COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
Poster of HDF Cell Experiments
A majority of the experiments will focus in the Survival and Function of HDF (human
dermal fibroblast) cells in vitro. Each student is required to put together a
poster that covers the objectives, succinct summary of experimental methods, experimental
results, and implications of these experiments.
A draft of the poster is due at the beginning of lecture (2:00 p.m.) on Friday,
February 20. The posters will be critiqued during the lecture time that day, graded,
and returned by the following Monday. A revised/final poster is due Friday, February
27 at 4:30 p.m. The poster must be turned into the BIOE Department Office (Keck
116).
Further information on the format and content of the poster will be distributed
at a later date. Dr. Tracy Volz (Cain Foundation) will be a resource for this
activity. The poster on the HDF Cell Experiments will count 35% of your final
grade (15% draft; 20% revised/final).
Lab Notebook Maintenance
Carbon copy lab notebooks must be used. Copies of the work from Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday of each week must be detached from your notebook and turned in on
the following Monday at 1:00 p.m. For example, the writing in your lab notebook
from Jan. 26, 28, and 30 should be turned on Feb. 2. Staple your pages together.
BIOE 342 will use the same format for keeping a lab notebook as BIOS 311; instructions
and information can be found on the web at http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~bios311/
bios311/notebook.html. However, there are two differences. First, graphs, charts,
and plots (raw data and analyzed data) must be placed (stapled or taped) in
your lab notebook (on original and carbon copy pages); a separate binder with
charts should not be created. Second, you do not need to copy down all the protocols
from the protocol book if you followed them exactly. You can note: The Micropipette
Exercise was followed as given on pages 7-8 of the BIOE 342 Lab Protocols Book.
However, when you make changes from the protocol, they should be noted. In addition,
the cells type and passage number should be noted for all experiments.
A simple grading scale of Ö+ (A), Ö (B), and Ö- (C) will be used.
Maintaining your lab notebook will count 15% in your final grade.
Experiment and Analysis Questions
Listed at the end of most protocols are Experimental and Analysis Questions.
Answers to Questions must be written in your lab notebook. Copies of the work
from Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week must be detached from your notebook
and turned in on the following Monday at 1:00 p.m. (See example above.) Staple
your pages together.
Questions must be answered once the last day of a particular protocol has been
completed. For example, if an experiment ran Monday and Wednesday, the Questions
must be answered and turned in by the following Monday.
Please number your answers to Questions. If possible, keep your answers to Questions
for a particular experiment together and near that experiment. Answers to Questions
will count 30% in your final grade.
Safety
All students are expected to work safely in the lab. Safety glasses must be
worn at all times. Contacts may not be worn. Students must wear long pants,
shirts with shoulders (or a lab coat, buttoned up), and close-toed shoes. Students
not adhering to these policies will be sent home to change. Absolutely no eating,
drinking or gum chewing will be allowed at any place or time in the lab (including
tables in Teaching Lab).
Biohazardous material must be disposed of properly. Details for proper disposal
will be discussed in lecture.
Adherence to safety policies will count 5% of your final grade. However, the
instructor retains the right to penalize a student's final grade if egregious
safety violations are noted.
Developing Tissue Culture Skills
A major objective of this course is to learn cell and tissue culture. The instructor
and T.A.s will be working with and observing students one-on-one. Frequent verbal
and written (minimum of three times) feedback will be given to students. A simple
grading scale of Ö+ (A), Ö (B), and Ö- (C) will be used. Evaluations
of Tissue Culture Skills will count 15% in your final grade.
Self-Evaluations
In an ongoing effort to restructure science and engineering labs, self-evaluations
must be completed at the beginning and end of this course. The self-evaluation
form highlights many important laboratory skills. The pre-lab evaluation is
at www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/
bioeselfeval.html ; please fill out by Friday, January 23. The post-lab evaluation
is at www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/bioeposteval.html ; please fill out by Friday
February 27.
Summary of Course Assignments
| Item to be Graded |
Day of Week |
Due Date |
Time |
Location |
| Lab Notebook Pages |
Monday |
Jan. 26, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23 |
1:00 p.m. |
Box in Keck 108 (lab) |
| Poster on HDF Cells - Draft |
Friday |
Feb. 20 |
2:00 p.m. |
Box in Keck 108 (lab) - critique at 2:00 p.m. |
| Poster on HDF Cells - Final |
Friday |
Feb. 27 |
4:30 p.m. |
BIOE Dept Office - Keck 116 |
