Wolyniak Michael J
Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA.
Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2013 May-Jun;41(3):163-72. doi: 10.1002/bmb.20679. Epub 2013 Feb 14.
A study of modern genetics requires students to successfully unite the principles of Mendelian genetics with the functions of DNA. Traditional means of teaching genetics are often successful in teaching Mendelian and molecular ideas but not in allowing students to see how the two subjects relate. The laboratory module presented here attempts to present classical and molecular genetic concepts together as an inquiry-based exploration appropriate for high school or introductory undergraduate students. Using the non-essential APQ12 gene in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, students perform PCR, selective growth, and sporulation experiments to establish the ploidy and APQ12 zygosity of a series of unknown strains. Each experiment contributes data to characterize the unknown strains, but complete characterization is not possible without assimilating the data from all of the experiments. The module allows students to consider concepts normally introduced and emphasized in Mendelian genetics and explore them using molecular and experimental tools. Comparison of pre-module and post-module assessment surveys show an increase in student ability to link Mendelian concepts to experimental procedures relying on DNA analysis. The development of modules such as these provides students of all backgrounds with the tools to engage the complexities and issues that constitute modern principles of inheritance.
一项关于现代遗传学的研究要求学生成功地将孟德尔遗传学原理与DNA的功能结合起来。传统的遗传学教学方法在教授孟德尔遗传学和分子遗传学概念方面往往很成功，但却无法让学生明白这两个学科之间的联系。这里介绍的实验模块试图将经典遗传学和分子遗传学概念作为一个基于探究的探索呈现出来，适合高中学生或本科新生。利用芽殖酵母酿酒酵母中的非必需基因APQ12，学生们进行聚合酶链反应（PCR）、选择性生长和孢子形成实验，以确定一系列未知菌株的倍性和APQ12杂合性。每个实验都为表征未知菌株提供数据，但如果不整合所有实验的数据，就无法完成全面的表征。该模块让学生思考通常在孟德尔遗传学中引入和强调的概念，并使用分子和实验工具对其进行探索。模块前后评估调查的比较表明，学生将孟德尔概念与依赖DNA分析的实验程序联系起来的能力有所提高。开发这样的模块为所有背景的学生提供了工具，使他们能够应对构成现代遗传原理的复杂性和问题。
