Experimental Cell Biology: A Research-Based Approach

The laboratories included in Cell Biology: A Research-Based Approach are primarily designed to introduce students to a number of standard, yet powerful, experimental techniques used in the modern-day cell biology laboratory. Notably, however, they are also organized as a set of experiments designed to shed light on a completely uncharacterized cellular protein denominated FAM171B.

Therefore, these labs allow students to perform "real research" trying to decipher the normal cellular function of this novel protein. FAM171B was originally identified via human genome sequencing studies; however, it has yet to be functionally characterized. Indeed, very little has been published on this protein to date. Thus, the experiments in this set of labs should be considered “primary research” studies whose intent is to help elucidate FAM171B’s protein structure and particularly its intracellular localization; each of which might provide clues to its molecular function within cells.