The new instruments provided through this award, along with equipment already held by the department, is supporting the creation of an important new central laboratory facility for teaching cellular biology. The facility serves seven upper biology component. Of these courses, four use the facility on a full-time basis; the remaining three courses utilize the facility on a pre-arranged academic schedule to conduct laboratory exercises which require cell biology instrumentation. The new equipment is being used for the preparation and analysis of living cells. Major items include laminar flow hoods, a fluorescence microscope, an infrared gas analyzer, and a scanning spectrophotometer. As a direct result of the acquisition of this equipment, the core curriculum in cell biology is being substantially upgraded. The project permits the development of new cell biology experiments, lower division demonstrations, and the improvement of existing lab exercises. These improvements are bringing stte-or-the-art techniques to the curriculum and reinforcing the teaching of modern cell biology principles, thus better preparing undergraduates for future jobs and/or graduate studies. The grantee is matching the NSF award with a slightly greater sum obtained from non-Federal sources.
