your sources, including the lab protocol. Academic
Integrity violations will be referred directly to the Dean.
The following section of the Drew policy is repeated here as a reminder of academic
integrity:
“Unless a paper or assignment is collaboratively authored (and acknowledged as such),
the presentation of the ideas, the interpretation of the data, and the organization of
sentences and paragraphs should be original and should differ significantly from those
in the papers or assignments of others who have collaborated on the research.”
Lab Schedule: This is a general guideline, subject to change as needed.
Corresponding assignment is indicated; parenthesis show the lab session in which the
assignment is due. Assignment due dates are also included in the calendar; you are
responsible for keeping track of deadlines. Assignments are accepted up to one week
late, but 12/8 reading day is the last day for a late worksheet.
Lab
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Experimental Topic
Nucleic Acid Isolation from Fruit
Human Genetic Variation: PCR
Human Genetic Variation: Digestion and Analysis
Plasmid Identification I: Isolation and Restriction
Digest
Plasmid Identification II: Transformation and
Agarose Gel Analysis
Plasmid Identification III: Reporter Expression
DNA Damage Sensitivity I
DNA Damage Sensitivity II: Assessment
Introduction to Cell Culture
Mitosis I: Cell Immunostaining; Initiation of Western
Blot
Mitosis II: Fluorescent Microscopy
Western Blot Completion
Bioinformatics
Corresponding Assignment
Genetic Variation lab report (4)
Plasmid Identification lab report (7)
DNA Damage lab report (9)
Immuno worksheet (13)
Immuno worksheet (13)
Bioinformatics worksheet in lab
3
BIOL 22 Lab Syllabus
Sun
Mon
30
Fall 2010
~ August/September 2010 ~
Tue
Wed
Thu
31
1
2
Lab 1
5
6
Lab 1
7
13
14
Lab 2
19
8
Lab 2
Labor Day: no
classes
12
20
Lab 1
Lab 2
Lab 3
21
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lab 1
Lab 2
Lab 3
Lab 2
Lab 3
Lab 4
11
17
23
Sat
4
10
16
22
3
Lab 1
9
15
Fri
18
Lab 3
24
Lab 4
25
Lab 4
Genetic
Genetic
Genetic
Genetic
Variation lab Variation lab Variation lab Variation lab
report due
report due
report due
report due
26
27
28
Lab 4
29
Lab 5
30
Lab 5
Notes:
Lab 5
Genetic
Variation lab
report due
Sun
Mon
Tue
~ October 2010 ~
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Sat
2
Lab 5
3
4
5
Lab 5
6
Lab 6
7
Lab 6
8
Lab 6
9
Lab 6
4
BIOL 22 Lab Syllabus
Sun
10
Fall 2010
Mon
11
~ October 2010 ~
Wed
Thu
13
14
Tue
12
Lab 6
Lab 7
Lab 7
Fri
15
Lab 7
Sat
16
Lab 7
Plasmid
Plasmid
Plasmid
Plasmid
Identification Identification Identification Identification
lab report lab report due lab report
lab report
due
due
due
17
18
19
Reading Day, no
classes
20
Reading Day, no
classes
21
MONDAY
Lab 7
22
Lab 8
23
Lab 8
Plasmid
Identification
lab report due
24
25
26
Lab 8
27
Lab 8
28
Lab 8
29
Lab 9
30
Lab 9
DNA
DNA
Damage lab Damage lab
report due report due
31
Notes:
Sun
Mon
1
Tue
2
Lab 9
~ November 2010 ~
Wed
Thu
3
4
Lab 9
Lab 9
Fri
5
Lab 10
Sat
6
Lab 10
Last day to drop
semester long
classes with a “W”
DNA
DNA
DNA
Damage lab Damage lab Damage lab
report due
report due
report due
Start of registration
for Spring 2010
semester
7
8
9
Lab 10
10
Lab 10
11
Lab 10
12
Lab 11
13
Lab 11
5
BIOL 22 Lab Syllabus
Sun
14
Fall 2010
Mon
15
Tue
16
Lab 11
21
22
~ November 2010 ~
Wed
Thu
17
18
Lab 11
23
Lab 12
Lab 11
24
Fri
19
Lab 12
25
Sat
20
Lab 12
26
27
Lab 12
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
recess begins, no recess, no classes recess, no classes
classes
28
29
30
Notes:
Lab 13
Lab 13
Immuno
worksheet
due
Immuno
worksheet
due
Sun
~ December 2010 ~
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
2
Mon
Lab 12
5
6
WEDNESDAY
Lab 13
7
8
Reading day, no Reading day, no
classes
classes
Immuno
worksheet due
12
13
Fri
3
4
Lab 13
Lab 13
Immuno
worksheet
due
Immuno
worksheet
due
9
Sat
10
11
17
18
Final exams
begin
GOOD LUCK!!
14
15
16
Last day of finals
Calendars created with WinCalendar
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