Incorporating real time PCR into a capstone course for biochemistry students

CHED 107

Eric S Eberhardt, ereberhardt@vassar.edu, Department of Chemistry, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
Real time PCR has been integrated into a semester long capstone laboratory experience in proteomics (Preparing Undergraduates to Participate in the Post-Genome Era: A Capstone Laboratory Experience in Proteomics. 2003. BAMED 31, 402-409). Groups of students characterize relative gene transcription levels while simultaneously monitoring changes in protein expression of molecular chaperones in Escherichia coli in response to thermal stress. By connecting relative changes in mRNA levels to changes in protein expression, students are able to directly monitor the flow of information through the cell in response to heat shock and cold shock. This comparison offers students insight into the complexities of cellular regulation in response to environmental insults and completes the central dogma for students in a laboratory setting. Preliminary assessment results will be presented for the laboratory experience.
 

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7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

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8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Chemical Education

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006