NSF funded

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS

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Text: Handouts will be provided

Summer 2005:

Biology Build.

room B08

Ms. Heidi Melcher Anderson
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
1600 Man'O' War Boulevard
Email: HANDERSO@Fayette.k12.ky.us

www page: (go to)

The specific aims for the 7 weeks of intensive study are:

1. Prior to starting in the laboratory they will be required to take the on-line laboratory safety and hazardous waste training. They will receive a certificate upon successfully completing the safety course.

2. Learn life history of the model animal "the crayfish" through brief readings, direct observation and discussion. In addition, learn how crayfish behave and how behavior is modulated by biogenic amines such as serotonin and the molting hormone ecdysone. (refs from lab work). (DAY 1)

3. Learn how neurons communicate with other neurons and muscle. The complete circuit of sensory-CNS-motor-muscle function is to be understood. Readings in Neuron to Brain by J.G. Nicholls, 4th ed (I was one of the readers for these chapters during their construction) and discussion on the subject through didactic intense classroom instruction are to be implemented during the initial training days. (DAYS 2 and 3)

4. Dissect crayfish muscle preparations and stain the motor nerves, terminals and muscle with vital dyes for viewing live preparations. Complete staining procedures with immunocytochemical techniques that demarcate synaptic regions within the terminals by light microscopy (i.e., anti-synaptotagmin staining) (Cooper et al., 1995a, 1996a). (Within WEEK 1).

5. Learn how to measure synaptic potentials with intracellular recordings in the crayfish opener muscle preparation. Examine the effects of biogenic amines and short-term facilitation on the synaptic responses. Learn how to measure and quantify the synaptic responses. (Crider and Cooper, 2000a) (Within WEEK 1).

6. Participate in the research of obtaining quantal recordings from nerve terminals with the focal macropatch technique and learn how to generally analyze the obtained traces for the 1st pass analysis. (Cooper et al., 1995b) (WEEKS 2-4).

7. Participate in processing the tissue for electron microscopy that was used for obtaining the electrophysiogical data in #6 above. (WEEK 2-4).

8. Participate in electron microscopy of the processed tissue. Learn to thin section, image and obtain publication quality figures of the synaptic regions of interest. Participate in processing the images for data analysis of synaptic structure, vesicle pools and 3D rendering. Mr. Johnstone will help in this training. (Week 5).

9. Participate in processing the electrophysiological data with stochastic methods designed by Dr. Kert Viele (Co-PI on active NSF grant in which this supplement request is affiliated). The teachers will serve as Beta testers of algorithms that were constructed for automated analysis of sub-quantal measures. A major Aim of the parent NSF grant was to develop and disseminate software for others to use related to quantal analysis of synaptic transmission. (Week 6).

10. Write up the investigations they covered along with completed graphical analysis of the data and information they obtained. (Week 6).

11. In exchange for helping with my research project, we would like to spend 1 week developing novel physiological experiments that can be readily implemented into high school classes rooms that only posses the basic instruments generally available to high school science teachers in the US. The learning modules will be made available through postings on Amer. Physiol. Soc. Educational www pages as well as through the Digital Library www sites in education currently under construction by SICB (Soc. for Integrative and Comparative Biology). (Week 7).

12. To make several contacts within Biology, Chemistry and Statistics depts. on the Univ. of KY campus in order to build a rapport with the University faculty. (Weeks 1-7).

FOR NOW - papers that were distributed May 17, 2005

Now how do I cook this critter ?