Biological Science
The Department of Biological Sciences features core facilities fully equipped to offer students and faculty access to high throughput sequencing, gene expression and microscopy equipment.
- Genomic and transcriptomic capabilities include nucleic acid quantification (Bioanalyzer, Nanodrop, Qubit and quantitative PCR), visualization (BioRad Gel Doc XR) nucleic acid genotyping/sequencing (Capillary based ABI 3130xl), and high throughput sequencing with an Illumina MiSeq.
- Microscope facilities feature a transmission electron microscope, an environmental scanning electron microscope, and a confocal microscope as well as fluorescent and differential interference contrast microscopes.
- USDA accredited animal care facility
- Greenhouse on the roof of Oliphant Hall
- Herbarium
- Ecological research can be conducted at various field sites in northeast Oklahoma and surrounding areas including the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Oxley Nature Center, Redbud Valley, Oklahoma Cross Timbers, and the Ozark Mountains
- fMRI scanners at Laureate Institute for Brain Research
- Teaching laboratories are equipped with standard molecular equipment for DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. Physiology labs are equipped with BioPac Systems Inc, providing students with a wide range of options for animal and tissue experiments. Additionally, other teaching labs are equipped for histological, anatomical, microbiological, and botanical investigations.
- Individual faculty members maintain separate research labs, which house specific equipment for their particular specialties. These are utilized by faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students to pursue research projects, many of which have recently been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, the National Institute of Health, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, local state agencies and private foundations. Undergraduate involvement in all departmental research is strongly supported and encouraged.