BIO152 Prelab
Before the lab
1. Read this Prelab!
2. Read the section on Academic Honesty on the course web page in “POLICY”
and know how to avoid academic dishonesty.
Objectives
1. Meet your TA and lab partners.
2. Reinforce what is expected of you for BIO152 labs—lab policies,
preparation, lab quizzes, lab assignments.
3. Review proper lab procedure and what we mean by “Safe Science”.
4. Reflect on how science is a way of knowing by reviewing the scientific
process (observation – hypothesis – experiment –analysis).
5. Write a diagnostic—basic math and biology (to will let you know if you are
ready or what you need to do to get ready for this course!)—will NOT
be done in lab
Mark: 1%
Attendance at this lab is important, so we are giving you 1% for demonstrating
that you have read this lab BEFORE coming to class: you are able to answer
questions about BIO152 lab policies, basic lab safety procedures, and the main
components of the scientific process.
Introduction to BIO152 labs
1. Team work and academic honesty
Science is almost always a collaborative effort with teams working together to solve
problems. Likewise in this course, you will work in teams in most labs. You will be
individually accountable and expected to contribute equitably to the success of your
team.
Academic honesty is absolutely critical for scientists, so too is honesty essential for
students. Review the separate section on Academic Honesty and how to avoid
plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. All work submitted in this and every
course must be your own not ‘borrowed’ from another student or copied without
appropriate referencing from an external source.
2. Safe science in the lab WARNING
You MUST wear a lab coat for some labs. Read Safe Science and know the rules.
The lab quizzes will include questions about the rules of Safe Science relevant to that
particular lab.
3. Lab policies
Self quiz After reading this section you should know What to do if…
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you want help outside of lab time
you miss a lab due to illness or emergency
you cannot attend a lab due to a religious holiday
you are late handing in an assignment
you want to change your lab section
you want your lab remarked
you would like to keep track of your marks
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1. Introductions
2. LAB Policies
1. Where to go for extra help? [Extra help will be discussed in lab.]
2. What to do if you must change lab sections: (no changes after September
18th)
DO NOT change labs on ROSI (after Wednesday Sept 13th ). ROSI lab
sections will be IGNORED.
Do USE STORM to change your lab section (if you need to) until Monday
September 18th at 9:30am (then labs are FIXED and you may not change
your section).
Access STORM from the “marks” section of the course web page. You will use
your name Student number(for login) and Family name (password).
3. What to do if you need to miss a lab:
a. Provide supporting authorized documentation for your absence
b. Complete Request for Makeup form (link on Course Policy page).
c. Bring your documentation and completed Request for Makeup
Form (in a sealed envelop with your name on the front) to
Marianne Kalich SE1081 (not your TA ) within a week of the
missed laboratory. If Ms Kalich is not in her office put your
envelop in the drop box outside her door and email to tell her
noting the drop box # you put it (mkalich@utm.utoronto.ca).
d. Please note that your documentation will be confidential and only
seen by Prof. Cordon.
Authorized documentation acceptable for absence:
Illness: a University of Toronto medical note, I
Religious holiday: submit BEFORE missed lab documentation such
as a letter from your religious leader.
3. Death of a close family member: as soon as possible bring
documentation such as a copy of the death certificate or a letter from
the UTM Registrar.
4. Other serious extenuating personal circumstance with detailed
explanation and documentation.
1.
2.
Makeup lab quizzes
1. Lab 0 Prelab and Lab 1: week of October 9th day, time, room to be
assigned when your request is processed.
2. Labs 2,3,4,5 week of December 4th day, time, room to be assigned
when your request is processed. All students will write the same
quiz covering information from labs 2,3,4, and 5 regardless of the
lab you missed.
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3. What is the policy for late assignments?
Late lab assignments will not be accepted. If you do not submit your
assignment in lab the day it is due, you will not get credit for the work.
Assignments are due at the beginning of lab (2:10 pm).
4. How and when do I check my marks?
Confirm your marks regularly
Check your marks before your next lab and report any errors to your TA
immediately. To access your marks, you will need a computer with an
Internet connection to the WEB (see “STORM” described in the Marks
section of the course web page).
Mark inquiries
Mark errors or concerns need to be dealt with as close to the event as
possible, not at the end of the term. Resolve questions about marks on
the labs with your TA before the final exam marks are posted.
(Direct questions about term quiz marks to Professor Cordon)
2. Safe Science in the lab
Emergency Response Guidelines
Prep Room
SB1086/1081
Local Telephone Numbers:
Phones for emergency use are located in the prep rooms
Campus Police
4333 (SB-2117)
Peel Police
905-453-3311 or 9-911
Fire Department
9-911
Student Health Services
5255 (SB1123)
Credit Valley Hospital
905-820-6800
Ambulance
905-844-4242
Poison Information
416-814-5900
General Rules
Please observe the following "rules" of conduct in the lab rooms.
!
1. No food, drink (even water), or smoking is allowed in the
lab.
2. Wear appropriate clothing in the labs; wear a lab coat and
disposable gloves if chemicals are handled (gloves are
provided). Do not wear open-toed shoes (or shorts) in the lab.
3. Advise your instructor of any special health conditions you
have which they should know about in the event of an
emergency.
4. Do not behave in any way that endangers the health and
safety of other people in the class. Report any accidents,
breakage, or damage of equipment immediately to your
instructor.
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5. Clean up after yourself. Dispose of waste in the appropriate
containers. Clean your glassware. Wash your hands before
leaving the lab. Do not wear disposable gloves outside the lab.
Chemical Rules
1. Always wear protective clothing when handling chemicals.
We advise not wearing contact lenses when handling
chemicals.
Do not wear shorts or open-toed shoes.
2. Do not pipette solutions by mouth. Use the dispensers
provided.
3. Keep solutions capped when not in use.
4. Dispose of chemicals in the labeled containers. Do not put
solutions down the drain.
5. Read the safety data on the chemicals you will use so that you
know what to do in case of a spill or emergency (see text
below).
6. Wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the lab.
First Aid
For a minor injury
First aid kits, information guide, Emergency Response Guide, and
Accident Report are found in the Lab. All injuries, no matter what,
should be reported to your TA.
For a serious injury or illness
Call the Campus Police at Local 4333. Use the phone located in
the prep room.
Chemical First Aid
Check the relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) found in
the Lab for the recommended first aid procedure for each
chemical. The three common chemical hazards are inhalation,
ingestion, and skin/eye contact. For most chemicals the following
basic first-aid procedures apply:
Inhalation: Move patient to fresh air.
Ingestion: Call poison control and notify (9-416-813-5900).
Skin/eye contact: Flush area with water for 15 minutes. Wash
skin with soap and water. Consult physician if irritation persists. All
labs are equipped with an eye-wash station.
Fire
1. Activate the nearest wall-mounted fire alarm located in the
hallways near the exits.
2. Phone the Campus Police, Local 4333.
3. Evacuate the room and building.
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4. Report to Campus Police if anyone is suspected of being in
the building after general evacuation.
5. Attempt to extinguish a fire only if you can do so safely. Each
lab room has a fire extinguisher next to the door.
6. Familiarize yourself with the location of fire exits and fire
extinguishers.
Chemical Spill
For a minor spill:
1. Soak up the chemical in paper towels. Wear gloves.
2. Dispose of the contaminated towels in the appropriate waste
container (ask your TA).
3. Report the accident to your TA.
For a major spill:
Alert your instructor. They will decide to either evacuate the room
and call Facilities Resources at Local 5301, or to contain and
clean up the spill with the special equipment provided in the prep
room.
Equipment
Report broken or damaged equipment promptly to your TA or the
course technician and describe the nature of the problem as best
you can (“broken” or “not working” is not a sufficient description to
diagnose a problem).
Report spills in/on equipment immediately to your TA or the
course technician. Some chemicals will permanently damage the
equipment if not cleaned up properly and quickly.
Glass and “Sharps”
1. Dispose of broken glass in the white buckets, and razor blades
in the small yellow containers. Please do not put paper waste
in the "sharps" containers. Never throw glass into the garbage
bins.
2. Use a brush and pan to sweep up broken glass. Ensure that
all broken glass is cleaned up (brush and pan are in the prep
room).
3. Report breakage of equipment to your instructor.
Please do NOT write on the printed white labels on any glassware
(it is very difficult and time consuming to remove). You may write
on the smooth glass surface using a wax pencil or a Sharpie
marker.
Handling Animals (Insects, etc.)
Extra precautions must be taken when handling live organisms because of the
potential of bites and scratches and the production of aerosols. Live
organisms can also escape. In undergraduate labs, the animals being
used will not knowingly be infected with human pathogens but natural
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infections may be present. The professor in charge of labs using animals
or insects will advise T.A.s (and TAs will advise students) of potential
biohazards and the proper way to handle this material.
Lab Coats
Lab coats are compulsory for labs using chemicals or bacteria—
(must be worn in Lab 2 when you are working with bacteria).
Preparation (Prep) Rooms
Not to be used by students to cross between lab rooms except for
emergency use. It may disrupt technical preparation and sensitive set-up.
3. Practicing the scientific process: The Mystery Box
Your team (3-4 students) has been given a sealed plastic container containing two or
three objects. You have also been given a container with an assortment of objects that
may have been used in the mystery box. Determine the contents of the ‘mystery box’
without opening it.
1. Start with observations. Use any means you like and have available to you (except
opening the container!) to investigate. Record your observations and answers to the
following questions in your lab notebook. Why is it important to begin solving this
problem by making observations?
When you think you have an idea of what might be in your container, make a guess
about its contents. Record your guess in your lab notebook and on the board.
Mystery Box#
Observations
Contents ( best guess)
What other methods or materials that you don’t currently have available might be
useful for making observations about the contents of your container?
2. Discuss your guess(es) and the methods tried with your lab TA and classmates.
After the discussion, the TA will offer you some additional methods for investigating
the contents of your black box.
a. Using some of the additional methods that you, your classmates and TA
suggested, make and record further observations.
b. What new information leads you to conclude that your first guess was correct or
to revise your initial guess? Write your new guess in your lab notebook and on
the board next to your original guess.
Mystery Box#
Observations
Contents ( best guess #2)
3. When the entire class is finished making their second “guesses”, your instructor
will have each group open their container write the contents on the board.
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Please do not open your container until your TA tells you. Consider the
following questions after everyone has written their box contents on the board.
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Were any of the groups wrong for both guesses about the contents of
their box? What are some things that might have led groups to draw the
wrong conclusions?
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Summarize the process that you used to solve the problem of what is in
the sealed plastic container.
4. Your investigation of the plastic container involved the same basic procedure
followed in many scientific investigations:
a. First a problem or question is posed by the investigator. What was the problem
or question you sought to solve or answer?
b. Next the investigator makes preliminary observations that lead to an educated
guess or hypothesis. What was your first hypothesis? And your second?
c. Once a hypothesis is posed, the investigator designs and performs an
experiment to tests the hypothesis. What experiment(s) did your group choose
to perform?
d. Based on the results of the experiment, the investigator draws conclusions that
support, refute, or lead to the revision of the initial hypothesis. How did the
results of your experiment compare with what you predicted in your initial
hypothesis (i.e. first guess)?
If the results are inconclusive, further observation, hypothesis formulation and
experimentation may follow until the investigator eventually reaches a point where (s)he
is confident of his/her conclusions.
5. Diagnostic—background in basic biology, biometrics, and
math—will be done as an ONLINE test. Details will be announced
in class and posted on the webpage.
2006 BIO152H5F University of Toronto at Mississauga