Development and Field Trial of a Molecular Biology Teaching Kit Utilizing Halobacterium sp. NRC-1.

Abstract

A teaching kit entitled The Genotype-Phenotype Connection was created around a novel mutant of Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 called KBT-1. The activities in the kit recapitulate the isolation and characterization of KBT-1 and were optimized for use in typical high school biology classrooms. Beginning with observations about the organism on the petri plate and forming conclusions from a gel electrophoresis image, students experience the relationship between genotype and phenotype while exploring molecular biology hands-on. To determine if this kit was an effective teaching tool, I performed a field trial with 13 different sections of AP Biology in fall 2012 consisting of 9 teachers and 192 students. Overall, teachers and students had an overall positive response to The Genotype-Phenotype Connection kit. The kit has been published by Carolina Biological Supply Company and is now available for mainstream teacher purchase.