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Course syllabus

Introductory lab manual (Bios 211)

Experimental Cell Biology: Applications of Transmission Electron Microscopy

***DUE TO TECHNICAL ISSUES AND TIME CONSTRAINTS THERE ARE NO PLANS TO OFFER THIS COURSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE***

Our laboratory module in cell biology is as close to real research as any teaching lab can be. In fact, the focus is on using tranmission electron microscopy (TEM) to address questions that are part of ongoing research projects in the Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB). It is designed for students with a very strong interest in a research career, especially those who plan to apply to graduate school. There is one way in which to enroll in this course (outlined below).

Eligibility

Any student wishing to take Bios 314 must be sponsored by a research laboratory that will provide a project and fund his/her work. It is up to the student to approach faculty who may be interested and to arrange for a project. A student cannot sign up beforehand and then seek a sponsor. Generally, students who take this course will already be working in a research laboratory.

It is up to the sponsoring investigator to decide if a student is ready for the responsibilities of this lab module. We do prefer that students have had the core lab sequence in BCB, namely Bios 211 and 311. Students must be prepared to work fairly independently and should have flexible schedules. In addition to the time taken up conducting an experiment, the sample preparation that follows typically takes several hours up to the first practical stopping point. Students will need to devote several hours each to fixation, dehydration, and embedding of samples, to trimming and sectioning of embedded specimens, to staining of specimens, and to observation. Sectioning in particular involves a steep "learning curve." At least one training and practice session will be necessary. If results are not satisfactory it may be necessary to repeat an experiment.

Registration

Registration is by special registration request form, to be signed by the instructor. On ESTHER the enrollment is capped at zero so that an ineligible student cannot simply sign on without the instructor's knowledge.

Scheduling

We will need to arrange for several meetings for presentation of concepts, for training sessions, and for instrumentation time. Arrangements will be made during the first week of classes.