• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Day 6

Bioc 111 honor code

Resources

• *LAB SAFETY*
• Laboratory notebook
• Molecular biol tips
• Writing assignment
• Bioc 211 web site
• Searching literature

Fundamentals of Experimental Biology – Course syllabus

BIOC 111 is a laboratory course that introduces fundamental methods and standard practices in biosciences laboratories.  One of our major objectives is to prepare students who have limited laboratory experience to move on to courses that require more independent learning, including BIOC 211, the intermediate level course for biosciences majors. Students successfully completing the course should also be ready for independent study work (BIOC 310) in Biochemistry & Cell Biology laboratories.

BIOC 111 satisfies one-half of the health professions requirement for "one year of biology laboratory." The other half can be completed by taking EBIO 213 or BIOC 320 (crosslisted as BIOE 342).

The "fundamentals" covered in BIOC 111 include a four week introduction to DNA work, including a plasmid DNA "mini-prep," restriction enzyme digests, agarose gel electrophoresis and transformation. Additional fundamentals include preparing/diluting solutions, using automatic pipettors, conducting a colorimetric assay, spectrophotometry, basic light microscopy, laboratory record keeping, data collection and analysis.

Signup and registration

Registration is by instructor permission only. It is not available through ESTHER. See here for further information.

Overview of studies

• Pre-lab Orientation and Tour (1-2 weeks before first day of lab, about an hour and a half); introductions to keeping a laboratory notebook and maintaining academic activity, using automatic pipettors, and finding your way around the lab; attendance is required
• Day 1 Laboratory safety; plasmid DNA mini prep; restriction enzyme digests of plasmid DNA
• Day 2 Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA; gel purification of digested DNA; inoculation of Luria-Bertani (LB) plates by streaking
• Day 3 DNA ligation; bacterial transformation; examine and evaluate streak plates; calculate efficiency of transformation (EOT)
• Day 4 Referring to your previous notes, conduct plasmid DNA mini preps of transformants; restriction enzyme digests of plasmid DNA; pour, load, and run agarose gels
• Day 5 Prepare and test a biuret reagent for a colorimetric protein assay; prepare protein standards; add color reagent and read absorbances
• Day 6 Conduct a biuret protein assay; prepare protein standards, add color reagent, read and record absorbance values; repeat for unknowns; prepare a standard curve, estimate protein concentrations, plan dilutions and estimate fraction yields

For the first day

• Bring the required laboratory notebook, Hayden-McNeil Carbonless TOP Permanent Lab Notebook, 50 Set or 100 Set, to be kept in the laboratory at all times. Notebooks can be purchased from the campus store or ordered directly from the distributor WH Freeman (Freeman's ISBNs for the 50 Set and 100 Set notebooks are 978-4292-2452-9 and 978-4292-2453-6, respectively):

  http://whfreeman.com/Catalog/product/hayden-mcneilcarbonlessspirallabnotebook%28100set%29-firstedition-hayden-mcneil/formatsandpackages/studentpurchaseoptions

• Read over this syllabus, the schedule of labs, and Day 1 activities on this web site
• Print off the Day 1 material for lab, and look it over so that you understand what you will be doing
• You may find it helpful to purchase a copy of the biosciences laboratory "survival manual," especially if you plan to continue on to Bioc 211 and/or conduct research in biosciences
• For Days 5 and 6 you will need a pair of laboratory safety glasses or goggles

Evaluation of performance

We expect students to follow explicit instructions and to recall and apply previous training to each new project. Puncutality, safe conduct in the laboratory, and efficient completion of responsibilities will enter into the evaluation of overall performance. Each student will keep a laboratory notebook, turning in duplicate pages each week for spot checks. Some laboratory sessions will be followed and/or preceded by homework assignments to be submited in class. Methodology used in the DNA work will be written up as a materials and methods section of a journal article. This will be the only formal written assignment. A first draft will be submitted prior to completion of the DNA work, comments returned, and a final version submitted at the end of the course.

Course grade determination

Laboratory performance 30%
Laboratory notebook 30%
Homework and pre-laboratory assignments 30%
Materials/methods drafts and final paper 10%

Resources

• Course web pages
• OWL-Space Resources
• OWL-Socrates presentations
• Graphing tutorial (on line)
• Printed course syllabus
• "Biosciences laboratory survival manual"

You will be expected to read the background and protocol for each laboratory study and print off the protocol for use in the laboratory.

We would like to thank New England Biolabs for their generous support of this laboratory course