Biology 110
– Week 6
Today’s lab activities:
Review Lactase persistence / non-
persistence
Activity Analyze samples with
MEGA
Discuss Making a scientific
poster
Activity Setup Sordaria plates for
future labs
Determine genotypes with MEGA – Molecular Evolutionary
Genetics Analysis
• Download DNA sequences from Canvas
– Module “Sequence Data (for students who sent samples for Sanger Sequencing)”
download based on initials
– Module “DNA sequences for students with self-identified traits (for students who
did not send samples for sequencing)” download based on self-identified trait
• Refer to “Protocol for Using MEGA to analyze DNA sequences”
• Record your data in ‘lab data set’ excel file
• Paste data from MEGA and answer questions in the in-lab #6 assignment
Poster Presentations at scientific meetings
• Grab viewers' attention
• All sections of a paper
• Only present key info
• Aesthetic arrangement
https://colinpurrington.com/tips/poster-session/
Making a Scientific Poster
You will be making a poster with your lab partner on the Lactase Persistence
labs
Posters are used to present research at scientific meetings. They follow the
same format as a scientific paper, but the information is presented in a more
condensed and visible manner
Posters need to grab a viewer's attention!
1. Limit the amount of information you present
2. Arrange the information thoughtfully
Examples of Good Poster Design
https://www.animateyour.science/post/best-examples-of-scientific-posters
Your Title:
It should clearly
Should appear in large indicate both the
letters at the top of question addressed in
your poster the study and the key
findings
Figures in your
poster:
• Each figure should be self-sufficient
• Each figure should have clearly labelled axes,
contain definitions of any symbols used, and be
accompanied by clear indications of the specific
question being addressed and the major results
found
Materials and Methods
• Do NOT include a full Materials and Methods section
• Instead – for each figure either list the major steps taken or present a
flowchart of the steps taken (refer to the SGWAB pg. 236 to see
examples of each)
Arrange key info into a poster
In large letters at the top
Title Indicate both the research question & key findings
Author(s), departments, affiliations, advisors, etc.
Refer to for help:
Introduction Major results Discussion/future
research
• Key background • Self-sufficient •
• Poster rubric on
Interpretation
• Study question figures • Conclusions Canvas (25 pts)
• Hypotheses • Advantages
• Etc. • Each figure well- • Limitations
labeled •
• Penn State Library - P
Future studies
• Etc. oster Guideline
• Each figure has
Methods
• List key steps caption—specific
• Or present in question/key References
trends ≥ 3 credible sources
flowcharts
• Cite Mega (in-text & in list)
Checklist for Making Posters
• Includes all required information (names of all co-authors and
institutional affiliation)
• All components fit within space provided
• The amount of text in each section is the minimum required
• The layout is easy to follow
• Methods are presented simply
• Introduction states specific issue addressed
• Each figure/table is self-sufficient
• Each major result is stated explicitly
Beware of too much text…
Poster: TA expectations
• Figures - include gel picture, include mega screenshots from lac F and Lac R files,
• Citations - include MEGA citation
• Introduction should have citations.
• MUST BE VISUALLY APPEALING!!!
• Double check formatting
• Export to PDF
• Look at the PDF before submitting.
• No Resubmissions!
Poster
• You will work with your lab partner(s) to make your poster outside of lab
before next week
• Exchange info with your lab partner, plan for when work will be done together.
• You may come to any TA office hours for help that fits your schedule
• Schedule posted under general info module
• Although you are working together, each student should upload a final
version .PDF of the poster to Canvas lab #7 module – ‘Lactase
Persistence Poster’ assignment for peer review in lab next week!!
Model Organism: Sordaria fimicola
• An ascomycete fungus
• Perithecium (pl. perithecia) contains asci
• Ascus (pl. asci) with 8 ascospores
• Ideal for studying mechanisms controlling crossing over (recombination)
• Advantages specific to S. fimicola
• Two different ascospore colors exist (Wild-type ‘black’ and Tan) that are visible under a
microscope
• The order of spores are maintained in the asci and reflect recombination events
Mating Plate Set up
Today you will be setting up mating crosses using S. fimicola cultures on control
vs. stressed (experimental treatment) plates
• The objective is to compare the rates of recombination (crossing over)
between non-stressed vs. stressed S. fimicola
• We will discuss more about what this means and why you are measuring this in the
next lab
• For now, we want to setup the plates with sterile technique, so that the fungi have
plenty of time to grow over the next few weeks
Two plates for each pair of students:
1. Control treatment: Wild-type x Tan
2. Experimental treatment: Wild-type x Tan
Mating Plate Set up Hopefully, 3 weeks later….
After spring break, you will see
• Follow instructions this on your plates:
• Hyphae (fungal) side DOWN,
touching agar
• Label your plate cover lids along edge
with:
• Control or Treatment (type)
• Date
• Initials
• Section #
Getting started setting up your plates
• You will work in pairs
• Decide on a stressor and write your hypotheses (in-lab assignment)
• Pour and add stressor to a treatment agar plate*
• *exception – UV treatment*
• Pour a control agar plate
• While waiting for plates to solidify – work through in-lab assignment
questions, and/or start to work on the lactase persistence poster with
your lab partner
• After plates solidify, following instructions – apply Sordaria fungus to
your control and treatment plates hyphae side down (review video
posted on Canvas)
Pour a control &
treatment agar plate
Loosen the cap Tighten the cap
before microwave while swirling
1. Lift the lid slightly and 1. Lift the lid slightly and
quickly pour just enough agar quickly pour just enough agar
2. Gently swirl to cover plate 2. Add treatment stressor to
bottom liquid agar
3. Gently swirl to cover plate
bottom
Wear protective gloves
Setting up your Experimental
Treatment Plates
Available Stressors Options:
1- 0.01% Nicotine solution (100 µl)
2- Himalayan Salt (0.05 g)
3- Ampicillin (0.01 g)
4- 5% Acidic white vinegar (200 µl)
5- Sevin (75 µl)
6- 0.5% Caffeine (150 µl)
WRITTEN ON TAPE ON YOUR TABLE
Upcoming Assignments (due before lab
week of Feb 26th)
Work with your lab partner(s) on completion of the Lactase Persistence
Poster: 25 pts
• Review Grading Rubric
• Every student upload a pdf of completed poster
Read: Why Peer Review Matters
Read: The Effects of Environmental Stress on Meiosis and Genetic
Diversity in the model organism Sordaria
Watch: How to use a microscope in prep for lab
Complete Pre-lab #7 Assignment: 5 pts
