Independent Investigative Laboratories in Cell Biology and Immunology

1993年，生物系开始采用一种新的方法来介绍细胞和分子生物学实验室。在为期两周的模块中，学生学习分析方法，然后设计和执行实验。这为科学沟通技巧的工作提供了材料，最终形成了研究海报会议或主要研究文献风格的论文。设计和测试自己的假设的机会激发了生物学专业学生对开放式研究的极大热情。相关课程的超额招生压力和学生研究成果的增加，特别是在细胞生物学和免疫学方面，证明了这一点。对这些课程的兴趣和注册人数不断增加，这给教师创造实验室体验带来挑战，使学生达到更高的独立性，并使部门空间和可用设备的限制变得紧张。一个新的科学大楼提供了在这些课程中扩展独立研究的机会。该项目在细胞生物学和免疫学的新教学实验室空间中创建了一个细胞培养设施，并配备了显微分光光度法，热循环和计算机分析设备。在初级和高级水平的新实验室经验涉及更多的学生，在小组中工作，在日益复杂和最新的准备。细胞生物学是免疫学的先决条件；随着学生实验室调查技能的发展，实验课程的变化旨在改善这种联系。强调细胞培养和细胞/分子技术有望减少免疫学对脊椎动物实验的需求。教学实验室设施的改进也对涉及细胞培养的学生研究有显著的好处，包括1月学期的生物研究导论，它针对的是刚开始学习生物专业的学生的动手研究经验。＊

In 1993, a new approach to introductory Cellular and Molecular Biology laboratories was initiated in the Department of Biology. In 2-week modules, students learned assay methods, then designed and executed experiments. This generated material for work on scientific communication skills, culminating in either research poster sessions or papers in the style of the primapy research literature. The opportunity to design and test their own hypotheses generated considerable enthusiasm among biology majors for open-ended investigation. This has been evidenced by above-capacity enrollment pressures in related courses and increased student research production, particularly in cell biology and in immunology. Interest and enrollment in these courses has continually increased, challenging faculty to create laboratory experiences that take students to a higher level of independence, and straining the limits of departmental space and available equipment. A new science building offers an opportunity to expand independent investigation within these courses. This project creates a cell culture facility in the new instructional laboratory space for Cell Biology and Immunology and equips it for microspectrophotometry, thermal cycling, and computer analysis. New laboratory experiences at the junior and senior level involve more students, working in small groups, in increasingly sophisticated and up-to-date preparation. Cell Biology is a prerequisite for Immunology; changes in the laboratory curriculum are designed to improve this linkage as students develop laboratory investigation skills. An emphasis on cell culture and cellular /molecular techniques is expected to reduce the need for vertebrate animal experiments in Immunology. The improvements to instructional laboratory facilities also has significant benefits for student research involving cell culture, including a special January-term Introduction to Biological Research, which targets beginning biology majors for hands-on research experiences. *