This program was used by 10 physical chemistry students with great success. They were able to complete the experiment in much less time than would he needed in the lahoratory hut at the same time they had to make all the experimental decisions and use the same logic involved in the real thing. A complete listing and a student handout are available from the author. The author would like to acknowledge the detailed flow chart furnished by W. C . Child, Jr. that made this work possible. Child, W. C., J . CHEM. EDUC.,50,290 (1973).
A Creative, Research Approach to the Undergraduate Biochemistry Laboratory Paul Melius Auburn Uniuersity Auburn, Alabama 36830 In an effort to stimulate student interest and to provide a new approach intended to indicate the total process the scientist is involved in, we have introduced some unique procedures in our laboratory work in undergraduate hiochemistry laboratories. In place of the usual procedures, we now require two reports per quarter written in the style of a current research Journal preferably in the stu-
dent's own area of study: such as the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, for the pharmacy student; Journal of Microbiology and Journal of Physiology, for the biologist; Journal of the American Chemical Society and Journal of Biological Chemistry, for the chemist or biochemist. The student is required to conform to the editorial suggestions of one specific journal. We have found the quality of the written reports to he vastly improved under these circumstances and reviewing and grading these reports is a much more interesting process. Some compromise or modification is required in many instances on preparation of figures. There is a tendency for the students to present data in a piecemeal disorganized fashion. They will have to he advised to combine data in the most informative and efficient way. The laboratory work is so designed that a project can be broken down into 2 4 three hour units. For example on glucose analysis by the 3,5-dinitrosalicylate reaction the first period is spent obtaining data for a standard curve which is analyzed by the least squares method. At the same time the student analyzes an unknown solution of glucose prepared by the instructor. The second lahoratory period is spent on determinine effects of temoerature. reagent concentration, glucoseconcentration and timk of reaction on the dinitrosalic~latereaction. The third lahoratory is concentrated on the analysis of urine and blood samples, preferably the students' own samples.
Volume 52. Number 2, February 7975 / 107
