How to Write a Lab Report for MUFY Biology Units 1 and 2 (2014)

How to write a lab report

Prepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


Need for a lab reportScientists perform experiments to test hypotheses about biological phenomenonAfter experiments are completed and duplicated, a lab report is written to convey the results of the experiments and also to either persuade others to accept the hypotheses or simply to keep an archive of the investigation carried out for future use



Format A scientific report usually consists of the following:

1.Title2.Hypothesis3. Objective4. Variables5.Introduction6.Materials and methods7.Results8.Discussion9.Conclusion10.Literature citedPrepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


The title

Should be less than 10 words and should reflect the factual content of the report



2.The hypothesisA single sentence to give a logical explanation for the phenomenon observed



3.The objectiveThe aim of the experiment which is to prove the hypothesis



4. VariablesThe 3 sets of variables should be identified for the experiment:(i)independent variables(ii)dependent variables(iii)constants



5.The introductionIntroduction defines the subject of the reportIt must outline the objective(s) of the scientific investigation carried out and should give the reader sufficient background to understand the rest of the report.



The introductionA good introduction should be able to address the following:

1.Why was this study performed?Answers to this question may be derived from observations of nature or from the literature 2.What knowledge already exists about this subject? The answer to this question must review the literature, showing the historical development of an idea and including the confirmations, conflicts, and gaps in existing knowledge. 3.What is the specific purpose of this study?The specific hypotheses and experimental design pertinent to investigating the topic should be described Prepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


6.Material and MethodsThis section tells the reader how and with what the work was done. You should try to strike a balance between an over-detailed description of even the most trivial items and a very sketchy statement that provides insufficient information. The important guideline is that another worker of similar training and ability, following your description, should get the same results. Note that this section should be written as a description of what you did, not as a set of instructions. A drawing of the experimental apparatus can also be provided.



7.The ResultsThe results section should summarize the data from the experiments without discussing their implications. Data presentation is in a logical and highly legible form. The data should be organized into tables, figures, graphs, photographs, and so on. Data should be tabulated and/or graphed and described. All figures and tables should have descriptive titles and should include a legend explaining any symbols, abbreviations, or special methods used. Figures and tables should be numbered separately and should be referred to in the text by number, for example: Figure 1 shows that the activity decreased after five minutes. The activity decreased after five minutes (fig. 1). Figures and tables should be self-explanatory; that is, the reader should be able to understand them without referring to the text. All columns and rows in tables and axes in figures should be labeled.



8.DiscussionThis section serves two functions:

1.First, it provides a place where the data may be fully discussed and interpreted,2.Second, it allows the author to delve into the realms of speculation. Here one may address questions like "why did something unexpected happen?" ; "what would happen if the reaction were carried out at higher pH?"; "why did the expected results not materialize?" In writing this section, you should explain the logic that allows you to accept or reject your original hypotheses. Suggestions for the improvement of techniques or experimental design may also be included here.



Excellent data analysis, evaluation and interpretation of experimental results of the highest order is necessary to show an insightful understanding of the concepts involved. Written expression must be of a very high standard. The discussion should also demonstrate excellent evaluation of experimental procedure with insightful identification of sources of error. It must be well-structured and expressed perceptively in writing.



9.ConclusionBased on the results, an appropriate conclusion is made.Valid conclusions made from the results that relate directly to the aim.



10.Literature cited/ReferencesWhy using references?

To give credit to the originator The reader has to be able to find the original text and read it for themselfPrepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


Reference listFull information of the referencesBolt R. (2003a) How to use thin layer chromatography. Microbiology, 2, (p. 673-678).Bolt R. (2003b) A novel technique to analyze quorum sensing signals. Appl. Environ.

Microbiol. 9, (p. 24-32).Ericson H., Fagerlind M., Holmn J. and Gustafsson E. (2001) Risk factors of preterm

birth. Clin. Microbiol. 10, (p. 124-130).Magnusson B. and Nilsson A. (1994) Thin layer chromatography (p. 75-77). (4th edition). Oxford: Blackwell science.The Swedish institute for infectious disease control (2008) Data and statistics Syphilis. Available at: http://www.smittskyddsinstitutet.se/in-english/statistics/syphilis/#statisticsnav [collected 2008.09.17].



Reference listReports from the InternetAuthorship, year, title (italics), address to the

webpage (no underlining), when you accessed it (in box brackets) 1. Robinson F., Svensson M. and Ericson H. (2006) How to use thin layer chromatography. Available at: http://www.his.se/ivn/tlcguide.html [collected 2008.09.01]. 2.The Swedish institute for infectious disease control (2008) Data and statistics Syphilis. Available at: http://www.smittskyddsinstitutet.se/inenglish/ statistics/syphilis/#statistics-nav [collected 2008.09.17].Prepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


Reference listBooksAuthorship, year, title (italics), page numbers

(helps the reader), edition, place of publication and publisher1. Magnusson B. and Nilsson A. (1994) Thin layer chromatography (p. 75-77). (4th edition). Oxford: Blackwell science.Prepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


Reference listArticlesAuthorship, year, title, journal (abbreviatied and in italics), volume number (italics), pages.

Ericson H., Fagerlind M., Holmn J. and Gustafsson E. (2001) Risk factors of preterm birth. Clin. Microbiol, 10, (p. 124- 130).Prepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


Reference listFull information of the references

1. Bolt R. (2003a) How to use thin layer chromatography. Microbiology, 2, (p. 673-678).2. Bolt R. (2003b) A novel technique to analyze quorum sensing signals. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 9, (p. 24-32).3. Ericson H., Fagerlind M., Holmn J. and Gustafsson E. (2001) Risk factors of preterm birth. Clin. Microbiol. 10, (p. 124-130).4. Magnusson B. and Nilsson A. (1994) Thin layer chromatography (p. 75-77). (4th edition). Oxford: Blackwell science.5. The Swedish institute for infectious disease control (2008) Data and statistics Syphilis. Available at: http://www.smittskyddsinstitutet.se/inenglish/statistics/syphilis/#statisticsnav [collected 2008.09.17].Prepared by Raajeswari Rajendran


General Comments on Style An ideal lab report should demonstrate excellent and appropriate use of biological terms throughout. A very thorough written understanding of biological concepts should be shown.All scientific names (genus and species) must be italicized. (Underlining indicates italics in a typed paper.) Use the metric system of measurements. Numbers should be written as numerals when they are greater than ten or when they are associated with measurementsNever start a sentence with numerals. Spell all numbers beginning sentences.



General Comments on StyleBe sure to divide paragraphs correctly and to use starting and ending sentences that indicate the purpose of the paragraph. A report or a section of a report should not be one long paragraph. Every sentence must have a subject and a verb. Avoid using the first person, I or we, in writing. Keep your writing impersonal, in the third person. Instead of saying, "We weighed the frogs and put them in a glass jar," write, "The frogs were weighed and put in a glass jar."



General Comments on StyleAvoid the use of slang and the overuse of contractions. Be consistent in the use of tense throughout a paragraph--do not switch between past and present. It is best to use past tense. Be sure that pronouns refer to antecedents. For example, in the statement, "Sometimes cecropia caterpillars are in cherry trees but they are hard to find," does "they" refer to caterpillars or trees?



General Comments on StyleAfter writing a report, read it over, watching especially for lack of precision and for ambiguity. Each sentence should present a clear message. The following examples illustrate lack of precision: "The sample was incubated in mixture A minus B plus C." Does the mixture lack both B and C or lack B and contain C? The title "Protection against Carcinogenesis by Antioxidants" leaves the reader wondering whether antioxidants protect from or cause cancer. The only way to prevent such errors is to read and think about what you write. Learn to reread and edit your work.



Good Luck!



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How to Write a Lab Report for MUFY Biology Units 1 and 2 (2014)