In this Lunch with a Scientist episode, we discuss Genome Sequencing and Bioinformatics with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) biologist Nate Olson, Ph.D.

Genetics is a fascinating topic of biology. Establishing relevance is a key component of student learning. To increase learning, this resource includes summaries and teaching guides for integrating four different podcasts into a genetics course. Lecturing through podcasts has been shown to be received well by students and improve their understanding of concepts. Using podcasts to provide context and significance to a course would further enhance their learning and interest in the course.

Biomolecular structure and function is emphasized as a core concept in a variety of community determined educational standards for biology and chemistry. Most curricula introduce students to the building blocks and principles of biomolecular structures, in introductory chapters of biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and chemistry courses, but very few engage students in actively visualizing and exploring biomolecular structures throughout the course. Conversations with faculty teaching introductory courses, and/or developing and piloting molecular case studies, helped uncover the need for new resources, and professional development to support introduction of biomolecular exploration. To address this need, a group of faculty participating in a Faculty Mentoring Network in Spring 2022, gathered together resources and lessons that they had independently developed and collaboratively developed additional ones. An overview of the lessons will be presented here. Interested users are invited to pilot the lessons in Fall 2022.

This resource pairs DNA barcoding databases with Biodiversity databases. Students collect their insect specimens in the field and use BLAST and BOLD to identify their species. They then use biodiversity databases to obtain information on the species' distribution, recently submitted observations, and life history stage.

The exploitation of African elephants in the form of ivory poaching is exacerbated by warfare. The affects of this anthropogenic evolutionary force on the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the Gorongoas National Park in Mozambique was investigated (Campbell-Staton, et. al. 2021) after the Mozambican civil war (1997-1992).  This multipart lesson is based on this research.  Here, we explore allele frequencies, phenotypic data, and the use of a chi-squared test to determine if the population is in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium.  Because one gene influencing tusklessness is X-linked, we also explore inheritance of the trait, using hemophilia as an example.  The data used in this part of the lesson are simulated data based on reports from Zambia.

Teach a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) using digitized natural history collections data to test hypotheses on sexually dimorphic wing melanization patterns of Pieris rapae butterflies. This inclusive CURE can be implemented in in-person, online, and hybrid formats, synchronously or asynchronously, and requires only student access to a computer and the internet.

For the Fall 2022 BIOME Working Group, we have developed a plug-and-play CURE model that will allow educators to pick and choose CURE resources, centered on microbial diversity and ecology, to allow students to learn the process of science, specific methods, and science communication. Students will be able to publish original data to the OneHealth Initiative and other databases. The resources will be further developed in a Spring 2023 FMN, to expand the model of a plug-and-play CURE.

This interdisciplinary pedagogical case study focuses on differences between rural and urban coyotes at the levels of organismal and community ecology, including how their gut microbiomes could affect their behaviour. The health and fitness of rural and urban coyote populations vary dramatically with the latter being poor as a result of their consumption of carbohydrate-rich anthropogenic food, compared to a more natural protein-rich diet. This difference is associated with altered gut microbiome composition. The case explores how altered microbiomes can influence behavior changes through the gut-brain axis. Cross talk between the brain and gut microbiome involves multiple physiological systems including the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. This case showcases the interdisciplinary nature of science by having students explore the connection between these macro and micro-level systems. It is based on a manuscript by Sugden et al. (2020) supporting the existence of distinct gut microbiomes in rural and urban coyotes. Interdisciplinary connection - Immunology+Microbiology+Ecology+Animal Behavior