What is Microarray Technology?

From Inside Cancer Wiki

Lesson Overview

This is an activity to introduce students to microarray technology using online animations.

Goals and Objectives

In their study of cancer diagnosis and treatment, students will visit websites that animate the general protocol for micrarray technology and prepare a concept map that address the question, "What is microarray assay?.

Assumptions of Prior Knowledge

Students should have exposure to content dealing with the following content: Signal transduction mechanisms Mitosis Respiration vs. Fermentation Protein synthsis

The Lesson

Preparation Before class: (materials, handouts etc.)

Reserve a computer (portable) computer lab for your students to use. Collect large white boards and markers for concept mapping

During class

1.Collect information about students preconceptions of cell signaling (Activate prior knowledge)

a. Use large white boards and have students work in pairs to draw out what they remember of transduction pathways.

b. Have several pairs share with the larger group, asking observers to add what they can.

2. Students use the inside cancer http://www.insidecancer.org [1] site and navigate through the Pathology portion of the Diagnosis and Treatment segment.

a. Strategy to use: "Multimedia and Say Something" for Pathology segment. Instruct students to watch each slide, turn to their table partner and share something that they noticed from the slide. They could ask a question, summarize, think of examples, make connections to other topics we have studied, etc...

3. Students use the inside cancer http://www.insidecancer.org [2] site and navigate through the Pharmacogenetics portion of the Diagnosis and Treatment segment.

a. During this portion, students should also be directed to another website with a second microarray animation from Davidson University http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/genomics/chip/chip.html [3] to enhance the inside cancer site.

b. Students work in groups and their goal is to create a concept map that address the question, What is a microarray assay? http://sm.dev.dnalc.org/ [4]

c. Exit Ticket: As you think about all you have learned about microarrays, what are some of the possible ways that you could analyze this image?

Time required

90 Minutes