In many health-related programs biochemistry and molecular biology are core subjects, but these subjects are often not the students main focus. This challenges educators to develop curriculum that demonstrates the relevance of biochemistry and molecular biology and engages these students. This conference session discussed the value of biochemistry…

The "Harnessing Interdisciplinary Education in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology" education conference was held on November 13-15, 2019 in Manila, Philippines. The conference was sponsored by the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular (IUBMB). With over 400 attendees from 22 countries themes discussed by the speakers and…

Understanding the relationship between protein structure and function is a core-learning goal in biochemistry. Students often struggle to visualize proteins as three-dimensional objects that interact with other molecules to affect its biochemical consequences. We describe here a partial course-based undergraduate research experiences that has…

While molecular visualization has been recognized as a threshold concept in biology education, the explicit assessment of students' visual literacy skills is rare. To facilitate the evaluation of this fundamental ability, a series of NSF-IUSE-sponsored workshops brought together a community of faculty engaged in creating instruments to assess…

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a mandatory online supplemental instruction program in an introductory cell and molecular biology course at a community college in Northern Nevada. To accomplish this, the study focused on the dependent variable of course GPA, and the issuance rate of "D" or "F" letter…

A scientific conceptual understanding of photosynthesis and respiration provides an important basis for understanding nature and the regulations of life. Photosynthesis and respiration are complex processes, and learning about them requires a proper understanding of their various aspects, from molecular biology to the ecosystem level. This study…

Views of obesity as a consequence of "lack of willpower" or other behavioral choices, rather than a complex array of biological and other factors, are quite common among undergraduate students. Many undergraduates in prenursing or biology programs have little exposure to the physiology and pathophysiology of obesity, including learning…

CRISPR-Cas9 is revolutionizing how we conduct scientific research, treat disease, and develop new crops. The widespread impact of this genome-editing technology makes it critical for undergraduate students to understand and engage with this new tool. In this article, we describe a multi-week lab module that teaches undergraduates how to design…

Students often struggle to make interdisciplinary connections and cite a lack of opportunity to make such connections. To address this issue, we are developing activities aligned with the framework of three-dimensional learning that provide students with opportunities to make connections between chemistry concepts and biological phenomena. Here,…

While zinc (Zn[superscript 2+]) is a vital ion for cell function and human health, we are still learning about how Zn[superscript 2+] concentration and localization is regulated and the role that Zn[superscript 2+] fluctuations may play in regulating cell signaling and cell fate. Here, we use fluorescent tools to study the interaction between…

Undergraduate laboratory courses are essential to teaching core principles in STEM. This course, Quantitative Biological Methods, provides a unique approach to teaching molecular biology research techniques to students, in a laboratory that is delivered in a sequence that parallels standard biomedical research laboratory protocols. Students attend…

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an unprecedented period of both crisis and innovation in higher education. The shift to an online learning environment was particularly problematic for courses in which students learn disciplinary practices. Scientific practice requires hands-on training and collaborative engagement with instructors and peers,…

Abstract Microbiome study requires both molecular techniques and bioinformatics skills, which are challenging for biologists to participate in this growing field. To introduce microbiome concepts and skills to students, a 6-week wet-lab and bioinformatics course for undergraduates was implemented through the project-based learning (PBL) approach.…

Visual literacy, which is the ability to effectively identify, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media, is an important aspect of science literacy. As molecular processes are not directly observable, researchers and educators rely on visual representations (e.g., drawings) to communicate ideas in biology. How learners…

Although science education, including biochemistry and molecular biology education, starts before students commence university, for many students, undergraduate programs are their first real introduction to biochemistry and molecular biology. Students often report that biochemistry and molecular biology are relatively difficult topics hence the…