BISC 219/F10: Assignment 1 Lab1

Lab 1 Assignment: Entry Survey (2.5 pts); Defining your Experimental Question and Summarizing your Experimental Design; Diagramming your Crosses; Submitting your data for instructor check (10 pts)

Part 1: If you haven't already done so, please make sure that you have completed your on-line Entry Survey on Survey Monkey at this link [http:www.????]. You are on your honor to complete this entry survey before the second lecture and before you have started reading your textbook or the background information found in the lab wiki. You will be asked to take this survey again at the end of the course. To reward you for completing this genetics knowledge survey twice, we will grant you 5 points (2.5pts for each completed survey) as an incentive. Make sure that you state that you took the entry survey (give date please) when you submit the rest of this assignment. The survey is designed to help us assess how well BISC219 teaches core genetics concepts and it will help us know how to improve the course for future students. Thank you for your valuable input.

BISC219, Genetics Lab, models investigative science. Although we can't provide individualized materials for you to design experiments to investigate questions you come up with on your own because of cost, time constraints, and your inexperience in using some of the tools; nevertheless, we want you to learn first hand this semster how scientists use genetic principles and techniques to answer basic and nuanced questions about gene structure and function and how that knowledge can be applied more broadly and communicated to the scientific community. Although your instructors have defined the questions and designed the experiments that will be used to address those questions, you must be able to, at any point in an investigation, describe what you are doing (summary of the experimental design and where you are in the process of completing the experiments), why you are doing it (experimental question(s) and goals), and what it means if x happens versus y when you collect your data (have a hypothesis formulated from basic genetic prinicples or previous studies). Significant and continual outside study is required for those ambitions to be realized.

Part 2: Read all of the background information on C. elegans found in BISC_219/F10:_Worm_Info and then read all of Series 1 (Lab1 and the Completion of Autosomal or Sex Linked Genes? in Lab 2) found at BISC_219/F10:_Gene_Linkage & BISC_219/F10:_Lab_2.

Part 3: Submit the preliminary data for your first crosses to your instructor by email on the 3rd day after Lab 1 (so your instructor will know if your crosses worked)

Part 4: At the beginning of Lab 2 (or before if you submit your work electronically), please submit a concise statement of the experimental question you are investigating in Lab 1 and completing in Lab 2. Also include a brief, but clear and thorough summary of how you will investigate this question (general methods description and flow diagram of each cross, using standard genetic nomenclature), and explain how and why you will be able to interpret your data and answer your experimental question(s).

Grading Rubric

Assignment 1 Lab 1– 12.5 points

	At or Above Standard	Below Standard	Possible Points	Points Earned
Entry Survey	Completed BISC219 Genetics Entry Survey before second lecture	Did not complete Genetics Entry Survey	2.5	__/2.5
	Figure legend is below figure & includes a number. Table legend is above table and includes sequential numbers independent of figure numbers. All legends include all essential information and no unnecessary detail about how data included was generated. Figure or table title gives the main point of the figure or table. Body of legend does not summarize main conclusions or include other material appropriate for the narrative data analysis. All data adequately identified and parameters defined.	Missing figure or table#, title, or legend. Legend (or title) is in wrong place or does not include appropriate numbering. Missing information about how data was generated. Missing part or all of key to symbols/ colors or other ambiguous information. Missing part or all crucial information that helps the figure or table to “stand alone”. Legend includes unimportant detail or includes a summary of the findings that is more appropriate for the narrative portion of the data analysis.	5	__/5
Data Analysis	Narrative begins with an appropriately concise description of both experimental goals and experimental design. Narrative includes key findings, describes the data accurately, concisely and clearly, & includes only relevant information. Data analysis leads incrementally & clearly from data to appropriate conclusions to experimental question. Specific figure and table numbers for data that supports conclusions are cited in the narrative.	Narrative doesn't begin with an appropriately concise description of the experimental goals and experimental design. Narrative omits key findings, describes the data inaccurately or unclearly, includes irrelevant information, or is repetitive. Narrative fails to give appropriate conclusions to the experimental questions or fails to show how the experimental data allow the conclusions. Specific figure and table numbers for data that support conclusions is not cited in the narrative.	15	__/15
Total			30	__/30