LEBANESE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
BIOL 200L: General Biology Lab I (1.0 credit)
Course Syllabus
Course description
General Biology lab provides hands-on experience of some of the concepts discussed in the latter course
Course outcomes
A student completing this course should
 Identify, explain the functions and use of a compound microscope and dissecting microscope
 Perform tests to detect the presence of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids

Determ
ine the passive movement of molecules in biological systems
 Describe the structure and function of enzymes, and relate structure and function to active sites,
modes of inhibition, and optimal condition for enzymatic activity
 Separate the photosynthetic pigments using paper chromatography and calculate their Rf number
 Describe the events of mitosis and meiosis and identify the different stages on already prepared
slides
 Describe the basis of gel electrophoresis and use this technique in separating organic compounds
from mixture.
 Dissect hamsters and identify its internal organs
University Peer Review Policy
This is an LIU policy in which during the semester, all classes will be visited by instructors either from
the same or different departments. This policy helps instructors figure out ways to improve student
educational experiences in class and eventually their performance.
Required textbook:
Biology Laboratory Manual; 7th Edition (2005)-Vodopich & Moore. McGraw- Hill companies, Inc.,
USA.
Course prerequisite(s):
BIOL 160, FRESHMAN BIOLOGY II;
BIOL 200, GENERAL BIOLOGY I (CO-REQUISITE)
COURSE OUTLINE BY TOPIC
Topics Title / Chapter Assignment - Based on the Laboratory Manual
1
The Microscope (Laboratory Experiment 1) (page 9)
 The compound light microscope
o Explanation of the parts and the function of each part of the
microscope
o Illuminating system
o Imaging system
o Viewing and recording system
Hours
2
1

2
3
Using a compound microscope
o Magnification
o Preparation of “e” slide, focus and view of letter e
o Focus an already prepared slide
 The dissecting ( stereoscopic) microscope
o Explanation of the parts and the function of each part
 The electron microscope
o Scanning & Transmission (explanation from the extra notes)
 How to take care of the microscope
 No report is required for this session
Biologically Important Molecules (Laboratory Experiment 2 ) (page 45)
 Controlled experiments to identify organic compounds
 Carbohydrates
o Monosaccharide: with examples
o Disaccharide: with examples
o Polysaccharide: with examples
o Glycosidic bond
o Benedict’s test for reducing sugars
o Iodine test for starch
 Lipids
o Characteristics of lipids
o Sudan IV test for lipids
o Grease spot test for lipids
 Proteins
o Structural and functional proteins
o Peptide bond
o Biuret test for proteins
 Nucleic acid
o Theory
 Report : over 10 (2.5 for each test)
o Objective
o Materials
o Procedure (same as lab manual)
o Results
o Analysis
o Conclusion
o Questions (after each procedure there is a set of questions for
example :Procedure 5.1 Question 2(a, b, c, d, e))
o Experiments included: identification of starch, reducing sugars,
lipids and proteins
Diffusion and Osmosis
Passive Movement of Molecule in Biological Systems (Laboratory
Experiment 3 ) (page 79)
 Introduction to conceptual basics of membrane properties
 Types of movement across membranes (not mentioned in the manual)
o Simple diffusion
o Osmosis
o Facilitated diffusion
o Active transport
o Endocytosis (phagocytosis & pinocytosis)
o Exocytosis
2
2
2

4
5
6
Factors affecting rate of diffusion
o Temperature (not written in the manual)
o Molecular weight
 Diffusion and differentially permeable membrane
o Extra handout for the procedure
 Osmosis and the rate of diffusion along a concentration gradient
o Theory
 Plasmolysis of plant cells
 Report : over 10
o Objective
o Materials
o Procedure (same as lab manual)
o Results
o Analysis
o Conclusion
o Experiments included: dialysis tube and plasmolysis of plant cell
Practical session- How to use the compound light microscope ( laboratory
experiment 4)
 Practical quiz: Each student has to prepare a stained slide from onion
epidermis and focus it
Limitations on Cell Size – Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio (Laboratory
Experiment 5)
 The effect of increasing volume on cell activity
 The surface area-to-volume ratio and permeability
 Report : over 10
o Objective
o Materials
o Procedure (same as lab manual)
o Results (including the graphs)
o Analysis
o Conclusion
o Questions
Midterm Experiments included : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Photosynthesis pigment Separation, Starch production and CO2 uptake
(Laboratory Experiment 6) (page 125)
 Paper chromatography of photosynthetic pigments
o Chromatography basics and analysis
o Calculation of retention factor “Rf” values for each pigment
found in green leaves
 Use of light and chlorophyll to produce starch during photosynthesis
(theory)
 Report : over 10
o Objective
o Materials
o Procedure (same as lab manual)
o Results (including the Rf calculations)
o Analysis
o Conclusion
o Questions
2
2
2
3
7
8
9
Spectrophotometry: Identifying solutes and determining their
concentration (Laboratory Experiment 7) (page 67)
 Spectrophotometer
 Absorption spectrum of chlorophyll
o Spectra graphic analysis
 The Standard curve (theory explanation)
o Using the standard curve to measure the unknown concentration
of a solution (theory)
 Report : over 10
o Objective
o Materials
o Procedure (same as lab manual)
o Results (including the graph)
o Analysis
o Conclusion
o Questions
Enzymes (Laboratory Experiments 8)
 Catechole oxidase analysis
 Formation and detection of benzoquinone
 Effect of pH on enzyme activity
o Optimal pH
 Effect of substrate concentration on enzyme activity
 Effect of inhibitors
o Competitive and non-competitive
 The need for cofactors in enzyme activity
 Effect of temperature on enzyme activity
o Optimal temperature
 Report : over 10 (2 points for each exp)
o Objective
o Materials
o Procedure (same as lab manual)
o Results
o Analysis
o Conclusion
o Experiments included: all of the above
Mitosis :Replication of Eukaryotic cells
Meiosis: Reduction division and gametogenesis (Laboratory Experiment 9)
(pages 137 & 147)
 Conceptual basics of cell division
 The cell cycle
 Stages and events of mitosis
 Mitosis in animal cells
 Mitosis in plant cells
 Stages and events of meiosis
 Gametogenesis
o Mammalian spermatogenesis
o Mammalian oogenesis
 Mitosis vs. meiosis
 Identification of the different stages of mitosis in an onion root tip
o Slides
2
2
2
4
10
11
Separating organic compound: Gel Electrophoresis (Laboratory
Experiment 10) (page 57)
 Gel Electrophoresis (page 61)
o basics and analysis
 Agarose gel preparation
 Separating organic molecule by gel electrophoresis (practical)
Hamster Dissection (Laboratory Experiment 11)
 The basics of hamster dissection
 Internal anatomy
 The digestive and respiratory systems
2
2
Final Exam
Experiments included: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
Grade distribution:
Practical Quiz & Evaluation
Midterm
Laboratory Reports
Final Exam
10%
30%
20%
40%
Attendance Policy
1. Attendance in all classes is required. There are no exceptions to this policy except in very
extenuating circumstances (sickness of such severity that it prevents the student from attending
classes, serious illness or death in the family). Please note that if you schedule a doctor's or
dentist's appointment during class hours, this is NOT an excused absence. Athletic students (As
identified by the University) will also be excused for documented games/matches/tournaments
etc. It is incumbent on the student to provide acceptable documentation to substantiate all
absences or the absence will be considered unexcused. Acceptable documentation for excused
absences must be provided no later than one week following the student's return to school.
Documentation submitted after this time will not be considered. It is incumbent on the student to
provide the documentation, the instructor will not ask for it. Please note that the documentation
must state that the student was unable to attend class during specific dates.
2. Roll will be called in the very beginning of each class. If you arrive after roll has been called,
you will be marked as absent.
3. Students may not absent themselves for more than a maximum of 2 lab sessions. Those who
exceed the above limits are automatically given an (AW) grade in the Lab by the UMS, and
consequently not allowed to attend class any longer. An unexcused absence from a drop quiz will
result in a zero on that drop quiz. If a student misses a session, they will get a ZERO grade on the
report of that session
4. If the number of absences exceeds the limits spelled out in item 3 after the withdrawal deadline,
the student will not receive an AW grade, therefore, the final examination must be written,
otherwise, an F grade will be granted.
Policies and Procedures
·
No student is allowed to enter into the classroom after 5 minutes of the commencement of the
lecture.
·
Drinking, eating and chewing are prohibited in the class environment.
·
No student is allowed to enter the lab without lab gown
5
·
You are responsible for maintaining general safety procedures during each lab
·
You are not allowed to leave the lab before returning all glassware to the assigned places
and cleaning your benches as directed for each lab session
·
Leaving any experiment unattended even for short period of time is not allowed at all under
any circumstances
·
You should bring your lab manual to each lab session
·
Prepare yourself for drop quiz each laboratory session
·
Reports to be handed one week after the experiment. Any delayed report will not be graded
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