Enhanced Instruction of Molecular Biology: Incorporation of Electrophoresis and Related Techniques into the Biology Curriculum

该项目资助实验室设备，以提高细胞和分子生物学领域的教学质量。电泳及相关技术广泛应用于生物学的许多领域。对这所大学的所有学生来说，对这些过程的深刻理解是至关重要的，尤其是那些计划攻读细胞和分子生物学研究生的学生；希望在细胞、分子或生理实验室工作的学生；甚至是那些打算教初中或高中的人。科学中最有效的教学是在实验室中，在那里学生可以获得实践经验，并学会理解所涉及的内容以及可能出现的潜在问题，而不仅仅是理论层面。通过在遗传学和细胞生物学导论课程中加入凝胶电泳练习，教师可以确保所有专业的毕业生都对如何根据分子量和电荷分离蛋白质和核酸以及如何将蛋白质的可变性与群体研究中的遗传差异联系起来有深刻的理解。先进的实验室包括聚合酶链反应和技术，如Western blotting被纳入高年级课程，如微生物学、植物生理学、分子生物学和细胞生物学，并用于独立研究项目和教师研究。此外，新设备还被用于社会学系刑事司法辅修课程犯罪学导论的电泳和DNA指纹鉴定，并可能用于少数民族学生和教师的暑期科学和数学充实课程。

This project funds laboratory equipment that enhances the quality of instruction in the areas of cell and molecular biology. Electrophoresis and related techniques are widely used in many areas of biology. A firm understanding of these processes is essential for all of the university's students, but especially those who plan to go to graduate school in cell and molecular biology; those who hope to get jobs in cell, molecular, or physiology laboratories; or even those who plan on teaching middle or high school. The most effective instruction in the sciences is in the laboratory, where students gain hands-on experience and can learn to understand what is involved and potential problems that can arise at more than a theoretical level. By incorporating gel electrophoresis exercises in the Introduction to Genetics and Cell Biology courses, faculty can ensure that all majors graduate with a solid understanding of how proteins and nucleic acids can be isolated based on molecular weight and electrical charge and how the variability in proteins can be related to genetic differences for population studies. Advanced laboratories involving polymerase chain reaction and techniques such as Western blotting are being included in upper- division courses such as Microbiology, Plant Physiology, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology and used in independent study projects and faculty research. In addition, the new equipment is being used to demonstrate electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting in Introduction to Criminology for the Criminal Justice minor offered by the Sociology Department and possibly in a science and math summer enrichment program for minority students and teachers.