Beyond the Central Dogma: Model-Based Learning of How Genes Determine Phenotypes

CBE Life Sciences Education
Adam Reinagel, Elena Bray Speth

Abstract

In an introductory biology course, we implemented a learner-centered, model-based pedagogy that frequently engaged students in building conceptual models to explain how genes determine phenotypes. Model-building tasks were incorporated within case studies and aimed at eliciting students' understanding of 1) the origin of variation in a population and 2) how genes/alleles determine phenotypes. Guided by theory on hierarchical development of systems-thinking skills, we scaffolded instruction and assessment so that students would first focus on articulating isolated relationships between pairs of molecular genetics structures and then integrate these relationships into an explanatory network. We analyzed models students generated on two exams to assess whether students' learning of molecular genetics progressed along the theoretical hierarchical sequence of systems-thinking skills acquisition. With repeated practice, peer discussion, and instructor feedback over the course of the semester, students' models became more accurate, better contextualized, and more meaningful. At the end of the semester, however, more than 25% of students still struggled to describe phenotype as an output of protein function. We therefore recommend that...Continue Reading

References

Jun 3, 2010·CBE Life Sciences Education·Steven T KalinowskiTessa M Andrews
Sep 4, 2014·CBE Life Sciences Education·Elena Bray SpethTammy Long

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Citations

Aug 12, 2017·CBE Life Sciences Education·L Kate WrightDina L Newman
Nov 25, 2016·CBE Life Sciences Education·Melanie Peffer, Maggie Renken
May 13, 2017·CBE Life Sciences Education·Amanda J Sebesta, Elena Bray Speth
Jun 29, 2018·CBE Life Sciences Education·Michal Haskel-Ittah, Anat Yarden
May 11, 2019·CBE Life Sciences Education·Carl ProckoJoanne Chory
Dec 29, 2020·Frontiers in Genetics·Michal KrassowskiBiswapriya B Misra

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Software Mentioned

Excel
SPSS Statistics

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