Laboratory Technique Application
The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to explore the real-life applications of one of the biological techniques that we use in the Biology of Cells laboratory. From the list of potential techniques listed below – select one. You will then research applications of this technique “in the real world” – either in a biology-related job (i.e. ecological field studies and consulting, medical lab settings or professions, biological lab settings, testing facilities, forensics, epidemiologist, genetic consultant, pharmaceuticals, etc) or in basic scientific research.
In your paper, you should include the following:
• Describe the general purpose of the technique
• Explain how the technique is performed in general, and discuss any variations used for specific purposes
• Discuss the various applications of the technique in the real world, including the types of scientists that use the technique and the information that is gained by performing it.
Possible techniques:

• pH measurement
• Qualitative biochemical assays
• Light microscopy (any type)
• Microscopy and staining slide specimens
• Spectrophotometry (any type, including GC-Mass Spec)
• Measurement of oxygen production
• DNA transformation
• DNA plasmid transfers
• Bacterial growth and culture
• Antibiotic sensitivity tests
• DNA restriction enzyme analysis
• Gel electrophoresis
• Blood typing
• Predicting and analyze genetic crosses
• Pedigree analysis

Specific Guidelines
• Length: 3-4 pages, not including a cover page and literature cited section. Please note, this means no less than 3 and no more than 4 pages of text.
• Document guidelines: 11 or 12-point black font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, portrait orientation, paragraphs with left alignment, stapled in upper left corner (if hardcopy)
• Cover page: you should include a cover page that has a title, your name, course information, and the date the assignment is due.
• All writing must use standard English, with appropriate use of paragraph structure, grammar and punctuation. Proofread your paper to catch any typological or grammatical errors. Your final score will reflect writing style and format.
• References Used: Use a minimum of THREE outside resources that are considered academic sources. Please see “Reference Guidelines” document on Moodle for a discussion of academic sources.
• Literature Cited: Any information from outside sources presented within your paper should be paraphrased (avoid direct quotes unless necessary to get the point across) and followed by an in-text citation. In addition, the full citation for any reference cited within the text of the paper should be included within a Literature Cited section at the end of the paper, which is presented in alphabetical order by the first author’s last name. Please see “Reference Guidelines” for the format that will be used in BIO 1210 for both in-text citations and full citations within the literature cited.
Note on Academic Honesty
This project is intended to reflect your literature research and writing abilities. Any improper collaboration will be construed as academic dishonesty, and will result in a “0” on this assignment for ALL parties involved. There should be no direct quotes in the paper – all information from outside sources must be paraphrased and cited. Each paper will be checked for plagiarism. Plagiarized work, whether “accidental” or intentional, will result in a “0” on this assignment. If the academic honesty violation is especially egregious, the matter will be taken to the lecture instructor, course coordinator and department chair, who collectively will decide the course of action. In the most extreme cases, infractions may result in failure of either the lab portion of the course or the entire course.

Rubric that will be used to Grade Technique Application Papers:

Essay Component Target Acceptable Unacceptable
General purpose of technique
(10%) Clearly explains the general purpose of the technique; Information provided is well supported by resources
Sufficiently explains the general purpose of the technique and/or support of information with resources requires improvement At least one of the following observed: 1) does not adequately explain the general purpose of the technique, 2) Information provided is poorly supported
Description of technique
(20%) Provides detailed information about how the technique is generally performed; Fully discusses the variations of the technique that can be used in specific circumstances; Information provided is well supported by resources Provides sufficient information about how the technique is generally performed and/or partially discusses the variations of the technique that can be used in specific circumstances; Support of information with resources requires improvement At least one of the following observed: 1) does not adequately provide information about how the technique is performed, 2) does not address technique variations, 3) Information provided is poorly supported

Application in the real world
(50%) Reports on multiple applications of the technique in the real world; Clearly explains the types of scientists that use the technique; Fully discusses the types of information that can be gained by performing it; Relays examples of major research findings that have used the technique; Information provided is well supported by resources Clearly reports on one application of the technique in the real world; Partially explains the types of scientists that use the technique; Adequately discusses the types of information that can be gained; Examples of major research findings is lacking; Support of information with resources requires improvement At least one of the following observed: 1) does not adequately report on the application of the technique in the real world, 2) does not address the types of scientists that use the technique, 3) does not adequately discuss the types of information gained, 4) Information provided is poorly supported
Format
(10%) Formatting guidelines are all followed; Paper contains = 3 spelling or grammatical errors; Cover page included with required information; Paper flows logically from one concept to the next and uses appropriate paragraph structure. Formatting guidelines are all followed; Paper contains > 3 but = 10 spelling/grammatical errors; Cover page is present but may be lacking some information; Flow of paper and/or paragraph structure can use improvement. At least one of the following observed: 1) formatting guidelines not followed, 2) > 10 spelling/grammatical errors, 3) no cover paper, 4) flow of paper and/or paragraph structure require massive improvement
Citations
(10%) Minimum number of resources are provided; References are cited (and formatted correctly) within the text the paper; Full citations for all references cited within the paper are given within a literature cited section; References not cited in the text are not listed in the literature cited; In-text and full citations follow the given format guidelines Minimum number of resources are provided; References are cited within the text of the paper although there may be format errors; Full citations for all references are given within a literature cited section; In-text and full citations do not exactly follow the exact given format, but are close At least one of the following observed: 1) minimum number of resources not provided, 2) no in-text citations, 3) full citations are not given in a literature cited section, 4) made no attempt to follow given formatting guidelines for the literature cited section