A laboratory course in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers a hands-on experience of the current experimental techniques available for the detection, isolation, manipulation, and analysis of proteins and nucleic acids. A chromatography refrigerator, fraction collector, and peristaltic pump are used for protein purification; a thermocycler is used for amplifying specific DNA sequences via the polymerase chain reaction; and a roller apparatus is used for bacterial culture. The laboratory is also equipped with horizontal and vertical gel electrophoresis units and power supplies; orbital platform shakers and rockers, gel dryer, and electroblotting apparatus for gel transfer; microcentrifuges; and a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The equipment is also employed in select molecular-based experiments of the genetics, cell biology, microbiology, physiology, and developmental biology courses, and greatly expand the opportunities currently available for undergraduate student research projects in all areas of biology and chemistry that require analysis of proteins or nucleic acids.
