CRISPR in Your Kitchen: an At-Home CRISPR Kit to Edit Genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Used during a Remote Lab...

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Biotechnology Education

Background:

• CRISPR-based experiments offer accessible gene editing relevant to current research.
• An in-person undergraduate lab course utilized CRISPR editing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae before the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Transitioning to online learning necessitated adapting hands-on laboratory components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement an at-home CRISPR-Cas9 editing kit for a remote undergraduate laboratory course.
• To enable students to conduct practical gene editing experiments, generate mutants, and analyze results despite remote learning constraints.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and student experience of using at-home kits in a large-enrollment online course.

Main Methods:

• Development of an at-home kit containing materials for yeast cultivation and CRISPR-Cas9 transformation.
• Distribution of kits to over 600 students for remote execution of gene editing experiments.
• Students generated loss-of-function mutants in the ADE2 gene, inducing a red color phenotype.
• Edited yeast samples were returned to campus for sequencing and mutation analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful generation of loss-of-function ADE2 mutants by students using at-home kits.
• Characterization of various mutations resulting from CRISPR-Cas9 induced editing through sample sequencing.
• The at-home kit facilitated engaging, hands-on experimental work in a remote learning environment.

Conclusions:

• At-home CRISPR-Cas9 kits effectively enabled practical molecular biology experiments in a large, remote undergraduate course.
• The kits provide a viable solution for maintaining hands-on learning experiences in online science education.
• This approach has potential applications for high school science education and outreach programs, broadening access to biotechnology tools.