Uncooking Yeast: Cells Signaling a Rise to Inquiry

 

Michelle A. Harris,Seth A. McGee, & Janet M. Batzli

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2018, Volume 39

Abstract

We converted a three-hour confirmatory lab exercise on yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mating response into a scaffolded 5-week process of science unit on signal transduction. Week 1 of the curriculum begins with a guided exercise allowing students to gain familiarity with the assays and data forms, and G-protein mediated signaling concepts. In week 2, teams present a novel research proposal focusing on one aspect of the signaling pathway they seek to perturb. Teams present their proposal to their peers and instructors to solicit feedback on their biological rationale, hypothesis, methods, expected and alternative results, experimental implications, and questions they still have. Students collect and analyze data in weeks 3 and 4, write a research proposal and engage in peer review. The unit culminates in week 5 group formal presentations of research findings. This paper describes our curriculum and student learning experience, and discusses the challenges and rewards of creating inquiry-learning opportunities.

Keywords:  Inquiry-based learning, cell signaling

University of Wisconsin, Madison (2017)