Nearly every subdiscipline in biology is currently using recombinant DNA technology as a research tool. With the advent of this important technology, it is critical that both biology major and non-major undergraduate students gain laboratory experiences in this technology. The goal of this project is to introduce students to basic recombinant DNA laboratory experiences beginning in the General Biology Course employing a set of bacterial recombination exercises. The recombinant DNA experiences will continue in Cell Physiology where the students will isolate plasmid DNA, perform restriction enzyme analyses, ligate DNA inserts, and perform transformation assays. Completion of an original research project is required of all Biology senior students. The new equipment will allow students to participate in a wider variety of projects In addition, acquisition of the requested equipment will allow the development and presentation of a new course in molecular biology.
