The high-speed centrifuge, chromatography refrigerator, fraction collector and support equipment acquired in part through this grant are being used to strengthen upper-division laboratory courses in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology for students who are predominantly female, American Indian, and older than the traditional undergraduate. During the past year, this relatively new independent institution has received accreditation and instituted a four-year curriculum in Science and Mathematics. Funds were obtained from Federal and corporate sources to implement the basic curriculum. The goal of the current project is to develop and enhance capabilities for giving students needed laboratory experiences in upper-level courses in such areas as protein purification and characterization, and the investigation of cellular components. The new instruments are essential components of technical skill training in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology in that they support approximately one third of the experiments in these laboratory courses. This instrumentation also is being used to support experiments in other upper- and lower-division courses in the Science curriculum. The program is designed to meet the needs of students who, despite limitations in their precollegiate science training, are seeking an education that will adequately prepare them for successful careers in technology, teaching or nursing.
