Through this project, the Botany Department is microscaling the labs of upper-division courses that feature analytical biochemistry as a key component of the lab assignments. This project mostly affects Plant Physiology, but Plant Genetics, Plant Growth and Development, and a newly approved thesis program for botany majors also benefit. These courses serve mainly botany majors and biology teaching majors. Performing labs on a microscale, rather than a conventional scale, allows the Botany Department to address several problems. The cost of reagents on a conventional scale is prohibitive; microscale labs reduce the amount of chemical waste generated. Student lab technique improves, as students are more careful when handling chemicals in small amounts rather than in large quantities. Finally, microscale labs can be completed more quickly than full-scale ones, allowing students to analyze and interpret, not just collect, their data while they are still in class. This project funds the purchase of a microtiter plate reader with supporting computer hardware and software for data collection and analysis. The plate reader is used in place of a spectrophotometer for microscale labs. The plate reader also gives students the opportunity to use computer-interfaced laboratory equipment. This project also shows application of the microscale approach in a subject area other than organic or inorganic chemistry.
