Students can find it challenging to connect the theoretical knowledge they gain from lecture with the data
that they obtain in a hands-on laboratory module, particularly regarding molecular techniques such as PCR. We have
encountered this challenge with our own students, and many others including Phillips et al. (2008) and Heineman
(2022) have also identified that the theoretical underpinnings of PCR can be a challenging concept for students to
grasp. In our second-year undergraduate genetics course, we introduced a simple bioinformatics exercise to help
bridge lecture content with the data students obtain in the lab. We also aim to provide students with the opportunity
to begin developing important bioinformatic skills. In this two-day lab exercise, students are empowered to interpret
experimental PCR results by first performing a bioinformatic analysis to determine the expected results for their PCR
and restriction enzyme analysis. Students subsequently compare their observed results (gel electrophoresis) to their
bioinformatic predictions.
Keywords: bioinformatics, PCR, gel electrophoresis, restriction enzymes, yeast, primers
University of Maryland (2024)
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