Publications by authors named "Leslie Jaworski"
Article Synopsis
- - Undergraduate students at UCLA conducted research using RNA interference (RNAi) and fluorescent proteins to pinpoint genes crucial for blood cell development in fruit flies, screening around 3,500 genes and finding 137 that affected hematopoiesis.
- - By targeting RNAi to different cell types involved in blood cell maturation, the researchers identified specific gene subsets that either facilitate or inhibit this process, revealing new insights into gene functions related to RNA processing and vesicular trafficking.
- - The CURE (Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience) model not only enhanced students' understanding and skills in science but also improved retention rates in STEM fields, demonstrating the value of hands-on research in education.
Article Synopsis
- Various genetic techniques help trace cell lineage during tissue development, with some focusing on spatial/temporal aspects and others linking gene expression to lineage.
- The G-TRACE system allows for quick visualization of GAL4 expression patterns, enabling genome-wide expression-based lineage studies conducted by UCLA students and high school scholars.
- Findings revealed new expression-based lineage patterns and were compiled into the G-TRACE Expression Database (GED), contributing to better student learning outcomes and retention in STEM fields.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates student learning improvements resulting from a year-long undergraduate research experience (CURE) integrated into second-year Genetics and Cellular and Molecular Biology lab courses.* -
- Students participated in experiments using techniques like micro-array and RNAseq to explore gene functions related to environmental stress, and their learning was evaluated through pretest/posttest assessments and laboratory grades.* -
- Findings indicate that lower-performing students benefitted more from the CURE, showing significant improvements in conceptual understanding and experimental design skills, as evidenced by various assessment tools and survey results.*
Science plays an important role in most aspects of society, and scientists face ethical decisions as a routine part of their work, but science education frequently omits or segregates content related to ethics and broader impacts of science. Undergraduate research experiences have the potential to bridge traditional divides in education and provide a holistic view of science. In practice, these experiences can be inconsistent and may not provide the optimal learning environment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAuthentic research experiences are valuable components of effective undergraduate education. Research experiences during the first years of college are especially critical to increase persistence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) model provides a high-impact research experience to first-year students but is usually available to a limited number of students, and its implementation is costly in faculty time and laboratory space.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFocused analysis of current research projects provides an effective platform for teaching early-stage undergraduates the logic of scientific inquiry.
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