Authentic Research at South Addresses Real World Problems
Accidentally stumble into the Major's Cell Biology Lab (Biology&- 211) at South Seattle College and you might find yourself a bit confused. It certainly looks like a biology lab with the usual beakers, precise measuring devices and distinct lab stations. But where, you might ask, are those laborious lab manuals?
That's where things get unique for students in Ruben Murcia's class: They are doing their own original genome sequencing research and, as a result, writing their own lab manuals as they go. Once their research is complete, their findings will be shared with scientists around the world.
"Using a lab manual is just like following a cookbook," Biology 211 student Ranee Psachos said. "This (class), however, is a whole new day."
Biology Instructors Murcia and Carey Schroyer are implementing a pioneering national community college research project at South for the first time this Fall Quarter called the "Community College Genomics Authentic Lab Experience," (known as ComGen) where students engage in authentic research as they develop their own lab protocols for genome sequencing of Pseudomonas fluorescens, a bacterium that fights a wheat fungus found in Washington State. They also analyze primary research articles and interact with scientists to inform their process along the way.
In the lab, students break up into teams of three to four and work with cutting-edge equipment to perform DNA isolation, DNA fragment amplification and more.
"One of the greatest challenges in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education is providing students with inquiry-based learning experiences that will prepare them to perform scientific research at the undergraduate and graduate level," Murcia explained. "ComGen labs promote critical thinking, problem solving and team collaboration - three essential stills all STEM students must develop in their college education."
For South student Farhia Ugas, the skills she's learning this quarter will have benefits beyond the classroom.
"By doing everything ourselves, I'm getting used to the scientific process more quickly, and it has allowed me to start thinking in scientific ways outside of the class," she said.
The research these students perform each week will also have real world impacts beyond campus. By learning more about the DNA sequencing of Pseudomonas fluorescens and publishing their work to an international genomic database where scientists around the world will have access, they'll provide additional insight into how the bacterium can form beneficial associations with the roots of wheat and barley (two important crops for farming families in Washington State) to better protect against the ravages of fungus.
"It's a great experience because we can have an impact on society beyond the classroom, beyond our grade," ComGen student Sopor Tan said. "To know our work can help other people makes me very proud to be here."
With original research comes an essential element of the scientific process: making mistakes along the way. In South's Cell Biology Lab, those mistakes are celebrated.
"What is unique about this program is that students write up their own lab protocols and then put them into practice in the lab, in an atmosphere where they are allowed to try, makes mistakes and learn from those mistakes," Murcia said.
In the end, those divergent paths (and occasional mistakes) in an attempt to solve the same real problem strike at the essence of what it means to be part of Biology 211 at South.
"Usually with labs, every class is the exact same thing," Farhia Ugas said. "This time each group is different and you are going to come up with your own answers and your own conclusions and results at the end of the quarter. I think that's really cool."
For current and future students, there will be many more opportunities to experience a ComGen lab, as it has become the standard curriculum for future Biology 211 (BIOL&211) classes at South.