Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2010
Originally Published In
Shaffer CD, Alvarez C, Bailey C, et al. The genomics education partnership: successful integration of research into laboratory classes at a diverse group of undergraduate institutions. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2010;9(1):55–69. doi:10.1187/09-11-0087
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.
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5176-2510 [Elgin]
Recommended Citation
Shaffer, Christopher; Leung, Wilson; Buhler, Jeremy; Mardis, Elaine; Elgin, Sarah C.R.; Lopatto, David; Alvarez, Consuelo; Bailey, Cheryl; Barnard, Daron; Bhalla, Satish; Chandrasekaran, Chitra; Chandrasekaran, Vidya; Chung, Hui-Min; Dorer, Douglas; Du, Chunguang; Eckdahl, Todd; Poet, Jeff; Frohlich, Donald; Goodman, Anya; Gosser, Yuying; Hauser, Charles; Hoopes, Laura; Johnson, Diana; Jones, Christopher; Kaehler, Marian; Kokan, Nighat; Kopp, Olga; Kuleck, Gary; McNeil, Gerard; Moss, Robert; Myka, Jennifer; Nagengast, Alexis; Morris, Robert; Overvoorde, Paul; Shoop, Elizabeth; Parrish, Susan; Reed, Kelynne; Regisford, Gloria; Revie, Dennis; Rosenwald, Anne; Saville, Kenneth; Schroeder, Stephanie; Shaw, Mary; Skuse, Gary; Smith, Christopher; Smith, Mary; Spana, Eric; Spratt, Mary; Stamm, Joyce; Thompson, Jeff; Wawersik, Matthew; Wilson, Barbara; and Youngblom, James, "The genomics education partnership: successful integration of research into laboratory classes at a diverse group of undergraduate institutions" (2010). Biology Faculty Publications & Presentations. 174.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/bio_facpubs/174
Comments
© 2010 by The American Society for Cell Biology