Official Course Description:  MCCCD Approval: 11-25-2008
BIO175  2009 Spring – 2011 Fall	L+L  1.0 Credit(s)  2.0 Period(s)  1.7 Load  Acad
Research Methods in Biology
Fundamentals of planning and conducting biological experiments, including ones that simultaneously vary multiple experimental variables. Subsequent analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results. Prerequisites: None. BIO156 or BIO181 recommended.

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
BIO175  2009 Spring – 2011 Fall	Research Methods in Biology

 

1.         Describe the principles of the scientific method. (II)

2.         Identify the importance of experimental controls. (II)

3.         Explain the utility of a ‘Design of Experiments’ (DOE) approach to biological research. (III)

4.         Design experiments using DOE tools. (III)

5.         Execute biological experiments involving simultaneous variation of numerous experimental variables. (I, II, III)

6.         Demonstrate standard laboratory practices including lab book maintenance. (I)

7.         Analyze and interpret results class experiments. (II, III)

8.         Share details of experiments with peers using current technology. (I)

 

 

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
BIO175  2009 Spring – 2011 Fall	Research Methods in Biology

 

I.          Lab Practice

            A.        Lab safety

            B.        Lab book maintenance

            C.        Small-group communication in the lab

            D.        Culture of research science

II.        Basic experimental design and data analysis

            A.        Principles of the scientific method

            B.        Factors, trials, controls

            C.        Experimental statistics

                        1.         measures of variation

                        2.         t-statistic

                        3.         significant effects

III.       Industry standard “Design of Experiments” (DOE) approach to experimental design

            A.        Definition and explanation

            B.        Benefits

            C.        DOE tools

                        1.         Measurement repeatability and reproducibility analysis

                        2.         Simple scientific trials and ‘one-factor-at-a-time’ (OFAT) experiments

                        3.         Two and three variable full factorial experiments

                        4.         Introduction to fractional factorial experiments with n-variables