The goal of this project is to introduce current techniques in molecular genetics into the undergraduate biology curriculum. The equipment it provides is making it possible to offer a new laboratory course in Molecular Biology, as well as to improve the present Cell Biology, Microbiology, and General Biology course laboratories. Approximately 170 students per year, at all undergraduate levels, will be affected by these changes. The new equipment includes a bacteriologic incubator and water bath shaker to culture bacteria for the isolation of plasmids; a CO2 incubator and laminar-flow clean benches for student work with tissue culture; microcentrifuges for DNA/RNA purification and concentration; horizontal agarose gel units and a DNA-detection camera system to separate and analyse the products of restriction enzyme digestions; a polyacrylamide slab gel unit to analyze the products of in vitro transcription reactions; fluorescence illuminators to detect the cell- surface expression of the product of a transferred gene; and an ultraflow freezer for the long-term preservation of the bacterial strains and cell lines used in the experiments described. By acquainting students with the methodology involved in molecular cloning and gene expression, this project is enhancing their academic experience, increasing their awareness of the scientific process, and preparing them more fully for scientific careers. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.
