Instrumentation for Introductory Biology Laboratories

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This award provides funds to enhance the introductory biology labs at Texas A&M University by upgrading laboratory instrumentation, so students can use state-of-the-art equipment to design and perform their own experiments in both formal and less structured laboratory exercises. Biotechnology is being incorporated into the laboratory curriculum to complement lecture topics in molecular biology. The purchased equipment is necessary for students to have hands-on experience with electrophoresis and restriction enzyme analysis -- two techniques widely used by researchers in molecular biology. Computers will be purchased to interface with laboratory equipment so that students can design and perform experiments with more costly equipment. Students will use these in conjunction with existing equipment to design their own experiments, analyzing data and write a report. Because of the versatility and affordability of the new teaching technology students can be involved directly in data acquisition and analysis and rely less on demonstrations. The grantee is matching this award with non-Federal sources.