Antibodies as Tools in Cell Biology

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The Department of Biology is implementing a revised curriculum that emphasizes the process of science through investigative laboratories. Students begin their study of biology with courses in Structure and Function of Organisms and Evolution and Ecology in the first year. In the second year, students take courses in Molecular Genetics and The Biology of Cells. The latter course, which will emphasize the roles of proteins in cells, is one of the primary targets of curricular improvements. A modern course in cell biology is being taught by emphasizing how cells are studied. Students who have learned many applications of techniques in molecular genetics to study cells from their prior coursework can now attend a new section on antibodies as tools in cell biology in the new course. For this project, a cryostat prepares frozen sections quickly and easily and preserves the antigenicity of proteins from various specimens. These frozen sections are then stained with commercially available antibodies with a greater likelihood of success than the old method of using paraffin-embedded material. Use of antibodies as tools to study protein distribution is also a major part of the laboratories in an upper-level course in developmental biology, a summer program for minority high school students, and research projects in both the biology and psychology departments. In addition the use of this modern instrumentation, communication of results to other students will be emphasized. For this emphasis and for improvment of students' training in light microscopy, a research-quality teaching microscope equipped for fluorescence microscopy, photomicroscopy, and video imaging is also being purchased. This microscope makes it possible for groups of students to view their results together instead of in isolation. This new microscope also allows students to have a permanent record of their results for later analysis.