Molecular Biology

Module Name Topic Overview
Sex, Money, and Drugs: Exciting college freshmen about Genetics Genetics, antibiotic resistance, and STDs Students learn genetic concepts of gene expression, mutation, and natural selection through a group case study involving antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
An Imaging Roadmap for Biology Education: From nanoparticles to whole organisms Biological imaging and scale in medical research Students engage in molecular imaging activities to explore the importance of the relationship between biological scale and imaging scale, gain new insights into biological structure and function, bring quantification into biology, and learn ways of advancing nanomedicine, regenerative medicine, and nuclear medicine, which contribute to the NIH Roadmap initiatives.
Integrating Biology: Solving an ALS mystery Animal and plant physiology and bioaccumulation To explore the interdisciplinary aspects of real-world science, students interpret experimental data, generate hypotheses, and describe contributions from various fields that work on solving the ALS problem.

Statistical Tools for Biology Undergraduates to Plan and Interpret Experiments

Statistics in biology and experimental design Students are introduced to experimental design, including collecting data and quantifying level of support for hypothesis, and statistics in biology through this unit that integrates into a lab sequence.
If you Can’t Take the Heat…: Understanding variables affecting solar radiation and using biophysical models to quantify heat stress in animals Ecology, modeling, and animal physiology Students learn that physiological, morphological, and behavioral characteristics allow animals to moderate their heat load, and apply their knowledge to construct a mechanistic model.
Discovering Meiosis Cytogenetics, mitosis, and meiosis in plants To correct misconceptions about meiosis, students discuss and model the process of meiosis in an upper-division laboratory.
Molecular Biological Techniques: Critical thinking and research design Molecular techniques and experimental design Students collaborate to teach each other common biology laboratory procedures and experimental design. Techniques include PCR, immunoprecipitation and co-IP, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and reporter assay.
PCR and Gel Electrophoresis: Moving beyond the technique PCR, gel electrophoresis, and genetically modified organisms Students learn principles and skills in PCR and gel electrophoresis, design experiments that determine whether organisms are genetically modified, and present analysis of their collective results.
Using Genetics Mini-lectures and Podcasts to Make Time for Active Learning Genetics Instructors used mini-lectures and podcasts to instruct students how to approach topics about genetics including: mitosis, meiosis, recombination, and quantitative genetics.