Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Apply principles of safety, quality and teamwork in the bioscience laboratory environment.
2. Carry out common laboratory measurements (including: weight, volume, temperature, pH and light) demonstrating understanding of the limits of detection, principles of calibration, and limits in the precision and accuracy of the instrumentation used.
3. Perform calculations needed to prepare solutions, make dilutions, maintain records and evaluate data in a bioscience laboratory environment.
4. Use an understanding of microbiological principles and properties to effectively apply aseptic technique during standard laboratory procedures.
5. Communicate clearly and succinctly the purpose, procedures, results and interpretation of data collected from measuring/monitoring equipment and from laboratory experiments.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT TASKS:

1. Prepare buffers and other solutions commonly used in the laboratory. Critical elements include: calculations, documentation of reagents and instrument used, pH determination (if appropriate), proper labeling of the solution, care of equipment and reagents.
2. Measure small liquid volumes (uL range) using micro pipettes, documenting accuracy and precision. Critical elements include: calculation and documentation of procedure and results, calculation of accuracy (% error) and precision (CoV), demonstration of skillful use of the micro pipette.
3. Determine the concentration of known substances using both direct absorbance and indirect spectrophotometric assay. Critical elements include preparation of appropriate standard curve, accurate determination of solute concentration in unknown sample; understanding of limitations of assay system; documentation of procedures, data and interpretations; care of equipment and laboratory environment.
4. Maintain accurate and real time records of ongoing laboratory work. Critical elements include: complete and accurate documentation of materials, calculation, procedures and instruments; sensible presentation of data; rationale and interpretation included where appropriate; standard practices for entries, annotations, attachments, corrections and continuing projects followed.
5. Carry out an unfamiliar procedure (such as small scale plasmid purification) from an established protocol, maintain records in the laboratory notebook that can be followed by anyone "skilled in the art"

COURSE CONTENT
THEMES
Quality in the Laboratory
Record keeping
CONCEPTS

1. Accuracy and Precision in measurement
2. pH measurement (theory and practical)
3. Buffers and buffer preparation
4. Light and UV spectroscopy
5. Construction and use of Standard curves
6. Protein assay

SKILLS

1. Measurement of weights and volumes
2. Solution preparation: calculations and procedures
3. Buffer preparation
4. Maintenance and use of pH meters
5. Precise and accurate use of micro pipette
6. Validation of micro pipette accuracy and precision
7. Spectrophotometer use
8. Preparation of a standard curve
9. Determination of protein concentration by assay
10. Following established protocols
11. Documentation of materials, procedures and instruments
12. Data collection, representation and evaluation
13. Cooperation in the laboratory environment

Additional skills specific to assessment task #5:
Plasmid purification Restriction digest of purified plasmid
Horizontal gel electrophoresis
Interpretation of gel patterns (and plasmid maps)