Investigating Biology : An Introduction to the Tools and Techniques of a Biologist: Volume II

This is the lab manual for Biology II, the second semester of a two-semester General Biology course for science majors. There is much more to biology than memorizing facts in a textbook.

The fun part of biology is actually doing it! This laboratory course is designed to help you develop the hands-on skills of biologist using the tools found in a typical, modern biology lab. Each of the exercises in this manual begins with background to help you understand a core concept of biology.

You will then be presented with a question of problem related to that concept.

The lab exercise will guide you as you use the scientific method, laboratory tools, and standard protocols to answer that question or solve that problem.

Throughout the course you will also evaluate scientific information, dig into primary research, use a lab notebook, collect and interpret quantitative data, and practice writing scientific reports. As you work through this manual you will learn skills that you may use again in future classes, graduate school, or in a professional setting.

Your manual will become a portfolio of the skills you learn as well as a record of the protocols you master.

You may find it a valuable reference as you take advanced biology lab courses in the future.