RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Five-Primer Challenge: An inquiry-based laboratory module for synthetic biology
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 745794
DO 10.1101/745794
A1 Hsu, Suzie
A1 Huenemann, Jay
A1 Kulkarni, Vishwesh
A1 Ledesma-Amaro, Rodrigo
A1 Moseley, Robert
A1 Mukhitov, Nikita
A1 Tiwari, Rashmi
A1 Wang, Shue
A1 Smanski, Michael J.
YR 2019
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/08/28/745794.abstract
AB New technologies in DNA synthesis and assembly give genetic engineers complete freedom in genetic design, where virtually any plasmid DNA sequence can be created efficiently and economically. Learning how to design, construct, and test new DNA sequences is a critical skill for researchers in molecular biology and biotechnology. Here we present a student-centered, inquiry-based module in which students learn how to control bacterial gene expression by appplying various DNA assembly techniques. The central activity in this learning module is termed the ‘Five-Primer Challenge’. Each student is allowed to order up to five 60-mer oligonucleotide primers to then modify a GFP expression plasmid with the goal of increasing GFP expression as much as possible. This module was developed and implemented at the 2016 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Synthetic Biology Course, and was effective at engaging students in critical thinking and in promoting student learning.