Faculty: David Aiello
Description: Are you curious as to what life is like in a genetics and molecular biology research lab? Do you want to build your basic lab skills in genetics and molecular biology? Do you want to build your skills in learning to read and evaluate the primary literature? If you answered yes, this might be the course for you! These topics and more will be covered in this JanTerm where you will work in a small team with your peers using yeast as a model organism for understanding processes related to intracellular calcium homeostasis, a process common to all eukaryotic cells. Basic lab techniques including aseptic technique, microbial growth on solid and in liquid media, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, and data analysis and interpretation will be covered. The course will additionally make extensive use of the primary literature related to the project. We will meet M-F 9:00 to about 12:00, and 1:00 to about 4:00, in addition to occasionally needing to come in outside of class to maintain plates or liquid cultures. Class attendance in all sessions will be mandatory. Given the nature of the work, this JanTerm has course prerequisites of a C- or better in CHEM 111 and BIOL 115 at the start of class, or instructor permission. Assessment will include a written final report and a final presentation to the class. Students generating sufficient data will have the opportunity to present their work at the Austin College Scholarship Conference in the spring.
Meeting Information: 01/02/2023-01/24/2023 M-F 09:00AM – 04:00PM, Room to be Announced
Section Requisites: Instructor approval required via email
Course Fee: $200
Out-of-Pocket Expenses: N/A