Home > Contents of Proceedings > Volume 10

Editor: Richard (Rick) W. Peifer (University of Minnesota)
Hosts: Paul G. Harrison and R. Patrick (Pat) Harrison

1. Rapid-Cycling Brassicas (RCBs) in Hands-on Teaching of Plant Biology

Paul H. Williams, University of Wisconsin at Madison  [abstract] [full text]

2. Professional Telecommunications: How to Get the Most from the NABT Electronic Bulletin Board and Other Useful Databases

Steven P. Lanphear, James Madison Memorial High School  [abstract] [full text]

3. Nerve Conduction in Frogs and Humans

Elizabeth Vizsolyi, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

4. Electron Flow in Photosynthesis

R. Patrick Harrison, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text: pdf | html]

5. Introduction to Electron Microscopy

Ellen Rosenberg and Michael Weis, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

6. Meiosis in Rye and Sordaria

Ramesh Bhambhani and Ann M. Schramm, University of Alberta  [abstract] [full text]

7. Modelling Population Structure

Robert E. DeWreede, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

8. Thermoregulation in Vertebrates Studied by Telemetry

David W. Osgood, Mini-Mitter Co.  [abstract] [full text]

9. The Botanical Garden - A Tool to Teach Systematics, Physiology and a Lot More

Iain E. P. Taylor and Gerald B. Straley, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

10. Microbial Ecology of the Oral Cavity

Barbara Dill and Heather Merilees, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

11. Mapping Genes in C. elegans

Robert C. Johnsen and Denise V. Clark, Simon Fraser University  [abstract] [full text]

12. Trail-Following in Snails: A Behavior and Statistical Laboratory Exercise

Sandra V. Millen, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

13. Recording Action Potentials from Cockroach Mechanoreceptors

Tom Linder, University of Washington  [abstract] [full text]

14. Plant Hormones: Bioassay for Gibberellin

Sandra L. Biroc, University of Colorado  [abstract] [full text]

15. The Genetics of Eye Color in Drosophila melanogaster

Carol Pollock, University of British Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

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Abstracts (Vol. 10)

1 -- Rapid-Cycling Brassicas (RCB's) in Hands-on Teaching of Plant Biology
Paul H. Williams [full text]
Key Words: botany, Brassica rapa, life cycle, Fast Plants.
Wisconsin Fast Plants is a novel technology involving the use of rapid cycling genetic stocks (35 days seed to seed) of Brassica rapa and related species and includes simple, inexpensive, self-contained growing systems suitable for the classroom or laboratory at all levels from kindergarten to college. Participants are introduced to the uses of these plants in teaching: development, reproduction, genetics, physiology, and ecology.

2 -- Professional Telecommunications: How to Get the Most from the NABT Electronic Bulletin Board and Other Useful Databases
Steven P. Lanphear [full text]
Key Words: electronic bulletin board, NABT, computer services, electronic mail, database, communication tools.
This workshop demonstrates on-line use of the national electronic bulletin board, complete with electronic mail started in 1987 by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Once on-line, 14 special interest areas are available, such as AP- Biology, magazine and book reviews, ABT Journal, NABT membership services, question and answer forum, software reviews, and swap/sale of used equipment. Also available for downloading onto your computer are extensive files of labs, graphics, and handouts. Discussions of this and other databases will emphasize the power of these new professional communication tools.
Note: This workshop is not included in the published proceedings volume because it was not submitted by the author.

3 -- Nerve Conduction in Frogs and Humans
Elizabeth Vizsolyi [full text]
Key Words: vertebrate physiology, nerve conduction, frog, human, nerve trunk, sciatic nerve, biphasic action potential, refractory period, electromyogram.
These exercises are taken from a vertebrate physiology course, and use either a human subject or a dissected frog, thus providing relatively simply alternatives that may suit your needs. Nerve conduction velocity can be measured in the frog sciatic nerve with recordings of the biphasic action potential on the outside of the nerve trunk. Absolute and relative refractory periods can also be determined. Conduction velocity in the human can be obtained from electromyograms taken from the fourth and fifth fingers following stimulation of the ulnar nerve.

4 -- Electron Flow in Photosynthesis
R. Patrick Harrison [full text: pdf | html]
Key Words: chloroplasts, photosynthetic pigments, absorption spectrum, electron flow, photosynthesis.
The fascinating concept of electron flow is explored with simple equipment in an exercise for first-year students. Students use a spectrophotometer to generate an absorption spectrum for spinach chloroplasts, and then make a prediction about the effect of wavelength of light on the rate of photosynthesis. Students design their own carefully controlled experiments to test their predictions.

5 -- Introduction to Electron Microscopy
Ellen Rosenberg and Michael Weis [full text]
Key Words: electron microscope, scanning EM, Transmission, EM.
This tutorial/demonstration focuses on image formation in the scanning and transmission electron microscopes. In this exercise, students are introduced to the principles involved, and then tour the Electron Microscope Facility for observations of the microscope in operation.

6 -- Meiosis in Rye and Sordaria
Ramesh Bhambhani and Ann M. Schramm [full text]
Key Words: meiosis, cereal rye, Secale cereale, Sordaria brevicollis, cytology, genetics, gene mapping, centromere mapping.
In the morning session, participants will be shown the use of anthers of cereal rye (Secale cereale) for the cytological demonstration of the salient features of meiosis. Irrespective of the academic level (high school, college, or university) at which introductory genetics is taught, rye anthers have many advantages. Participants in the afternoon session will discover that another organism, the fungus Sordaria brevicollis, is ideal for the study of gene and centromere mapping in introductory college or university genetics labs.
Note: This workshop is not included in the published proceedings volume because it was not submitted by the author.

7 -- Modelling Population Structure
Robert E. DeWreede [full text]
Key Words: population, population modelling, Leslie Matrix, fecundity, mortality, computer simulation, intrinisic rate of increase, age distribution, ecology.
The Leslie Matrix is a model used commonly to predict future age or stage distributions of a plant or animal population. In this exercise designed for students with some background in ecology, the model is run on APPLE II series computers. Using data for real or imagined populations, students study the effects of altered fecundity and mortality on population structure, calculate the intrinisic rate of increase, analyze the model's sensitivity, and study the requirements for a stable and constant age distribution in the population.

8 -- Thermoregulation in Vertebrates Studied by Telemetry
David W. Osgood [full text]
Key Words: radio telemetry, thermoregulation, physiology, body temperature, wildlife.
This exercise, which is adaptable for introductory biology students or advanced physiology classes, uses a simple radio telemetry system for measuring body temperature from unrestrained and undisturbed animals. The advantages of this system over traditional probe-type thermometers are enormous. The laboratory will include practice in calibration of the transmitters, instruction in inserting the transmitter into the animals, and experience in interpreting the data obtained.

9 -- The Botanical Garden - A Tool to Teach systematics, Physiology and a Lot More
Iain E. P. Taylor and Gerald B. Straley [full text]
Key Words: botanical gardens, teaching methods, plant systematics, morphology, physiology, adaptation.
The UBC Botanical Garden will be used to demonstrate the wide range of possibilities for teaching using materials that are available in situ or freshly collected. An exercise in general systematics will use materials from the British Columbia Native Garden; the uses of plants as chemical sources will be examined with materials from the Physick Garden; the diversity of morphology will be examined using plants from the Food Garden; environmental and physiological adaptations will be seen in the Alpine Garden plants.

10 -- Microbial Ecology of the Oral Cavity
Barbara Dill and Heather Merilees [full text]
Key Words: bacteria, oral cavity, isolation, identification, classification, aerobic, anaerobic, techniques.
Using simple microbiological techniques, this exercise will introduce students to the variety of bacterial type present in their mouths. Enriched, selective, and differential media will be used to isolate the major aerobic and anaerobic species. Visual observations of the bacteria enhance the students' appreciation for the complex microbial world of the mouth.
Note: This workshop is not included in the published proceedings volume because it was not submitted by the author.

11 -- Mapping Genes in C. elegans
Robert C. Johnsen and Denise V. Clark [full text]
Key Words: nematode, gene mapping, linkage group, markers, Caenorhabditis elegans, mutation, culturing, genome.
The advantages of using Caenorhabditis elegans in introductory genetics courses will be demonstrated in this exercise in which an "unknown" visible mutation will be assigned to a linkage group and mapped relative to known markers. The nematode can be cultured easily, has a short generation time, reproduces either as self-fertilizing hermaphrodites or in outcrosses yields large numbers of progeny, and has a simple genome.

12 -- Trail-Following in Snails: A Behavior and Statistical Laboratory Exercise
Sandra V. Millen [full text]
Key Words: behavior, snail, intertidal littorine snails, land snails, experiments, trail following, statistical analysis.
It is well documented that many snails follow the trails of other snails. A variety of simple experiments can be designed around trail following that teach experimental design, observation and data collection, and statistical analysis of results. The easily obtained, intertidal littorine snails can be used in areas with access to the ocean, while land snails or slugs can be substituted in inland areas. The statistical emphasis can be modified to make this exercise suitable to a variety of levels.

13 -- Recording Action Potentials from Cockroach Mechanoreceptors
Tom Linder [full text]
Key Words: active transport, potassium ion, midgut, tobacco hornworm larva.
Readily available from suppliers, this larva has a large midgut that specializes in transporting excess potassium (from its plant food) into its lumen. The exercise is offered as an alternative to the traditional study of frog skin. In this exercise, the midgut is mounted on a perfusion tube, and the electrical potential difference across the wall of the midgut is measured with an oscilloscope which provides data on the rate of potassium transport. The basic set-up is amenable to the study of a variety of interesting questions.

14 -- Plant Hormones: Bioassay for Gibberellin
Sandra L. Biroc [full text]
Key Words: gibberellic acid, bioassay, plant hormone, barley seed, endosperm, starch breakdown, development.
This simple assay makes use of the ability of the plant hormone GA3 to induce starch breakdown in the endosperm of a barley seed from which the embryo has been removed. The effect of the hormone is clear and repeatable. This exercise can be used in introductory biology courses to demonstrate a basic plant process, or can be modified and used to investigate more sophisticated questions in a developmental biology course.

15 -- The Genetics of Eye Color in Drosophila melanogaster
Carol Pollock [full text]
Key Words: mutation, pterin, eye pigments, chromatography, Mendelian inheritance, metabolic pathway, fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster.
This exercise has been designed to help first-year biology students understand Mendelian inheritance. The pterin (red) eye pigments of wild type and mutant strains are separated using a simple paper chromatography system, and the patterns are analyzed to determine where the metabolic pathway is blocked in each mutant. Crosses of these strains are followed for two generations to provide data that students analyze to determine the mode of inheritance of each mutation, as well as the relationship between each mutant phenotype and the enzyme in the pathway which is affected by the mutation.