Timetable of laboratory sections for BCEM 393 Winter 2016

Laboratory exercises are offered every SECOND WEEK in BCEM 393. This means that you will only have a
laboratory exercise every two weeks (1 week on, 1 week off).
Laboratory exercises will begin the week of January 11, 2016. This means that sections 1-12 inclusive and
sections 20 and 21 will have their first laboratory session during the week of January 11, 2016. Sections 14-17
inclusive, and section 19 will have their first laboratory session during the week of January 18, 2016.

WEEK 1:
Time slot
9 AM 11:50 AM

Monday
No labs

Tuesday
Section 3

Wednesday
Section 20

Thursday
Section 8

Friday
Section 21

12:30 PM 15:20 PM

Section 1

Section 4

Section 6

Section 9

Section 11

16:00 PM 18:50 PM

Section 2

Section 5

Section 7

Section 10

Section 12

Time slot
9 AM 11:50 AM

Monday
No labs

Tuesday
Section 15

Wednesday
No labs

Thursday
No labs

Friday
No labs

12:30 PM 15:20 PM

No labs

Section 16

No labs

No labs

No labs

16:00 PM 18:50 PM

Section 14

Section 17

Section 19

No labs

No labs

WEEK 2:

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Schedule of Labs
Week of:

Lab

Topic Covered and Laboratory

Sections

Assignment(s) due at the

BEGINNING of the laboratory session

Assignment(s) due at the END

of the laboratory session

January
11th

1
and
2

Laboratory exercise 1: pH Detective

Part A: Death by decimal point
Part B: The case of the acidic
analgesic
Part C: The case of the mystery
solutions
Part D: The case of the acid-base
detective and pharmaceutically-Active
amino acids

Lab 1 Part A:
worksheet on Death by decimal
point
worth 1%

Lab 1 Part B:
worksheet on The case of
the acidic analgesic
worth 1%

Lab 1 Part A:
worksheet on Death by decimal
point
worth 1%

Lab 1 Part B:
worksheet on The case of
the acidic analgesic
worth 1%

Lab 1 Part C:
worksheet on The Case of the
mystery solutions
worth 1%

Lab 2 Part B:
worksheet on protein
secondary structure
worth 2%

Laboratory exercise 2 Part A: SNPs

and ethanol detoxification linking
amino acid substitutions to protein
structure and function

January
18th

1
and
2

Laboratory sections: 1-12 inclusive,

and sections 20 and 21
Laboratory exercise 1: pH Detective
Part A: Death by decimal point
Part B: The case of the acidic
analgesic
Part C: The case of the mystery
solutions
Part D: The case of the acid-base
detective and pharmaceutically-Active
amino acids
Laboratory exercise 2 Part A: SNPs
and ethanol detoxification linking
amino acid substitutions to protein
structure and function

January
25th

2
and
6

Laboratory sections: 14-17 inclusive,

and section 19
Laboratory exercise 2 Part B: SNPs
and ethanol detoxification linking
amino acid substitutions to protein
structure and function
Laboratory 6 Part A: Linking protein
structure to enzyme activity and
metabolism
Laboratory sections: 1-12 inclusive,
and sections 20 and 21

Lab 1 Part D:
worksheet on The case of the
acid-base detective and
pharmaceutically-active amino
acids
worth 2%

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Week of:

Lab

Topic Covered and Laboratory

Sections

Assignment(s) due at the

BEGINNING of the laboratory session

Assignment(s) due at the END

of the laboratory session

February 1st

2
and
6

Laboratory exercise 2 Part B: SNPs

and ethanol detoxification linking
amino acid substitutions to protein
structure and function

Lab 1 Part C:
worksheet on The case of the
mystery solutions
worth 1%

Lab 2 Part B:
worksheet on protein
secondary structure
worth 2%

Laboratory 6 Part A: Linking protein

structure to enzyme activity and
metabolism
Laboratory sections: 14-17 inclusive,
and section 19

Lab 1 Part D:
worksheet on The case of the
acid-base detective and
pharmaceutically-active amino
acids
worth 2%

Laboratory exercise 3: Gut bacteria

and human digestion a look at
Bacteroides and the purification of
BT2824

Lab 2:
report on PCR results and
protein structure analysis
worth 3%

February 8th

February
15th
February
22nd

February
29th

N/A
3

Laboratory sections: 1-12 inclusive,

and sections 20 and 21
READING WEEK NO LABORATORY SESSIONS

Lab 3:
worksheet on protein
concentration calculations
based on data obtained
using the Bradford assay
worth 1%

Laboratory exercise 3: Gut bacteria

and human digestion a look at
Bacteroides and the purification of
BT2824

Lab 2:
report on PCR results and
protein structure analysis
worth 3%

Laboratory sections: 14-17 inclusive,

and section 19
Laboratory exercise 4: Enzymatic
analysis of BT2824 what does it do
and how does it work?

Lab 3:
worksheet on protein
concentration calculations
based on data obtained
using the Bradford assay
worth 1%

Lab 3:
CHROM worksheet
worth 2%

NONE

Laboratory sections: 1-12 inclusive,

and sections 20 and 21

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Week of:

Lab

Topic Covered and Laboratory

Sections

Assignment(s) due at the

BEGINNING of the laboratory session

Assignment(s) due at the END

of the laboratory session

March 7th

Laboratory exercise 4: Enzymatic

analysis of BT2824 what does it do
and how does it work?

Lab 3:
CHROM worksheet
worth 2%

NONE

Laboratory sections: 14-17 inclusive,

and section 19
Laboratory exercise 5: Inquiry-based
investigation of carbohydrate
metabolism

Lab 4:
research proposal on BT2824
worth 3%

Laboratory sections: 1-12 inclusive,

and sections 20 and 21
Laboratory exercise 5: Inquiry-based
investigation of carbohydrate
metabolism

Lab 5:
worksheet on the effect of
diets on metabolism
worth 1.5%

Lab 4:
research proposal on BT2824
worth 3%

Lab 5:
worksheet on the effect of
diets on metabolism
worth 1.5%

Laboratory 6 Part B: Linking protein

structure to enzyme activity and
metabolism

Lab 6:
oral presentation of project
worth 3.5%

NONE

Laboratory sections: 1-12 inclusive,

and sections 20 and 21
Laboratory 6 Part B: Linking protein
structure to enzyme activity and
metabolism

Lab 6:
oral presentation of project
worth 3.5%

NONE

March 14th

March 21st

Laboratory sections: 14-17 inclusive,

and section 19
March 28th

April 4th

Laboratory sections: 14-17 inclusive,

and section 19

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Important contacts for BCEM 393

Course Coordinator and Laboratory Coordinator: Dr. Isabelle Barrette-Ng (BI 430A; mibarret@ucalgary.ca). Please see Dr. BarretteNg if you miss a laboratory exercise or if you have a conflict with the dates for the lecture midterm exam. If you are registered with
Student Accessibility Services (S.A.S.), please bring your documentation from the S.A.S. to Dr. Barrette-Ngs office as soon in the term
as possible.

Composition of laboratory mark

The laboratory component is assigned 22% of the grade in the course. Your mark for the laboratory component of BCEM 393 will be
based on written assignments and general lab performance (as assessed by your graduate teaching assistant (G.T.A.)). The breakdown
for each of these components is given in the table below.
Component
Assignments on Laboratory exercise 1
Assignments on Laboratory exercise 2
Assignments on Laboratory exercise 3
Assignment on Laboratory exercise 4
Assignment on Laboratory exercise 5
Assignment on Laboratory exercise 6
Performance

%
5
5
3
3
1.5
3.5
1

There are no laboratory midterm exams or laboratory final exams in BCEM 393.
Performance in the laboratory will be based on the following criteria:
Preparation Did you read and understand the laboratory manual and textbook readings prior to the laboratory session? Did
you bring your notes, laboratory worksheets and flowcharts to the laboratory?
Technique Could you make use of techniques introduced in previous sessions? Did you ask questions when unsure? Did
you use the correct operating procedure for each piece of equipment?
Attentiveness Did you follow instructions given by your G.T.A.? Were you attentive during the pre-lab talk?
Professionalism Did you bring your laboratory coat? Did you clean your bench and any other shared work areas before
leaving the laboratory? Were you collegial with other members of your laboratory section and your G.T.A.? Were you
punctual? Did you conform to safety rules?

YOU MUST ARRIVE ON TIME FOR EACH LABORATORY SESSION. FOR EACH 5-MINUTE PERIOD YOU
ARE LATE, 10% WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR LABORATORY PERFORMANCE MARK.
Preparation for weekly laboratory exercises
You are expected to have carefully read the appropriate section of your laboratory manual, as well as references to sections in the
course textbook (Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 6th edition), PRIOR to attending your laboratory session. You should familiarize
yourself with the techniques that will be used during the laboratory exercise and the concepts that will be covered. Surprise quizzes
may be administered at the beginning of any laboratory exercise that will test you on the information pertaining to that
exercise. Please remember that your preparation for weekly laboratory exercises will be evaluated by your G.T.A.

What should you bring to the laboratory for each laboratory exercise?
The following items MUST be brought to the laboratory for EACH exercise:
A laboratory coat and safety glasses. A laboratory coat and safety glasses are required for ALL laboratory exercises. Recall
that a portion of your performance mark is based on you bringing your laboratory coat and your safety glasses for every
laboratory session.
Relevant portions of the laboratory manual (worksheets). You DO NOT have to print out the entire laboratory manual.
Instead, you are encouraged to make your own notes and flowcharts as you read through the laboratory manual. Data must

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be recorded in NON-ERASABLE PEN (not pencil). At the end of each laboratory session, your G.T.A. will inspect your
worksheets and initial them before you leave the laboratory. It is your responsibility to make sure that your G.T.A. initials these
data pages before you leave the laboratory.
Your pre-lab assignment, if applicable.
Your laboratory reports and assignments, if applicable.

Laboratory assignments
During the semester, you will be asked to submit two different types of laboratory reports, depending on the laboratory exercise:
short reports, where you will be asked to complete worksheets provided in the laboratory manual; and
long reports, where you will be asked to write a more formal report that may consist of the following sections: introduction,
method, results, and discussion. Please note that the completion of all of these sections may not be required for all long
laboratory reports. Your G.T.A. will let you know which of these sections will be required.
For both types of reports, you will be asked to append your initialed data pages. Both types of reports will require that you be able to
demonstrate critical reasoning skills, a sound comprehension of concepts, and proper use of jargon, nomenclature, terminology and
symbols.

Re-evaluation of Laboratory Work

It is course policy NOT to discuss any concerns with the grading of an assignment during the 24 hour period that immediately follows
the date on which the assignment was handed back. To register a concern about the grading of an assignment, complete the form
entitled Request for re-evaluation of term work for BCEM 393 (available from our courses D2L site) and submit the form along with the
assignment to your G.T.A. within 15 DAYS of the date when the graded work was originally handed back. If you still have concerns
about the grading of your work following the re-evaluation by your G.T.A., you may submit the form completed by you and your G.T.A.,
along with your work, to Dr. Barrette-Ng.

Policy on late assignments

Assignments are due at the beginning of the laboratory session unless announced otherwise. REPORTS MUST BE WRITTEN UP AND
HANDED IN ON TIME. LATE REPORTS WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF 20% PER DAY OF THE WEIGHT OF THE LABORATORY
ASSIGNMENT. NOTE THAT 1 DAY IS EQUAL TO 24 HOURS AND INCLUDES WEEKENDS. LATE ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE
HANDED IN TO DR. BARRETTE-NGS OFFICE (BI 430A). REPORTS NOT HANDED IN WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE DUE DATE
WILL NOT BE GRADED. THESE GRADE DEDUCTIONS WILL APPLY UNLESS you provide the Laboratory Coordinator (Dr. BarretteNg) with documentation to support a valid reason for handing in an assignment late. The ONLY valid reasons (and documentation) are:
personal illness (completed Physician/Counsellor Statement Form, which can be downloaded from the following website:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/PDFs/physcoun.pdf);
death of family member or person close to you (death notice or documentation from funeral home is required);
family emergency (completed Physician/Counsellor Statement Form, which can be downloaded from the following
website: http://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/PDFs/physcoun.pdf); or
team absences (coachs letter on official stationery with copy of your official class schedule TO BE SUBMITTED TO DR.
BARRETTE-NGS OFFICE NO LATER THAN 5 BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE ABSENCE.)
Once the marking guide has been posted for an assignment and/or marked assignments have been returned to students in other
laboratory sections, late assignments will not be accepted for any reason. Be sure you always make copies of assignments and
computer disks; I lost my paper, The printer was not working, or I erased my disk, etc. are not valid reasons for missing deadlines.
Due to the unreliability of electronic transmissions and software incompatibilities, assignments that are submitted by e-mail will not be
accepted.

Academic Misconduct
The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. Cheating is receiving or giving information during an
exam or quiz. Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone elses ideas or information in a written or oral assignment without giving credit or
acknowledging the source. This is considered theft of anothers ideas. Copying all or part of someone elses written assignment is one

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example of plagiarism.
In addition, plagiarism includes word for word copying of text from a textbook, a journal article or a document posted on the world wide
web, even if the source is referenced.
Cooperation in the carrying out of laboratory experiments is good and often necessary, and discussions on the interpretation of data with
others are encouraged. HOWEVER, discussing the interpretation of data with others does not mean that you can write your
laboratory report with your collaborators. All laboratory reports and other assignments must be written in your own words (i.e., you
must write and produce your laboratory reports and assignments totally independently of others) unless otherwise indicated to
you by the instructor. Anything you hand in must be your own, unique work. Copying of an assignment, in part or in whole, either wordfor-word or in terms of ideas, is NOT acceptable and is considered academic misconduct. There are instances in which students are
instructed to prepare joint reports. When this is specifically requested, this is of course acceptable.
Penalties for academic misconduct range from reduced or failing grades on a course component to expulsion from the University. See
the section entitled K. Student Misconduct of the 2015-2016 University Calendar.
Please consult the following website for more information:
http://www.bio.ucalgary.ca/undergrad/current_students/academichonesty.html.

Attendance
Attendance is required at all laboratory sessions. You may attend only the laboratory section in which you are registered, due to
space and equipment limitations.
You are allowed ONE excused absence from the laboratory sessions for a valid reason. The ONLY valid reasons (and documentation)
are:
personal illness (form entitled Physician-Counsellor Statement for Term Exams and Assignments);
death of family member or person close to you (death notice or documentation from funeral home);
family emergency (form entitled Physician-Counsellor Statement for Term Exams and Assignments); or
team absences (coachs letter on official stationery)
The form entitled Physician-Counsellor Statement for Term Exams and Assignments can be obtained from the following website:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/PDFs/physcoun.pdf. This form is the only one that will be accepted. Any other notes will not be
considered official documentation. NOTE: OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION MUST BE PRESENTED TO DR. BARRETTE-NG
WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE ABSENCE FOR PERSONAL ILLNESS, DEATH OF FAMILY MEMBER OR PERSON CLOSE TO YOU,
AND FAMILY EMERGENCY. DOCUMENTATION FOR TEAM ABSENCES MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 5 BUSINESS
DAYS PRIOR TO THE ABSENCE TO DR. BARRETTE-NG.
However, please note that even if you obtain an excused absence from a laboratory session, you are still responsible for all of the
material covered in that laboratory session.
If you wish, after providing a valid reason and documentation (see above), you can see the Laboratory Coordinator, Dr. Barrette-Ng, and
ask to be rescheduled into another laboratory section if possible. The documentation must explicitly state the day(s) missed, the reason
for the absence, and when you are able to return to classes.
Assignments will not be accepted from a student who was absent from the laboratory session in which the data were collected, unless
you have a valid excuse and supporting documentation (valid reasons and supporting documentation are provided to Dr. Barrette-Ng,
the Laboratory Coordinator; see above for list of valid reasons and documentation).
If you miss a laboratory session in which an assignment was due or a quiz was written and have a valid excuse, you must present the
Laboratory Coordinator with supporting documentation. Depending on the circumstances, if you cannot make up the laboratory session,
you may either be given an excused absence for the assignment or quiz, or other arrangements will be made. Remember that you are
responsible for all the material covered in each laboratory exercise, even if you were not present.

Safety and Clean-Up

In your first laboratory session, your G.T.A. will review the SAFETY SHEETS appended to the end of this document that

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