Micr & Molecular Genetics: Applied Cell & Mol Bio Lab

A course based undergraduate research experience (CURE), covering the basic principles and techniques of mammalian cell culture and molecular biology tools to perform a student-designed CRISPRi experiment. The research culminates with working group presentations and the writing of individual research manuscripts. Lab work outside of class time is routinely necessary. Prerequisites: MMG 2040 or BIOC 3007 or Instructor permission.

Prereqs enforced by the system: MMG 2040 or BIOC 3007; MICR, MGEN & Biochemistry majors only, others by instructor permission; Labs begin on first day of class; Lab fee $160 PACE students by permission and override.

MMG3010 is a 4-credit advanced laboratory experience. The course is taught by an MMG faculty member and graduate teaching assistants. In the first half of the semester, students learn the basic principles and techniques of mammalian cell culture and molecular biology tools to prepare them to perform a student-designed CRISPRi experiment. This experiment, which investigates the effects of KIF2C status on drug exposure in a cervical cancer cell line, is carried out during the second half of the semester. Students work collaboratively in teams of three throughout the semester to perform the experiments. Students must exercise their interpersonal skills and collectively manage responsibilities for each of their experiments. Each student maintains an individual in-class scientific laboratory notebook. Assignments require individual students to write up the methods and results of the experiments throughout the semester. Then, in two individually written research papers, students synthesize the experiments in each half of the semester. The teams present the results and interpretation of their data twice during the semester with formal PowerPoint presentations. Additionally, each group presents one assigned primary literature article.

By the end of the course, you should be able to: • Independently perform basic cell culture techniques to successfully maintain a cell line in culture, including observation by light microscopy, aseptic technique, subculturing cells, enumerating cells, DNA transfections, drug treatments, and cell lysate collection • Perform molecular and biochemical techniques including cloning, gel electrophoresis, restriction digests, PCR, plasmid prep, DNA quantitation, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR • Develop a hypothesis that can be tested with a student-designed experimental protocol • Maintain a paper-based scientific notebook • Analyze, interpret, and orally present experimental data • Compose two scientific manuscripts (at mid-semester and the end of the semester) including concise writing and clear figures and tables • Demonstrate the professionalism associated with being a good laboratory citizen including but not limited to properly disposing of laboratory waste, precisely labeling materials, showing courtesy to others sharing the laboratory space, participating in laboratory preparation and execution, and communicating with your team

Grades are based on quizzes, assignments, presentations, research reports, scientific notebooks, participation, and professionalism in the laboratory.