Hands-on experiments on glycemia regulation and type 1 diabetes.
In the present article, we describe a 3-day experimental workshop on glycemia regulation and type 1 diabetes that engages students in open-ended investigations and guided experiments leading to results that are not already known to them. After an initial questioning phase during which students observe PowerPoint slides depicting the glycemia (blood glucose levels) of individuals in various situations, students design, execute, and interpret experiments to address one of the following questions: 1) Which criteria must an animal model of diabetes fulfill? 2) How do pancreatic cells maintain glycemia constant? and 3) Is there a way to produce an insulin protein similar to the one released by human pancreatic cells? Students then 1) measure glycemia and glycosuria in control mice and in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes (Alloxan-treated mice), 2) measure the release of insulin by pancreatic β-cells (INS-1 cell line) in response to different concentrations of glucose in the extracellular medium, and 3) transfect Chinese hamster ovary cells with a plasmid coding for green fluorescent protein, observe green fluorescent protein fluorescence of some of the transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells under the microscope, and observe the characteristics of human insulin protein and its three-dimensional conformation using RASMOL software. At the end of the experimental session, students make posters and present their work to researchers. Back at school, they may also present their work to their colleagues.
Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy, Aix-Marseille Université-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Parc Scientifique and Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France; michael.mingueneau@biogen.com.
M
M
Mingueneau
INSERM U891, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France;
A
A
Chaix
Institut de Management Public et de Gouvernance Territoriale, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; and.
N
N
Scotti
Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy, Aix-Marseille Université-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Parc Scientifique and Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France;
J
J
Chaix
Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy, Aix-Marseille Université-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Parc Scientifique and Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France;
A
A
Reynders
Equipe de Recherche Technologique en éducation, Association Tous Chercheurs, Aix-Marseille Université-INSERM, INMED UMR 901, Marseille, France.
C
C
Hammond
Equipe de Recherche Technologique en éducation, Association Tous Chercheurs, Aix-Marseille Université-INSERM, INMED UMR 901, Marseille, France.
J
J
Thimonier
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin
blood glucose physiology; diabetes; high school students; inquiry-based learning; undergraduate students