Teaching a biology laboratory course using Dictyostelium.

David A Knecht, Kate M Cooper, Jonathan E Moore

Journal: The International journal of developmental biology 2020;63(8-9-10):551-561

PMID: 31840792

Free Full Text on The International Journal of Developmental Biology View on PubMed

Abstract

The Dictyostelium discoideum model system is a powerful tool for undergraduate cell biology teaching laboratories. The cells are biologically safe, grow at room temperature and it is easy to experimentally induce, observe, and perturb a breadth of cellular processes making the system amenable to many teaching lab situations and goals. Here we outline the advantages of Dictyostelium, discuss laboratory courses we teach in three very different educational settings, and provide tips for both the novice and experienced Dictyostelium researcher. With this article and the extensive sets of protocols and tools referenced here, implementing these labs, or parts of them, will be relatively straightforward for any instructor.

Address: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.190249dk

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https://ijdb.ehu.eus/article/190249dk

Miscellaneous:

https://assays.cancer.gov/CPTAC-972

MeSH Terms: Biology, California, Cell Adhesion, Cell Movement, Cell Proliferation, Chemotaxis, Connecticut, Cytoskeleton, Dictyostelium, Electroporation, Endocytosis, Folic Acid, Humans, Iowa, Models, Biological, Phagocytosis, Phototaxis, Students, Teaching, Universities