Biology 105 Eukaryotic Cell Biology

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Outstanding research proposals from 2005 in PDF format: A. Chaibang, E. Franzosa, B. Crawshaw. Instructions for Research Proposal Component of the Final Examination. 1. You are asked to design an original experiment that should answer a currently unsolved specific problem related to material covered in this course on eukaryotic cell biology. This research proposal should not be the same as any past or present research project that you are working on, nor one you plan to begin. Do not choose a problem or an approach that necessitates making untested assumptions (e.g., use of a temperature-sensitive mutant which does not yet exist); the research involved should be able to be carried out today. And it should involve a single experiment, not a research project that will go on for years 2. Your research proposal should include: a. a statement of the specific problem or question to be solved on a topic covered in this course. b. the name of the model system you choose (e.g., Drosophila polytene chromosomes, HeLa cells in culture, etc.), and defend this choice. c. a statement of the experimental design (method of attack) and all necessary controls; the major methods used should have been covered in our course. (details about buffers, etc. not needed, but you should state what the methods are to be used - e.g., CsCl or sucrose gradient, Southern or Northern blot, specify what the probe is, etc.) d. description of all possible results; avoid experiments most likely to give negative results (drawings of results may be helpful). e. a discussion of the interpretations of all possible results. f. a brief discussion of the significance of solving the question (i.e., relationship to previous research efforts, advancement of understanding, etc.) 3. You can confer with the staff and anyone else, with regard to formulating your proposal, but the basic idea must be your own. 4. Your research proposal will be evaluated, and a score assigned, on the basis of: originality, ingenuity and cleverness, feasibility of experimental design, significance of the problem, lack of ambiguity in possible results, etc. It should be emphasized that you should ask a single specific question, rather than propose an extensive or ill-defined program of research. 5. Your research proposal should be typewritten, and should be no more than 3 pages (including any diagrams, although you may list references on a 4th page). Full sentences are not obligatory - an outline format of presentation is fine, providing it is intelligible. This exercise counts as 1/3 of your final exam grade, and you must hand it in when you give in your final exam (no extensions!). 6. Three outstanding research proposals from 2005 may be downloaded here: Chaibang Crawshaw Franzosa   Proposals are due on the morning of the Final Exam Good luck!