Biology 240 Laboratory

TitleBiology 240 Laboratory
Faculty/College/UnitScience
StatusCompleted
Duration1 Year
Initiation04/01/2003
Completion03/31/2004
Project Summary

The Biology Program, jointly administered by the Departments of Botany and Zoology, is the largest undergraduate degree program within the Faculty of Science. Within the Biology Program, Cell Biology and Genetics is the most popular option. Formerly, there was a Biology 200 lab and a Microbiology 201 lab that were part of the second year curriculum for Cell and Genetics majors as well as for Microbiology majors. The new Biology 240 is designed to replace those two labs and provide a hands-on, experimental lab for second-year Biology and Microbiology students.

The Biology 240 lab provides necessary continuity between the first-year Biology lab, Biology 140, and the required Physiology labs in third year. Biology 140 introduces the concepts of scientific method and experimental design using macroscopic organisms to study behaviour. Presently, there is no second year experimental lab. In the third year, Physiology labs (There are four - plant, animal, cell, and microbial), students are exposed to more advanced methods and techniques and again have an opportunity to design a scientific experiment. It is important pedagogically to reinforce the concepts introduced in first year in the second year, especially as these concepts - scientific method and the process of science - are the heart of a life science education.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2003/2004
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorEllen Rosenberg
Year 1: Funded Amount50,000
Year 1: Team Members

Ellen Rosenberg, Botany, Faculty of Science
Karen Smith, Microbiology, Faculty of Science