U29 BIO 101 FALL 2009
GENERAL BIOLOGY I LABORATORY
Lab Instructor:
Wilhelm Cruz, Ph.D.
cruzws@biology.wustl.edu
935-5436
Rebstock 130
Office Hour(s):
WED 4-5 PM
General information: If you are registered U29 BIO 101, you must be registered in a lab section (even
if you have taken this course previously). Your registration should show your chosen lab section. Be sure
that you can attend each lab section throughout the semester.
The U29 BIO 101 Laboratory is designed to reinforce your understanding of specific topics covered in
lecture. The selected lab experiments have been chosen and arranged to follow the topics covered that
week in Tuesday's lecture. The new lab material for the week will be presented first to the Thursday lab
section and, subsequently, to the Monday lab section with both lab sections working on the same topics
and performing the same experiments.
Lab Manual: This semester (Fall 2009), you will not use a published lab manual. Instead, a packet of lab
hand-outs will be distributed to you 1-2 weeks prior to the week's experiment. You should read the reading
assignments noted in the laboratory schedule on the next page prior to your lab section. Occasionally, you
will have to turn-in lab reports.
Grades: In total, lab will count for 25% of your course grade. This 25% is comprised of quizzes (18%)
and lab reports (7%).
Quizzes: There will be 3 (three) lab quizzes during the semester. Each lab quiz is worth 6% of your
course grade and will only cover lab related material. The dates and labs covered in the quizzes are noted
in the laboratory schedule on the next page. The lab quizzes will comprise both a written component
and a "hands-on" (practical) component.
Lab Reports: Lab reports are due at the beginning of the lab each week and are based on the
experiments preformed the previous week. Late lab reports will not be accepted for credit. Lab reports
should reflect your own work; in other words, DO NOT COPY LAB REPORTS FROM OTHER STUDENTS.
Some lab reports may be difficult for you, so don’t leave them to the last minute, because you may want to
see a TA or lab instructor during office hours for help.
Participation/Attendance: For your safety, you must wear covered toe shoes (no sandals) and long
pants (no shorts) at all times in lab. A majority of the laboratory exercises require that students work in
groups (2-4 students per group). It is important that each student in the group must actively participate.
Missing Lab: We understand that situations may arise during the semester that cause you to miss a lab
session and these will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Typically, "make-up labs" are not
permitted, with the exception for religious observations and severe illness/death. Missing two or more lab
sections will result in an incomplete of the lab portion of the course and, thus, 0% out of the 25%.
1
Laboratory Schedule
U29 BIO 101 - FALL 2009
Week
Dates
Laboratory Topic(s)
1
Sept. 3



Introduction to BIO 101 Laboratory
Basic Biology Laboratory Techniques: Pipetting / Microscopes
Microscopy Techniques ( computer lab)
2
Sept. 10


Benedict's and Biuret Test
Protein Structure (computer lab)
3
Sept. 17

Diffusion and Osmosis
4
Sept. 24

Fermentation
5
Oct. 1
6
Oct. 8


Cell Organelles (computer lab)
Photosynthesis ( computer lab)
7
Oct. 15

Mitosis and Meiosis
8
Oct. 22

Mendelian Genetics
9
Oct. 29


The lac Operon
"DNA: The Secret of Life" (movie)
10
Nov. 5
11
Nov. 12

Polymerase Chain Reaction
12
Nov. 19

DNA Sequencing
Laboratory Exam I (Week 1-4)
Laboratory Exam II (Week 6-9)
Nov. 26
2
13
Dec. 3
14
Dec. 10
FALL BREAK


DNA Sequencing Results (computer lab)
Evolve ( computer lab)
Laboratory Exam III (Week 11-13)