Association for Biology Laboratory Education

A Rich Introductory Inquiry-Based Cell Motility Lab Utilizing Dictyostelium discoideum Chemoattraction
 

Jonathan E. Moore, Melissa L. Petreaca, & David A. Knecht

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2018, Volume 39

Abstract

We have developed an introductory to intermediate inquiry-based cell motility lab with extensive microscopy, a relative minimum of financial overhead, and a minimum of specialized software. We use refurbished iPods to capture time-lapse video of Dictyostelium discoideum migration toward a chemoattractant. This five to seven session lab develops students’ lab techniques, numerical skills, and statistical methods, as well as providing opportunity for literature exploration, scientific inquiry, and presentation of findings. This lab has yielded a wealth of ways that students modify it for their own inquiry. This lab can also be scaled back into several shorter formats including a one to two session non-inquiry based lab.

Keywords:  chemotaxis, cell biology, Inquiry-based learning, cell motility

University of Wisconsin, Madison (2017)