A CURE for physiological characterization of bacterioplankton in liquid culture

ABSTRACTBacterial characterization is an important aspect of microbiology that includes experimentally determining growth rates, environmental conditions conducive to growth, and the types of energy sources microorganisms can use. Researchers use this information to help understand and predict an organism’s ecological distribution and environmental functions. Microbiology students generally conduct bacterial characterization experiments in their coursework; however they are frequently restricted to model organisms without ecological relevance and for which the results have been known for decades. We present a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) curriculum to involve students in characterization of previously untested, ecologically relevant bacterioplankton cultures to identify the carbon substrates used for growth, as well as the temperature and salinity ranges conducive to growth. Students use these results to connect their organism’s physiology to the isolation environment. This curriculum also exposes students to advanced microbiology methods such as flow cytometry for measuring cell concentrations, teaches them to use the programming language R for data plotting, and emphasizes scientific communication through writing, speaking, poster creation/presentation, and social media. This CURE is an attractive introduction to scientific research and was successfully tested with 147 students during the fall semester of 2018.

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The Education of Reform and Teaching Undergraduate Research in Biochemistry

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.268-270.710 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 268-270 ◽

pp. 710-714 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yao Jiang Huang ◽

Yi Jun Zhou ◽

Jin Chao Feng ◽

Da Yuan Xue ◽

Yong Zhu

Keyword(s):

Undergraduate Research ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Research Experience ◽

Purification And Characterization ◽

New Approach ◽

Biochemical Laboratory ◽

Before And After ◽

Undergraduate Laboratory ◽

Approach To Teaching

Undergraduate laboratory course is the disconnection between a series of 3-hour miniaturized experiments at Minzu University. Here, we describe a new approach to teaching undergraduate research, inquiry and problem solving in a semester-long biochemistry experience. The program centers on topics were selected to study purification and characterization of major classes of biomolecules (such as SOD) within a guided research experience. Undergraduates are allowed to work independently, they make many choices throughout the program. Skills, motivation, and attitudes were assessed before and after the program. This approach is cost effective, is productive, and supports diversity. Undergraduate s achieved high levels of critical biochemical laboratory skills and critical thinking while increasing their confidence and it is beneficial regardless of the next phase for the students.

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Mechanical Characterization of Sn and Shape Memory Alloy InTl Nanowires as Part of an Undergraduate Research Experience

10.18260/1-2--21683 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Edwin Peraza Hernandez ◽

Kaushik Das ◽

Dimitris Lagoudas

Keyword(s):

Shape Memory Alloy ◽

Shape Memory ◽

Mechanical Characterization ◽

Undergraduate Research ◽

Research Experience

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Introducing electrical engineering through characterization of a handheld moisture meter: A research experience case study

International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education ◽

10.1177/0020720918776420 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 24-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Todd J Freeborn ◽

Jada Damond

Keyword(s):

Engineering Students ◽

Undergraduate Research ◽

Electrical Engineering ◽

Test Equipment ◽

Research Experience ◽

Research Experiences ◽

Moisture Meter ◽

The University

Concepts from electrical engineering can be introduced to nonmajor engineering students through lectures, laboratories, or even research experiences. Often the purpose of introducing nonmajors to these concepts is to highlight that engineering problems are not limited to skills from only a single discipline as well as improve their ability to communicate and collaborate with other disciplines. This case study discusses the experience of introducing a nonmajor undergraduate student to electrical engineering through an undergraduate research project at The University of Alabama investigating the electrical properties of bamboo, which required the characterization of a portable moisture meter. These exercises were successful at improving the student’s confidence and proficiency with electrical test equipment, highlighting the limitations of test equipment, and applying concepts of resistance to a real-world application that overlaps electrical, chemical, and biological disciplines. While this exercise was a component of an undergraduate research experience, similar exercises could be easily integrated into electrical engineering laboratories for nonelectrical engineering majors to introduce and reinforce concepts from electrical engineering using a multidisciplinary application.

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A High-Enrollment Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience Improves Student Conceptions of Scientific Thinking and Ability to Interpret Data

CBE—Life Sciences Education ◽

10.1187/cbe.14-05-0092 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. ar21 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Sara E. Brownell ◽

Daria S. Hekmat-Scafe ◽

Veena Singla ◽

Patricia Chandler Seawell ◽

Jamie F. Conklin Imam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Positive Impact ◽

Undergraduate Research ◽

Single Point ◽

Point Mutations ◽

Suppressor Gene ◽

Scientific Thinking ◽

Research Experience ◽

Student Conceptions ◽

Biology Students

We present an innovative course-based undergraduate research experience curriculum focused on the characterization of single point mutations in p53, a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in more than 50% of human cancers. This course is required of all introductory biology students, so all biology majors engage in a research project as part of their training. Using a set of open-ended written prompts, we found that the course shifts student conceptions of what it means to think like a scientist from novice to more expert-like. Students at the end of the course identified experimental repetition, data analysis, and collaboration as important elements of thinking like a scientist. Course exams revealed that students showed gains in their ability to analyze and interpret data. These data indicate that this course-embedded research experience has a positive impact on the development of students’ conceptions and practice of scientific thinking.

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The glycomes of Caenorhabditis elegans and other model organisms

Biochemical Society Symposium ◽

10.1042/bss0690117 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 69 ◽

pp. 117-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Stuart M. Haslam ◽

David Gems ◽

Howard R. Morris ◽

Anne Dell

Keyword(s):

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Structural Data ◽

Model Organisms ◽

Entire Genome ◽

C Elegans ◽

The Face ◽

Area Of Concern ◽

Nematode Worm

There is no doubt that the immense amount of information that is being generated by the initial sequencing and secondary interrogation of various genomes will change the face of glycobiological research. However, a major area of concern is that detailed structural knowledge of the ultimate products of genes that are identified as being involved in glycoconjugate biosynthesis is still limited. This is illustrated clearly by the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, which was the first multicellular organism to have its entire genome sequenced. To date, only limited structural data on the glycosylated molecules of this organism have been reported. Our laboratory is addressing this problem by performing detailed MS structural characterization of the N-linked glycans of C. elegans; high-mannose structures dominate, with only minor amounts of complex-type structures. Novel, highly fucosylated truncated structures are also present which are difucosylated on the proximal N-acetylglucosamine of the chitobiose core as well as containing unusual Fucα1–2Gal1–2Man as peripheral structures. The implications of these results in terms of the identification of ligands for genomically predicted lectins and potential glycosyltransferases are discussed in this chapter. Current knowledge on the glycomes of other model organisms such as Dictyostelium discoideum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Drosophila melanogaster is also discussed briefly.

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