The Genetic Code Kit: An Open-Source Cell-Free Platform for Biochemical and Biotechnology Education.

Layne C Williams,Katharine R Watts,Byungcheol So,Nicole E Gregorio,Pratish A Patel,Javin P Oza,Wesley Y Kao,Alan L Kiste

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2020.00941

Abstract

Teaching the processes of transcription and translation is challenging due to the intangibility of these concepts and a lack of instructional, laboratory-based, active learning modules. Harnessing the genetic code in vitro with cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) provides an open platform that allows for the direct manipulation of reaction conditions and biological machinery to enable inquiry-based learning. Here, we report our efforts to transform the research-based CFPS biotechnology into a hands-on module called the “Genetic Code Kit” for implementation into teaching laboratories. The Genetic Code Kit includes all reagents necessary for CFPS, as well as a laboratory manual, student worksheet, and augmented reality activity. This module allows students to actively explore transcription and translation while gaining exposure to an emerging research technology. In our testing of this module, undergraduate students who used the Genetic Code Kit in a teaching laboratory showed significant score increases on transcription and translation questions in a post-lab questionnaire compared with students who did not participate in the activity. Students also demonstrated an increase in self-reported confidence in laboratory methods and comfort with CFPS, indicating that this module helps prepare students for careers in laboratory research. Importantly, the Genetic Code Kit can accommodate a variety of learning objectives beyond transcription and translation and enables hypothesis-driven science. This opens the possibility of developing Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) based on the Genetic Code Kit, as well as supporting next-generation science standards in 8–12th grade science courses.

Highlights

Transcription and translation are fundamental cellular processes typically taught in high school and undergraduate science courses and utilized extensively in research settings
We developed the “Genetic Code Kit,” a classroomready, modular cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) kit that is amenable to broad dissemination
CFPS allows students to probe the processes of transcription and translation in a way that improves their learning outcomes, while providing them the technical skills for careers in biotechnology

Summary

Introduction

Transcription and translation are fundamental cellular processes typically taught in high school and undergraduate science courses and utilized extensively in research settings. In the absence of active learning modules, students are unable to visualize and represent these processes for further learning (Kozma et al, 2000; Duncan and Reiser, 2007) To address these limitations and allow students to interact with the individual steps of transcription and translation in the classroom, a variety of model-, analogy-, and virtual- based simulations have been developed (Pigage, 1991; Rotbain et al, 2008; Altiparmak and Nakiboglu Tezer, 2009; Debruyn, 2012; Takemura and Kurabayashi, 2014; Marshall, 2017; Dorrell and Lineback, 2019; Ibarra-Herrera et al, 2019; Chang et al, 2020) (Figure 1). The limitations of existing approaches underscore the need for an active learning laboratory-based module that allows students to interrogate transcription and translation in a learnby-doing fashion

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Results

Conclusion