Molecular Biology 480/580
Laboratory Schedule*
-Spring 2012-
*Note see: http://csm.jmu.edu/biology/courses/bio480_580/Syllabus/sylFall2011.html for the complete course expectations.

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Instructors:

Laboratory:  Burruss 328 - BIO480 Section 1 (#12411): Monday - 1:25-5:15 p.m., BIO 480 Section 2 (#15439): Tuesday- 12:30 p.m.- 4:20 p.m.

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Attendance - Reminder that Attendance in Lab is Mandatory- a 10% reduction in grade will be given for each lab day missed unless prior permisson from the instructor is obtained or documentation of an illness or family emergency is turned in within a timely fashion. Prompt arrival will also be expected from students. Failure to arrive to class on time may also result in a grade reduction of up to 5% of the lab grade.

Time Expectations for Lab Work Outside of the Class - Molecular biological experiments often involve doing something quickly, and then waiting, and then do something else, thus, time will be required outside of the normal class time to finish several of the experiments. As often as possibe you wil be informed in advance of the expectations outside of class for a given weeks experiments.

Lab Safety - Students are required to wear close-toed shoes at all times in the lab and safety glasses when working on the bench with chemicals. Students should not work alone in the laboratory. Students must fill out a lab safety sheet which indicates their understanding of these and other JMU safety regulations.

Class Preperation - Starting the second week of lab, students are required to familiarize themselves with the protocols ahead of the lab period and to bring a copy of the protcol to lab. During two lab periods of the semester, pop-quizes will be given (worth 10 lab assignment points each) to insure students are prepared to participate in the day's lab activities, ie have looked over the days protocol before class.

Lab Notebook - While lab notebooks will not be graded, maintainence of a quility lab notebook is strongly suggested as lab notebook information will be needed for both the lab take-home exam and lab reports. Suggestions for keeping a quality lab notebook can be found at http://homegrownscientists.org/note-taking/keeping-a-good-lab-notebook.html.

Learning Goals (Based on JMU Biology Learning Goals)

1. Formulate a hypothesis and identify relevant variables necessary to test that hypothesis.
2. Design and execute experiments to test hypothesis.
3. Obtain and organize Molecular data.
4. Analyze and interpret Molecular data.
5. Use effective professional communication in posters.
6. Use effective professional communication in oral reports.
7. Use mathematics to understand and analyze biological phenomena
8. Synthesize information and concepts, and apply that knowledge to new situations.
9. Experience working “at the bench” in a controlled environment.
10. Be able to perform several molecular techniques including microarray analysis, real time PCR, Western Blotting, protein, RNA and DNA isolation.

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Grading - 50 % of Class Grade

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