KRISTEN KOPF ELK GROVE H.S. RET 2010 TEACHING MODULE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO DECEMBER 4, 2010 Learning Gene Therapy through a Bacterial Transformation Lab

Inspiration for Unit Summer research included techniques used for gene therapy  Bacterial Transformation Techniques are possible in a high school lab Unit reflects current and exciting prospects in science technology

Target Student Population Students in 9 th and 10 th grades taking Biology Average students  Current ACT score  6 th grade – 9 th grade reading levels Includes at-risk and English-language learners Students have already learned about DNA and protein synthesis

Unit Objectives Describe how we can change an organism’s traits Explain the uses for and limitations of gene therapy Explain the purpose of the laboratory steps for gene therapy Describe what is meant by the term “transformed organism” Read and follow a lab procedure Identify a control in an experiment

Activities Gene Therapy Webquest Unit Overview Picture Bacterial Transformation PowerPoint Bacterial Transformation Introduction Bacterial Transformation Lab Lab Quiz

Gene Therapy Webquest Webquest created by the University of Utah Students will learn…  Definition of gene therapy  Compare and contrast vectors used in gene therapy  Practice reading for information

Unit Overview Picture Illustrates the major steps necessary for gene therapy  How do we isolate the gene?  How do we get the gene into the cell?  How do we get the cell to express the protein? For practice, cut up the stages and have students place them in order

Bacterial Transformation PowerPoint Goes more in depth into the laboratory steps necessary for gene therapy  Restriction Enzymes  PCR  Gel Electrophoresis  Transform Bacteria  Induce protein expression Students take Cornell style notes

Lab Introduction Students complete a reading and questions to discover:  Definition of transformed organisms  Purpose of an experimental control  How we can give organisms a new phenotype  How we will induce the expression of the pBlu gene to turn the bacteria from white to blue

Bacterial Transformation Lab Cost = $109 for a kit with 8 stations  Carolina Biological Students transform bacteria to change their appearance from white to blue Focus is on following a lab procedure  Storyboard

Lab Quiz Focuses on why students completed certain steps in the lab procedure  Example: Heat shock Students must analyze plates and determine the control

Anticipated Outcomes Increase in student engagement  “Feel like real scientists” Connection to past concepts Reinforcement of lab technique and data analysis

Acknowledgements RET 2010 Program NSF Grant #CBET EEC , NIH R01 NS055095, and R03 EY (RAG). The summer research was conducted in a facility constructed with support from Research Facilities Improvement Program Grant Number C06 RR15482 from the National Center for Research Resources, NIH. Dr. Richard Gemeinhart, Research Mentor Dr. Andreas Linninger, Program Director Staff at Elk Grove High School University of Utah for the gene therapy webquest