Undergraduate Coursework and Research Enhancement Using Molecular Techniques and Instrumentation

生物科学（61）智力优势：高年级课程的变化通过将微生物学经验与生态学研究相结合，提高了学生对生物学概念的认识和理解。这些变化促进了对生态系统如何在许多层面上发挥作用以及所有生物组成部分以许多方式联系在一起的理解。评估学生的学习能力主要有两个层面；实验技能和理论理解，以及作为互动研究团队成员的合作能力，运用批判性思维技能指导他们在给定的实验情况下发现适当的方法。课程增强功能链接分子微生物学实验室练习使用16S核糖体RNA基因来表征和比较荆棘河流域选定地点的细菌群落多样性。学生们以小组为单位，从小河沿岸几个受化学和生物污染的地点中选择一个地点，调查那里的细菌数量。在分子实验室的第一阶段，学生分离群落DNA，纯化DNA，用聚合酶链反应（PCR）从这种材料中扩增特定的微生物基因，克隆这些基因序列，然后对DNA进行测序。在第二阶段，学生使用互联网上可获得的系统发育分析来描述和比较序列数据，并将其提交给班级和学生研究论坛。通过将培养测试包Enterotube II和Biolog引入学生实验室，整合以生化测试为重点的多个实验室，可以在课程期间实现课程变化。索恩溪流域的采样点包括几个目前用于植物、动物和微生物研究的研究地块。更广泛的影响：参加草原州立大学（一所社区大学）的学生也参与了上述研究，从草原州立大学毕业后，可以继续在州长州立大学攻读理学学士学位，从而扩大了创新的范围，并在他们的两年制和四年制大学经历之间建立了一座桥梁。项目参与者出席州长州立大学学生年度研究研讨会或伊利诺伊州立科学院年会。传播经验有助于学生对长期研究项目的理解，并将他们与潜在的科学研究岗位联系起来。该项目得到了生物科学理事会微生物观测和微生物相互作用与过程项目的部分资助。

Biological Sciences (61)Intellectual merit: Upper division course changes are advancing students knowledge and understanding of biological concepts by integrating microbiology experiences with ecological research. These changes foster an understanding of how ecosystems function on many levels and that all living components are linked in a number of ways. Students are evaluated for their learning ability on two main levels; laboratory skills and understanding theory, and their ability to cooperate and function as a member of an interactive research team using critical thinking skills to guide them to discover the proper method to employ in a given experimental situation. The curriculum enhancements feature linked molecular microbiology laboratory exercises using 16S ribosomal RNA genes to characterize and compare bacterial community diversity from selected sites in the Thorn Creek watershed. Students work in groups to investigate the bacterial population in a site they choose from several chemical and biological contaminant perturbed sites along the creek. In the first phase of the molecular laboratory students isolate community DNA, purify the DNA, amplify specific microbial genes from this material using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), clone these gene sequences, and then sequence the DNA. In the second phase students characterize and compare the sequence data using phylogenetic analyses available on the Internet and present it to the class and student research forum. The curricular changes are possible within the time period of the course by consolidating multiple labs focusing on biochemical tests through the introduction of the culture-based test packages Enterotube II and Biolog to the student laboratory. The sampling sites in the Thorn Creek watershed include several research plots currently being used for plant, animal and microbial studies. Broader Impacts: Students attending Prairie State College, a community college, are also engaged in the research described and upon graduation from Prairie State can continue for a Bachelor of Science degree at Governors State thus expanding the reach of the innovations and creating a bridge between their two year and four year college experiences. Project participants present at the Governors State University Student Annual Research Symposium or The Illinois State Academy of Science annual meetings. The dissemination experience contributes to students understanding of long-term research projects and links them to potential employment in positions involving scientific research.This project is partially supported with funds from the Microbial Observatories and Microbial Interactions and Processes Program in the Directorate for Biological Sciences.