Premium
A laboratory‐intensive course on the experimental study of protein–protein interactions
Author(s) -
Witherow D.Scott,
Carson Sue
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biochemistry and molecular biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1539-3429
pISSN - 1470-8175
DOI - 10.1002/bmb.20506
Subject(s) - class (philosophy) , context (archaeology) , mathematics education , component (thermodynamics) , protein–protein interaction , psychology , computer science , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , artificial intelligence , physics , paleontology , thermodynamics
The study of protein–protein interactions is important to scientists in a wide range of disciplines. We present here the assessment of a lab‐intensive course that teaches students techniques used to identify and further study protein–protein interactions. One of the unique elements of the course is that students perform a yeast two‐hybrid screen and identify novel protein–protein interactions in what is essentially the beginning of an independent research project in the context of a class. While students benefit from the research‐like experience, data is actively generated that can be further studied in independent research projects. Student learning outcomes were assessed using a questionnaire that was given to students before and after the course. The results indicate that students' conceptual and technical understanding of the methodologies taught in the class increased, and that hands‐on experience in the lab was perceived to be the most important component of the course. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 300‐308, 2011