Biology Laboratories

The Department of Biology has well-equipped Biochemistry, Histotechnique, and Molecular Genetics laboratories.  The electron microscopy suite contains all equipment for both scanning and transmission electron microscopy that includes three automatic microtomes, critical point dryer, sputter-coater, a JEOL scanning electron microscope, and a Hitachi transmission electron microscope.  A full darkroom for both negatives and prints is part of this laboratory.  In the Molecular Genetics laboratory, students can perform many molecular techniques including restriction analysis, polymerase chain reactions, gene sequencing, blotting, and transfection.  Students have the opportunity to use these laboratories for independent research as well as course-related activities.

Recent renovations have provided several new laboratory spaces, including a cold room-waste management facility with several new refrigerator/freezers and an ultra low-temp freezer, all secured by a generator.  Our 'smart classroom' provides a multimedia/research room for all faculty and students in the Biology Department.  Innovative equipment such as the Optipro 580 Smart Board and Expression Multimedia cabinet, along with the Pentium 4 computers, DVD, CD-RW, LCD projector, video cameras, wireless keyboard and mouse and ready data ports allow for technology-enhanced instruction of introductory classes as well as informal seminars or formal senior research presentations.  New components and software for gel documentation, digital and video photomicrography, fluorescent microscopy, and human physiology have greatly enhanced our research and laboratory endeavors.
The newest addition is a cutting edge research laboratory, the Tissue Culture Facility, which consists of: a clean room with T-grid overhead ceiling system for lighting and in-line filtering, twin stacking Napco 6500 CO2 incubators, double ESCO Labculture Horizontal Laminar Flow Hoods, Millipore Direct-Q 5 water purification system, large capacity benchtop autoclave and liquid nitrogen tank storage, electronic single and multichannel pipettors, and equipment and supplies for supporting adherent and suspension cell cultures, with digital video computer image analysis. 
During the coming years, several other laboratory spaces are scheduled for renovation, including the Principles of Biology and Human Anatomy Lab, which will have a new ventilation system, cold storage for specimens, and new laboratory cabinets and benches. The preparatory room, environmental studies research laboratory, and biochemistry lab are also slated for renovation.