title: Exploring differential gene expression in zebrafish to teach basic molecular biology skills.
abstract: In an effort to engage students in original research while teaching them basic molecular biology skills, we have designed a course for upper level undergraduate students and beginning graduate students that employs in situ hybridization in whole-mount zebrafish embryos to explore the concept of differential gene regulation. The course was taught in a workshop format during a break between the normal fall and spring semesters, which allowed students to immerse themselves in the concepts and techniques full time over a 13-day period. Overall, the course was successful in exposing students to a variety of techniques in the context of an ongoing research project in our laboratory, which provided beneficial outcomes for students and instructors alike. Here we provide a detailed account of the course organization and preparation, as well as an analysis of learning outcomes achieved by the students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53204, USA.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmoldt
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forecki
authors.forename: Dena R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Ava J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Udvadia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000193:education*; D014495:Universities; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*