Inquiry‐Based Cell Culture Laboratory Course for Undergraduates

Abstract

This laboratory course enables development of meaningful understandings of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) principles through a series of cell culture‐based experiments. The latest iteration of this course, Tissue Culture (CHE470), includes exercises and lectures on BMB aspects of cell culture, including: cell growth kinetics, transfection, inducible gene expression and biochemical assays. The unified series of experiments consists of (1) electroporation, (2) clonal selection, (3) induction of gene expression, (4) genomic DNA isolation and PCR screening, and (5) RNA isolation and Real Time‐PCR, and (6) protein isolation and enzyme assays. Course grades are based upon a report on the semester‐long series of experiments in the form of a BMB peer‐review journal style manuscript, three in‐class exams, an oral presentation, and some laboratory technique exercises. Because the integration of the circular tetracyclin‐inducible expression vector (pcDNA4/TO/mycHIS‐LacZ) is random, students' experimental data are quite varied. This provides an opportunity for inquiry‐based learning through the formulation of hypotheses to explain their observations and data. Student outcomes were measured by anonymous feedback through an online survey system using a numeric rating scale (5 = strongly agree; 1 = strongly disagree). The Fall 2013 students cohort (n = 6) reported they “know more about this subject” (mean = 5.00, dev. = 0.00), that their “skills in this area have improved” (mean = 5.00, dev. = 0.00), their “appreciation of this subject increased” (mean = 5.00, dev. = 0.00), and that “learning objectives of the course were met” (mean = 4.86, dev. = 0.38). Survey data are consistent with students finding this course engaging, informative and beneficial.