Simulating a research environment in an undergraduate genetics laboratory

Abstract

To address many of the recognized problems in undergraduate science education, we have developed a one-semester (15-week) undergraduate genetics laboratory course that focuses on the research process as opposed to recipe-style experiments. The course was designed to accommodate a total of 120–150 students with no more than 20 students in a single class. During the course of six experiments, each group of two students formulates hypotheses, designs experiments to test the hypotheses, and collects and analyzes data. Complex techniques and elaborate protocols are kept to a minimum with techniques used later in the semester based on those learned earlier. After each experiment, students share results and try to explain differences in their data. They write lab reports that include introduction, materials and methods, results, and conclusion sections. Instructors serve primarily to stimulate thinking. An enthusiasm for, and appreciation of science is, we believe, strongly enhanced by this course. Although this is a genetics laboratory, the same research process oriented strategies could be used in the laboratories of other disciplines to stimulate student interest in science.