Exploration into teaching and learning of principles of Genetic Engineering——Taking cloning strategies as an example

Abstract:

Cloning strategies is the most essential tools for molecular biological studies and bio-product development and thus students in biological techniques and related majors should have a solid theoretical foundation and enough practical experience with this technique. As a fact, due to having less training and practice opportunity during their studies, it is difficult for students to apply what they have learned. Aiming to make the undergraduates better master the gene cloning strategies, we have adopted a model that combines theory with application case for the teaching-learning of cloning strategies in Genetic Engineering course. The cloning strategies were presented section by section with traditional classroom teaching and the undergraduates were made to fully grasp the process of gene cloning and available methods via designing questions and tasks and enlarging basic knowledge points. Additionally, research papers were introduced into classroom teaching-learning and the students got to know how to use cloning strategies to make an experimental design and select the methods that can be used via self-learning, discussion and self-presentation under instructor’s guidance. Our practices show that the model combining cloning theory and research paper can bridge the gap between classroom learning and application, raise the students’ experimental design and problem solving skills, and cultivate their logical thinking.

Key words:Gene cloning strategies, Experimental design, Application ability, Self-directed learning