Fungi as a teaching tool for solving constraints of practical training on genetics

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03169
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09080:Science education-related
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: Itoh Yasuo 信州大学, 学術研究院総合人間科学系, 准教授 (70283231)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小山 茂喜 信州大学, 学術研究院総合人間科学系, 教授 (10452145)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 理科教育 / 実習・実験 / 遺伝リテラシー / 交配 / 子のう菌類 / アスペルギルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to improve genetic literacy by creating a "practice protocol that enables students to realize how traits determined by genes are transmitted through generations" and implementing it in junior high schools, high schools, and universities.
As a result of the practical training, we were able to elicit key words such as "surprised" and "unexpected" from many students and teachers, in response to the various constraints faced in each situation. In addition, at the junior high school, it was observed that students who had not shown motivation in their usual classes were enthusiastic about the program.
However, the growth temperature is an issue for the popular practice of this protocol, and selection of stains that maintain growth rate at room temperature is underway.

Free Research Field

分子遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によって，中学校での遺伝の学習と並行して交配と後代の観察を行うための実習計画を確立できた。さらに，内容を後代の分離比の統計的解析や連鎖，組換えの観察まで拡張し，大学の教養科目での実習としても十分な質を備えたものとなった。受講生の反応やアンケート調査の結果から，中学生から大学生まで年代を問わず，生き物に触れ，観察した際の驚きを通じて遺伝現象への関心を誘導できることが示された。また，他の生物の生活環との関連や生化学実習への接続等，様々な実習のハブにもなる。近年のICTの発展により，学校は聴講の場から経験の場へと変貌しつつある。その点で，本研究は他の教材の開発と整備の端緒となるものである。