Innovative Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratories

生物学知识的增长如此迅速，以至于生物学的广度不再能在一门课程中教授。 生物系针对这一问题，放弃了传统的概论课程，采用了一组基础课程。 在细胞和分子生物学中，基础课程是分子生物学，发育细胞生物学和生物化学。 这个机会被用来开发细胞和分子生物学的创新实验室，展示讲座中讨论的原则，并允许学生执行国家的最先进的技术。 通过这个项目，获得设备，使教师能够教学生在这些基本的细胞和分子生物学课程的最先进的技术。 新的实验模块强调调查方法。 实验室包括法医DNA分型，使用聚合酶链反应技术（分子生物学），蛋白质印迹法来识别神经发育过程中表达的特定蛋白质（发育细胞生物学），以及DNA足迹法来研究lac阻遏物与lac操纵子的相互作用。 这一建议的力量和独特性来自于新课程的创新设计。 大量的大一和大二学生使用先进的设备来学习最先进的技术，以前没有或只有在高水平的课程。 在精心设计的实验中，早期接触这些技术，以激发学生的兴趣，更好地为高年级课程做好准备，并增加他们对研究机会和研究生院的兴趣。

The knowledge of biology is increasing so rapidly that the breadth of biology can no longer be taught in a single course. The Biology Department has addressed this issue by abandoning the traditional introductory survey course and adopting a group of fundamental courses. In cell and molecular biology, the fundamental courses are Molecular Biology, Developmental Cell Biology, and Biochemistry. This opportunity is being taken to develop innovative labs in cell and molecular biology that demonstrate the principles discussed in lecture and that also allow students to perform the state-of-the-art techniques. Through this project, equipment is obtained that enables faculty to teach students state-of-the-art techniques in these fundamental cell and molecular biology courses. New experimental modules stress investigative approaches. Labs include forensic DNA typing, using the polymerase chain reaction technology (Molecular Biology), Western blotting to identify specific proteins expressed during neural development (Developmental Cell Biology), and DNA footprinting to study the interactions of the lac repressor with the lac operon operator. The strength and uniqueness of this proposal come from the innovative design of the new curriculum. A large number of frosh and sophomore students use sophisticated equipment to learn state-of-the-art techniques previously not available or only available in upper-level courses. Early exposure to these techniques, in experiments carefully designed to pique students' interest, better prepares them for upper-level classes and increases their interest in both research opportunities and graduate school.