genetic: proposal ( C elegans- LON )

STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:

Students will be assigned a project that involves screening for either a particular C. elegans mutant. Though you will be given the same mutant in your group, the proposal paper and write up will be individual. There will be no sharing of information for this project except the type of mutation. Any deviation will be considered containing plagiarized material.

1. Learn and think about an experimental approach geneticist use to identify genes involved with a specific biological process.

1. Read published scientific literature regarding genes regulating a biological process.

1. Read and discuss methodology used

1. Identify primary article pertaining to the mutation and its significance. Discuss and outline the methodology, results and significance of the study.

1. Learn to use the genetic model system databases wormbase.org.

1. Propose and conduct a forward genetic screen given available resources.

1. Write a research proposal to describe the preliminary results and use this as a stepping stone to study this mutation and its significance to an area of your interest.

1. Develop scientific skills by formulating a research question, develop a hypothesis, propose methodologies and develop a three-aim study on how this mutation once isolated can be further studied.

PROPOSAL AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS

In many teaching labs students conduct laboratory procedures with known outcomes. The students document the process in a laboratory report. Such a report is important so students learn about methodologies and how to document findings. Another type of scientific communication is a Research Proposal. This type of written communication provides information such as background information, hypothesis, research objectives, preliminary data, and rationale for proposed experiments. Typically, this type of communication is used to propose scientific research prior to obtaining support and or funding for research. In your case, it is a means to sharpen your critically thinking skills regarding a research experiment prior to completion of the study. Your Research Proposal is a complete description of the intended forward genetic screen experiment. Even though this is an individual student assignment you should discuss the ideas and content of the research proposal with your laboratory instructor and teammates. Through the full proposal, you must communicate how the proposed study will make a contribution to the understanding of the genetics of a biological process. The full research proposal must contain the following:

Please also refer to the provided grading rubric.

1. Title page (Front page, includes title, name, date, lab course number and TA name)

2. Abstract that includes the research question, your hypothesis and any preliminary results that are gained from your specific aims.

3. Brief Introduction. Background and statement of the problem (this in the light of a literature review)

4. State your research question(s) and hypothesis that answers the research question(s)

5. Research Objectives/Specific aim(s)—Three aims, followed by a method (step#7, 8) for each aim, the actual/expected results (step#9, 10) for each aim and the significance of each aim and its correlation to past scientific research data.

6. Experimental Approach (Methodology)

7. Resources required for the study, including budget if applicable

8. Expected Results and preliminary results (here you can communicate the ongoing progress of your forward genetic screen).

9. Data Interpretation – if applicable statistical planning must be fully addressed, or you should provide evidence that statistics are not required.

10. Timetable for completion of the project

11. References

12. Appendix- can add figures here. Do not use figures to substitute for appropriately written text

13. Format: ~6-8 pages long, 1.5 line space, 1-inch margins, 12 font Arial or Helvetica.