Independent Investigative Laboratories in Cell Biology and Immunology

细胞生物学和免疫学独立研究实验室

• 批准号: 9751415
• 负责人: Jennifer Cruise
• 金额: $ 4.91万
• 依托单位: University of St. Thomas
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-06-01 至 2000-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9751415&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Independent; Investigative; Laboratories; Cell; Biology

In 1993, a new approach to introductory Cellular and Molecular Biology laboratories was initiated in the Department of Biology. In 2-week modules, students learned assay methods, then designed and executed experiments. This generated material for work on scientific communication skills, culminating in either research poster sessions or papers in the style of the primapy research literature. The opportunity to design and test their own hypotheses generated considerable enthusiasm among biology majors for open-ended investigation. This has been evidenced by above-capacity enrollment pressures in related courses and increased student research production, particularly in cell biology and in immunology. Interest and enrollment in these courses has continually increased, challenging faculty to create laboratory experiences that take students to a higher level of independence, and straining the limits of departmental space and available equipment. A new science building offers an opportunity to expand independent investigation within these courses. This project creates a cell culture facility in the new instructional laboratory space for Cell Biology and Immunology and equips it for microspectrophotometry, thermal cycling, and computer analysis. New laboratory experiences at the junior and senior level involve more students, working in small groups, in increasingly sophisticated and up-to-date preparation. Cell Biology is a prerequisite for Immunology; changes in the laboratory curriculum are designed to improve this linkage as students develop laboratory investigation skills. An emphasis on cell culture and cellular /molecular techniques is expected to reduce the need for vertebrate animal experiments in Immunology. The improvements to instructional laboratory facilities also has significant benefits for student research involving cell culture, including a special January-term Introduction to Biological Research, which targets beginning biology majors for hands-on research experiences. *

1993年，生物系开始采用一种新的方法来介绍细胞和分子生物学实验室。在为期两周的单元中，学生学习分析方法，然后设计和执行实验。这为科学交流技能的工作产生了材料，最终要么是研究海报会议，要么是以原始研究文献的风格发表论文。设计和检验自己的假设的机会在生物学专业的学生中激起了对开放式调查的相当大的热情。相关课程的超额招生压力和学生研究成果的增加，特别是细胞生物学和免疫学的研究成果，证明了这一点。对这些课程的兴趣和注册人数不断增加，这对教师提出了挑战，要求他们创造实验室体验，使学生达到更高水平的独立性，并使院系空间和可用设备的限制变得紧张。一座新的科学大楼提供了在这些课程中扩大独立调查的机会。该项目在新的细胞生物学和免疫学教学实验室空间创建了一个细胞培养设施，并为其配备了显微分光光度分析、热循环和计算机分析。初级和高级实验室的新体验包括更多的学生，以小组形式工作，进行日益复杂和最新的准备。细胞生物学是免疫学的必修课；随着学生发展实验室调查技能，实验室课程的改变旨在改善这种联系。对细胞培养和细胞/分子技术的重视有望减少免疫学中对脊椎动物实验的需求。教学实验室设施的改进对涉及细胞培养的学生研究也有显著的好处，包括一个1月份的特别生物学研究导论，目标是让生物学专业的初学者获得实践研究经验。*