Molecular Biology Laboratory

Course Director: Dr. Felicia Ikolo

Course Lecturer Name(s):  Ms Candice Benjamin, Mrs Kafi James-Lewis, Ms Reeba Lewis, Mr Kwami Jones, Mr Teddy Ikolo, Mr Tobias Clement and Dr Felicia Ikolo.

Course Director’s Contact Information: X3425 fikolo@sgu.edu

Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information:                                 

• X3811 tclement@sgu.edu
•  X3821 tikolo@sgu.edu 
• X3176 kjones@sgu.edu
• X3811 rlewis5@sgu.edu
• X3867 kjames@sgu.edu
• X3766 cbenjam1@sgu.edu                                   

Course Director’s Office Hours: 9.00 a.m. -  10.00 a.m. on Fridays or by appointment at other times.

Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours: By appointment 

Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf

Course Description: BIOL 331 - Molecular Biology Laboratory 

This course is meant to reinforce some of the Molecular Biology concepts and techniques discussed in the Molecular Biology lecture (BIOL 321), as well as expose students to routine Molecular Biology procedures, such as performing bacterial transformation, isolating and quantifying DNA, using restriction enzymes and gel electrophoresis for DNA mapping, PCR, Bioinformatics and Molecular Diagnostics. 

Course Objectives: 

1. Apply the scientific process for conducting laboratory and diagnostic experiments, testing hypothesis, interpreting data and communicating results.
2. Apply knowledge of the basic structures and fundamental processes of life at the molecular, cellular and organismal levels.
3. Apply knowledge of the interaction of subatomic particles and biochemical processes that define organic and inorganic matter.
4. Demonstrate effective communication of scientific knowledge.
5. Demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand general safety techniques required in a molecular biology laboratory.
2. Utilize basic molecular biology laboratory techniques 
3. Apply problem solving skills to interpret experimentally derived data, and communication this information in the form a written laboratory reports.
4. Demonstrate the use of bioinformatics and web-based resources to obtain genetic information.
5. Provide students with experience working in small groups to conduct experiment and solve problems

Program Outcomes Met By This Course:

MCAT Topic Areas Assessed: Content Categories

1. Biomolecules have unique properties that determine how they contribute to the structure and function of cells, and  how they participate in the processes necessary to maintain life.
   1. Transmission of genetic information from the gene to the protein
      1. Genetic Code
      2. The triplet code
2. Transmission of heritable information from generation to generation and the processes that increase genetic diversity
   1. Mendelian Concepts
   2. Recessiveness, Homozygocity and Heterozygocity
3. Highly-organized assemblies of molecules, cells, and organs interact to carry out the functions of living organisms.
   1. The structure, growth, physiology, and genetics of prokaryotes and viruses 
      1. Existence of plasmids, extragenomic DNA.        

SAS Grading Scale - Grades will be assigned as follows:

A  = 89.5% or better

B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%

B  = 79.5 - 84.4%

C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%

C = 69.5 - 74.4%

D = 64.5 - 69.4%

F = 64.4% or less 

Course Materials:

A laboratory manual, lab specific PowerPoint notes and videos will be provided.

Supplementary Readings/Resources: as posted on Sakai.

Course Requirements and Percent of Grade:

Online quizzes and exams will be computer based using the Examplify software. Online practice quizzes for professionalism points will be via Sakai. 

• Exams will be given during normal laboratory period as determined by admin.  
• There will be two take home assignments, and each will be weighted 6% of final grade.
• Completion of all two take home assignments is mandatory for successful completion of this course.
• Online Quizzes & Exams will contain multiple choice questions (MCQs).

NOTE:  No make-up labs will be given.

• You will receive a mark of ZERO if any part of your take home assignments looks similar to someone else’s

Classroom Etiquette

Safety considerations during physical presence and activity in any molecular biology laboratory:

1. A laboratory coat must be worn in the lab at all times.  This will protect you and your clothes from any contaminants that may be used during the laboratory experiments.
2. Shoes must have closed toes and heals, NO SLIPPERS, NO FLIP-FLOPS, NO SANDLES. You may be asked to leave if you are not dressed properly to conduct an experiment.
3. In general, gloves should be worn during the lab exercises. These will protect your skin from contaminants.  In addition, your skin contains enzymes that can be transferred to your experimental reactions and affect the results (e.g. DNase).
4. Gloves are NOT worn outside the lab. You do not wear gloves to go to the bathroom, to handle doorknobs, do not handle your pen, do not scratch your face... Think about what is on the glove and what you may transfer to an innocent person that passes through the lab. Think about your pen, when will you use it again? Think about your notes, where will you bring them after the lab? DO NOT CONTAMINATE SURFACES FOR YOURSELF OR OTHERS by keeping your gloves on when they should not be.
5. Use caution when using equipment for heating or melting reagents (e.g. Boiling water baths).
6. Use caution when using the centrifuge apparatus.   Beware of long hair or lose clothing that may get caught by the centrifuge while spinning.
7. Exercise caution when dealing with electrophoresis apparatus.   High voltage is involved.   Despite there being safeguards to prevent getting an electrical shock while the electrophoresis apparatus is running, caution should still be used.
8. Be careful not to get any of the stains used to stain the DNA gels on your skin or clothing.   Methyl blue-based stains can cause your skin and clothes to turn blue and is difficult to remove.   Ethidium bromide-based stains can be mutagenic.
9. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling laboratory reagents and especially prior to leaving the laboratory when the session is completed.
10. Do not pipette solutions with your mouth.
11. Cell phone usage is not allowed. Phones must be on silent and put away during the lab time. Cell phones are NEVER to be placed on the bench.
12. WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT ANYTHING – ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR.
13. REPORT ANY ACCIDENTS IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Online Etiquette  

Students of St. Georges University, Molecular Biology BIOL 331, who create/contribute to social networks, blogs, wikis, or any other type of social media both on and off the sgu.edu domain for school/work/personal purposes WILL NOT post or release proprietary (including all information found on or within databases of any official SGU websites such as SAKAI), confidential, sensitive or personally identifiable information about SGU faculty, administration or employees as well as any faculty intellectual property, to ANY social media websites. Failure to abide by this will be considered a violation of professionalism as indicated in the SGU Student Handbook.