The separation technique of ultracentrifugation will be added to the existing work in chromatography and electrophoresis in the curriculum for Biology and Biochemistry majors at Hood College. The ultracentrifuge will be used in three courses: Genetics, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry. Students will isolate plasmid DNA and bacteriophage lambda by isopyknic centrifugation in CsCl density gradients and will fractionate liver cells by a series of velocity sedimentation steps. All students in these courses (90% women) will have hands-on experience with these modern biochemical separation techniques. The college will provide 50% matching funds.
