LAB REPORTSMedical Interventions

Mrs. Stewart

Central Magnet School

NOTE:

1. No student should copy data from anyone

who is not his or her lab partner.

2. You may discuss the experiment with your

lab partner and other classmates, but the

lab report that you turn in must be

your own work. Lab reports are subject to

all the rules governing academic honesty.

3. Photocopies of any parts of the lab report

are not permissible.

RAFT Role – scientist Audience – scientific community Format – formal lab report Topic – DNA microarray

experiment

BIG PICTURE What was the purpose of this

lab?Comparing healthy non-smoker’s lung cells to Grandpa’s (heavy smoker) lung cells to determine the differences in the gene expression of 6 genes of interest

BACKGROUND Why did we perform this study

(experiment)? If I didn’t know what a DNA microarray

does, how could you explain that to me? Which genes are we studying in this

lab? (list and give details about what each gene codes for)

Why are we interested in these genes? End with a specific problem that we are

examining. Do NOT tell me anything about this

class and what we have done in here!!!!

VARIABLES Independent variable(s)

Non-smoker lung cells and smoker lung cells

Dependent variable(s)The gene expression ratios

PREDICTIONS VS. HYPOTHESIS

Predictions- what you expect the results of the lab to beExample: We expect to see more activity in the

smoker’s lung cells for genes 1 and 5, less activity in the smoker’s lung cells for genes 3 and 6, equal activity for gene 2 in both cells and no activity in either cell for gene 4.

Hypothesis – formal way to write the predictionIn this lab, it is expected that genes 1 and 5 will

be found induced in the smoker’s lung cells, genes 3 and 6 will be found suppressed in the smoker’s lung cells, gene 2 will show equal activity in both non-smoker and smoker’s lung cells and gene 4 will show no activity in either cell.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Level of detail is an art form! Ask: what details have an influence over

my results?These are the essential details

Do NOT list the materials as a separate list

EXAMPLE: Goggle and gloves must be worn for this

experiment. Obtain 6 different gene solutions with prepared DNA strands and agar to solidify on a slide. Melt the 6 different gene solutions in a water bath at 70 degrees Celsius. Obtain a microarray slide with at least 6 labeled locations for DNA to be fixed. Once gene solutions are completely melted, place one drop onto the correspondingly labeled location on the slide. Allow one minute for gene solutions to solidify on slide. Obtain a prepared hybridization buffer solution, that contains cDNA from both healthy lung cells and cDNA from smoker’s lung cells. Place one drop from hybridization buffer onto each of the 6 gene locations on the slide. Ensure that the tip of the bottle does not touch the gene solution to prevent cross contamination. Wait one minute, then compare the colors observed to color chart to determine gene expression ratios.

RESULTS: Includes figures and text to explain the

figures only. DO NOT discuss what the results mean

or indicate here.

Gene expression Color

Induced (has greater activity levels) in

smoker’s lung cells

Pink

Suppressed (has less activity) in smoker’s lung

cells

Blue

Expression levels are the same in both non-

smokers and smoker’s lung cells

Purple

Not expressed in either non-smokers or smoker’s

lung cells

Clear (colorless)

Gene Predicted result

Actual results - color

Gene Expression ratios observed

1 Induced – Pink Induced – Pink ~ 6

2 Equal in both – purple

Equal in both – purple

1

3 Suppressed – blue

Suppressed – blue

.25

4 Neither – clear

Neither – clear 0

5 Induced – pink Induced – pink 3

6 Suppressed - blue

Suppressed - blue

.5

DISCUSSION This is where you interpret your

results – tell the reader what the results may indicateHow do your results compare to what

you predicted?How might you explain any

unexpected results?What are some possible sources of

error to explain why your results may have differed from your predictions?

How could you improve this experiment if you were to repeat it?

CONCLUSION Final statement to summarize lab results.

Examples: The increased activity in genes 1 and 5

and the decreased activity in genes 3 and 6 may lead to cancer in smoker’s.

Or Due to the errors in the experiment, it

should be corrected and performed again before conclusive results can be obtained.

ABSTRACT Lab report summarized in a paragraph

Introduction: the main focus of the lab (scientific concept or lab procedure the lab is about) and the main objective(s) of the lab

Methods: a quick description of how the lab was done

Results: statement of the overall findings Discussion: statement explaining the

findings of the lab and their relationship to the scientific concept or lab procedure

Conclusion: what you learned about the scientific concept or lab procedure

TITLE

A few words that describe the experiment

Catchy titles are good, but does it describe the experiment??

Must capture main point of the lab. Examples:

Good: enzyme activity in neurons of patients with alzheimers

Bad: enzymesBad: enzymes in alzheimers

Clear, concise title goes here!

Your Name

Your lab partner(s)Medical Interventions

Activity #Date of lab