Bringing RNA into View: The RNA World and Its Role in Biology

生物科学课程研究（BSCS）和埃克尔斯人类遗传学研究所（EIHG），犹他州大学，正在合作的项目，以开发一个教学模块的RNA科学的进展。该项目将RNA科学领域领先权威的科学专业知识与BSCS的实验室开发经验相结合。 教学模块，旨在为本科生物学课程，突出了RNA科学在现代生物学中日益重要，包括其应用于健康和疾病，以及RNA在生命起源和后来的分子进化中的可能作用。该模块通过关注与信息分子相关的主要概念并通过提供经过良好测试的基于探究的教学来促进本科教育的改进。 该项目采用了自1958年以来一直使用的BSCS课程开发过程。 该过程包括实践科学家和教师的直接参与，广泛的实地测试，以及在发展的关键阶段对科学准确性的外部审查。期末专题将包括指导老师的背景资料、学生的实践指导资料，以及每个活动的详细指导老师资料。 BSCS和EIHG将持有最终计划的联合版权，该计划将由一家在本科生物学营销计划方面具有丰富经验的商业出版商发行。

The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) and the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics (EIHG), University of Utah, are collaborating on a project to develop an instructional module on advances in RNA science. The project combines the scientific expertise of leading authorities in RNA science with the curriculum-development experience of BSCS. The instructional module, intended for undergraduate biology courses, highlights the growing importance of RNA science in modem biology, including its application to health and disease and to the likely role of RNA in the origin of life and later molecular evolution. The module promotes improvement in undergraduate education by focusing on major concepts related to information molecules and by providing well-tested, inquiry-based instruction. The project employs the BSCS process of curriculum development, in use since 1958. The process includes direct involvement of practicing scientists and teaching faculty, extensive field testing, and external review for scientific accuracy at critical stages of development. The final project will include background material for the instructor, student materials for hands-on instruction, and detailed instructor's materials for each activity. BSCS and EIHG will hold joint copyright on the final program, which will be distributed by a commercial publisher that has substantial experience in marketing program in undergraduate biology.