Fundamental Laboratory Approaches for Biochemistry and Biotechnology

by Ninfa, Alexander J.; Ballou, David P.; Benore, Marilee

• ISBN13: 9780470087664
• ISBN10: 0470087668
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-05-26
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

Ninfa/Ballou/Parsons is a solid biochemistry lab manual, dedicated to developing research skills in students, allowing them to learn techniques and develop the organizational approaches necessary to conduct laboratory research. Ninfa/Ballou/Parsons focuses on basic biochemistry laboratory techniques with a few molecular biology exercises, a reflection of most courses which concentrate on traditional biochemistry experiments and techniques. The manual also includes an introduction to ethics in the laboratory, uncommon in similar manuals. Most importantly, perhaps, is the authors' three-pronged approach to encouraging students to think like a research scientist: first, the authors introduce the scientific method and the hypothesis as a framework for developing conclusive experiments; second, the manual's experiments are designed to become increasingly complex in order to teach more advanced techniques and analysis; finally, gradually, the students are required to devise their own protocols. In this way, students and instructors are able to break away from a "cookbook" approach and to think and investigate for themselves. Suitable for lower-level and upper-level courses; Ninfa spans these courses and can also be used for some first-year graduate work.

Author Biography

Alexander J. Ninfa is Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan and is internationally recognized for his work on the biochemical mechanisms of signal transduction and transcriptional regulation in bacteria.

David P. Ballou is Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan and is widely known for his work in rapid kinetics and the study of enzyme mechanisms involving redox coenzymes.

Table of Contents

Basic Practices and Techniques in the Biochemistry Laboratory

Spectrophotometry

Quantification of Protein Concentration

Chromatography

Gel Electrophoresis of Proteins

Overview of Protein Purification

Isolation and Characterization of the Enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase from Escheria Coli

Enzyme Kinetics

Enzymatic Methods of Analysis

Ligand Binding

Recombinant DNA Techniques

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Technology

Using the PC and the Internet for Biochemical Research

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