SummerLab Curriculum
Description of the Biotechnology SummerLab Program:
The Biotechnology SummerLab curriculum is centered on BioRad’s pGlo system. The goal of the SummerLab is to expose students to central concepts and skills of recombinant DNA technology as it is applied to biotechnology. We find the system extremely well suited for educational purposes because students can visualize the green fluorescent protein (GFP) throughout the processes of expression, lysis, and purification.
The teaching methodologies and strategies employed are designed to mirror an authentic learning experience. In so doing we aim to establish a need for the students to learn as well as apply fundamental concepts and skills in a cooperative setting. On the first morning we begin by asking students how they would describe biotechnology. Time is provided for individual reflection followed by small group discussion and eventually a class discussion led by one of the instructors. Student descriptions of biotechnology are compared to definitions from research and industry. We then invite students to imagine they had just been hired as employees of our biotechnology company. As members of the company they are required to attend a training session during which they acquire basic skills. We divide the students into three groups. The groups rotate through stations where participants practice using micropipets, centrifuges, electronic balances and serological pipettes and learn basic laboratory safety procedures.
In the afternoon of the first day, we tell the students they will become specialists in one of three techniques: bacterial transformation, cell lysis, or protein purification. The transformation group learns how to transform E.coli with an ampicillin resistant plasmid. The cell lysis group uses several methods to lyse cells: lysozyme/freeze thaw, boiling, and alkaline lysis. The protein purification group purifies protein mixtures using size exclusion chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Each protocol emphasizes the techniques necessary for the transformation, expression, and purification of GFP. The purpose and execution of each protocol is presented and reviewed by a CityLab instructor. We make it clear that each student should be well enough versed in their particular specialty to take responsibility for the application, instruction and execution of the technique.
On the second day students are assigned to teams of three. Each team consists of each one specialist, thereby fostering interdependence among team members. The entire company is introduced to the following scenario, which shapes the challenge for the next four days.
Our biotechnology company wants to produce and market green fluorescent protein (GFP), derived from the jellyfish Aequoria victoria. GFP has several research applications and the demand for GFP is increasing. It is not practical to harvest the GFP from jellyfish. We do however have the gene for GFP inserted in a plasmid, pGlo. Each team is challenged to start with the pGlo plasmid, equipment and methods available to produce a purified sample of GFP by Friday.
The teams design and execute a protocol to express and purify the protein. The team format facilitates interdependence since each member has important knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenge. Teams must submit their protocols in writing to one of the company supervisors (CityLab Staff) before proceeding in the laboratory. This provides the staff with an opportunity to address misconceptions and ensure safety in the laboratory. Company debriefings are held daily to discuss progress and raise questions. We emphasize that teams are working in cooperation with each other rather than in competition with one another.
The staff assists the students throughout the week. Each team ultimately transforms E.coli with pGlo, selects the transformed cells using ampicillin/arabinose and LB plates, prepares a liquid culture, lyses, extracts, and purifies GFP and does polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The staff strives to challenge the students’ ideas, raise questions, and offer positive support rather than dictate answers and directives. Interspersed among the laboratory work is a field trip to a local biotechnology company, where students encounter many of the techniques they learned during SummerLab.
As a closure to the week a poster session is held to which parents and friends are invited. Each team presents a poster depicting their investigations and results. Scientists from the Boston University School of Medicine are also invited to question and review the posters.
