MLS 4191C Molecular Diagnostics
Fall 2001
Laboratory Notebook and Write-up Specifications
The Lab Notebook
A lab notebook is to be kept with sufficiently detailed entries that you or someone else can recheck the results if necessary. This is to be a bound notebook, such as a composition book that can be purchased at the bookstore; loose-leaf or spiral bound notebooks are not acceptable. The first page of your notebook must be a table of contents, where you will note where each laboratory record can be found. Number each page of the notebook, beginning with the TOC on page 1. When you are in the lab, date each page that you record work on; at the conclusion of each laboratory period the instructor must initial the bottom of the page.
Data should be recorded immediately into your notebook in order to avoid error. Do not record anything on paper towels or scratch paper with the intent that you will transfer the information into your notebook later; Murphy's Law says that you will lose these extra sheets!
Your lab notebook will be turned in with each laboratory write-up. It will be returned in time for the next laboratory exercise.
The Write-Up
Lab write-ups will be 1 week following the completion of the laboratory exercise, unless specifically announced otherwise. You will turn in a separate lab report for each experiment (genomic DNA isolation, PCR, enzymatic manipulation of DNA, RT-PCR, and blotting reactions). Each lab report should contain the following elements:
Title
Abstract: A concise summary of what was done and the results obtained. Do not include details of the experimental procedure here.
Introduction and Objectives: A brief background discussion of what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what you hope to accomplish.
Methods: Briefly summarize the procedure that you followed.
Results and Data: Describe the results that you obtained. Any calculations may be included here as well.
Discussion and Conclusions: An interpretation of your results and a final summary of the experiment.
The total length of the written report should not exceed 5 pages. It must be either typed or computer generated; handwritten reports are not acceptable. Grading of the report will be based on the following criteria: clarity, conciseness, grammar and spelling, organized scholarly writing style, and demonstration of understanding of procedures and theory.