Teaching Advanced Concepts in Regulation of the Lac Operon With Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

Success in biochemistry and other life science courses requires that students understand important biological concepts. One of these concepts is how gene regulation ensures that homeostasis is maintained in an organism. The <em>lac</em> operon is a well-studied and historically important example system that displays the key features of a &ldquo;repressible&rdquo; operon. Unfortunately, students still hold many misconceptions after repeated formal instruction, and they may benefit from a more immersive approach when learning about this system. Mechanistic computational models and simulations are an important pedagogical tool that can help students learn about the systems-level and dynamic aspects of biological processes such as gene regulation. We developed a modeling and simulation lesson called <em>Advanced Concepts in Regulation of the Lac Operon</em> that uses a guided approach to teach biochemistry or other upper-level undergraduate students. In this lesson, students simulate the <em>lac</em> operon model&rsquo;s behavior to instantly observe the effects of changes such as altering the components, their regulation, or adjusting the cellular environment. Students predict the simulation output, observe and record the simulation results, and explain the model&rsquo;s behavior. Students are also encouraged to think critically about the system by answering conceptual questions. The lesson was designed to be self-directed and can be implemented in a variety of educational settings, including in-person, online, and laboratory courses. <em>Primary image:&nbsp;</em>Regulatory mechanisms and components of the <i>lac</i> operon. (All images used in the lesson, background reading, and slides were created by Christine S. Booth, using Inkscape 0.92; www.inkscape.org.)