Measurement of Metabolism in Investigative Introductory Laboratories

生物系最近对其普通生物学课程的实验室部分进行了改革。这些变化形成了一种实验室研究的实验方法，以不限成员名额的调查实验为中心，引入选定的仪器、统计分析和正式报告写作。每门课程包含为期三周的呼吸实验研究；第一学期的重点是酵母菌的厌氧发酵，第二学期的重点是蟑螂的整体呼吸。我们目前使用的是一种改进的Scholander仪器，该仪器测量封闭系统中的气体压力变化。需要购买Li-Cor便携式光合作用系统的资金，该系统能够快速准确地测量放置在测量室中的生物材料产生的二氧化碳通量。这些仪器将取代我们目前使用的相对不可靠的设备，并将通过以下方式扩大实验室的教学能力。该系统的快速响应时间和高灵敏度将允许每个学生在三个小时的实验室中运行更多的重复，从而提高稍后执行的统计分析的灵敏度。学生在设计自己的调查时，将能够从更广泛的治疗效果中进行选择，因为可以在比率之间进行更精细的区分。此外，该设备将显著提高普通植物学课程中光合作用实验室调查的质量。

The Biology Department recently implemented changes to the laboratory components of its General Biology courses. The changes institute an experimental approach to laboratory study centering on open-ended investigative experiments and introducing selected instrumentation, statistical analysis and formal report writing. Each course contains three weeks of lab study of respiration; in the first semester the focus is on anaerobic fermentation by yeasts and in the second semester on whole organism respiration of cockroaches. We presently use a modified Scholander apparatus that measures gas pressure changes in a closed system. Funds are requested for the purchase of Li-Cor Portable Photosynthesis Systems, capable of rapid accurate measurements of CO2 fluxes produced by living material placed within a measurement chamber. These instruments will replace the relatively unreliable equipment we are now using and will extend the instructional capability of the laboratory in the following ways. The fast response time and high sensitivity of the system will allow each student to run more replicates during a three hour laboratory, improving the sensitivity of statistical analyses performed later. Students will be able to choose from a wider range of treatment effects when designing their own investigations, because finer distinctions among rates will be possible. In addition, the equipment will significantly improve the quality of laboratory investigations into photosynthesis in the General Botany course.