Bellin Robert M, Bruno Mary K, Farrow Melissa A
Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610.
Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2010 Jan;38(1):11-6. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20352.
We have developed a 9-week undergraduate laboratory series focused on the purification and characterization of Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase (Taq). Our aim was to provide undergraduate biochemistry students with a full-semester continuing project simulating a research-like experience, while having each week's procedure focus on a single learning goal. The laboratory series has been taught for the past 7 years, and survey-based assessment of the effectiveness of the laboratory series was completed during the 2006 and 2007 fall semesters. Statistical analysis of the survey results demonstrate that the laboratory series is very effective in teaching students the theory and practice of protein purification and analysis while also demonstrating positive results in more broad areas of scientific skill and knowledge. Amongst the findings, the largest reported increases in knowledge were related to students' understanding of how patent law relates to laboratory science, a topic of great importance to modern researchers that is readily discussed in relation to Taq polymerase. Overall, this laboratory series proves to be a very effective component in the curricula of undergraduate biology and chemistry majors and may be an appropriate laboratory experience for undergraduates.
我们开发了一个为期9周的本科实验室系列课程，重点是嗜热栖热菌DNA聚合酶（Taq）的纯化和特性分析。我们的目标是为本科生物化学专业的学生提供一个为期一整个学期的持续性项目，模拟类似研究的体验，同时让每周的实验步骤专注于一个单一的学习目标。这个实验室系列课程在过去7年中一直在授课，并且在2006年和2007年秋季学期完成了基于调查的实验室系列课程有效性评估。对调查结果的统计分析表明，该实验室系列课程在教授学生蛋白质纯化和分析的理论与实践方面非常有效，同时在更广泛的科学技能和知识领域也显示出积极的成果。在这些发现中，报告的知识增长幅度最大的与学生对专利法与实验室科学之间关系的理解有关，这是一个对现代研究人员非常重要的主题，很容易结合Taq聚合酶进行讨论。总体而言，这个实验室系列课程被证明是本科生物学和化学专业课程中非常有效的一个组成部分，可能是本科生合适的实验室体验。
