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This article accompanies the lesson "The ACTN3 Polymorphism: Applications in Genetics and Physiology Teaching Laboratories." Learning objectives for the lesson include:

1. Test hypotheses related to the role of ACTN3 in skeletal muscle function.
2. Explain how polymorphic variants of the ACTN3 gene affect protein structure and function.
3. List and explain the differences between fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers.
4. List and explain possible roles of the ACTN3 protein in skeletal muscle function.
5. Find and analyze relevant scientific publications about the relationship between ACTN3 genotype and muscle function.
6. Formulate hypotheses related to the relationship between ACTN3 genotype and skeletal muscle function.
7. Design experiments to test hypotheses about the role of ACTN3 in skeletal muscle function.
8. Statistically analyze experimental results using relevant software.
9. Present experimental results in writing.

TAs will be able to:

• design small classroom activities
• design fair quiz and exam questions
• use rubrics to grade assignments fairly and in a timely manner
• offer constructive, actionable feedback on student written work
• compare and contrast context-specific strategies for dealing with student problems
• compare and contrast context-specific time management strategies
• discuss the importance of diversity, evaluate their own implicit biases, and discuss how these could impact their teaching
• compare and contrast different methods of summarizing teaching experience on job application materials
• evaluate their teaching in a reflective manner to develop future teaching goals

Students will be able to:

• Describe the relationship of cells, chromosomes, and DNA.
• Isolate DNA from strawberries.
• Digest DNA with restriction enzymes.
• Perform gel electrophoresis.
• Design an experiment to compare DNAs by RFLP analysis.
• Predict results of RFLP analysis.
• Interpret results of RFLP analysis.
• Use appropriate safety procedures in the lab.

Students will be able to:

• Construct written predictions about 1 factor experiments.
• Interpret simple (2 variables) figures.
• Construct simple (2 variables) figures from data.
• Design simple 1 factor experiments with appropriate controls.
• Demonstrate proper use of standard laboratory items, including a two-stop pipette, stereomicroscope, and laboratory notebook.
• Calculate means and standard deviations.
• Given some scaffolding (instructions), select the correct statistical test for a data set, be able to run a t-test, ANOVA, chi-squared test, and linear regression in Microsoft Excel, and be able to correctly interpret their results.
• Construct and present a scientific poster.

Students will be able to:

• Apply findings from each week's lesson to make predictions and informed hypotheses about the next week's lesson.
• Keep a detailed laboratory notebook.
• Write and peer-edit the sections of a scientific paper, and collaboratively write an entire lab report in the form of a scientific research paper.
• Search for, find, and read scientific research papers.
• Work together as a team to conduct experiments.
• Connect findings and ideas from each week's lesson to get a broader understanding of how plants will respond to higher levels of CO2 (e.g., stomatal density, photosynthetic/respiratory rates, foliar protein concentrations, growth, and resource allocation).

Note: Additional, more specific objectives are included with each of the four lessons (Supporting Files S1-S4)