Attendance is critical in this class. Your final course grade will be determined by your performance in the laboratory as judged by scores earned on quizzes, your attendance in class, the quality of your group project, and the instructor's appraisal of your laboratory technique. There will be 6 quizzes which will cover reference material, pre-lab lecture information, laboratory theory and techniques, and the results of lab exercises. There will be one group project for which your group must select a topic, pose a question, design an appropriate laboratory procedure, carry out the procedure, present the results, and discuss the significance of the results. You will describe your work in a short seminar in class.
Attendance is required.
5 points will be subtracted from your grade for each unexcused absence. Please inform the instructor if there is an unavoidable reason why you cannot be in class. Because this laboratory involves handling of living microorganisms, some of which can be harmful to people, it is vitally important that everyone follow the laboratory rules.