Lab Syllabus for Spring '99
The labs below have been set up to stress techniques commonly used in Cell and Molecular Biology. Many of the labs will be strictly technique labs that will build up to an experimental lab. Lab reports will only be required of the experimental labs (see below). There will be a lab quiz at the beginning of each class on the lab to be done that day.
The main purpose of this WWW project is to get students used to the idea of getting information from the web. You should be reading these labs on-line. I would prefer it if you didn't just access these labs and then print them out. Printing is a waste of paper and an archaic practice.
Your cooperation in lab is essential to both learning and having fun. Some of the labs may be disorganized and some may not work well. This is the nature of science. You'll be given a handout of the procedures of the lab, so you don't have to print the procedures from the computer screen. But you should understand and take notes on the theory and be familiar with the procedures from reading them here. Read these labs carefully and understand well them before coming into lab.
Also, you will need to purchase a fine point felt tip marker for use in the lab (see below)
Select the lab you are interested in from the choices below:
Introduction to the WWW - If you are unfamiliar with Navigating the web, you can check out this page.
See Grading below for winning extra credit
If you're interested in The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) check out his page. There's a neat animation in it.
[These labs (with the exception of Differential Centrifugation) were written by Dr. Donald F. Slish and are intended for use in the Spring semester of BIO401 at SUNY Plattsburgh.]
If you're interested in extra credit, see Grading below.
Grading
The lab grade will be based on the following:
Extra Credit: Every year I have students tell me that there are typos all over these labs, but they don't tell me where. This year I'm offering 2 points to be added on to either the Quiz or Lab Report total (your choice which) for the first student each week to find a typo and send me an email detailing where it is. Three rules: 1.) Only the first person gets it, 2.) No entries are valid if sent before 9:00 of the Monday before that lab is done, and 3.) I have to be able to use the information to correct the lab. Good luck. And remember, nice guys finish last.
Attendance in the lab is mandatory and missing lab will affect your grade (even if you have a good excuse). If you're sick or have some other serious problem that prohibits you from attending a lab, let me know about. ("Serious problem" does not include wanting to leave early for Spring Break.) An excused absence will cost 5 points; and unexcused absence will cost 10 points. In addition, you will not be allowed to submit a lab report for a lab that you do not attend.
This portion of your grade will be based on my assessment of your performance in the lab. This will be based on your attitude toward the lab. I expect students to: 1) be prepared - read the lab over well and know what you're doing when you get to lab; 2) be cooperative - both with me and with other students; 3) be enthusiastic - lab work is what science is all about, so you should have fun with it. This is the easiest portion of the grade to do well in. All I ask is that you care about the lab. Low subjective grades are generally for people who act as if they'd rather be somewhere (anywhere) else. Your attitude is important to how much you learn.
Lab Reports: You won't be responsible for a lab report for every lab. Often several labs lead up to a final experiment and you will write a lab report for the experimental lab. When a report is required, each lab group (2 students) will be expected to hand in a lab report. The labs that will require a written report are 2,3,5,6,7, and 8. Lab reports for the Tuesday lab must be turned in by Friday of that week; Lab reports from the Thursday lab must be turned in by Monday of the next week. Lab reports must follow a specific format. Each lab is worth 25 points and a penalty of one point is subtracted for each day the report is late.
You will be quizzed at the beginning of each lab. The purpose of the quizzes is to ensure that you are accessing the information from the WWW and that you know what you're doing when you come to lab. Some of these labs are complicated and you will learn more if you know what you are doing ahead of time. Be sure that you're prepared for the quizzes.
Everyone will be required to purchase an extra fine point marker for the lab (the Vis-a'-Vis brand in the bookstore is good). This will be necessary for writing on the sides of tubes during experiments. Make sure that has a water-proof ink.
If you have questions please send me
a message at my Email address
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