Integration Of Microscopy And Biochemistry Technologies To Enhance Quantitative Experimental Cell Biology Within An Inquiry-Based Curriculum

本科生教育工作者面临着重大挑战，要让多样化的毕业生为一个技术先进、科学跨学科的社区做好准备。莱克森林学院生物系正在以探究式教学迎接这一挑战，以支持以学生为中心的多样化学习社区。我们期望学生通过日益复杂的假设驱动的调查来发展科学过程并掌握内容，这些调查需要合作研究、批判性思维和多种形式的沟通。目前，支撑我们细胞课程的两门课程--细胞生物学概论和高级分子遗传学--都以DNA为基础的研究为特色。其他细胞级技术在生物医学发现中占有突出地位。智力优势：我们正在通过纠正细胞培养、显微镜和蛋白质生物化学方面的现有缺陷，创建一门更全面的细胞课程。我们正在通过重组细胞生物学入门课程和增加两门更高级的课程来增加这些领域的研究性实验。在圣十字学院取得成功的有助于调查的实验需要对细胞和组织进行定量显微镜观察，并对蛋白质进行生化分析，目前正在调整和实施这些实验。为了实现这些变化，正在获得用于细胞培养、组织学、显微镜和生化分析的仪器。这门入门课程结合了细胞培养和蛋白质特性的研究。高级课程的学生正在扩大他们的研究独立性和技术能力，他们根据当前的文献提出假设，并进行以细胞培养、组织学、荧光显微镜和蛋白质生物化学为特色的研究。这些新增的课程还支持其他课程，并有助于建立跨学科的生物化学和神经科学专业。更广泛的影响：我们的目标是让不同的人毕业，经过彻底的培训，在各种科学职业中取得成功，提供创新的K-12课程，并在全国范围内传播创新。

Undergraduate educators face important challenges in preparing diverse graduates for a technologically sophisticated and scientifically interdisciplinary community. Lake Forest College Biology Department is meeting this challenge with inquiry-based pedagogy that supports a diverse student-centered learning community. We expect students to develop scientific process and master content by progressing through increasingly sophisticated hypothesis-driven investigations that require collaborative research, critical thinking, and diverse forms of communication. Currently, both courses that anchor our cellular curriculum, introductory Cell Biology and advanced Molecular Genetics, feature DNA-based investigations. Other cellular-level technologies feature prominently in biomedical discoveries. Intellectual Merit: We are creating a more comprehensive cellular curriculum by redressing existing deficiencies in cell culture, microscopy and protein biochemistry. We are adding investigative experiments in these areas by restructuring introductory Cell Biology and adding two more advanced courses. Inquiry-conducive experiments successful at the College of the Holy Cross that require quantitative microscopy of cells and tissues and biochemical analysis of proteins are being adapted and implemented. To implement these changes, instrumentation for cell culturing, histology, microscopy, and biochemical analysis is being acquired. The introductory course incorporates investigations in cell culturing and protein characterization. Advanced course students are expanding their investigative independence and technical repertoire by developinghypotheses based on current literature and conducting investigations featuring cell culturing, histology, fluorescent microscopy, and protein biochemistry. These additions also support other courses and help establish interdisciplinary biochemistry and neuroscience majors. Broader Impact: We aim to graduate diverse individuals thoroughly trained to succeed in a variety of scientific careers, provide innovative K-12 outreach, and nationally disseminate innovations.