Integrating genomics and bioinformatics into an ecology and evolution-based undergraduate curriculum

将基因组学和生物信息学整合到基于生态学和进化的本科课程中

• 批准号: 0941709
• 负责人: Sinead Ni Chadhain
• 金额: $ 19.95万
• 依托单位: University of South Alabama
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0941709&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Integrating; genomics; bioinformatics; into; ecology

(Biological Sciences 61) Biologists at the University of South Alabama are integrating cutting-edge scientific research into two undergraduate courses with the intent to expand this approach into other courses. The specific objectives of this project are: to integrate modern molecular approaches into undergraduate laboratory courses by developing two upper-level project-based lab courses in molecular ecology and bacterial genomics each featuring genomics and bioinformatics; and to foster students' abilities to comprehend scientific writing and generate novel scientific hypotheses and inferences through inter-disciplinary peer-review exercises. For each course the first half of the semester focuses on techniques and basic theory, while the second half of the semester is dedicated to collaborative student research. Cross-course collaboration for student projects is encouraged for students co-enrolled in the two courses. Specifically designed blogging software provides students with a comfortable platform on which to discuss relevant literature as well as their own projects. All efforts are being evaluated to aid in adjustments to future course offerings. Intellectual merit: The intellectual merit of this project lies in the opportunity students are receiving to engage in on-going research projects using techniques newly introduced into the science they are studying. It builds on the research expertise of the team of investigators at the University of Southern Alabama. In addition the novel web-based approaches being used help students develop their scientific reading and writing skills. Broader impacts: These two courses serve as a model for other mid-sized or smaller institutions, particularly those with academically diverse faculty. The online materials being developed are being made available to others interested in this approach to undergraduate education in the sciences.

【参考译文】南阿拉巴马大学的生物学家正在将前沿科学研究纳入两门本科课程，并打算将这种方法扩展到其他课程中。本项目的具体目标是：通过开发分子生态学和细菌基因组学两门以基因组学和生物信息学为特色的上层项目实验课程，将现代分子方法融入本科实验课程；培养学生理解科学写作的能力，并通过跨学科的同行评议练习产生新颖的科学假设和推论。每门课程的上半学期侧重于技术和基础理论，而下半学期则致力于学生的合作研究。鼓励选修这两门课程的学生进行跨课程合作。专门设计的博客软件为学生提供了一个舒适的平台，在这个平台上讨论相关文献以及他们自己的项目。正在评估所有的努力，以帮助调整未来的课程设置。智力价值：这个项目的智力价值在于学生有机会参与正在进行的研究项目，使用他们正在学习的科学中新引入的技术。它建立在南阿拉巴马大学调查小组的研究专业知识的基础上。此外，使用新颖的基于网络的方法帮助学生发展他们的科学阅读和写作技能。更广泛的影响：这两门课程为其他中型或小型机构，特别是那些学术多元化的机构提供了榜样。正在开发的在线材料正在提供给对这种科学本科教育方法感兴趣的其他人。