Spring 2010: Biology 210 Biological Techniques
Dr. Jolene Tarnay Cogbill, PhD			E-mail: jolene.cogbill@chaminade.edu
Class Meetings: Fridays, 2:30-5:20 pm, HL2
Office Hours: Wesselkamper 106, M,W,F 10-11 or by appointment

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: PCR, DNA extraction, electrophoresis, cloning, & 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: protein extraction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry.

Grading:

Participation & Attendance	  5%
	Quizzes/Prelabs		  5%
	Handouts/Assignments		  5%
Lab Notebook			10%
Exam 1				25%
	Exam 2				25%
	Exam 3				25%

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 is 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.

Quizzes:
Students are responsible for all assigned reading and supplementary handouts.  Quizzes based on the required reading and/or the previous lab will be given at the beginning of class.  Students are encouraged to read ahead to keep up with high volume of material.

Lab Notebooks:
Lab notebooks will be collected RANDOMLY throughout the semester.  Lab notebooks will be graded based on organization, neatness, and content.  Refer to the section on Record Keeping.

Miscellaneous:
•	Music Devices and Cellular Phones:  Unless specifically permitted by your instructor, use of music devices and cell phones is prohibited during all Natural Science and Mathematics classes, as it is discourteous, may lead to suspicion of academic misconduct and presents a safety issue in lab.  Students unable to comply will be asked to leave class and may be subject to a laboratory safety violation.
•	ADA Accomodations:  Students with special needs who meet criteria for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provisions must provide written documentation of the need for accommodations from CUH Couseling Center (Dr. June Yasuhara, 735-4845) by the end of the third week of classes.  Failure to provide written documentation will prevent your instructor from making necessary accommodations.  Please refer any questions to the Dean of Students and review procedures at www.chaminade.edu/student_life/sss/counseling_services.php

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

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

3	Sept 9			DNA Cloning & Bacterial Transformation	Gel Electrophoresis Pre-lab
				Gel Electrophoresis				*to be done BEFORE come to lab

4	Sept 16		DNA Extraction				Restriction Digest Pre-lab
				Restriction Digests				*to be done BEFORE come to lab
				
5	Sept 23		Exam 1	: Covers Introduction & DNA Labs 1-4				

6	Sept 30	Riboprobe Synthesis				Riboprobe Pre-lab
				Drosophila Embryo Collection & Fixation	*to be done BEFORE come to lab
				
7	Oct 7			Riboprobe Synthesis Con’t		

8	Oct 14			In Situ Hybridization & Detection		In Situ Pre-lab	
										* to be done BEFORE come to lab
9	Oct 21			In Situ  Detection	
		
10	Oct 28	 		Lab Exam 2: Covers RNA Labs 6-9

11	Nov 4	 		Immunohistochemistry				Immuno Pre-lab
										*to be done BEFORE come to lab
12	Nov 11			NO CLASSES – Veterans Day

13	Nov 18			Immunohistochemistry Con’t
				Western Blots – Lecture only       

14	Nov 25			NO CLASSES – Thanksgiving Holiday			 
	
16	Dec 2			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, thus the instructor reserves the right to make any changes in the contents of this syllabus that she deems necessary or desirable. 

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

1.    Come to lab properly dressed with lab coat.  Bare feet, flip-flops, or sandals are NOT ALLOWED.  
 
2.   Do not eat, drink, apply cosmetics or chew gum in the lab.  
 
3.   Never mouth pipette any liquid in any laboratory. 

4.   Work on the lab bench, keep you work area organized, and put away unneeded notebooks, papers, and personal electronics.