4 hours. Repeatable for maximum 8 hours credit. . 8 hours lab per week.
Plant Biology Intensive Laboratory
Course Description
An intensive, inquiry-based laboratory course emphasizing
experimental design and the acquisition of technical skills
commonly used in biology laboratories. Students will work as a
group on a self-contained research project focusing on either
the molecular genetics or on the evolution, ecology, and
population genetics of plants. Includes proper procedures for
keeping a laboratory notebook, laboratory safety, and time
management.
Athena Title
Plant Biology Intensive Lab
Prerequisite
(BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1107L) or (BIOL 1108 and BIOL 1108L) or (BIOL 2107 and BIOL 2107L) or (BIOL 2108 and BIOL 2108L) or (PBIO 1210 and PBIO 1210L) or (PBIO 1220 and PBIO 1220L) or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students are expected to develop an understanding of the biological problem at the base of their research project as well as the experimental approaches adopted to address them. The suite of techniques covered in the course will be dependent on the type of research project. As part of their research, students will learn about the rationale of experimental design, and how to critically evaluate the resulting data. All students will be required to communicate their methods and data in short oral presentations as well as in writing. The results of the project will be summarized in the form of a short, collaborative scientific paper or a poster. Additional learning goals include implicating ethical standards to individual or collaborative research and building communication and teamwork skills.
Students will receive training on basic molecular biology methodologies.
Students will receive training in genomics methodologies.
Students will receive training on bioinformatics methods on the computer cluster.
Students will conduct real-world microbiome genomics project (CURE Project).
Students will conduct an assessment of primary evidence and present it to the class.
Students will compose scientific papers and prepare scientific presentations.
Students will learn and practice working as groups and co-develop reports.
Topical Outline
Appropriate course projects will be developed on a case-to-
case basis from ongoing research in the Plant Biology faculty,
and a specific outline will be part of the syllabus.
Courses focusing on biotechnology and bioinformatics emphasis
will include at least five of the following techniques:
1)Preparation of DNA, RNA, and/or protein from biological
material.
2)Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
3)Construction of recombinant plasmids.
4)DNA sequencing.
5)Query of sequence databases.
6)Sequence alignment and construction of phylogenetic trees.
7)Analysis of next-generation sequencing data.
8)Plant transformation.
9)Analysis of molecular genetic markers and/or genetic mapping.
10)Phenotypic analysis of mutants by light and fluorescence
microscopy.
11)Analysis of RNA expression.
12)Purification of recombinant protein from bacteria or plants.
13)Analysis of protein expression by immuno-blotting or
fluorescence microscopy.
14)Analysis of protein interactions by yeast 2-hybrid or
alternative assays.
15)Structural modeling of proteins.
