I.  Course overview.

Biology 111 introduces students to important concepts and techniqes used in modern molecular biology labs.  The course follows Biology 109 in the introductory laboratory sequence as an alternative to Biology 110.  After technical training through planned laboratory exercises during the first two-thirds of the course, students will design, conduct, and present the results of an independent research project.

II. General Policies and Expectations.
 

Attendance is mandatory for all fourteen scheduled laboratory sessions.  Make-up labs will not be possible.  If you know that you will miss a Thursday afternoon lab session (i.e. because of performances, sporting events), see me as soon as possible.

In addition many of the experiments will require additional time than is allotted in the three hour laboratory session.  Students are expected to do the work necessary to complete all the experiments.  When an exercise initiated during a lab period needs to be completed outside of the scheduled class period (before or after), I will be available to assist.

Safety is a prime concern in any molecular biology laboratory.   Information on the hazards and precautions associated with different chemicals and devices will always be provided.  However, you must ultimately be responsible for your own safety.  Work carefully, and think before acting. Wear appropriate protective clothing, including eye protection, lab coats, and gloves. Open-toe shoes (flip-flops, birkenstocks, tevas, etc.) are a particulary unsafe in the laboratory. If you have a question about a safety issue, stop the experiment and ask the instructor.

Proper preparation will be essential for completing the exercises in a safe and timely fashion.  Assigned reading material is to be completed before coming to class.  You should be familiar with the protocols to be used before class time.  Handouts and protocols will be distributed in class over the course of the semester and made continually available on e-res.
 

III. Assignments and evaluation.  Each student's work will be evaluated based on written accounts of experimental work as well as laboratory participation and performance.  The final grade will be based on the following components:
 

Three (3) brief lab reports (15% each).  Brief reports (3-5 pages, excluding illustrations) are not meant to be elaborate presentations. They must, however, be well written and typed. Short reports follow the same general outline as a scientific paper (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion) but are much abbreviated. The major part of the report should be directed towards Results and Discussion.  Further instructions will be clearly spelled out in class. The due dates are indicated in the course schedule.  Late papers will be penalized 1/3 letter grade per day.

Independent Research Project (45%).  During the last third of the course, pairs of students will conduct an independent research project worth 45% of the semester grade.  Evaluation is will be based on the project proposal (5%), a poster presentation to the class (20%), a written report (15%), a lab notebook (5%).  Additional guidelines for conducting the Independent Project are available on-line.
 

Class participation/Lab Performance (10%).  You will be evaluated on class participation and the quality of your work at the bench over the entire course.

Course Schedule.  In this course we will experience all the uncertainties associated with doing real science.  This schedule may need to be amended.  Announcements of changes will be made in class.  However, dealines for assignments will be consistently enforced.  Check on-line schedule regularly for details.

Academic Honesty.  Kenyon's policy on academic honesty will be strictly observed (see Kenyon College 2003-04 Course of Study, pp. 26 - 29 or on-line).  Explicit guidelines relating to lab reports will be discussed on a separate handout and in class.

Special Needs.  For assistance related to a physical, psychological or learning disability that may impact your ability to participate fully in the course, please speak with me and with Erin Salva, Coordinator of Disability Services (PBX5453; salvae@kenyon.edu).  All information and documentation of disability is confidential.

Office Hours.  My office hours are Monday 3:00-5:00 PM, Tuesday 3:00-4:00 PM, Wednesday 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, and by appointment.

Return to Biology Department Course Listing

Return to Kenyon Bioweb

Last Modified January 16, 2004