For two years, our first-year students in Introductory Genetics Lab have been learning from a
1.5-week mini-CURE about the population genetics of woollypod milkweed, a species that
positively impacts monarch butterfly populations. In the first lab session, students extract DNA
from a previously collected milkweed leaf, ascertain the quantity and purity of the DNA, and set
up fluorescent PCRs amplifying loci with length polymorphisms. These PCRs are then sent to a
vendor for fragment-length analysis. In the next lab, students examine the resulting data from
the vendor and determine the genotypes of their milkweed leaf. In the second year, we shared
with the students the findings from the previous year???s research. During this lab module,
students engage in a genuine research question, see themselves as part of a bigger scientific
process, reinforce their pipetting skills, and learn about PCR, spectrophotometry, dilutions, and
record keeping practices.
In this workshop, we first discussed the scientific and conservation motivation and then the
first lab session and the vendor services. Next, participants started the data analysis that leads
to the genotype calls. We will then had a question-and-answer session about the logistics of
potential similar labs relevant to ecological genetics questions in the areas of the participants.
From this, participants hopefully learned the benefits this lab offers and understand the logistics of
starting labs using this methodology to investigate an ecological question in their own area.
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