Originally published as Genetics Published Articles Ahead of Print on April 3, 2007.

Genetics, Vol. 176, 741-747, June 2007, Copyright © 2007
doi:10.1534/genetics.106.066472

Involving Undergraduates in the Annotation and Analysis of Global Gene Expression Studies: Creation of a Maize Shoot Apical Meristem Expression Database

* Division of Science, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, {dagger} Division of Math and Computer Science, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri 63501, {ddagger} Departments of Agronomy and Genetics, Developmental Biology and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 and § Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

4 Corresponding author: Division of Science, Truman State University, 100 E. Normal St., Kirksville, MO 63501.
E-mail: djb{at}truman.edu

Through a multi-university and interdisciplinary project we have involved undergraduate biology and computer science research students in the functional annotation of maize genes and the analysis of their microarray expression patterns. We have created a database to house the results of our functional annotation of >4400 genes identified as being differentially regulated in the maize shoot apical meristem (SAM). This database is located at http://sam.truman.edu and is now available for public use. The undergraduate students involved in constructing this unique SAM database received hands-on training in an intellectually challenging environment, which has prepared them for graduate and professional careers in biological sciences. We describe our experiences with this project as a model for effective research-based teaching of undergraduate biology and computer science students, as well as for a rich professional development experience for faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions.




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