Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: TDP-43 is an RNA binding protein that is a pathological hallmark of multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The frequency of observed TDP-43 pathology is estimated at 97% in ALS, 45% in FTD and 40-57% in AD and is characterized by a mislocalization of TDP-43 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Indeed, TDP-43 is the third most common proteinopathy in AD, behind only Amyloid beta and Tau.

The CURE - A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience with Concomitant Supplemental Instruction.

Evidence indicates that students who participate in scientific research during their undergraduate experience are more likely to pursue careers in the STEM disciplines and to develop increased scientific reasoning and literacy skills. One avenue to increase student engagement in research is via their enrollment in course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), where they are able to conduct authentic research as part of the laboratory curriculum. The information presented herein provides an example of a CURE which was developed and implemented in an introductory cell and molecular biology course at the University of Northern Colorado.

Incorporating an Interactive Statistics Workshop into an Introductory Biology Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Enhances Students' Statistical Reasoning and Quantitative Literacy Skills.

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) provide an avenue for student participation in authentic scientific opportunities. Within the context of such coursework, students are often expected to collect, analyze, and evaluate data obtained from their own investigations. Yet, limited research has been conducted that examines mechanisms for supporting students in these endeavors.