The Genomics Education Partnership: Successful Integration of Research into Laboratory Classes at a Diverse Group of Undergraduate Institutions

SMC Author

Vidya Chandrasekaran

SMC Affiliated Work

1

Author Role

co-author

Status

Faculty

School

School of Science

Department

Biology

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Spring 2010

Publication / Conference / Sponsorship

A. Dros. Res. Conf.

Editor

Barbara Wakimoto

Description/Abstract

Genomics is not only essential for students to understand biology but also provides unprecedented opportunities for undergraduate research. The goal of the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP), a collaboration between a growing number of colleges and universities around the country and the Department of Biology and Genome Center of Washington University in St. Louis, is to provide such research opportunities. Using a versatile curriculum that has been adapted to many different class settings, GEP undergraduates undertake projects to bring draft-quality genomic sequence up to high quality and/or participate in the annotation of these sequences. GEP undergraduates have improved more than 2 million bases of draft genomic sequence from several species of Drosophila and have produced hundreds of gene models using evidence-based manual annotation. Students appreciate their ability to make a contribution to ongoing research, and report increased independence and a more active learning approach after participation in GEP projects. They show knowledge gains on pre- and postcourse quizzes about genes and genomes and in bioinformatic analysis. Participating faculty also report professional gains, increased access to genomics-related technology, and an overall positive experience. We have found that using a genomics research project as the core of a laboratory course is rewarding for both faculty and students.

DOI

10.1187/09-11-0087

Volume

9

Issue

1

First Page

55

Last Page

69

Disciplines

Biology | Life Sciences

Rights

Open Access journal

Original Citation

Shaffer, C. D., Alvarez, C., Bailey, C., Barnard, D., Bhalla, S., Chandrasekaran, C., … Elgin, S. C. R. (2010). The Genomics Education Partnership: Successful Integration of Research into Laboratory Classes at a Diverse Group of Undergraduate Institutions. CBE Life Sciences Education, 9(1), 55–69. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2830162/

http://doi.org/10.1187/09-11-0087

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