Clinical case studies are an excellent teaching tool in a genetics course to capture students’ attention and introduce them to diseases with a genetic basis. However, students should also learn that the study of genetic diseases in humans has many practical and ethical limitations, necessitating the use of alternative approaches. One historically effective approach has been to study homologous gene function and disease states in model organisms, including the mouse (Mus musculus), fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), and nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans), to name a few. This lab is designed to introduce students to these concepts through a three-hour module-based format.
Keywords: microscopy, bioinformatics, Caenorhabditis elegans, case studies, model organism
