Muhlenberg College - Allentown, PA

In September, 2003 LI-COR Biosciences awarded its 2003 Undergraduate DNA Sequencer Award to Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. The award included a complete DNA analysis system that the college will use as a centerpiece in its plans to integrate the study of chemistry and biology to promote a community of experimental learning. Muhlenberg offers a year-round undergraduate curriculum including a summer program with students working on their own research projects.

“ Active participation in the process of science is one of the most effective methods of developing critical thinking and communication skills that last a lifetime,” says Dr. Marten Edwards, assistant professor of biology.

“ We’ve taught the theory and the chemistry behind the process, now we can let students actually experience sequencing DNA,” says Dr. Steven Weiner, assistant professor of chemistry.

“ The first week the LI-COR is in the lab, a student will be using it as part of an ongoing study of mosquitoes and human disease,” adds Edwards. “We already have plans to integrate the instrument into two classes this fall and several more next semester”.
Students in the Introductory Cell Biology course use a bacterial strain that expresses Green Fluorescent Protein to learn about bacterial transformation and protein expression.

“ Now the students will be able to take the next step and actually sequence the Green Fluorescent Protein gene and analyze it using the tools of bioinformatics,”says Edwards. “Independent research projects in our Cell Biology course already included amplifying their choice of cytoskeletal protein genes from cultured Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells with PCR. The addition of the LI-COR system will let the students take the analysis a step further as they sequence the genes and explore the connections between genetics and cell biology.”

To further expand student exposure to the LI-COR system, Muhlenberg’s departments of chemistry and biology will share the instrument.

Dr. Weiner notes that both lower and upper level chemistry students will use the LI-COR system. “We even plan to use it as part of a mini-forensics lab based on an experiment by Julie Millard, Colby College, Waterville Maine.” In this exercise, students will collect DNA from a simulated crime scene, amplify specific mitochondrial gene sequences using PCR and sequence the gene fragments. “Variations in DNA sequence may not be apparent on agarose gels of PCR products, but may result in a guilty verdict!” says Weiner.

Muhlenberg College is one of only 67 colleges nationwide offering a biochemistry major certified by the American Chemical Society. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a private, Lutheran-affiliated, highly selective, liberal arts college in Allentown, Pa.