title: Structured inquiry-based learning: Drosophila GAL4 enhancer trap characterization in an undergraduate laboratory course.
abstract: We have developed and tested two linked but separable structured inquiry exercises using a set of Drosophila melanogaster GAL4 enhancer trap strains for an upper-level undergraduate laboratory methods course at Bucknell University. In the first, students learn to perform inverse PCR to identify the genomic location of the GAL4 insertion, using FlyBase to identify flanking sequences and the primary literature to synthesize current knowledge regarding the nearest gene. In the second, we cross each GAL4 strain to a UAS-CD8-GFP reporter strain, and students perform whole mount CNS dissection, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, and analysis of developmental expression patterns. We have found these exercises to be very effective in teaching the uses and limitations of PCR and antibody-based techniques as well as critical reading of the primary literature and scientific writing. Students appreciate the opportunity to apply what they learn by generating novel data of use to the wider research community.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anthony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cillo
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Danielle R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Glick
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Cody
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jaspinder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanwal
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mammano
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alexander S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rascoe
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schrom
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Simkins
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talai
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tomtishen
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veloz
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Thomas O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Vogler
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Clenshaw
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Devin T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Gordon-Hamm
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Cell Biology/Biochemistry Program, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Biology Department, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Marin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003479:Curriculum; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D007753:Laboratories; D007858:Learning; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D024521:Mushroom Bodies / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C557617:GAL4 protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors