BIOL 226 Introduction to Molecules, Cells, and Development Discussion and Laboratory, Spring 2014

Faculty Coordinator: TBD, Millington 110, x12085 (Interim Coordinator: Dr. Liz Allison, ISC 3035B, x12232, laalli@wm.edu) Course Meeting: BIOL 226D 01 Friday 1:00 1:50pm, Millington 150 BIOL 226D 02 Monday 8:00 8:50am, Millington 150 BIOL 226L Monday Thursday, Millington 103 and 111 Course Description: This course is a hands-on introduction to laboratory methods in molecular, cell, and developmental biology. The Discussion lectures and laboratory exercises are divided into three modules that collectively cover a wide variety of topics in these fields. Discussion lectures taught by faculty will present key concepts needed to master the background for each of the investigative labs. Labs led by Graduate Teaching Assistants will provide you with the opportunity for a hands-on learning experience each week. Core laboratory skills and techniques covered include lab safety practices, microscopy, sterile technique, spectrophotometry, PCR, pipetting, gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing. This course is also designed to help you develop or enhance your skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. The BIOL 226 course is designed to supplement the lecture material presented in BIOL 225 by Dr. Allison, but does not directly parallel the topics covered in the lectures. BIOL 226 Lab Manual: The lab manual is posted each week on the BIOL 226 Discussion Blackboard site. You can print out your own copy of the lab materials to keep in your lab notebook or use the in-lab reference materials provided for each lab. All of the datasheets will be provided in lab as handouts unless otherwise instructed. Course Materials, Expectations, and Policies: Discussion Lectures: Presentation slides for each Discussion lecture will be posted on the BIOL 226 Discussion Blackboard site. Attendance is mandatory. There will be two tests administered during the Discussion lecture period this semester (Test 1 on Friday 2/21 or Monday 2/24 and Test 2 on Friday 4/18 or Monday 4/21). The two tests will each consist of multiple choice and/or short answer questions. If you miss or plan to be absent for any of the Discussion lectures or tests, you are required to notify the Faculty Coordinator as soon as possible. Make-up tests will be scheduled accordingly. Make-up tests are reserved for excused absences as per the Dean of Students Guidelines. You are responsible for notifying the Faculty Coordinator if you have an extended absence in order to arrange Discussion make-up sessions. Laboratory: Only attend the lab section for which you are enrolled unless otherwise permitted! 1. You will need the following supplies for your lab: a. A 1-inch three-ring binder to organize and store your lab protocols, notes and handouts. This will be your lab notebook. b. Notebook paper for recording data. Always bring your lab notebook (with the lab syllabus and Table of Contents) and a calculator to lab. Protocols and reading for each week of lab will be posted on the BIOL

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226 Discussion Blackboard site each week. Copies of the lab exercises will be made available for use in lab. Computers will be used during lab exercises and for composing written assignments, lab reports, or presentations. Your lab instructor will indicate the labs that require computers. Lab starts promptly at the scheduled time. At the beginning of class, your lab instructor will highlight important safety information and demonstrate techniques needed to successfully complete experiments. Because the training portion of your lab is critical to your success, late entrances without an excusable reason will not be allowed. Students that fail to comply with our on-time attendance policy may be turned away from lab and receive zero points for that weeks lab. Attendance in lab is mandatory. If you know that you will miss your regularly scheduled lab with an excused absence (as per the Dean of Students Guidelines), then you must notify your lab instructor in advance of your absence. You are responsible for assisting your lab instructor in making the arrangements for a make-up lab and attending an alternate lab that same week. If you fail to provide an excused absence and/or make-up the lab, you will receive zero points for that weeks lab. Any student who needs special accommodation or other assistance in the course is asked to notify your lab instructor or the Faculty Coordinator as soon as possible. Student athletes are asked to give a copy of their schedule to their lab instructor by the second week of lab. Do not eat, drink, or chew gum in the lab. You must wear closed-toe shoes to every lab. Those who do not comply with the safety instructions given by your lab instructor will be asked to leave lab and may receive zero points for that weeks lab. Lab coats and gloves will be provided in lab when appropriate.

Academic Honesty: We will strictly adhere to the Colleges Honor Code of academic honesty in this course. All assignments are expected to be original and independent work unless otherwise stated.
http://www.wm.edu/offices/deanofstudents/services/studentconduct/studenthandbook/honor_system/index.php

Grading Information: Your final grade for BIOL 226 is based on a total of 500 points from Discussion and Lab. Discussion Attendance (20 points) Tests (80 points): Tests must be taken in the Discussion section you are registered for. Test 1 (on 2/21 or 2/24) will cover Weeks 1,2,3,4 (40 points) Test 2 (on 4/18 or 4/21) will cover Weeks 7,8,9,10,11,12 (40 points) Lab Assignments (160 points): Each module will require the completion of an assignment Module I Lab Practical (50 points) Module II Formal Lab Report (60 points) Module III Group Presentation (50 points) Lab participation (240 points): 20 points will be awarded for each lab, based on pre-lab preparation, prompt attendance, active participation in lab, and post-lab clean-up (5 points for pre-lab assignment or quiz, 10 points for in-lab assignments/participation and lab notebook, and 5 points for post-lab clean-up).

Module Overviews, Weekly Topics, and Discussion/Lab Schedule Week 1: Introduction: Syllabus, Science on a Small Scale, Microscopy, Pipetting Discussion Lectures (1/24, 1/27) Dr. Allison Labs: 1/27 1/30 Module I Proteins as Drivers of Diverse Cellular Processes Studies in cell and molecular biology involve the world of the very small; worlds that can only be explored with microscopes and sensitive detectors. In the first module, you will be studying life at the level of the single cell and the functions of proteins the large and small molecules that carry out most of the work of cells. Week 2: Protein Structure and Function: Enzymes Biochemical Approach Discussion Lectures (1/31, 2/3) Dr. Hinton Labs: 2/3 2/6 Week 3: Protein Structure and Function: Protein Domains Bioinformatics Approach Discussion Lectures (2/7, 2/10) Dr. Hinton Labs: 2/10 2/13 Week 4: Designing an Experiment An Integrative Approach to Studying the Impact of a Drug Treatment on the Cell Cycle of S. cerevisiae Discussion Lectures (2/14, 2/17) Dr. Allison Labs: 2/17 2/20 Week 5: Discussion Test 1 (2/21 or 2/24) Labs: 2/24 2/27 In-lab Practical and lab notebook check Week 6: Spring Break No Discussion Monday, March 3 or Friday, March 7 No Labs 3/3 3/6 **Note: Discussion class will meet Friday, February 28 and Monday, March 10** Module II Using DNA Analyses to Model Distribution of Tick-born Zoonoses across the Virginia Peninsula Predicting the spatial occurrence of zoonotic diseases is an important first step in human-disease prevention. The objectives of this lab are to analyze the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in ticks collected in the College Woods. Week 7: Using PCR to Screen for Zoonotic Pathogens in Tick DNA Extracts Discussion Lectures (2/28, 3/10) Dr. Kerscher Labs: 3/10 3/13 Week 8: Gel Electrophoresis of PCR Products Obtained with Tick and Pathogen-specific Primers Discussion Lectures (3/14, 3/17) Dr. Kerscher Labs: 3/17 3/20 Week 9: Data Analysis - Mapping Tick and Zoonotic Pathogen Presence in a Landscape Model Discussion Lectures (3/21, 3/24) Dr. Leu Labs: 3/24 3/27 Module III Developmental Biology: Integrating Ecology, Cell, and Molecular Biology The overall goals of the third module are to: (1) introduce you to the intriguing and engaging world of developmental biology by allowing you to observe and to manipulate embryos from diverse species; and (2) instill an appreciation for the integrative nature and broader implications/ramifications of developmental biology, in particular environmental biology and human health. Week 10: The Unity and Diversity of Development: Embryo Observation Discussion Lectures (3/28, 3/31) Dr. Saha Labs: 3/31 4/3 Week 11: Embryo Experimentation: Developmental Stressors Discussion Lectures (4/4, 4/7) Dr. Allen Labs: 4/7 4/10 (Module II Lab Report Due) Week 12: Data Analysis: Interpreting Developmental Phenotypes Discussion Lectures (4/11, 4/14) Dr. Saha Labs: 4/14 4/17 Week 13: Discussion Test 2 (4/18 or 4/21) Labs: 4/21 4/24 In-lab group presentations and lab notebook check