Improvement of Biochemistry Laboratories for Science Majors and Non-Majors

在过去的20年里，生物化学领域发生了巨大的变化。课程很容易更新，以反映这些技术的改进和应用，但实验室练习往往缺乏同等的现代化。因为需要实验室来强化讲课概念，教授技术和分析技能，并提供积极和合作的学习，所以必须改进这些实验室。本项目为理科和非理科专业的生物化学课程引入新的、相关的实验问题。在小学非专业课程中，介绍了两个新的实验，重点分析了正常状态和疾病状态下的LDH同工酶和LDH cDNAs。这些实验需要一个用于DNA扩增的PCR系统，一个用于DNA定量的简单荧光仪，以及用于蛋白质电泳和DNA SSCP分析的电泳仪。这个项目提供了这些仪器，用于在理科专业的实验室项目中进行聚合酶链式反应、单链构象多态性分析和等电聚焦，该实验室项目的重点是分析载脂蛋白E变体。通过参与项目设计，理科专业学生学习使用文献、蛋白质和DNA结构数据库。选择的设备允许在项目设计中进一步修改，包括现代电泳技术和使用计算机访问的信息。

The field of Biochemistry has changed significantly in the past 20 years. Lectures are easily updated to reflect these technological improvements and applications, but laboratory exercises often lack equivalent modernization. Because laboratories are needed to reinforce lecture concepts, to teach technical and analytical skills, and to provide active and cooperative learning, they must be improved. This project introduces new, relevant experimental problems for biochemistry courses servicing both science majors and nonmajors. In the elementary nonmajors course, two new experiments are introduced which focus on the analysis of LDH isoenzymes and LDH cDNAs in normal and disease states. These experiments require a PCR system for DNA amplification, a simple fluorometer for DNA quantitation, and electrophoresis equipment for protein electrophoresis and DNA SSCP analysis. This project provides these instruments to perform PCR, SSCP analysis, and isoelectric focusing in a laboratory project for science majors focused on the analysis of apolipoprotein E variants. Through their participation in the project design, science majors learn to use literature and protein and DNA structure databases. The equipment selected allows further modification in project designs that incorporate modern electrophoresis techniques and the use of computer-accessed information.