Biology Department Facilities | Labs & Research Centers

Pryor-England Center for Science & Engineering

During summer 2014, the Pryor-England Science Center underwent significant expansion and remodeling of classrooms, labs and faculty office spaces.

The new addition now houses botany, upper-level genetics, organic and biochemistry labs. Extensive modernizing allowed expansion of the departments of biology and chemistry and biochemistry.

During the Advanced Genetics Laboratory course (BIOL 371), students are assigned individual projects which contribute to a large on-going collaboration between Dr. Rebekah Rampey and Dr. Bonnie Bartel of Rice University.

This course covers recombinant DNA techniques currently used in molecular biology research. After completing this course, students may apply for summer research fellowships at Rice University in Dr. Bartel's lab. In the photo above, Josh Pratt ('07) prepares to stain and photograph an agarose gel to determine the success of his overnight plasmid ligation.

Human Anatomy and Physiology is a two-semester course. Lectures and labs are integrated such that systems are studied by discussion and simultaneous dissection.

Having used both models and preserved dissection specimens, students will be well prepared for pre-professional admission exams and admission into the nursing program.

Students are introduced to plant diversity, ecology and growth patterns through microscope work, field trips and classroom discussions.

The greenhouse provides a variety of flowering specimens year round for the Botany class.

Equipped with laminar flow hoods, incubators and inverted microscopes - this facility allows us to train students in a variety of techniques and assays used to study cell proliferation, apoptosis and signaling pathway activation.

While practicing aseptic culture techniques, each student takes a turn transferring media between containers at risk of being "shot" by water guns from on-lookers if a cap is dropped. "God made pinkies for one thing...aseptic technique!" (Dr. Steve Moore)

Students are exposed to a wide variety of techniques including microscopy, flow cytometry, quantitative PCR and spectroscopy. Students use these techniques to study cellular response mechanisms, enzyme activation and genetic regulation in response to external factors. In the photo, a faculty member demonstrates proper pipetting and sample processing.

Lab work is an integral part of our Genetics course. During lab, students gain experience in DNA isolation, recombination, electrophoresis and other lab procedures commonly used in nucleic acid research.

181: Lecture Hall

One of the largest lecture halls in the recently renovated portion of the Harding Science Center, Room 181 is home to introductory Biology, Anatomy and Physiology lectures, Biology Seminar, and many other courses commonly taken by all science majors.

A popular place for students between classes, the lobby is equipped with comfortable seating, wireless internet and a large plasma screen displaying the day's chapel announcements and advertising upcoming campus events.

Applying the culture and diagnostic techniques learned during the semester, Microbiology students work to identify their assigned bacterial "unknowns".

During the semester students use PCR to amplify species specific DNA fragments from their "unknowns". Using bioinformatics techniques they compare the fragment sequences to national databases for identification.

Vert-Morph lab offers a rigorous dissection experience and provides solid foundation for understanding comparative anatomy. It is highly recommended for students planning careers in any of the allied health fields. Scott Benton and Daniel Bettis conduct their cat dissection outside to enjoy Arkansas' fall weather.

Students learn the diversity of the animal kingdom through numerous dissections and hands-on examination of the teaching collections; including terrestrial, freshwater and marine invertebrates, and reptiles and amphibians.

Gilliam Biological Research Station (GBRS)

The Gilliam Biological Research Station is a 700-acre property set aside by the University for multiple levels of biological research. Students and faculty have abundant opportunities to participate in plant, insect and wildlife surveys, long term studies of plant and animal physiology, and forest and wetland ecology studies. To follow along with this research, please visit our Facebook page or find us on Instagram. For more information, go to our website.

Biology Facilities

Pryor-England Center for Science & Engineering

Gilliam Biological Research Station (GBRS)

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