Examining Microbial Biodiversity in Soil: A Large-Enrollment Introductory Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience

 

Stanley M. Lo & Stephanie F. Mel

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2017, Volume 38

Abstract

We describe an introductory course-based undergraduate research experience in which students collect and contribute original data to an on-going research project. The goal of this course is to help students develop an understanding for research in biology through hypothesis-driven laboratory experiments. The research project takes place at a biodiversity hotspot and examines how soil microbiomes associated with different plants may differ. Working in collaborative teams, students measure soil properties and correlate them to functional and genetic biodiversity of the microbiomes. The course addresses both macroscopic and molecular concepts, providing an opportunity for students to make connections across different biological disciplines.

Keywords:  ecology, biodiversity, data analysis, molecular biology, Microsoft Excel, sequence alignment, course-based research, soil microbiome

University of Houston (2016)