{"id":984,"date":"2008-09-19T08:40:10","date_gmt":"2008-09-19T13:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/?p=984"},"modified":"2008-09-19T16:41:27","modified_gmt":"2008-09-19T21:41:27","slug":"genes-to-cognition-at-the-dolan-dna-learning-ctr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/?p=984","title":{"rendered":"Genes to Cognition at the Dolan DNA Learning Ctr"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nThis post is meant to inform those unable to attend the Dolan DNA Learning Center<\/a> workshop at the Stowers Institute on Genes to Cognition<\/strong>.\u00a0 This is a site that you will want to delve into when you have a bit of time on your hands.\u00a0 Well, that is if you are interested in learning\u00a0and teaching\u00a0about the connect between genes, cognitive behaviors, and their related brain disorders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The student-friendly essential question that this site helps students and teachers to explore is, “What good is a brain?”\u00a0<\/p>\n

In all honesty, the site reminds\u00a0me of Thomas Huxley’s book\u00a0The Crayfish<\/em> through which he demonstrates that the subject of zoology could be taught via a single model organism.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a similar manner, Genes to Cognition facilitates the teaching of biology at all levels of complexity,\u00a0from the\u00a0molecular communication\u00a0networks of our cells\u00a0to the behaviors that emerge from their collective actions.\u00a0 At the same time, students will realize that there are numerous unanswered scientific questions awaiting research.<\/p>\n

Having had little time to digest the material presented, I currently don’t know\u00a0where I will integrate\u00a0Genes to Cognition\u00a0into my courses but “What good is a brain?” it is quite an appropriate question for students to ask and begin to explore.\u00a0 The site is presented\u00a0from a perspective that,\u00a0on one hand acknowledges the importance of the reductionist approach, while fostering the burgeoning systems based perspective.<\/p>\n

Genes to Cognition Website<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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The site is divided into three sections including Disorders, Cognitive Processes, and Research Approaches.\u00a0 Like the DNAi website, it uses flash to provide a number of resources.\u00a0 There\u00a0are\u00a0texts, interactive animations, and one-on-one videos\u00a0with important researchers in the field.\u00a0 Some of the animated interactive activities are experimental in nature.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Once\u00a0you choose a particular section on the website, there are two main means of navigation.\u00a0 One is the subway line navigation along the top (like bread crumbs)\u00a0that follows a more chronological traditional story line\u00a0through genes, biochemicals, cells, brain anatomy, cognition, and the environment.\u00a0 The other means of\u00a0navigation is through\u00a0a more open ended network (concept map) approach in the main window ot the screen.\u00a0 If you get lost you can always click on the Genes to Cognition icon in the upper lefthand corner to return to the home page.<\/p>\n

For a good example of\u00a0their interactive experimental animations, click\u00a0Sap102<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and simulate\u00a0the experiments on memory in swimming mice that have had the Sap102 gene knocked out, or\u00a0click Fly School<\/a> <\/strong>and try to train fruit flies to remember an association between a particular odor and shock.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the site also incorporates links to external research websites like PubMed, NCBI, etc…\u00a0so there is a seemless connection\u00a0between the Genes to Cognition\u00a0content\u00a0and the world of active biological research.\u00a0\u00a0There is also\u00a0a teacher feature<\/a> area where one can access pdf files for lessons, and a 3D brain that helps with underlying brain anatomy.<\/p>\n

The site is still under\u00a0construction and\u00a0their\u00a0target for full functionality is January 2008.\u00a0 If you don’t want to waste time navigating an unfinished site you can take a sneak peek of two resources through the home page of the Dolan DNA Learning Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Supplemental Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

Below\u00a0are resources that participants mentioned during the workshop.<\/p>\n

Websites <\/em><\/p>\n