Improvement in Instrumentation and Equipment for Teaching Cellular and Molecular Biology at Saddleback College

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Project Summary: The modern biology curriculum should acquaint students with concepts and methodologies derived from cellular and molecular biology. Currently at Saddleback College, students have the opportunity to explore prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure using standard compound and dissecting microscopes, as well as viewing cell structures using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. We would like to augment the teaching of cell structure and function through the fractionation and analysis of cells using centrifugation, protein gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid gel electrophoresis, and ultraviolet spectroscopy. This equipment will allow us to isolate cellular organelles and macromolecules in our cell biology, microbiology and introductory biology laboratory courses, and to perform simple exercises in recombinant DNA technology. With the purchase of a refrigerated high speed centrifuge, tabletop mini-centrifuges, protein and nucleic acid electrophoresis gel boxes, electrophoresis power supplies, and ultraviolet spectrophotometer attachments, we feel that we will strengthen and update our laboratory curriculum in cell biology and microbiology. Since many of the students in cell biology and microbiology courses transfer to four year colleges and universities to complete their baccalaureate degrees, their exposure to the techniques of modern cellular and molecular biology will enhance their future for academic success, particularly for those students who transfer to research-oriented universities. Furthermore, we plan to introduce some aspects of these techniques to introductory general biology courses and non-majors biology courses in an effort to increase the scientific literacy of these students in the areas of modern molecular biology.