Got Milk? A Lactase Research Project to Support Course and Institutional Learning Outcomes in Introductory Biology

Research has shown that incorporation of undergraduate research projects into courses is one of the most equitable and effective ways to increase student retention and success, particularly for students from historically underrepresented communities in science. To achieve this goal, we set out to design a cohesive project that would engage students and give them skills and experiences in research. Approximately one-third of humans globally have one of three known DNA mutations that confers lactose tolerance. We found a commercially available lab kit that allows students to test if they have one of these common mutations in their own DNA. We were able to adapt this lab kit to design and implement a research project that had students extract and isolate their own DNA, amplify fragments of their DNA, and analyze their results. This research project was not only a novel way to teach key biological concepts to students, but allowed them to apply the concepts using modern molecular biology lab techniques that had not previously been utilized in our classrooms.

Innovators

• Jeneva Anderson, Instructor, Biology
• Christine Andrews, Instructor, Biology
• Adam Gabay, Instructional Specialist, Life Science Laboratory
• Susan Holmes, Instructor, Biology
• Rosie Kirwin, Coordinator, Life Science Laboratory
• Stacey Kiser, Instructor, Biology