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CHEM525: Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques (Fall 2009)
     
Course Specifics:
Instructor: Dr. Jason C. Hurlbert
Office: Sims 301B
Office hours: MWF 11-12 and by appointment
Phone: 323-4928
E-mail: hurlbertj@winthrop.edu
Meeting Times:
All Sections: Prelab Lecture Mondays, 12:30 - 1:20 PM
Section 1: Laboratory Tuesdays, 2:00 - 4:50 PM
Section 2: Laboratory Thursdays, 2:00 - 4:50 PM
Textbook: Fundamental Laboratory Approaches for Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2nd Edition, Ninfa, Ballou and Benore. 2009.
Additional Required Materials: Scientific calculator, laboratory notebook, safety goggles
Course Outline:
We will cover bacterial growth, recombinant protein production and purification, enzymological analysis and the solution structure of enzymes in several experiments over the course of the semester. As we perform the experiments, I hope you will gain an appreciation of the various techniques performed in modern biochemical research. Upon completion of the course, you will be familiar with many of the basic principles of modern microbiology, protein chemistry and protein bioinformatics. You will also have a much better idea of the databases and software available for use in your own research and studies.
Tentative Course Schedule
(FLABB = Fundamental Laboratory Approaches for Biochemistry and Biotechnology)
Grading for the Course
Prelab Assignments
Due to the tight schedule we will follow during the semester, you will be given assignments at the conclusion of the Monday afternoon prelab lectures that must be completed before you may begin work on your scheduled laboratory session. This requirement is necessary to ensure that you will be able to perform the myriad tasks that need to be accomplished each week.
Section Writeup
Five different section writeups will be due during the semester. These writeups will be due the week after the lab work on that section has been completed. These section writeups will consist of two parts: a Materials and Methods component and a Results and Discussion component. Please follow the Journal of Biological Chemistry (www.jbc.org) format when composing these writeups.
Final Report
A final report will be due on the last prelab meeting of the course (December 7). This report will be a compilation of the corrected section writeups you turned in during the semester as well as an Abstract, Introduction, Conclusions and References sections. The entire report must be formatted in the style of an article from the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Laboratory Notebook
A laboratory notebook is one of most important tools a scientist has and is just as important in this class. You must carefully document all of the procedures and reagents you use as well as the data you collect during the semester. Any of your peers should be able to pick up your lab notebook and be able to reproduce what you did without any problem. Keep this in mind should you have any questions about what you should enter into your notebook. We will discuss how to properly keep a notebook in the first prelab session and examples will be provided.
Final Grade
Prelab Assignments: 5 x 10 pts = 50 points
Section Writeups: 5 x 20 pts = 100 points
Final Paper: 30 points
Laboratory Notebook: 20 points
Total: 200 points
Grading Scale:
A: 180 - 200 Points
B+: 174-179 Points, B: 160-173 Points
C+: 153-159 Points, C: 140-152 Points
D: 120-139 Points
F: <119 Points
Technology in the Classroom
You will need to make certain that you bring a scientific calculator to the lab each session, and, more importantly, that you know how to use the linear regression mode of you calculator. No laptop computers or cellular phones may be used in the laboratory when class is meeting as the distractions they cause present a significant safety hazard. Anyone caught using these devices during class without prior permission will immediately be asked to leave.
Students with Disabilities
Students with Disabilities
Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education. If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290. Once you have your official notice of accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities, please inform me as early as possible in the semester. |
