Christopher J.R. Willmott

A single point mutation in the DNA gyrase A protein greatly reduces binding of fluoroquinolones to the gyrase-DNA complex.

Binding of the quinolone drug norfloxacin to gyrase and DNA has been investigated. We have detected binding to gyrase-DNA complex but find no significant binding to either gyrase or DNA alone. Enzyme containing gyrase A protein with the mutation Ser-83 to Trp (conferring quinolone resistance) showed greatly reduced drug binding.

Seeing Eye-to-Eye? Staff and Student Views on Feedback

Abstract Feedback on academic performance is of critical importance to students’ learning, and in their perception of the quality of instruction they receive. Here we report the outcomes of a study comparing the views and expectations of first year biological science undergraduate students and academic staff regarding feedback provision and utilisation. The results indicate that while students and staff are generally satisfied with the feedback process, there are some tensions generated by perceived differences in desired academic outcomes. In particular, these tensions focus on perceptions of inconsistency in the feedback processes and in the use made of feedback to inform future practice.

The increasing significance of ethics in the bioscience curriculum

This is an electronic version of an article published in Journal of Biological Education, 2008, 42 (3), pp. 99-102. Journal of Biological Education is available online at: www.tandfonline.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=0021-9266&date=2008&volume=42&issue=3&spage=99.

Introducing undergraduate students to scientific reports

Abstract The question of how and when to introduce undergraduates to primary research articles is a perennial problem. We describe here a series of exercises undertaken with Level One students as introductory training towards the reading and presentation of scientific papers at Level Three and the writing up of final year research projects. In the first exercise, students consider the structure of a scientific report and read and evaluate a given research paper. Subsequently, students are asked to imagine themselves as scientific investigators interested in a specific problem. In tutor-led group discussion, they design an experiment to investigate the problem and then individually write a report based on provided data.

An Exercise To Teach Bioscience Students about Plagiarism.

Plagiarism is an issue of increasing concern to educators, yet students are not always clear about the boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable practice. An exercise to help bioscience students make this important distinction is described.

Teaching Bioethics via the Production of Student-generated Videos

There is growing recognition that science is not conducted in a vacuum and that advances in the biosciences have ethical and social implications for the wider community. An exercise is described in which undergraduate students work in teams to produce short videos about the science and ethical dimensions of current developments in biomedicine. This activity has resulted in the generation of a large number of introductory films on a range of contemporary issues in medically related biology. The best videos are made freely available on the internet for use by any interested party. In this way, the students are not only learning about the issues for themselves, but are also producing valuable resources for enhancing public understanding of the science and ethics relating to newsworthy innovations. This task could be readily adapted for use with a broader range of topics with students in both secondary and tertiary education.

Teaching about bioethics through authoring of websites

There is growing awareness of the need to equip students to think through the ethical implications of developmentsin biology. We describe an exercise in which students work in teams to produce websites about current contro-versialissues within the subject. Participants report a significant improvement in their knowledge of bioethics and acquisition of new generic skills. Additionally, we note not only a broadening of their consciousness about suchissues, but also an increase in their use of appropriate scientific terminology. This web-authoring activity couldreadily be adapted for use with students in a broader range of disciplines at both tertiary and secondary level.

Article Revision bingo

Bingo can be a versatile and engaging tool for spicing up end‐of‐module revision and other contexts in which course content is being reviewed. Instead of numbers being called out, students are given a verbal clue that fits with one of the answers on their playing grid. Get five correct answers in any straight line (including either of the major diagonals) and they win the game. The interactive and light‐hearted medium of a bingo game can provide motivation for study and enhance learning by the students. Protein revision bingo is included as an example.

Introduction to experimental design: can you smell fear?

The ability to design appropriate experiments in order to interrogate a research question is an important skill for any scientist. The present article describes an interactive lecture‐based activity centred around a comparison of two contrasting approaches to investigation of the question Can you smell fear? A poorly designed experiment (a video clip from the TV series Brainiac science abuse) is considered alongside the methods used in a peer‐reviewed paper examining the same issue. The exercise is applicable both for students in their later years of secondary education and during the first year of a university‐level bioscience course.

Biological Basis of Behaviour

With the exception of the most involuntary of reflexes, my actions are the consequence of the processes going on within my brain. In this chapter, our focus switches to scientific approaches which offer insight into the underlying biology of behaviour. Findings emerging from recent developments in both genetics and neuroscience are considered. The strengths and weaknesses of a range of methodologies used for imaging the brain are reviewed, with particular attention given to the roles played by Electroencephalography, Positron Emission Tomography and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the study of operational brains. We reflect on the implications for “free will” of a series of experiments which appear to demonstrate brain activity prior to conscious awareness of decision. Validated examples of genes involved in behaviour are discussed, alongside the growing importance of an understanding of the molecular mechanism by which expression of “hard wired” genes can be moderated by environmental stimuli.