Biology 335 - Genetics Labs |
FR 2028 |
| Fall 2008 |
Labs begin the week of August 25!
| Michael Echevarria | mle6491@uncw.edu | CMS | |
| Sondi Hoffman | sj8618@uncw.edu | FR Herbarium | |
| Mark Sherman | ms1220@uncw.edu | CMS |
All Teaching Assistants have mailboxes in DO
101
Lab Sections:
| 200; Monday 8:00 - 10:50 am | Michael Echevarria |
| 201; Monday 2:00 - 4:50 pm | Sondi Hoffman |
| 202; Tuesday 8:00 - 10:50 am | Mark Sherman |
| 203; Tuesday 2:00 - 4:50pm | Mark Sherman |
| 204; Wednesday 2:00 - 4:50 pm | Sondi Hoffman |
| 205; Thursday 8:00 - 10:50 am | Michael Echevarria |
| 206; Thursday 2:00 - 4:50 pm | Mark Sherman |
Schedule:
| Week of: | Lab: |
| Aug 25 | Mitosis and Meiosis, Lab 1 |
| Sept 1 | Labor Day, Monday: no labs this week |
| Sept 8 | Library Workshop; Probability and Statistics, Lab 2 |
| Sept 15 | Introduction to the Virtual FlyLab; Sex-linkage cross, Lab 4; oral reports Data Sheet for Sex-Linkage Cross |
| Sept 22 | Writing a scientific paper; oral reports |
| Sept 29 | Draft of sex-linkage paper due; meet with editor; oral reports |
| Oct 6 | Fall Break, Monday & Tuesday: no labs this week |
| Oct 13 | Plasmid Transformation, Handout; Sex-linkage paper due; oral reports |
| Oct 20 | DNA Technology Simulations I; Restriction Enzymes and Gel Electrophoresis, Lab 6; Assignment of unknowns |
| Oct 27 | Gel Electrophoresis, Handout |
| Nov 3 | Polymerase Chain Reaction; Unknown paper due |
| Nov 10 | Technology Simulations II; Recombinant DNA and DNA sequencing, Labs 8 & 9 |
| Nov 17 | Human Genetics/Population Genetics, Lab 10 |
| Nov 24 | Thanksgiving Holiday, Wednesday - Friday: no labs this week |
Grading:
There will be two formal papers, an oral report and one major test.
There will also be homework assignments and/or quizzes on each week’s
lab activity. Your instructor will
tell you the value of each paper, test, and assignment.
Grades will be based on a 10-percentage point scale:
90 – 100 % = A
80 – 89%
= B
70 – 79%
= C, etc.
Attendance:
Attendance at labs is required.
Points will be deducted for unexcused absences as well as tardiness.
Do not assume you may attend a different section if you miss your lab!
This may be possible at times, but not always.
See your instructor as soon as possible if you miss a lab.
Texts:
BIOL 335 Genetics Lab
Workbook, Dodd
Lab Manual for Biology Labs On-Line, Desharnais & Bell
A Short Guide to Writing about Biology, Pechenik
Available at both the on-campus and
off-campus bookstores.
FlyLab website: http://biologylab.awlonline.com/index.html
A very handy website for making bibliographies:
http://www.easybib.com/
Papers:
One of the most
important, and hardest, things to learn as a scientist is how to communicate
effectively the scope, results, and importance of the work you have done.
This is a difficult task for a number of reasons.
For one thing, most scientists do not enjoy the writing process as much
as performing the research and it is much harder to do what you do not enjoy!
Also, scientific writing is different from many other types of writing.
You must ignore some of the rules you learned in ENG 101 and also follow
a very specific format. However,
once you get the hang of the format, this actually makes the writing process
much easier. Probably the most
difficult thing about becoming a good writer is that no one can actually teach
you how to write. We can teach you rules of grammar, formats, etc., but there
is no formula for how to express your thoughts.
There is no one correct way to write.
Two people may approach the same subject very differently and yet both
produce good papers. However, we
are all aware that there is a definite difference between good writing and bad.
The best way to become a better writer is simply to write many, many
papers. The critical reading of
papers written by others will also improve your own writing.
In this lab, we
will use the two strategies of writing and peer editing in an effort to improve
writing skills. Each person will
write two papers (lab reports) and edit a partner’s papers. The official “writer” prepares the first drafts
while the “editor” will be responsible for editing and commenting on the
paper to produce the ultimate draft. The
writer receives full credit for the paper, while the editor receives half
credit. It is to the benefit of
both partners to produce the best paper possible, so take your job as editor
very seriously.
We will discuss approaches to writing these papers in lab.
There are editor worksheets and an outline of how to write in scientific
format provided.
The instructor is happy to make accommodations to those students with
disabilities. Students should first contact the Office of Disability Services in
Westside Hall (3476). After
obtaining your referral from the Office of Disability Services, please contact
the instructor.
Data Sheet for Sex-Linkage Cross
Web Sites for Karyotyping:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/activities/karyotyping/karyotyping.html
http://www.pathology.washington.edu/galleries/cytogallery/