BIOL 1406 Prelab Notes

Prelab 1 - Introduction to BIOL 1406 Lab

Welcome to Biology Lab

• Lesson Requirements: This lesson must be completed before your first lab.
• Objectives:
  1. Orientation of BIOL 1406 Laboratory
  2. Complete Safety Training & Safety Contract

Importance of the BIOL 1406 Lab

• The BIOL 1406 lab may be the first science lab at UTRGV for students.
• It serves as a foundation for any future work in a wet (chemical) laboratory.
• Safety Standards: Proper behavior and adherence to safety standards are:
  • PARAMOUNT to success
  • ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for admittance into lab sessions.

Lab Instructor and Sections

• Instructor Identification: Your instructor may be a faculty member of the SIBCS or a graduate teaching assistant (GTA).
• Lab Sections: Assigned letters (A, B, C, etc.) and meet weekly for 2 hours 15 minutes.
• Attendance Policy: Attendance is compulsory; no makeup labs are allowed, and students cannot attend unregistered lab sections.
• Action Item: Write down your lab schedule and know the location of your lab (Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen, Edinburg).

First Day of Lab Requirements

1. Proper Attire:

   • No shorts, sandals, flip flops, flats, crocs, chanclas, or torn clothing.
   • NO SKIN SHOWING BELOW THE WAIST.
   • Closed-toed shoes are mandatory.

2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

   • Lab coat
   • Safety goggles/glasses
   • Gloves (may be provided depending on lab topic)

3. Laboratory Notebook:

   • Although the lab notebook is less critical for safety/lab admittance, failure to bring it will result in loss of participation points.

Success in BIOL 1406 Lab

1. Prelab Preparation: Complete ALL prelab readings and assignments before attending lab.

2. Organized Records: Update laboratory notes and keep organized records of all procedures and results from each week’s topic.

3. Timeliness: Arrive before the laboratory session begins.

4. Ask Questions: Inquire about unclear aspects of prelabs or experimental purposes during lab.

5. Support Resources:

   • Study in a group
   • Utilize the Learning Assistance Center and tutoring services (665-2585)
   • Consult your lab teaching assistant or lecture instructor
   • Take advantage of office hours
   • E-mail your instructor for help

6. Identifying Difficulty: Recognize difficulty through:

   • Quiz scores
   • Midterm grades
   • Confusion/comprehension issues

Environmental Health Safety & Risk Management (EHSRM)

• Students should receive an email from EHSRM upon timely registration for BIOL 1406 that must be completed prior to the first lab.
• If using limited time to read this, completion is acceptable until the 2nd lab meeting.
• Consequences of Not Completing Training:
  • Students will not be allowed into lab in the 2nd week without completed training.
• Training Completion:
  • Complete all 8 learning modules assigned, pass the Jeopardy Assessment, and download the completion certificate.
  • Upload the certificate to Brightspace under Topic 1 - Safety Training Certificate Upload.
• Safety Contract:
  • Must be signed during the first lab meeting to acknowledge responsibilities and familiarize with laboratory policies.

Lesson 1 - Scientific Method, Lab Notebook & Measurements, Introduction to pH

• Students will utilize the scientific method throughout BIOL 1406 lab.
• Some labs may focus on skills rather than experimentation (e.g., microscopy, miosis).

Lab Notebook Guidelines

• An organized lab notebook is crucial to prevent loss of points.
• Preparation Steps:
  1. Title: Clearly write the title or theme at the top of your page.
  2. Introduction: Describe the lab investigation, including objectives or purpose statements and any useful background for hypothesis development.
  3. Hypothesis: Craft a testable prediction based on observations relating to the lab topic.
  4. Procedures: Note protocols or prepare tables and figures. Add any self-developed procedures during lab.
  5. Results: Record data, observations, and transformation into graphs or figures as needed, ensuring appropriate labeling of all figures.
  6. Discussion: Summarize conclusions and converse with lab mates; instructors may pose open-ended questions based on this discussion for exams.

Measurements Overview

• Metric System: Scientific results must be reported using the metric system, which is standardized and based on units of ten.
• Metrics Explanation:
  • One meter (m) is determined by the wavelength of Krypton-86.
  • One gram (g) equals 1 cm³ of water at 4°C.
  • Conversion examples for water:
  • 1 ext{ g} = 1 ext{ cm}^3 = 1 ext{ ml}
• Density Consideration: Density must be accounted for when converting mass to volume or length for substances other than water.

Introduction to pH

• Definition of pH: pH stands for "potential of Hydrogen" and indicates how acidic or basic something is.
• Optimal pH: Most organisms function best at a pH near neutral.
• Examples of pH Variability:
  • Acidophilic organism: Lactobacillus acidophilus thrives at around pH 5; used in yogurt fermentation, produces lactic acid in anaerobic conditions.
  • Human physiological pH:
  • Human blood: pH 7.4
  • Stomach acid: pH around 2, facilitating destruction of most pathogenic organisms in food intake.
• Unique Survival: Helicobacter pylori survives in acidic stomach conditions causing gastritis and ulcers.
• Neutralization in Intestine: Pancreas releases bicarbonate to raise duodenal pH (~8), countering stomach acidity.
• Conceptual Importance: Understanding pH, acids, bases, and buffers is foundational for grasping metabolic reactions and energy extraction in cells.
  • Clarification through additional video resources is recommended if current understanding is insufficient.

Buffers in Biological Systems

• Living organisms use buffer systems to stabilize pH fluctuations.
• Example Buffers:
  • Bicarbonate serves as a weak base and buffering agent for both blood and duodenal pH.
• Metabolic Reactions:
  • Energy delivery occurs through the oxidation of organic molecules, such as glucose:
  • Reaction: ext{C}6 ext{H}{12} ext{O}6 + 6 ext{O}2
    ightarrow 6 ext{CO}2 + 6 ext{H}2 ext{O}
  • Carbon Dioxide Management:
  • In circulation, CO2 forms carbonic acid, releasing bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, effectively buffered by hemoglobin to maintain blood pH uniformity.

Supplies & Equipment

• The fume hood is a crucial safety feature used throughout the semester.
• Chemical Storage: Chemicals must be housed in nonporous, impermeable containers, such as glass beakers or flasks.
• pH Testing:
  • Measurement of pH will be done on solutions in glass beakers using litmus and pHydrion papers.
  • Tools for measurement:
  • Red and blue litmus papers for acidity/basicity classification.
  • pHydrion paper allows estimation of pH with a color guide.
  • Transfer Instruments:
    • Either transfer pipettes or eye droppers will be used for liquid measurement, requiring technique in fluid transfer.

Lab 1 - Procedures for pH Experiment

• Test Solutions: The following solutions will be tested for pH:

• Tomato juice
• Cola
• Lime juice
• Vinegar
• Ammonia
• Baking soda (NaHCO3)
• Salicylic acid (aspirin)
• Milk
• NaCl (salt)
• Urea
• Water

• For each solution, use blue litmus, red litmus, and pHydrion paper.
• Record observations for categorization (acid, base, neutral) in your lab notebook.

• Preparation for Lab:
  • Bring prepared lab notebook.
  • Wear proper attire: long pants and closed-toe shoes.
  • Bring lab coat and safety goggles/glasses.