Most of the students who enroll in the Histology course and its associated laboratory are biology majors with plans to pursue graduate degrees or to attend professional schools. Historically, the laboratory part of this course included the study of prepared slides of various tissue types and organ systems, as well as the routine procedures for the histological and histochemical staining of paraffin- embedded tissues. The laboratory experience then culminated in a project which utilized some of the techniques learned in the course and was presented in a poster format. Redesigning this course to improve laboratory study at the cellular biology level -- fluorescence microscopy, ultrastructural studies, immunohistochemistry, and plastic embedding -- provides biology majors as well as biochemistry majors with a strong morphological background at the cell level for their advanced molecular and biochemical courses. This improved course retains the study of basic tissue types, organ system histology, and the completion of a project. To make room for these proposed newer cell biology/histology techniques, a careful culling of prepared slides was required. Previously, the histology course provided a large number of students with the impetus to pursue independent study projects. By expanding the exposure of more students to a wider variety of techniques, this program stimulates even greater interest in pursuing cell biology- or histology-related projects. The grantee institution is matching the NSF awarded with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.
