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Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) is an access institution with a diverse student body, located in metro Atlanta. To strengthen research skills, teach employer-valued cell biology laboratory techniques, and increase student engagement; a semester-long, inquiry-based CURE was developed and implemented in Cell Biology with Laboratory (BIOL3400K), a sophomore-level course, which serves as a "gateway" to all upper-level Biology courses. This CURE centers on the investigation of a student-chosen experimental factor on the viability of cultured, mammalian cells. Through participation in this CURE, students gain experience in cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, and viability assays, and strengthen important research skills, such as literature searches, graphing, and data analyses. The impact of this CURE on student learning gains and attitudes was assessed using a pre-/post- content exams and the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS). Our data show that all students made significant content gains. Female students made larger learning gains than male students. Additionally, minority students performed better than majority students in some content areas. Student attitudes did not change, or in some cases were slightly more negative after the CURE. Overall, this CURE had a positive impact on students by engaging them in an inquiry-based laboratory experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) is an access institution with a diverse student body, located in metro Atlanta. To strengthen research skills, teach employer-valued cell biology laboratory techniques, and increase student engagement; a semester-long, inquiry-based CURE was developed and implemented in Cell Biology with Laboratory (BIOL3400K), a sophomore-level course, which serves as a "gateway" to all upper-level Biology courses. This CURE centers on the investigation of a student-chosen experimental factor on the viability of cultured, mammalian cells. Through participation in this CURE, students gain experience in cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, and viability assays, and strengthen important research skills, such as literature searches, graphing, and data analyses. The impact of this CURE on student learning gains and attitudes was assessed using a pre-/post- content exams and the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey (CLASS). Our data show that all students made significant content gains. Female students made larger learning gains than male students. Additionally, minority students performed better than majority students in some content areas. Student attitudes did not change, or in some cases were slightly more negative after the CURE. Overall, this CURE had a positive impact on students by engaging them in an inquiry-based laboratory experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherited bacterial symbionts have played, and are continuing to play, pivotal evolutionary roles in the history of life on earth. One of the most consequential bacterial symbionts in the world currently is an alpha-proteobacterium in the genus Wolbachia. Among insects, Wolbachia is generally considered a reproductive parasite that manipulates host reproduction to ensure its evolutionary success. The mode of host manipulation has been studied in a large number of host species, and infection phenotypes range from various forms of sex ratio distortion to bacterially induced reproductive isolation. Mosquito species are known to be infected with Wolbachia that induce reproductive isolation via a process known as cytoplasmic incompatibility. The evolutionary consequences of Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility are potentially extreme for host insect species, and include effects such as reduced genetic variation and speciation. Mosquito species in the Atlanta metropolitan area were sampled and tested for Wolbachia infection. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear, mitochondrial, and Wolbachia genes for collected mosquito species suggest several evolutionary effects of infection. Reduced mitochondrial genetic diversity was observed among sampled Aedes albopictus. Discordant nuclear-mitochondrial phylogenies among mosquito species was also observed and suggest a possible evolutionary effect of Wolbachia infection on patterns of mitochondrial evolution. Statistical analyses of molecular evolution suggest an elevated rate of substitution among certain Wolbachia-infected mosquito species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]