Summer workshop in metagenomics: one week plus eight students equals gigabases of cloned DNA

J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2011 Dec 1;12(2):120-6. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.v12i2.177. Print 2011.

Abstract

We designed a week-long laboratory workshop in metagenomics for a cohort of undergraduate student researchers. During this course, students learned and utilized molecular biology and microbiology techniques to construct a metagenomic library from Puerto Rican soil. Pre-and postworkshop assessments indicated student learning gains in technical knowledge, skills, and confidence in a research environment. Postworkshop construction of additional libraries demonstrated retention of research techniques by the students.