Acquisition of Instrumentation for Undergraduate Biophysical Laboratories

生物化学在物理科学和生物科学的交叉点上占有独特的地位，产生了对该领域定量和描述性方面的教育计划的需求。然而，大多数课程只提供有限的化学和生物物理方法。我们正在UCSB通过在化学系主持下开设生物化学新专业来解决这一不足。课程的中心是两个新的实验室，强调生物现象的定量和分析方面。该提案寻求资金来装备这两个实验室。要求的仪器包括紫外可见原子吸收仪和圆二色光谱仪。新的实验室将通过以研究为导向的教学视角来增强本科生的实验室体验，在这种教学视角下，学生只需要给出实验目标，而只需要一般的方案。指导学生将目标转化为详细的协议。学生将被要求在长时间专注于同一种酶的同时整合不同的方法。这种方法比通常的不相关实验的课堂经验更接近于实践科学家的工作模式。我们期望这些实验室将允许学生在蛋白质化学、酶学和生物物理学方面发展高度市场化的技能。也希望学生们在学习创造性思维和定量思维的同时，能更直接地体验到科学研究的兴奋。这种经验应该是持久的，并且将有助于教育商业、法律和初等教育等领域的专业人员，以便更好地掌握生物技术革命对社会的影响。这些实验将通过介绍和出版的实验室手册进行传播。

Biochemistry occupies a unique position at the interface between the physical and biological sciences, generating a need for educational programs which focus on quantitative as well as descriptive aspects of the field. However, most curricula provide limited exposure to chemical and biophysical approaches. We are addressing this deficiency at UCSB via a new major in Biochemistry within the auspices of the Chemistry Department. Central to the curriculum are two new laboratories with emphasis on quantitative and analytical aspects of biological phenomena. This proposal seeks funding to equip these two laboratories. Instrumentation requested includes UV-visible atomic absorption and circular dichroism spectrometers. The new laboratories will enhance undergraduate laboratory experiences via a research-oriented teaching perspective in which students are given experimental objectives but only general protocols. Guidance is provided as the students turn the objectives into detailed protocols. Students will be asked to integrate diverse approaches while focusing on the same enzyme for an extended period. This approach better resembles the working mode of practicing scientists than does the usual class experience of unrelated experiments. We expect that these laboratories will permit students to develop highly marketable skills in protein chemistry, enzymology and biophysics. It is also hoped that students will more directly experience the excitement of scientific research as they learn to think creatively and quantitatively. Such an experience should be lasting and will help educate professionals in areas such as business, law and primary education, to better grasp the impact of the biotechnology revolution on society. The experiments will be disseminated through presentations and a published laboratory manual.