Biology Commons^™

Adeno-Associated Virus (Aav) Reduces Cortical Dendritic Complexity In A Tlr9-Dependent Manner, Christos M. Suriano, Jessica L. Verpeut, Neerav Kumar, Jie Ma, Caroline Jung, Lisa M. Boulanger

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) allow rapid and efficient gene delivery in the nervous system. AAVs are widely used in research and are the basis of multiple FDA-approved gene therapies. Here, we find that the immune response to AAV’s genome reduces dendritic complexity in mammalian cortex. Dendritic loss associated with AAV-mediated gene delivery occurs at experimentally-relevant titers, cannot be explained by responses to transgene expression or surgery, and is not restricted to a particular capsid serotype, encoded transgene, promoter, or production facility. AAV-associated dendritic loss is accompanied by a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) …

Celebrating The Stories Of Black Cellular Biologists And The Path Towards Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Stem, Henning Schneider, Nipun Chopra, Kenneth Brown, Scott Stetson, Wendy Tomamichel, Rebecca Kinney, Valerie O'Hair

President Lori S. White Inauguration Symposium

Black scientists have made major contributions to their scientific communities, but their stories and work have not received well-deserved recognition due to systemic inequities within science and academia. By celebrating the stories of Black scientists, we aim to encourage students of color and underrepresented groups to pursue a caree in the natural sciences. Here we tell the stories of Ernest E. Just, Sandra A. Murray and Avery August, three Black cellular biologists from three different generations who have made major contributions to the scientific community using microscopy. The presented project is carried out as part of the Buehler Biomedical Imaging …

Using Molecular Diagnostics To Develop Therapeutic Strategies For Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections, Fred C. Tenover

Biology Faculty Publications

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms have become a global threat. Such infections can be very difficult to treat, especially when they are caused by carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO). Since infections caused by CPO tend to have worse outcomes than non-CPO infections, it is important to identify the type of carbapenemase present in the isolate or at least the Ambler Class (i.e., A, B, or D), to optimize therapy. Many of the newer beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations are not active against organisms carrying Class B metallo-enzymes, so differentiating organisms with Class A or D carbapenemases from those with Class B enzymes rapidly …

Periodically Disturbing The Spatial Structure Of Biofilms Can Affect The Production Of An Essential Virulence Factor In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Rebecca J. Quinn, Ivana Barraza, Laura García-Diéguez, Camryn Pajon, Lauren E. Krausfeldt, Kerollos Ibrahim, Laura A. Enzinna, Morgan E. Thorn, Omar Tonsi Eldakar, Travis J. A. Craddock, Robert P. Smith

Biology Faculty Articles

Understanding the environmental factors that affect the production of virulence factors has major implications in evolution and medicine. While spatial structure is important in virulence factor production, observations of this relationship have occurred in undisturbed or continuously disturbed environments. However, natural environments are subject to periodic fluctuations, including changes in physical forces, which could alter the spatial structure of bacterial populations and impact virulence factor production. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, we periodically applied a physical force to biofilms and examined production of pyoverdine. Intermediate frequencies of disturbance reduced the amount of pyoverdine produced compared to undisturbed or frequently disturbed conditions. …

Clinically Relevant Dosage Of Vancomycin Does Not Negatively Impact Periosteum Derived Osteoblast Precursor Cellular Functions, Alexis Hernandez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Surgical site infections (SSI) can develop post-operatively and carry significant clinical and financial implications. SSI can carry a cost of up to $30,000 per case, as well as an estimated 6 day longer hospitalization. Patients with Type II Diabetes (DM) have an increased susceptibility to infection and suffer from poor bone healing overall. Therefore, diabetic patients who have undergone orthopedic surgery risk both an increased chance of developing an SSI as well as suboptimal bone healing. Vancomycin and other antibiotics have traditionally been used prophylactically to prevent infection, however the effect of vancomycin on bone healing in a diabetic population …

High-Resolution Imaging As A Tool For Identifying Quantitative Trait Loci That Regulate Photomorphogenesis In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Stephen D. Deslauriers

Biology Publications

A primary component of seedling establishment is the photomorphogenic response as seedlings emerge from the soil. This process is characterized by a reduced growth rate in the hypocotyl, increased root growth, opening of the apical hook and expansion of the cotyledons as photosynthetic organs. While fundamental to plant success, the photomorphogenic response can be highly variable. Additionally, studies of Arabidopsis thaliana are made difficult by subtle differences in growth rate between individuals. High-resolution imaging and computational processing have emerged as useful tools for quantification of such phenotypes. This study sought to: (i) develop an imaging methodology which could capture changes …

Against The Odds: Hybrid Zones Between Mangrove Killifish Species With Different Mating Systems, Waldir M. Berbel-Filho, Andrey Tatarenkov, George Pacheco, Helder M. V. Espírito-Santo, Mateus G. Lira, Carlos Garcia De Leaniz, John C. Avise, Sergio M. Q. Lima, Carlos M. Rodriguez Lopez, Sofia Consuegra

Horticulture Faculty Publications

Different mating systems are expected to affect the extent and direction of hybridization. Due to the different levels of sexual conflict, the weak inbreeder/strong outbreeder (WISO) hypothesis predicts that gametes from self-incompatible (SI) species should outcompete gametes from self-compatible (SC) ones. However, other factors such as timing of selfing and unilateral incompatibilities may also play a role on the direction of hybridization. In addition, differential mating opportunities provided by different mating systems are also expected to affect the direction of introgression in hybrid zones involving outcrossers and selfers. Here, we explored these hypotheses with a unique case of recent hybridization …

Assessment Of Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Species As Secondary Fermenters In Beer, Paul J. Clark

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Secondary fermentation of beer is traditionally used to condition and refine the sensory profile of a beer. During methods such as barrel aging or lagering, the yeast continues to produce flavor-active compounds. Some methods include the intentional inoculation of microorganisms or the utilization of natural consortia associated with a barrel, fruit, or additive for the generation of desired sensory profiles. As unique products increase in popularity, brewers have begun to experiment with secondary fermentation using alternative yeast species as bioflavorants. To assess the viability of an organism’s application to brewing, the physiochemical properties of beer and their impact on the …

The Effects Of Ppal-1 In Arabidopsis Gamete Development, Amanda J White, Susana Perez-Martinez, Mark P. Running

The Cardinal Edge

Prenylation is a type of post-translational modification in which a 15- or 20-carbon lipid is added to the carboxyl (C) terminus of the protein. Arabidopsis thaliana contains the PROTEIN PRENYLTRANSFERASE ALPHA SUBUNIT-LIKE (PPAL) gene, which encodes a protein with homology to the α-subunits of the three known prenylation enzymes, PFT, PGGT, and Rab-GGT. We previously identified two mutations in PPAL, one of which is ppal-1, which contains a T-DNA insertion in the fourth intron. We have previously observed that self-fertilizing heterozygous ppal-1 plants produce progeny in which homozygous ppal-1 is underrepresented. This project attempts to ascertain …

Selenium Probes For The Detection Of Thioredoxin Reductase Activity, Tendai Joseph Mafireyi

Dissertations and Theses

The identification and quantification of proteins and enzymatic activity in living tissues frequently requires the use of invasive procedures such as biopsy. These techniques can inhibit measurements of protein levels in real-time, and the disruption of tissue can lead to the loss of important information concerning the spatial distribution and differential activities in various cell types. The use of small organic fluorescent probes that rely on activation or accumulation within a tissue embody robust methods of detection that address these issues. This dissertation describes the design, synthesis and evaluation of fluorescent probes that can detect the enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). …

The Ghost Of Hosts Past: Impacts Of Host Extinction On Parasite Specificity, Maxwell J. Farrell, Andrew W. Park, Clayton E. Cressler, Tad Dallas, Shan Huang, Nicole Mideo, Ignacio Morales-Castilla, T. Jonathan Davies, Patrick Stephens

Faculty Publications

A growing body of research is focused on the extinction of parasite species in response to host endangerment and declines. Beyond the loss of parasite species richness, host extinction can impact apparent parasite host specificity, as measured by host richness or the phylogenetic distances among hosts. Such impacts on the distribution of parasites across the host phylogeny can have knock-on effects that may reshape the adaptation of both hosts and parasites, ultimately shifting the evolutionary landscape underlying the potential for emergence and the evolution of virulence across hosts. Here, we examine how the reshaping of host phylogenies through extinction may …

The Future Of Zoonotic Risk Prediction, Colin J. Carlson, Maxwell J. Farrell, Zoe Grange, Barbara A. Han, Nardus Mollentze, Alexandra L. Phelan, Angela L. Rasmussen, Gregory F. Albery, Bernard Bett, David M. Brett-Major, Lily E. Cohen, Tad Dallas, Evan A. Eskew, Anna C. Fagre, Kristian M. Forbes, Rory Gibb, Sam Halabi, Charlotte C. Hammer, Rebecca Katz, Jason Kindrachuk, Renata L. Muylaert, Felicia B. Nutter, Joseph Ogola, Kevin J. Olival, Michelle Rourke, Sadie J. Ryan, Noam Ross, Stephanie N. Seifert, Tarja Sironen, Claire J. Standley, Kishana Taylor, Marietjie Venter, Paul W. Webala

Faculty Publications

In the light of the urgency raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, global investment in wildlife virology is likely to increase, and new surveillance programmes will identify hundreds of novel viruses that might someday pose a threat to humans. To support the extensive task of laboratory characterization, scientists may increasingly rely on data-driven rubrics or machine learning models that learn from known zoonoses to identify which animal pathogens could someday pose a threat to global health. We synthesize the findings of an interdisciplinary workshop on zoonotic risk technologies to answer the following questions. What are the prerequisites, in terms of open …

Phenotypic/Genotypic Profile Of Oxa-10-Like-Harboring, Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: Using Validated Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic In Vivo Models To Further Evaluate Enzyme Functionality And Clinical Implications, Fred C. Tenover, Christian M. Gill, Adrian Brink, Chun Yat Chu, Jennifer Coetzee, George Dimopoulos, Clinton Moodley, Christoffel Johannes Opperman, Spyros Pournaras, Isabella A. Tickler, Hafsah Deepa Tootla, Sophia Vourli, David P. Nicolau

Biology Faculty Publications

In vitro MICs and in vivo pharmacodynamics of ceftazidime and cefepime human-simulated regimens (HSR) against modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM)-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates harboring different OXA-10-like subtypes were described. The murine thigh model assessed ceftazidime (2 g every 8 h [q8h] HSR) and cefepime (2 g and 1 g q8h HSR). Phenotypes were similar despite possessing OXA-10-like subtypes with differing spectra. Ceftazidime produced ≥1-log10 killing in all isolates. Cefepime activity was dose dependent and MIC driven. This approach may be useful in assessing the implications of β-lactamase variants.

Reproductive Aging In Caenorhabditis Elegans: From Molecules To Ecology, Andrea Scharf, Franziska Pohl, Brian M. Egan, Zuzana Kocsisova, Kerry Kornfeld

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aging animals display a broad range of progressive degenerative changes, and one of the most fascinating is the decline of female reproductive function. In the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, hermaphrodites reach a peak of progeny production on day 2 of adulthood and then display a rapid decline; progeny production typically ends by day 8 of adulthood. Since animals typically survive until day 15 of adulthood, there is a substantial post reproductive lifespan. Here we review the molecular and cellular changes that occur during reproductive aging, including reductions in stem cell number and activity, slowing meiotic progression, diminished Notch signaling, and …

Blood Biomarkers For Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Selective Review Of Unresolved Issues, Daniel B. Hier, Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi, Matthew S. Thimgan, Gayla R. Olbricht, Sima Azizi, Blaine Allen, Bassam A. Hadi, Donald C. Wunsch

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: The use of blood biomarkers after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been widely studied. We have identified eight unresolved issues related to the use of five commonly investigated blood biomarkers: neurofilament light chain, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1, tau, S100B, and glial acidic fibrillary protein. We conducted a focused literature review of unresolved issues in three areas: mode of entry into and exit from the blood, kinetics of blood biomarkers in the blood, and predictive capacity of the blood biomarkers after mTBI.

Findings: Although a disruption of the blood brain barrier has been demonstrated in mild and severe traumatic brain …

Authentication Of A Novel Antibody To Zebrafish Collagen Type Xi Alpha 1 Chain (Col11a1a), Jonathon C. Reeck, Makenna J. Hardy, Xinzhu Pu, Cynthia Keller-Peck, Julia Thom Oxford

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: Extracellular matrix proteins play important roles in embryonic development and antibodies that specifically detect these proteins are essential to understanding their function. The zebrafish embryo is a popular model for vertebrate development but suffers from a dearth of authenticated antibody reagents for research. Here, we describe a novel antibody designed to detect the minor fibrillar collagen chain Col11a1a in zebrafish (AB strain).

Results: The Col11a1a antibody was raised in rabbit against a peptide comprising a unique sequence within the zebrafish Col11a1a gene product. The antibody was affinity-purified and characterized by ELISA. The antibody is effective for immunoblot and immunohistochemistry …

Efficacy Of Predator Exclusion Methods And Id Of Nest Predators For Interior Least Terns And Piping Plovers At Off-Channel Nesting Sites Along The Central Platte River, Nebraska, Usa, Kaley Keldsen

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Nest predation is a major cause of failed shorebird reproduction. Management to increase reproductive success and survival of nesting interior least terns (Sterna antillarum athalassos; hereafter, least tern), and piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) that nest along the Central Platte River focuses on constructing and managing off-channel nesting habitats that are protected and monitored for least tern and piping plover productivity (i.e., nesting success and fledging success). However, nest and brood fates of unknown outcome, failed to unknown causes, or failed due to predation have been high for both species. These uncertainties lead to the investigation of avian and mammalian predator …

Global Population Divergence Of A Cosmopolian Desert Plant, Victor Ryan Alfaro

Biology ETDs

Genetic and phenotypic variation can have different patterns within a species if it has populations with contrasting histories. Populations can have discrete differences that are shaped by different evolutionary scenarios, but within each population, range, or region, traits and association with fitness can also be affected by both edaphic and landscape variation. For my dissertation, I surveyed and experimentally analyzed variation and adaptive potential in Sahara mustard (Brassica tournefortii), a desert annual that has endemic, invasive, and agricultural populations in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Although my multi-trait analysis generated complex results, my findings can be applied to …

Engineered Clostridium Botulinum Toxin Adapted To Deliver Molecules Into Selected Cells, Benjamin J. Pavlik, Paul Blum, Kevin Van Cott

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

An engineered payload - delivery system includes a target cell binding unit, covalently bound to a pore forming unit, and a payload portion adapted with a region capable of non-covalently binding to the pore forming unit. The pore forming unit is derived from a particular sub-serotype of Clostridium toxin, while the payload region is derived from a different sub-serotype of Clostridium toxin. The disclosed chimeric protein-based composition is capable of specifically delivering payload to neural cells.

Embryonic And Neonatal Mouse Cochleae Are Susceptible To Zika Virus Infection, Vidhya Munnamalai, Nabilah H. Sammudin, Caryl A. Young, Ankita Thawani, Richard J. Kuhn, Donna M. Fekete

Department of Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is caused by vertical transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV) to the gestating human fetus. A subset of CZS microcephalic infants present with reduced otoacoustic emissions; this test screens for hearing loss originating in the cochlea. This observation leads to the question of whether mammalian cochlear tissues are susceptible to infection by ZIKV during development. To address this question using a mouse model, the sensory cochlea was explanted at proliferative, newly post-mitotic or maturing stages. ZIKV was added for the first 24 h and organs cultured for up to 6 days to allow for cell differentiation. Results …

Human Microglia Extensively Reconstitute In Humanized-Blt Mice With Human Interleukin-34 Transgene And Support Hiv-1 Brain Infection, Jianshui Zhang, Saroj Chandra Lohani, Yilun Cheng, Tao Wang, Lili Guo, Woong-Ki Kim, Santhi Gorantla, Qingsheng Li

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Humanized bone marrow-liver-thymic (hu-BLT) mice develop a functional immune system in periphery, nevertheless, have a limited reconstitution of human myeloid cells, especially microglia, in CNS. Further, whether bone marrow derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) can enter the brain and differentiate into microglia in adults remains controversial. To close these gaps, in this study we unambiguously demonstrated that human microglia in CNS were extensively reconstituted in adult NOG mice with human interleukin-34 transgene (hIL34 Tg) from circulating CD34+ HSPCs, nonetheless not in hu-BLT NOG mice, providing strong evidence that human CD34+ HSPCs can enter adult brain and differentiate into …

Mitonuclear Mismatch Is Associated With Increased Male Frequency, Outcrossing, And Male Sperm Size In Experimentally-Evolved C. Elegans, Brent William Bever

Dissertations and Theses

We provide the first controlled study of how male frequencies and rates of outcrossing evolve in response to mitonuclear mismatch by allowing replicate lineages of C. elegans nematodes containing either mitochondrial or nuclear mutations of electron transport chain (ETC) genes to evolve under three sexual systems: facultatively outcrossing (wildtype), obligately selfing, and obligately outcrossing. In partial support of a tenet of the mitonuclear sex hypothesis, which predicts that outcrossing will be favored in cases of mitonuclear mismatch, we found evolution of increased male frequency in at least one replicate line of all four ETC mutant backgrounds tested--nuclear isp-1, mitochondrial …

Forest Structure, Above-Ground Carbon Stocks, And Productivity Along An Elevational Gradient In The Ecuadorian Andes, Esteban Pinto

Theses and Dissertations

The Andean forest provides a natural laboratory for evaluating long-term interactions between forests and variation in environmental parameters along elevational gradients. In particular, the mechanisms that control above-ground carbon stocks (AGC) and natural dynamics in mountain ecosystems constitute a potentially powerful tool for understanding the function of these ecosystems and their response to current climate change scenarios or past human disturbances. The present study integrates biotic (rarefied species richness and leaf traits) and abiotic (climate, soil properties and degradation) factors as possible drivers of AGC stocks, AGC net change (AGCnt), AGC productivity (AGCp) and AGC mortality (AGCk), along an elevational …

Predicting Drug Sensitivity Of Cancer Cells Based On Dna Methylation Levels, Sofia P. Miranda, Fernanda A. Baião, Julia L. Fleck, Stephen R. Piccolo

Faculty Publications

Cancer cell lines, which are cell cultures derived from tumor samples, represent one of the least expensive and most studied preclinical models for drug development. Accurately predicting drug responses for a given cell line based on molecular features may help to optimize drug-development pipelines and explain mechanisms behind treatment responses. In this study, we focus on DNA methylation profiles as one type of molecular feature that is known to drive tumorigenesis and modulate treatment responses. Using genome-wide, DNA methylation profiles from 987 cell lines in the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database, we used machine-learning algorithms to evaluate the …

Forkhead-Associated Domain 2 Links Light Signal To Mirna Biogenesis, Lu Gan, Bin Yu

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one of the most important regulators of gene expression. Their biogenesis starts with the transcription of primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs). In plants, the RNase III enzyme DICER-LIKER 1 (DCL1), together with its partner, the double-stranded RNA-binding protein HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), and the zinc-finger protein SERRATE (SE), process the imperfect miRNA-residing stem loop of primiRNAs to release the miRNA/miRNA* duplexes in the nucleus, which are then methylated by HUA1 ENHANCER 1 (Rogers and Chen, 2013; Song et al., 2019). Then, most miRNAs are sorted into AGONAUTE 1 to mediate mRNA-cleavage or translation inhibition based on sequence complementarity …

Aridity-Driven Shift In Biodiversity-Soil Multifunctionality Relationships, Weigang Hu, Jinzhi Ran, Longwei Dong, Qiajun Du, Mingfei Ji, Shuran Yao, Chen Hou, For Full List Of Authors, Download The Pdf.

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Relationships between biodiversity and multiple ecosystem functions (that is, ecosystem multifunctionality) are context-dependent. Both plant and soil microbial diversity have been reported to regulate ecosystem multifunctionality, but how their relative importance varies along environmental gradients remains poorly understood. Here, we relate plant and microbial diversity to soil multifunctionality across 130 dryland sites along a 4,000 km aridity gradient in northern China. Our results show a strong positive association between plant species richness and soil multifunctionality in less arid regions, whereas microbial diversity, in particular of fungi, is positively associated with multifunctionality in more arid regions. This shift in the relationships …

Kelp Morphology And Herbivory Are Maintained Across Latitude Despite Geographic Shift In Kelp-Wounding Herbivores, Nicholas P. Burnett, Eric J. Armstrong, Rosemary Romero, Charlotte C. Runzel, Richelle L. Tanner

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Herbivores can drastically alter the morphology of macroalgae by directly consuming tissue and by inflicting structural wounds. Wounds can result in large amounts of tissue breaking away from macroalgae, amplifying the damage initially caused by herbivores. Herbivores that commonly wound macroalgae often occur over only a portion of a macroalga’s lifespan or geographic range. However, we know little about the influence of these periodic or regional occurrences of herbivores on the large-scale seasonal and geographical patterns of macroalgal morphology. We used the intertidal kelp Egregia menziesii to investigate how the kelp’s morphology and the prevalence of two prominent kelp-wounding herbivores …

Metaplasia Of Respiratory And Digestive Tissues In The Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica Associated With The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Deanne Roopnarine, Peter D. Roopnarine, Laurie C. Anderson, Ji Hae Hwang, Swati Patel

Biology Faculty Articles

Metaplasia is a well documented and deleterious effect of crude oil components on bivalved molluscs, including oysters. This reversible transformation of one cell type to another, is a common response to petroleum-product exposure in molluscs. It has been shown experimentally in previous work that eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) exposed to petroleum products will exhibit metaplasia of digestive tissues. Here we document for the first time that wild adult oysters inhabiting coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico during and in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010) exhibited metaplasia in both ctenidia and digestive epithelia …

Developmental Programming Of Dna Methylation And Gene Expression Patterns Is Associated With Extreme Cardiovascular Tolerance To Anoxia In The Common Snapping Turtle, Ilan Ruhr, Jacob Bierstedt, Turk Rhen, Debojyoti Das, Sunil Kumar Singh, Soleille Miller, Dane A. Crossley Ii, Gina L. J. Galli

Biology Faculty Publications

Background

Environmental fluctuation during embryonic and fetal development can permanently alter an organism’s morphology, physiology, and behaviour. This phenomenon, known as developmental plasticity, is particularly relevant to reptiles that develop in subterranean nests with variable oxygen tensions. Previous work has shown hypoxia permanently alters the cardiovascular system of snapping turtles and may improve cardiac anoxia tolerance later in life. The mechanisms driving this process are unknown but may involve epigenetic regulation of gene expression via DNA methylation. To test this hypothesis, we assessed in situ cardiac performance during 2 h of acute anoxia in juvenile turtles previously exposed to normoxia …

Using A Self-Determination Theory Approach To Understand Student Perceptions Of Inquiry-Based Learning, Fangfang Zhao, Gillian Roehrig, Lorelei E. Patrick, Chantal Levesque-Bristol, Sehoya Cotner

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Inquiry-based laboratory activities, as a part of science curricula, have been advocated to increase students’ learning outcomes and improve students’ learning experiences, but students sometimes struggle with open-inquiry activities. This study aims to investigate students’ perceptions of inquiry-based learning in a set of laboratory activities, specifically from a psychological (i.e., Self-Determination Theory) perspective. Students’ ratings of the level of inquiry in these activities indicate that students’ perceptions of inquiry align with the instructor-intended amount of inquiry in each exercise. Students’ written responses, explaining their ratings, indicate that students’ perceptions of the amount of inquiry in a given lab exercise relate …