Exploring differential gene expression in zebrafish to teach basic molecular biology skills

In an effort to engage students in original research while teaching them basic molecular biology skills, we have designed a course for upper level undergraduate students and beginning graduate students that employs in situ hybridization in whole-mount zebrafish embryos to explore the concept of differential gene regulation. The course was taught in a workshop format during a break between the normal fall and spring semesters, which allowed students to immerse themselves in the concepts and techniques full time over a 13-day period. Overall, the course was successful in exposing students to a variety of techniques in the context of an ongoing research project in our laboratory, which provided beneficial outcomes for students and instructors alike. Here we provide a detailed account of the course organization and preparation, as well as an analysis of learning outcomes achieved by the students.