Biology 111L LAB

Fall

 

Instructor:  Dr. Malinda E.C. Fitzgerald

Phone:  321 – 3262,

email:  malinda@cbu.edu

Office Hrs.:  MWF 10-12, T 9:30-12:00, 2:00-4:00

Thursday off campus at UT

 

Other times are available by appointment just e-mail

 

Corequisite:  Biol. 111

 

Books Required:    1.Symbiosis, Benjamin Cummings

                                    2. Photographic Atlas  for Biology, 5th ed., De Graaff and Crawley

 

Grading:           1 mid semester exam/practical (100 pts)

                           1 comprehensive final exam  (150 pts)

                           2 lab reports (50 pts. each)

                           ~10 weekly quizzes (20 pts. each) 

                           Total:  ~550 pts.

Attendance:  For any missed labs, a Drs. note must be presented as soon as possible. If you are ill, please call or e-mail and let me know prior to lab.  There are 5 sections of this lab that cover the same basic material.  SO if you miss a lab make it up prior to the week ending.  For each unexcused lab missed, 10 pts. will be deducted from your overall lab grade.  Quizzes will be given at the start of the period.  If you are late and miss a quiz, there will be no make-up quiz.  Makeup quizzes will not be given regardless of whether an absence was excused or not. If you attend all of the labs, you may drop your two lowest quiz grades.  If you miss one lab, you may drop your single, lowest quiz grade.

 

Goals: 

                 - To become proficient using such tools as microscopes, pipets, spectrophotometers, micropipetters, and manometers.

                 - To be able to distinguish and identify cells from organisms within the five biological kingdoms.

                 - To develop an appreciation of scientific enquiry and of the importance of developing and using controls in an experimental system.

                 - To learn the anatomic and functional differences characteristic of organisms within the Kingdoms Fungi, Protista and Prokaryotae.

                 - To be able to use basic statistical tools for the interpretation of experimental data.

 

 

LAB REPORT PROTOCOL

 

PLAGUERISM:  Occasionally students will use passages, verbatim,  (often without evil intent) from other sources (books, journals, etc.)  in a report.  This is PLAGUERISM and is considered a form of cheating.  The only acceptable way to use another source is to put the passage in your own words and that is included it in the citation section (see below).  You will receive an F on your report if you do this.

            You will be asked to write two lab reports. Choose between the first three labs listed with an asterisk.  This report will be due 2 weeks after the lab exercise.  The 2nd report must be a fruit fly report and will be due near the end of the semester (see last lab with an asterisk).

 

I. Abstract ---- This is a summary of the entire experiment. The Abstract includes a brief summary of your results.  It is condensed into one paragraph. You do not have to prepare an abstract for your lab report.

II. Introduction ----- Includes any important facts pertinent to understanding the experimental parameters.  Much of the information given in pre-lab would be found here.

III. Methods ------ This section is a brief summary of how the experiment was run.  No quantities of materials are necessary here.

IV. Results ------ A verbal explanation of your results is provided here.  Include any data in tables or graphs that are clearly labeled.  Any calculations, which apply, are included here also.  GRAPHS MUST BE DONE IN EXCEL.  Always explain tables, graphs, etc. No commentary about your results is needed here. Just the Facts! 

V. Discussion ------ Give your interpretation of the results. Why do think your experimental results were good or bad?  How did your results align with the information given in your Introduction? If your results were poor, give some idea as to why they were less than perfect.  Be honest. You will not be penalized for poor results.  I am most interested in knowing that you understand the experiment.  This section requires several ÒmeatyÓ paragraphs.

            -Avoid editorializing, such as making statements that begin with, ÒI feel...Ó or ÒAll in all the experiment went well.Ó or ÒThe experiment went as expected.Ó 

VI.  Citations------ Any sources included (in your own words) in your reports should be placed at the end of the report.  Citations will be listed numerically in order of their appearance in the paper.  In the text, references should be cited by putting a number (in superscript) at the end of the paragraph containing the citations. I will hand out a sheet showing you how this is done.

Extra tips: 

   1. Paper must be written in 3rd person, passive voice, past tense.

   2. . Each time a new topic is addressed, begin a new paragraph, each of which should have a topic sentence.  (If you donÕt know what this is, ask me.)

   3. Use BOLD headings and Roman numerals to delineate each section of the report.

   4. Reports must be typewritten and at least 3 pages.

   5. First lab report on an individual basis the second may be done as a group.

 

Lab Schedule

 

 

Week of            Exercises                 Topics for Investigation                                                                      

8/27                                                       Safety Rules, Scopes and Winogradsky         

 

 9/3                                                        ID Organic Molecules; Quantitative Lab Tech.

 

*9/10                                                     Properties of Enzymes                            _____

 

*9/17                                                     Cellular Transport Mechanisms                                   

 

*9/24                                                     Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration       

 

10/1                                                       Mitosis and Meiosis Fast Plants Activity_____                      

10/ 8                                                      Exam I                                                                 

 

10/15                                                     FALL BREAK                                           _____

 

10/22                                                     Mendelian Genetics (Fast Plants)_________

 

                                                                       

*10/29                     _____________Computer simulation., Human inheritance___                     

11/5                                                       Experiments with DNA                                                   

11/12                                                     Population genetics         __                   _____

 

11/19                                                     Bacteria __________                              _____

 

11/26                                                     Protozoa and Fungi___________________

 

12/3                                                       FINAL LAB EXAM