THE PROJECT Curriculum Resources in Genomics for Undergraduates and High School Students The award funds three activities: 1) A research-based laboratory class for junior and senior students in the WU biology curriculum, Bio 4342 "Research Explorations in Genomics." 2) Efforts to integrate genomic tools into the laboratories of the introductory sequence in biology at WU. 3) Work with a group of secondary school teachers to introduce them to genomics through summer research internships, and to work with them to use this experience as the basis for collaborative curriculum development for the secondary school level.

1. Multimedia Project: Genome Sequencing Center Video Tour This video is aimed at increasing the scientific literacy of biology students in the technology of genomic sequencing and can be used at either the advanced high school or undergraduate level. We suggest that students have an understanding of gel electrophoresis and bacterial transformation before viewing the video. The video contains a guided tour of the Washington University Genome Sequencing Center, following the "pipeline" while providing an up-close look at the equipment used in high-throughput sequencing. It includes animated explanations of the processes used to sequence genomic DNA. Other video segments include: Exploration of current genomic research in pathogenic bacteria through an interview with a molecular microbiologist. Information about careers available at the Center presented through interviews with actual employees. An animated explanation of the chemistry of cycle sequencing. Additional features include scripts of the video pieces, links to additional resources, and a glossary of terms. Access the video at the following link: http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/elgin/genomics. 2. Undergraduate Lab: Bioinformatics (Bio 3055) This short (10 hour) laboratory course provides students with an inquiry-based research project using web-based bioinformatics tools. This curriculum was developed to accompany a large lecture course in introductory biochemistry, but could be easily adapted to any course size. The students work on their own web-based investigations and present their results to each other in small groups on the last day of lab. Lab manuals and all other materials for this course are available at: http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/elgin/genomics. The course has been described in an article in Cell Biology Education (http://cellbioed.org), fall issue 2005. 3. Advanced Undergraduate Course: Research Explorations in Genomics (Bio 4342) This research-based course provides students with the opportunity to work as a research team on a large-scale sequencing project, beginning with sample preparation at the Genome Sequencing Center through sequence analysis and finishing. Past projects have included sequencing part of the chimpanzee genome and sequencing the dot chromosome of a strain of Drosophila virilis. The course is taught by faculty members from the Biology Department, Computer Science Department, and the Genome Sequencing Center. A curriculum guide is available at: http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/elgin/genomics 4. Secondary School Teacher Program: Summer Research Fellows This fellowship program for secondary school science teachers provides an opportunity for teachers to participate in research projects in a faculty member's lab and to use that research experience to develop new curriculum to use in their classes and to share with other teachers. Three new inquiry-based curriculum projects are being developed based on the Fellows research experiences. These will be available in web format and supported by Science Outreach of Washington University. To learn more about this project, follow the link below: http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/elgin/genomics

Students hard at work

Professor Elgin with Research Explorations in Genomics students and faculty

REFLECTIONS ON THE MOTIVATION, PROCESS, AND PRODUCT The study of biology is undergoing a radical transformation with the advent of high through-put methods to analyze whole genomes, looking at sequence organization, patterns of expression, and many other features. This presents wonderful opportunities and terrifying challenges for many of us, who need to scramble to bring our computer skills, understanding of statistics, etc. to the needed level. How do we teach in the middle of a revolution? The common solution in the projects described above is - collaborate! Students in Bio 4342 were both amused and impressed when they realized that no one faculty member or staff assistant had all of the needed expertise to teach the course- and that some things were better learned from the student TAs and staff than from the profs! Teaching from a laboratory experience, maintaining a framework of investigation, is very labor intensive. Many of the resources described above will be useful teaching tools for several years, but Bio 4342 in particular must be continuously "reinvented" as the field changes.

ASSESSMENT 1. Multimedia Project: Genome Sequencing Center Virtual Tour Responses have been collected from both WU undergraduates and high school teachers. This is reported in a manuscript submitted to Cell Biology Education: Flowers, S. K., Easter, C., Holmes, A., Cohen, B., Bednarski, A.E., Mardis, E.R., Wilson, R.K., and Elgin, S.C.R. (2005) "Genomic Science: A Virtual Tour of the Washington University Genome Sequencing Center for High School and Undergraduate Students." A summary is posted with the resource on the web site http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/elgin/genomics. 2. Undergraduate Lab: Bioinformatics Lab (Bio 3055) Pre/post assessment of student learning and attitudes has been carried out. This is described in a manuscript which will be published on-line in the fall issue of CBE: Bednarksi, A.E., Elgin, S.C.R., and Pakrasi, H.B. (2005) "An Inquiry into Protein Structure and Genetic Disease: Introducing Undergraduates to Bioinformatics in a Large Introductory Course," Cell Biol. Edu., fall 2005 (http://www.cellbioed.org). 3. Advanced Undergraduate Course: Research Explorations in Genomics (Bio 4342) Responses have been collected from students and are posted on the elgin/genomics web site. Examples of student work can also be viewed there. A manuscript describing the results the students obtained in 2004 has been prepared for the scientific literature, and is currently under revision. This course is part of a larger study being carried out with David Lopatto (Grinnell College) and Carol Trosset (Hampshire College) to contrast and compare such lab courses with summer independent research experiences for undergraduates.