Catalyzing rapid discovery of gold-precipitating bacterial lineages with university students
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Catalyzing rapid discovery of gold-precipitating bacterial lineages with university students. / Riley, Noah G.; Goller, Carlos C.; Leggett, Zakiya H.; Lewis, Danica M.; Ciccone, Karen; Dunn, Robert R.
In: PeerJ, Vol. 8, 8925, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Catalyzing rapid discovery of gold-precipitating bacterial lineages with university students
AU - Riley, Noah G.
AU - Goller, Carlos C.
AU - Leggett, Zakiya H.
AU - Lewis, Danica M.
AU - Ciccone, Karen
AU - Dunn, Robert R.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Intriguing and potentially commercially useful microorganisms are found in our surroundings and new tools allow us to learn about their genetic potential and evolutionary history. Engaging students from different disciplines and courses in the search for microbes requires an exciting project with innovative but straightforward procedures and goals. Here we describe an interdisciplinary program to engage students from different courses in the sampling, identification and analysis of the DNA sequences of a unique yet common microbe, Delftia spp. A campus-wide challenge was created to identify the prevalence of this genus, able to precipitate gold, involving introductory level environmental and life science courses, upper-level advanced laboratory modules taken by undergraduate students (juniors and seniors), graduate students and staff from the campus. The number of participants involved allowed for extensive sampling while undergraduate researchers and students in lab-based courses participated in the sample processing and analyses, helping contextualize and solidify their learning of the molecular biology techniques. The results were shared at each step through publicly accessible websites and workshops. This model allows for the rapid discovery of Delftia presence and prevalence and is adaptable to different campuses and experimental questions.
AB - Intriguing and potentially commercially useful microorganisms are found in our surroundings and new tools allow us to learn about their genetic potential and evolutionary history. Engaging students from different disciplines and courses in the search for microbes requires an exciting project with innovative but straightforward procedures and goals. Here we describe an interdisciplinary program to engage students from different courses in the sampling, identification and analysis of the DNA sequences of a unique yet common microbe, Delftia spp. A campus-wide challenge was created to identify the prevalence of this genus, able to precipitate gold, involving introductory level environmental and life science courses, upper-level advanced laboratory modules taken by undergraduate students (juniors and seniors), graduate students and staff from the campus. The number of participants involved allowed for extensive sampling while undergraduate researchers and students in lab-based courses participated in the sample processing and analyses, helping contextualize and solidify their learning of the molecular biology techniques. The results were shared at each step through publicly accessible websites and workshops. This model allows for the rapid discovery of Delftia presence and prevalence and is adaptable to different campuses and experimental questions.
KW - Citizen science
KW - Delftia
KW - Microbiology
KW - Bacterial lineages
KW - Sequencing
KW - Microbiology education
KW - Undergraduate education
KW - Public science
KW - Metagenomics
KW - Public engagement
KW - SP NOV.
KW - DELFTIA-ACIDOVORANS
KW - FRESH-WATER
U2 - 10.7717/peerj.8925
DO - 10.7717/peerj.8925
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32322441
VL - 8
JO - PeerJ
JF - PeerJ
SN - 2167-8359
M1 - 8925
ER -
ID: 245618795