Biochemistry Lab (Biol 4611)

Th 1:00 – 4:00, Sci 2150

Instructor: Dr. Timna Wyckoff

Office: Sci 1370 Phone: 589-6352 Email: wyckofft@morris.umn.edu

Office Hours: M 1:00-2:00, W 11:00-12:00, F 2:00-3:00, and by appointment

I have a 75% appointment. If I am not in my office during school hours, please feel free to try me at home (589-0402). However, before 9:00 am, after 5:00 pm and during the weekend, please call me at home ONLY with important messages.

Description: This course is designed to introduce you to many techniques of modern biochemistry, including molecular modeling, protein purification, immunochemistry and enzyme kinetics. Near the end of the semester you will prepare a presentation on a paper from the biochemistry primary literature. This course is entirely separate from Biochemistry lecture (Biol 4211), so you will receive a grade for this course independent of your work in lecture.

Text: You do not need to purchase a lab manual for this course.

Lab and Assignment Schedule

Aug 27	Introduction to biochemistry laboratory Bradford assay
Sept 3	Lab 1: Purification of alkaline phosphatase learn assay
10	Lab 2: Exploring protein structure with FirstGlance in Jmol Meet in Sci 2530
17	Lab 1: Purification of alkaline phosphatase break cells and dialyze
24	Lab 1: Purification of alkaline phosphatase heat denature and DEAE column
Oct 1	Lab 1: Purification of alkaline phosphatase SDS-PAGE Lab 2 structure presentations during lab (25 points)
8	NO LAB (conference)
15	Lab 3: Exploring carbohydrates – no assignment Lab 1 purification table due in lab (75 points)
22	FALL BREAK – NO LAB
29	Lab 4: Enzyme kinetics lots of assays! Km, vmax, inhibitors
Nov 5	Lab 5: Western blotting run gel and transfer
12	Lab 5: Western blotting immunochemistry! Lab 4 kinetic analysis due in lab (75 points)
19	Lab 6: ELISA – no assignment
26	THANKSGIVING – NO LAB Lab 5 discussion due Wednesday (50 points)
Dec 3, 10	Presentations (75 points)

Assignments: The point values for each assignment are as listed above, for a total of 300 points over the course of the semester.

ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. A lab can only be made-up if you miss it due to an officially excused absence and inform me BEFORE the lab is missed. An unexcused absence from lab will result in a loss of 30 points (10% of your grade).

You will work in pairs during each lab period. However, your lab assignments will be done individually and must represent your own work and your work alone. The presentations will also be done on your own. Details about the presentation and other assignments will be given later in the semester. Assignments are due at the beginning of lab and 10% of their value for every school day or portion of a school day that they are late.

Grading: The University grading policy can be found at the following website:

http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/senate/documents/policy/gradingpolicy.html

According to this policy, work on assignments that “fulfills the requirements of the course” will receive a C. An A or a B requires you to demonstrate better than “satisfactory” work.

Also in accordance with this policy, an “Incomplete” will only be negotiated under extraordinary circumstances, such as in cases where an illness or family emergency causes a student who is passing the course to be unable to complete the work at the very end of the semester.

I will NOT use the Academic Alert or Mid-term Alert systems. Assignments will be graded and handed back promptly. You can determine your current grade at any time from this information. You should expect that 90-100 % = A, 80-90 % = B, 70-80 % = C, 60-70 % = D, and < 60 % = F. Cut-offs for +/- are 2.5% (e.g. 90-92.5 % = A-; 87.5-89.5 = B+). I will only “curve” in your favor, but curves are generally minor.

I am HAPPY to speak with you at any time about how you are doing in this course and EAGER to help you come up with strategies for improvement if needed.

Academic Dishonesty: CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. If I suspect academic dishonesty of any kind, I will set up a meeting with the student(s) involved. The penalty for academic dishonesty in this course may range from a zero on the assignment to an F for the course. University policy requires me to inform the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs of the offence and the penalty.

The University of Minnesota is committed to providing all students equal access to learning opportunities.  Disability Services is the campus office that works with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.  Students registered with Disability Services who have a letter requesting accommodations, are encouraged to contact the instructor early in the semester.  Students who have, or think they may have, a disability (e.g. psychiatric, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, or systemic), are invited to contact Disability Services for a confidential discussion at 320-589-6163 or freyc@morris.umn.edu.  Additional information is available at the DS web site at www.morris.umn.edu/services/dsoaac/dso.