Course Title and Number:
IST 241 Introduction to DNA Cloning
Lecture 11-11:50 AM MWF Room 125 BBSC
Lab 1-2:50 PM M Room 211 BBSC
Instructor:
Dr. Elizabeth Murray
murraye@marshall.edu
Office:
304-696-3515
Cell:
304-617-6198
Office:
241 G BBSC
Office Hours:
MWF 10-11
Make an appointment to see me at other times.
Course Description, Credits, and Prerequisites
This course will provide students with a basic foundation in biotechnology, molecular
biology and recombinant DNA. The social and ethical issues raised by progress in
biotechnology will be evaluated and discussed. This course allows students to develop
proficiency in the methods used in recombinant DNA laboratories. Labs are designed to
promote student independence, accountability and teamwork.
Credit Hours- 4
Prerequisites- none
Required Text(s):
DNA Science A First Course (2nd Edition) David Micklos, Greg Freyer with David Crotty.
ISBN 0-87969-636-2
Additional Study Aids:
Course Page in Blackboard
Webpage Instructor provided slideshows, laboratory protocols, worksheets and
laboratory notes may be posted in Blackboard. We will be recording lectures in WIMBA
during class.
Other websites worth visiting are:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/default.html
http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/brynw/index.html
http://www.accessexcellence.com/RC/genetics.html
Computer Requirements:
Access to a Pentium computer with Microsoft Office 2007, Internet Explorer and
Blackboard.
Course Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment Measures
Upon completion of this course, students
will be able to:
Understand the basic principles of molecular
Each student learning outcome will be
assessed in the following manner:
Lecture quizzes, Final Exam, Case Studies and
biology, including DNA replication, RNA
transcription and protein translation.
Understand and use the basic tools of genetic
engineering including recombinant DNA,
microbial transformation, plasmid DNA
purification, plasmid mapping with restriction
enzymes, antibiotic selection, GFP gene
expression.
Relate the study of DNA Science to current
advances in genomics, bioinformatics,
molecular genetics and biotechnology
Discuss the application of DNA biotechnology
in career areas.
Ability to purify genomic DNA from a eukaryote
organism, use PCR to amplify this DNA and
perform DNA sequencing and use
bioinformatics tools.
Understanding of antibiotic resistance genes
and their expression as proteins.
Understand basics of ethical decision-making
and apply these to biological problems.
problem assignments.
Lecture quizzes, Final Exam, Case Studies and
problem assignments, laboratory exercises.
Lecture quizzes, Final Exam, Case Studies and
problem assignments, laboratory exercises.
Case Studies and problem assignments
Laboratory Report
Lecture quizzes, Final Exam, Case Studies and
problem assignments, laboratory exercises.
Case studies and problem assignments.
Evaluation/Measurement of Learner Outcomes:
The standards for measuring successful completion of learner objectives will be
Lab Work (Lab participation and reports)
Lecture quizzes
Final Exam
Final Research Project
Class participation, Problem sets and Ethics Case Studies
30%
30%
20%
10%
10%
Grading Policy:
A = 90-100 %
B = 80-89 %
C = 70-79 %
D = 60-69 %
F < 60 %
Lab
Lab work will be assessed based on attendance, participation, prelab quizzes and
completion of lab summary questions and data analysis. Students are required to read
laboratory assignments before class and take and pass a prelab quiz on Blackboard to
assess their preparation for class.
Research Project
Each student will be assigned one or more Blacknosed dace from a population sample.
If weather permits, students will take a field trip to Twelve Pole Creek to collect fish. The
student will purify DNA from their fish and amplify and sequence the mitochondrial DNA
of this fish. The student will analyze the sequence in relationship to the sequences
obtained by other class students and Dr. Murray’s research project on speciation of
Blacknosed dace. The student will write a lab report on this project. The lab reports will
follow the guidelines suggested by LabWrite project at NC State
(http://www.ncsu.edu/labwrite/). Students will turn in a draft and have the opportunity to
rewrite this laboratory. A detailed assignment sheet will be provided.
Problems and Case Studies
There will be bi-weekly assignments of problems and bioethics case studies. These
assignments will be graded based on accuracy and completeness of the answers to the
questions. Students should write their own answers to these problems, but can discuss
the problems in study groups.
Quizzes
Students will have biweekly quizzes. The quizzes will be during Friday class and cover
the chapters assigned for that two week period of the class and the lectures and lab
materials covered. We will stick to quizzes on the reading schedule. There will be no
make-up quizzes without a university sanctioned excuse. Early quizzes can be
arranged with 1 week advance notice. Students may drop one quiz grade.
Final Exam
The final exam is 20% of the final grade and will be based on prior quizzes and
laboratories.
Class Participation
Although formal attendance is not taken, I will notice if you are consistently absent from
discussion. An open discussion atmosphere is encouraged in the class and laboratory,
and students are encouraged to ask questions about the book and genetics in the news
in both class and lab and during office hours.
Class Policies:
Attendance Policy:
Attendance policy is in keeping with Marshall’s official policy regarding excused
absences. This policy can be found on pp. 123-126 of the 2009-2010 undergraduate
online catalog, which can be accessed at
http://www.marshall.edu/catalog/undergraduate/ug_09-10.pdf).
Because I will be recording lectures in Wimba, I am enabling students to determine if they
want to attend lectures in person. Because this semester I am undergoing chemotherapy
for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, I may elect to lecture from my house in Wimba. It is therefore
very important we all learn to use Wimba for lectures.
Labs are project based. Attendance is critical, since the performance of the laboratory
skills must be under supervision of the laboratory instructor. Missing more than 2 labs
will result in loss of a letter grade in lab. Lab work may be repeated if there are not
successful results. Students may have to return to lab to complete some work based on
timing of experiments.
Students are expected to work safely and clean up after work. If the lab is left dirty or
equipment is broken, they are responsible for cleaning up and reporting problems.
Tardiness is also discouraged, but is better than absence. It is the student’s
responsibility to meet with instructor to discuss laboratory absences due to illness
or other reasons. It is also required to return to the lab between classes and perform
some work. Students should schedule time with instructor to get into the lab outside of
regular class hours for additional work.
Students are required to stay on task during labs. Discussion of the problems in a group
is encouraged. However, please complete your homework and quizzes individually. If
you have completed the assigned task, please help someone else. If you are lost, review
the book material, formulate a question, and show me your work.
Late Assignments:
Late assignments will lose a letter grade for every week late. Work book assignments
will receive a check or a check minus but not a check + if they are late.
Academic Dishonesty Policy:
All students should be familiar with the university’s policy concerning academic
dishonesty. This policy can be found on pp. 102 – 106 of the undergraduate catalog
http://www.marshall.edu/catalog/undergraduate/ug_09-10.pdf.
Policy for Students with Disabilities:
Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students,
including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. University policy
states that it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to contact the Office of
Disabled Student Services (DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone 304 696-2271 to provide
documentation of their disability. Following this, the DSS Coordinator will send a letter to
each of the student’s instructors outlining the academic accommodation he/she will need
to ensure equality in classroom experiences, outside assignment, testing and grading.
The instructor and student will meet to discuss how the accommodation(s) requested will
be provided. For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled or
contact Disabled Student Services Office at Prichard Hall 117, phone 304-696-2271.
University Computing Services’ Acceptable Use Policy:
All students are responsible for knowing this policy, which can be found on the web at
http://www.marshall.edu/ucs/CS/accptuse.asp.
Affirmative Action Policy:
This course will follow Marshall University’s policy on Affirmative Action, which can be
found on p. 90 of the 2009-2010 undergraduate catalog
http://www.marshall.edu/catalog/undergraduate/ug_09-10.pdf. Specifically, all students
will be afforded equal opportunity without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age,
disability, national origin, or sexual orientation.
Inclement Weather Policy:
Students can find information concerning Marshall’s policy regarding inclement weather
on pp. 92-93 of the 2009-2010 undergraduate online catalog
http://www.marshall.edu/catalog/undergraduate/ug_09-10.pdf,
Course Outline:
The schedule below is intended to give you a guide to the course. Lab work may be
repeated if there are not successful results and schedule adjusted.
Week
1
1/10/11
2
1/17/11
3
1/24/11
4
1/31/11
5
2/7/11
6
2/14/11
7
2/21/11
8
2/28/11
9
3/7/11
10
3/14/11
11
3/21/11
12
3/28/11
13
4/4/11
14
4/11/11
15
4/18/11
16
4/25/11
Topic
Introduction to the class, biotechnology
and DNA structure
DNA structure and function, Film on
Double Helix
Quiz 1
How we learned the Function of DNA
Text
Chapter 1
Lab
Lab 1
No lab- holiday
Chapter 2
Quiz 2
Lab 2
Lab 3
Basic Tools and techniques of DNA
Science
Quiz 3
Chapter 4
Methods for Finding and Expressing
Important Genes
Quiz 4
Chapter 5
How we learned how genes are
regulated
Quiz 5
Chapter 3
Lab 4
Lab 5
Lab 6
Lab 7
Lab 8
Lab 9/ Project
No Class Spring Break
No lab holiday
Modern methods for Analyzing whole
Genomes
Quiz 6
Chapter 6
Lab 10/ Project
The DNA Science of Cancer
Chapter 7
Project
Applying DNA Science to Human
Genetics and Evolution Quiz 7
Exam Week
Final Lab Report due
Chapter 8
Project
Project
Final Exam (consult
schedule)