This is a guide to writing a lab report for Bio 401. I would prefer that the labs were written on a word processor. This is so that they will be easier to read, but also because an electronic copy is easier to edit when you proof read them (i.e., I expect the reports to be well written). However they can be hand written if you don't have easy access to a computer. Do not type a report - That is a waste of effort.

Reports should be set up like this:

Name     Title     Date

I. Purpose:

- This should be a one or two sentence statement of the purpose of the lab. One important point - the purpose of the lab is never "to learn about the technique of . . . ." The is an experimental purpose to each lab (i.e., to determine the restriction map of an unknown peice of DNA) which is the purpose of doing the lab.

II. Introduction:

- This should be a concise, well-written paragraph describing the concepts underlying the lab and techniques that are used in it. The purpose of this section of the lab is for you to show me that you understand what the lab is about. This is one of the most important parts of the lab.

III. General Procedures:

This should be a summary of the procedures in the lab. Don't go into too much detail here. (This is one of the least important sections of the lab.)

IV. Observations:

- This part should be hand written during the experiment and will be in rough draft form. It should be a written account of things that you observed during the operation of the procedures. This should not be typed out - if you're writing it at a computer hours after the experiment then it's not an observation, it's a memory. In this section you should catalogue everything that you see: the accuracy of your measurements, mistakes that you may have made, raw data as you collect it, and anything that you see during the lab. Observations that you make will be important in the Discussion section (see below).

V. Data and Calculations:

- In this section you should re-organize the data that was previously shown in Observations (in raw form) into neat, legible tables that are well ordered and easy to read. Be sure to put the units on all measurements. Use proper significant figures. Put sample calculations below the data tables. If there is a long series of calculations (as in Differential Centrifugation), you should show clearly that you understand how to get the final answer. Make it easy for me to follow the logic of your calculations. For repetitive calculations (i.e., every data point is operated on the same way) show one sample calculation.

VI. Discussion/Conclusions:

- In this section, refer to the Purpose and Introduction and discuss whether the experiment supported the assertions you made there. You will use the information in the Observations and Data/Calculations sections to determine if the experiment was a success or failure. Discuss why the data doesn't support the theory and where errors may have entered. Observations are critical to this section of the lab. If your results are poor you will need to be able to discuss where error came into the procedure. If you don't have good observations you will be unable to explain your results. The Discussion section is the most important part of the lab.