In order to challenge our undergraduate students’ enduring misconception that plants, animals, and fungi must be “advanced” and that other eukaryotes traditionally called protists must be “primitive,” we have developed a 24-hour take-home guided inquiry and investigation of live Physarum cultures. The experiment replicates recent peer-reviewed research regarding speed–accuracy tradeoffs and reliably produces data with which students explore key biological concepts and practice essential scientific competencies. It requires minimal resources and can be adapted for high school students or more independent student investigations. We present statistical analyses of data from four semesters and provide examples of our strategies for student engagement and assessment.
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March 2014
Research Article|
March 01 2014
Guiding Student Inquiry into Eukaryotic Organismal Biology Using the Plasmodial Slime Mold Physarum polycephalum
Andrea Weeks,
Andrea Weeks
1ANDREA WEEKS (aweeks3@gmu.edu) is Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, BEVERLY BACHMAN (bbachman@masonlive.gmu.edu) and SARAH JOSWAY (sjosway@masonlive.gmu.edu) are Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Biology Undergraduate Program, ARNDT F. LAEMMERZAHL (alaemmer@gmu.edu) is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Undergraduate Program, and BRITTANY NORTH (bnorth3@masonlive.gmu.edu) is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Biology Undergraduate Program, all at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030.
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Beverly Bachman,
Beverly Bachman
1ANDREA WEEKS (aweeks3@gmu.edu) is Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, BEVERLY BACHMAN (bbachman@masonlive.gmu.edu) and SARAH JOSWAY (sjosway@masonlive.gmu.edu) are Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Biology Undergraduate Program, ARNDT F. LAEMMERZAHL (alaemmer@gmu.edu) is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Undergraduate Program, and BRITTANY NORTH (bnorth3@masonlive.gmu.edu) is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Biology Undergraduate Program, all at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030.
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Sarah Josway,
Sarah Josway
1ANDREA WEEKS (aweeks3@gmu.edu) is Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, BEVERLY BACHMAN (bbachman@masonlive.gmu.edu) and SARAH JOSWAY (sjosway@masonlive.gmu.edu) are Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Biology Undergraduate Program, ARNDT F. LAEMMERZAHL (alaemmer@gmu.edu) is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Undergraduate Program, and BRITTANY NORTH (bnorth3@masonlive.gmu.edu) is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Biology Undergraduate Program, all at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030.
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Arndt F. Laemmerzahl,
Arndt F. Laemmerzahl
1ANDREA WEEKS (aweeks3@gmu.edu) is Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, BEVERLY BACHMAN (bbachman@masonlive.gmu.edu) and SARAH JOSWAY (sjosway@masonlive.gmu.edu) are Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Biology Undergraduate Program, ARNDT F. LAEMMERZAHL (alaemmer@gmu.edu) is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Undergraduate Program, and BRITTANY NORTH (bnorth3@masonlive.gmu.edu) is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Biology Undergraduate Program, all at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030.
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Brittany North
Brittany North
1ANDREA WEEKS (aweeks3@gmu.edu) is Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, BEVERLY BACHMAN (bbachman@masonlive.gmu.edu) and SARAH JOSWAY (sjosway@masonlive.gmu.edu) are Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Biology Undergraduate Program, ARNDT F. LAEMMERZAHL (alaemmer@gmu.edu) is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Undergraduate Program, and BRITTANY NORTH (bnorth3@masonlive.gmu.edu) is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Biology Undergraduate Program, all at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030.
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The American Biology Teacher (2014) 76 (3): 196–200.
Citation
Andrea Weeks, Beverly Bachman, Sarah Josway, Arndt F. Laemmerzahl, Brittany North; Guiding Student Inquiry into Eukaryotic Organismal Biology Using the Plasmodial Slime Mold Physarum polycephalum. The American Biology Teacher 1 March 2014; 76 (3): 196–200. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2014.76.3.8
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