Fall 2010: Biology 210 Biological Techniques
Dr. Jolene Tarnay Cogbill, PhD
Class Meetings: Fridays, 2-4:50 pm, Henry Hall Room HL2
Office Hours: Wesselkamper 106, M & F 10 am – 1 pm or by appointment
E-mail: drjotar@aol.com or jolene.cogbill@chaminade.edu

Required Text:
Required information will be handed out to students weekly.  Students should have a three ring binder to place all literature in an organized fashion.

General Course Objectives:
•	To acquire a general working knowledge of laboratory techniques and protocols.
•	To learn basic laboratory techniques involving DNA, RNA and protein.

Specific Student Objectives:
•	To understand how to make solutions 
•	To learn how to properly pipette 
•	To learn and perform basic DNA protocols including: PCR, DNA extraction, electrophoresis, cloning, and restriction digests.
•	To learn and perform basic RNA protocols including: Drosophila embryo collection and fixation, riboprobe synthesis and labeling and in situ hybridization.
•	To learn and perform basic protein protocols including: protein extraction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry.

Grading:
	Exam 1				25%
	Exam 2				25%
	Exam 3				25%
	Lab Notebooks			10%
Quizzes			  5%
	Handouts			  5%
	Participation & Attendance	  5%

Makeup examinations/quizzes and extra credit:
Makeup examinations and quizzes are not given unless a student is ill and notifies the instructor before the exam.  A doctor’s written excuse must be presented at the next lecture attended before the instructor will consider giving a makeup examination.  Extra credit assignments are not given.

Attendance:
Presence in class is necessary in order for a student to fully grasp concepts and applications.  Absences beyond one unexcused (instructor’s prerogative) will result in a reduction of the course grade.

Readings:
Students are responsible for all assigned reading and supplementary handouts.  Students are encouraged to read ahead to keep up with high volume of material.

Because the university is an academic community with high professional standards, its teaching function is seriously disrupted and subverted by academic dishonesty.  Such dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, which includes giving/receiving unauthorized assistance during an examination; obtaining information about an examination before it is give, using inappropriate/unallowed sources of information during an examination; altering answers after an examination has been submitted; and altering the records on any grade.  (Refer to the Chaminade University catalog for further information).
Tentative Course Outline:
Week	Date			Topic						Assignment(s)

1	Aug 27			Basic Lab Safety				Solutions & Dilutions Worksheet
				Record Keeping					Measurements Worksheet
				Making Solutions: 				Pipetting Exercise
     balances, pH, molarity, conversions
				Pipetting

2	Sept 3			Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)		PCR Pre-lab
										*to be done BEFORE come to lab

3	Sept 10		DNA Cloning & Bacterial Transformation	Gel Electrophoresis Pre-lab
				Gel Electrophoresis				*to be done BEFORE come to lab

4	Sept 17		DNA Extraction				Restriction Digest Pre-lab
				Restriction Digests				*to be done BEFORE come to lab
				
5	Sept 24		Exam 1	: Covers Introduction & DNA Labs 1-4				

6	Oct 1		Riboprobe Synthesis				Riboprobe Pre-lab
				Drosophila Embryo Collection & Fixation	*to be done BEFORE come to lab
				
7	Oct 8			Riboprobe Synthesis Con’t		

8	Oct 15			In Situ Hybridization & Detection		

9	Oct 22			In Situ  Detection	
		
10	Oct 29 		Lab Exam 2: Covers RNA Labs 6-9

11	Nov 5 			Immunohistochemistry				Immuno Pre-lab
										*to be done BEFORE come to lab
12	Nov 12			Immunohistochemistry Con’t
				Western Blots (?)

13	Nov 19			Western Blots  Con’t (?)
				Review
   				               
14	Nov 26			No Class – Thanksgiving Holiday		
                                              	
15	Dec 3			Lab Exam 3: Covers Protein Labs 11-13

Note: Every effort has been made to insure that the material in this syllabus is accurate and complete.  However, occasionally changes must be made in the printed schedule. Thus the instructor reserves the right to make any changes in the contents of this syllabus that she deems necessary or desirable. These changes, if any, will be announced as soon as the need for them becomes apparent.

Guidelines for use of all Division of Natural Science and Mathematics Laboratories at Chaminade University 

1.    Come to lab properly dressed.  Bare feet, flip-flops, or sandals are NOT ALLOWED.  If your clothing 
does not cover your midriff, knees and shoulders, you must wear a lab coat. 

2.   Do not eat, drink, apply cosmetics or chew gum in the lab.  Do not place pencils, pens, labels, fingers (or 
any other objects) in your mouth. Keep your hands away from your face. 

3.   Never mouth pipette any liquid in any laboratory. 

4.   Keep cuts or open wounds covered.  Gloves are available. 

5.   Work on the lab bench, not on your notebook, over the floor, or in your lap. 

6.   Keep you work area organized, to reduce confusion, chance of error, or chance of spilling. Put away 
unneeded notebooks, papers, and personal electronics.