UC San Diego

Middle school and high school students are often confronted with the problem of textbook memorization as the singular form of biological learning, rather than acquiring knowledge by performing lab work. Middle and high school teachers may lack experience teaching biology by guiding a class through a protocol in the lab, as opposed to lecturing. This protocol uses CRISPR technology, an advanced genome editing application. This wet-lab approach not only teaches students the reality of molecular biology research, but also works through the scientific method and realistic problem based thinking researchers must apply. Most notably, this protocol’s purpose is to ignite a scientific passion in these students beginning at a young age. This exciting protocol is simple to use and can be completed in minimum time and is inexpensive. If used correctly, students may develop a life-long passion for science and one day research disease ending medicines, such as CRISPR/Cas9. Experienced researchers can also use this protocol as an introduction to CRISPR/Cas9. This protocol uses Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a medium that displays broad phenotypic change after mutation. The visual nature of this mutation allows students to see that the tiny biomolecules organisms are made of really are the cause of phenotypes.