Laboratory Methods

This site contains several abbreviated protocols (or instructions) that have been developed and used in our laboratory.  In addition, handouts developed during the summer course "Ecophysiology and Molecular Biology of Marine Macrophytes" (Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove CA) are included. I thank all of the students who have road-tested the protocols. These pages should be used as guidelines and all readers are recommended to review the primary sources or manufacturers' instructions. Please contact me if you would like a current citation for the any of the methods (debrobertson@clarku.edu).

Protocols

• Molecular Biology
• DNA extraction from marine phytoplankton
• DNA extraction from marine algae and seagrasses
• RNA extraction from diatoms using RNeasy kit
• RNA extraction from diatoms using glass beads and RNeasy Kit
• RNA extraction from red algae
• cDNA synthesis using Qiagene's Quantitech RT kit
• Cloning PCR products
• Protein Analysis
• SDS-PAGE
• Western Blotting
• Silver Stain
• BioRad Bradford Assay
• Purification of His-tagged Proteins

• Physiological/Biochemical Methods
• Photosynthesis
• Pigments
• Cell counting using a hemacytometer
• Enzyme Assays

General Information

• Common Laboratory Solutions
• Chemical Concepts

In the lab

Katrina Twing preparing PCR samples in Physiological Ecology of Marine Algae.

medical school acceptance

Clark's percentage of acceptance into medical school among applicants who applied only to U.S. M.D.-granting (allopathic) medical schools (not including offshore, osteopathic, dental, etc.) since 1985 on the first try is 65%. The national average during that same period was 44%, fluctuating from a low of 35% to a high of 60%. Clark's overall acceptance rate (including reapplicants) among that same group during that same period is 78%.