Module 6 Instructor Resources

Instructor Resources for Module 6: Alternative splicing

Cover Page

Submission Details

Submitter: Anne Rosenwald (rosenwaa@georgetown.edu)
Submission timestamp: 2019/12/16 3:40:05 PM CST
Author: Leocadia Paliulis, Bucknell University
Corresponding author: Anne Rosenwald (rosenwaa@georgetown.edu)

Lesson Overview

Lesson abstract: Many genes have exons that can be linked together in more than one way to produce a variety of different (though related) transcripts. In this lesson, students will examine how alternative splicing of a gene can lead to different mRNAs and how alternative splicing can lead to the production of different polypeptides and result in drastic changes in phenotype.
Lesson keywords:
  • Alternative Splicing
  • Exon
  • Intron
  • Messenger RNA
Organism(s) that are the focus of this lesson: None
Type(s) of student learning assessments: Short answer formative questions
Websites and online databases used: GEP UCSC Genome Browser (http://gander.wustl.edu)
Resources in addition to the lesson instructions YouTube videos

Learning Topics

Topics in scientific fields:
  • Genetics
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology
Topics in mathematics or statistics:
  • None
Topics in bioinformatics or data science:
  • Similarity searches (BLAST, Multiple Sequence Alignment)
  • Data visualization

Student Prerequisites

Recommended prior course work:
  • High school level biology
Recommended computer skills: Basic: Familiarity with web browsers, word processing

Instructor Prerequisites

Recommended computer skills: Basic: Familiarity with web browsers, word processing
Instructional requirements: Basic Computer Lab (Access to laptops/desktops, no large memory or CPU requirements)

Implementation Recommendations

Instructional time required: 1 class period or less
Students work as individuals or teams? Either individual or team work is possible
Number of students in a class: More than 50 students (assume no TAs and one computer for each student)

Accessibility

Available languages: English
Additional materials for students with disabilities: None

Lesson Plan

Title

  • Alternative splicing

Objectives

  • Demonstrate how alternative splicing of a gene can lead to different mRNAs.
  • Show how alternative splicing can lead to the production of different polypeptides and result in drastic changes in phenotype.
  • Identify how alternative splicing of a gene can lead to different mRNAs (Investigation 1).
  • Identify how alternative splicing can lead to the production of different polypeptides (Investigation 1).
  • Describe how alternative splicing producing different polypeptides might result in changes in phenotype (Investigation 2).

Order

  • Introduce students to tra-RB, a second isoform of tra.
  • Investigation 1
  • Investigation 2
  • Discussion

Homework

  • None included. Students could analyze a second gene on the browser using the work they have done on tra as a template.

Class Instruction

  • Introduce tra-RB
  • Discuss differences between tra-RB and tra-RA. Reinforce concept of isoform.
  • Investigation 1: How can there be different mRNAs encoded in the same gene?
  • Investigation 2: Examine the tra polypeptides by looking at the three possible reading frames. Review concept of reading frame and introduce phase if not previously introduced. Students will construct a gene model for tra-RB, using sequence information, and RNA-Seq data as evidence.
  • Discussion of gene models/wrap-up