Undergraduate Laboratory Methods
Undergraduate Laboratory Methods - Related Videos
14:13
Detecting Estrogenic Ligands in Personal Care Products using a Yeast Estrogen Screen Optimized for the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory
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Cited by 1 •
2018
This article presents an optimized yeast estrogen screen for quantifying ligands in Personal Care Products (PCPs) that bind estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and/or beta (ERβ). The method incorporates two colorimetric substrate options, a six-day refrigerated incubation for use in undergraduate courses, and statistical tools for data analysis.
18:00
Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Plating Methods
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Cited by 438 •
2012
When working with media and reagents used to culture microorganisms, aseptic technique must be practiced to ensure contamination is minimized. A variety of plating methods are routinely used to isolate, propagate, or enumerate bacteria and phage, all of which incorporate procedures that maintain the sterility of experimental materials.
09:48
Employing Pressurized Hot Water Extraction (PHWE) to Explore Natural Products Chemistry in the Undergraduate Laboratory
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Cited by 13 •
2018
Here, we employ a pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) method, which utilizes an unmodified household espresso machine to introduce undergraduates to natural products chemistry in the laboratory. Two experiments are presented: PHWE of eugenol and acetyleugenol from cloves and PHWE of seselin and (+)-epoxysuberosin from the Australian plant Correa reflexa.
07:32
Use of Galvanic Skin Responses, Salivary Biomarkers, and Self-reports to Assess Undergraduate Student Performance During a Laboratory Exam Activity
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Cited by 21 •
2016
Research on undergraduate students' academic achievement emotions have primarily relied on self-reports in laboratory settings. Studies rarely include bio-physiological measures to these self-reports. This protocol will describe a methodology that integrates self-reports with and bio-physiological measures to assess student response and performance during a laboratory examination activity.
08:02
Benchtop Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography, Reconstitution and Assay of a Polyhistidine Tagged Metalloenzyme for the Undergraduate Laboratory
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Cited by 1 •
2018
Here we present a protocol for the benchtop immobilized metal affinity chromatography purification and subsequent reconstitution of a polyhistidine tagged, non-heme iron binding dioxygenase suitable for the undergraduate teaching laboratory.
FAQs
Accurate pipetting supports reproducible concentration and volume measurements, while careful solution preparation establishes the conditions an experiment is intended to test. Small handling inconsistencies can affect downstream measurements, so students practice consistent technique and follow standardized protocols. These skills make comparisons between samples more meaningful and strengthen quantitative analysis.
pH control helps maintain intended experimental conditions, while solution preparation provides the concentrations and mixtures needed for meaningful comparisons. In biochemistry, these practices are closely connected: a poorly prepared solution or uncontrolled pH can complicate interpretation of measurements. Careful preparation therefore supports reliable observations and helps students relate measured outcomes to molecular processes.
Controls provide a basis for judging whether an observed measurement is associated with the experimental condition rather than an unexamined comparison. Standardized protocols reduce variation in how procedures are performed. Together, they help students evaluate evidence more carefully, identify whether results are reproducible, and communicate conclusions with appropriate attention to experimental design.
A practical workflow begins with planning the experiment, preparing solutions and materials, handling biological samples carefully, and collecting measurements under controlled conditions. Students then organize and interpret the evidence using the protocol and relevant controls. This sequence connects experimental design with quantitative analysis while reinforcing laboratory safety and clear scientific communication.
Separation procedures help distinguish or isolate biomolecules, whereas spectrophotometric measurement provides quantitative data that can be used to examine a sample or experimental outcome. Used within a controlled protocol, these approaches connect the physical handling of biochemical materials with numerical evidence. Their combination helps students relate molecular concepts to observable laboratory results.
These methods provide preparation for work in enzymology, metabolism, molecular biology, biotechnology, and related biomedical fields. Their value extends beyond individual procedures because students learn to design experiments, control conditions, collect quantitative evidence, and communicate findings. Those capabilities support the transition from classroom exercises to research settings where reproducibility and interpretation are essential.