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Course: 11:115:306 Problem Solving in Biochemistry (1.5 cr.) Required course for Cook Biochemistry majors, open to other majors Normally Offered: (each) spring semester; Dr. William Ward (crebb@rci.rutgers.edu) Prerequisites and other registration requirements: 11:115:413 or 313 or any comparable biochemistry laboratory course. At least one semester of biochemistry lecture (11:115:403 or equivalent) is assumed Format: one 80 min. laboratory and one 55 min. recitation per week Description: This is a laboratory-oriented biochemistry course turned topsy-turvy. Dr. Ward does the experiments during the 80 min. period while the students observe and take notes. Generally, the experiments last 40 min. or less. Frequently, the design for an experiment comes from newly acquired data coming from Dr. Ward's lab at the time. Following each short experiment, the balance of laboratory time is devoted to question and answer. Each experiment is carefully chosen so as to present a dilemma or a contradiction. The students are required to analyze the dilemma and attempt a solution. Total emphasis is placed on (1) the student's thought processes in analyzing the dilemma and (2) the student's ability to communicate a solution in the form of a short, carefully crafted report (almost always one page or shorter). "The correct answer" is not required, but the analysis must be clear and well stated. Students have more than a week (usually 10-12 days) to complete their reports. Between experiment and submission of a report, each student will have ample time to ask questions during the 55-min. recitation and during the next 80-min. laboratory. If more time is needed, Dr. Ward will have an open door policy and will discuss the dilemma at length, if necessary. Examinatiions: none Final: none Textbook or other outside materials: none Comments: The purpose of this course is to encourage students to think about biochemistry data, to analyze those data, to synthesize and resolve conflicting information, and to write convincing short reports. Problem Solving attempts to capture the essence of biochemical reasoning by presenting situations just as they occur to the laboratory worker on a daily basis. Taking this course provides a true window to the process of deductive reasoning in biochemistry. Succeeding in this course provides the best possible prognosis for success in research. Almost never can "the answer" be found in a book or on the internet. You can't look it up. Almost always the required reasoning is intuitive. When intuition fails, the office door is open.
Dr. William Ward The Still Assoc. Professor of Biochemistry CREBB - Centre for Research & Education in Bioluminescence & Biotechnology Rutgers University Dept. of Biochemistry & Microbiology Cook College 76 Lipman Dr. Rm.216 New Brunswick NJ 08901 USA Fax: 732-932-3633 Work: 732-932-9562 x216
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