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The
virtual microarray, version 2.3 |
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Author:
Anastasios Koutsos, Alexandra Manaia and Julia Willingale-Theune
Description:
We are living at a time when scientists around the world
are working on one of the most ambitious projects ever
thought up by man: 'The human genome project'. Now that
the genome has been sequenced, the new challenge is
to work out what the individual genes do, and to do
so scientists are designing sophisticated tools. One
such tool is the DNA microarray, or DNA chip,
which promises to carry the science of understanding
genomes to a whole new level. These highly sophisticated
tools cannot be reproduced in the school lab, but their
underlying concepts can be illustrated in the classroom
using The Virtual Microarray.
The virtual microarray brings cutting-edge science into
the classroom by simulating the different steps that
researchers take in performing microarray experiments
and in analyzing their results (Real and virtual microarrays:
Step
by step [PDF]).
Although we have tried our best to adjust the examples
and illustrations in the 'virtual microarray' to correspond
to the procedures in the 'real microarray', on occasions,
which are implicitly mentioned, the procedures differ.
We have also included a section that contains technical
information and suggestions on how to perform the virtual
microarray experiment in the classroom (In
the classroom [PDF]).
Finally, you will also find a 'Reading Club' section
(Reading
Club [PDF]), where we present and explain original
research articles written by scientists who have used
the microarray technique to answer important biological
questions.
Target audience:
Age 16-18 years
Objective:
Using 'hardware' (a custom-made mat, Velcro and torches)
and 'software' (metaphors), we guide you step by step
through this new technology and give you some glimpses
of its possible future applications.
GCSE syllabus:
Advanced Subsidiary GCE and Advance GCE specifications
for Human Biology
This activity can be used to review and reinforce concepts
taught in the modules:
Growth, development and disease
The developing cell
The developing individual
Genetics, homeostasis and ageing
Genetic disease
Material:
Introduction
to DNA Microarrays [PDF]
DNA and
the cell [PDF]
Real
and virtual microarrays: Step by step [PDF]
In the classroom
[PDF]
Teacher's
guide to clustering exercises [PDF]
Clustering
exercises for the classroom [PDF]
Teacher's
guide to microarray exercise [PDF]
Microarray
exercise for the classroom [PDF]
Reading
Club [PDF]
Etiquettes
for torches [PDF]
Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank the following individuals for
their advice and help during the making of this activity:
Udo Ringeisen and the entire staff of the EMBL Photolaboratory
for printing the virtual microarray mat and the 'lite'
version, for use in the classroom;
Thomas Sandmann, PhD student at EMBL, Heidelberg, for
helpful discussions and suggestions, and for drawing
our attention to the excellent educational material
of the NIH Office of Science Education supported by
the Office of Research on Women's Health called 'Snapshots
of Science and Medicine';
Russ Hodge of the Office of Information and Public Affairs
(OIPA) at EMBL Heidelberg, as well as the European Learning
Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) staff, for helpful
discussions, suggestions and never-ending encouragement;
Dr. Giovanni Frazzetto, Mehrnoosh Rayner and Vassiliki
Koumandou for reading through the first version of the
virtual microarray teacher's guides;
Friends and staff of EMBL Heidelberg with whom we shared
our ideas, enthusiasm and concerns;
The microarray exercise has been adapted from 'Snapshots
of Science and Medicine' which can be found on the following
web page science-education.nih.gov/snapshots
Pictures for the 'DNA and the Cell' section are from
The Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th Edition
Garland Science. |
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