Bringing immersive science to undergraduate laboratory courses using CRISPR gene knockouts in frogs and butterflies
Bringing immersive science to undergraduate laboratory courses using CRISPR gene knockouts in frogs and butterflies
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DOI：
10.1242/jeb.208793
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发表时间：
2020-02
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Arnaud Martin;Nora S. Wolcott;L. O’Connell
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Arnaud Martin;Nora S. Wolcott;L. O’Connell
摘要 使用 CRISPR/Cas9 进行基因编辑为生物学学生提供了新的机会来进行探索基因与表型关系的真正研究。向下一代科学家、健康从业者和其他社会成员介绍基因编辑的技术和伦理方面非常重要。在这里，我们分享我们领导本科生实验室实践课程的经验，学生们提出关于候选基因在发育中的作用的假设，使用可编程核酸酶进行功能丧失实验，并分析嵌合突变动物的表型效应。这是通过使用两栖动物非洲爪蟾和蝴蝶凡妮莎·卡杜伊来实现的，这两种生物能够以可扩展的方式可靠地产生数百个大的新鲜受精卵。青蛙和蝴蝶还提供了教授有关基因调控和发育的关键生物学概念的机会。为了补充这些实践方面，我们描述了旨在使学生广泛了解基因组编辑技术、其在基础和转化研究中的应用以及它们提出的生物伦理挑战的学习活动。总体而言，我们的工作支持将 CRISPR 技术引入本科生课堂，并与本科生课堂研究经验相结合，使本科生能够进行假设驱动的研究。摘要：将蝴蝶和青蛙的 CRISPR 基因组编辑纳入本科实验室课程，可以实现基于探究的学习和真正的科学体验。
ABSTRACT The use of CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing offers new opportunities for biology students to perform genuine research exploring the gene-to-phenotype relationship. It is important to introduce the next generation of scientists, health practitioners and other members of society to the technical and ethical aspects of gene editing. Here, we share our experience leading hands-on undergraduate laboratory classes, where students formulate hypotheses regarding the roles of candidate genes involved in development, perform loss-of-function experiments using programmable nucleases and analyze the phenotypic effects of mosaic mutant animals. This is enabled by the use of the amphibian Xenopus laevis and the butterfly Vanessa cardui, two organisms that reliably yield hundreds of large and freshly fertilized eggs in a scalable manner. Frogs and butterflies also present opportunities to teach key biological concepts about gene regulation and development. To complement these practical aspects, we describe learning activities aimed at equipping students with a broad understanding of genome editing techniques, their application in fundamental and translational research, and the bioethical challenges they raise. Overall, our work supports the introduction of CRISPR technology into undergraduate classrooms and, when coupled with classroom undergraduate research experiences, enables hypothesis-driven research by undergraduates. Summary: Incorporating CRISPR genome editing of butterflies and frogs into undergraduate laboratory courses allows for inquiry-based learning and genuine scientific experiences.