"BioCore"

In 2010 with the publication of the National Science Foundation's landmark "Vision & Change" and the National Research Council's "Bio2010" reports, experts at both the NSF and NRC called once again for universities to change from the old ways of teaching introductory biology courses. A mountain of research evidence showed those ways did not work well while modern reformed teaching approaches clearly worked better. Ever since, the Biology faculty at Lyman Briggs College have joined in a national effort pursuing the new goals to have students practice (do science) like professionals rather than just memorize it from textbooks, as well as to mix the topics traditionally taught separately, the "small" biology exclusively taught in cell & molecular courses and "big" biology discussed separately, only in organismal courses. At LBC we call this effort "BioCore" and was first implemented as full year experiences in 2014-2015 and 2016-2017, then even as single-semester experiences in 2019 and after. It is supported by related research projects like Peter White and Jim Smith's Evo-Ed and LBCs BRAID.

The "BioCore cohort 3" of students was slightly different than prior groups. It was intentionally smaller, limited to just 48 students, and as a result the professor could be present not only in lecture but also in all labs/all the time with students. In addition, for the first time, this semester included a new molecular component added to the laboratory. This year student research teams could design and pursue a semester-long research experiment that interweaved both organismal and molecular biology, all just in Bio 1 (LB144)...

...in lecture (and outside of class) teams of students first studied the literature on animal communication behavior and identified publication(s) that contained methods they wished to replicate when examining their own research organisms. They then applied those professional methods to examine a set of behaviors in terrestrial animals, as well as looked for a homologous behavior in humans. After collecting data in the field for 7 weeks, students were then provided the option to either just continue to only collect data in the field for the next 7 weeks, or to do that as well as learn to use PCR and gel electrophoresis in the lab to identify a potential gene linked to the behavior. All 48 students chose to both continue to work in the field as well as participate in the molecular option (for no extra points or rewards whatsoever!).



Student Bio 1 Research Project examples
(BioCore cohort 3.0, n=48 students)

Student-authored research manuscripts and final documentary films
All student groups also learned HTML and hand-coded their own websites, some used animated gifs and sound files in their figure section. Each group also created a final manuscript, a short documentary film to communicate the findings of their gene-to-behavior studies (for films, see links to YouTube, often at the bottom of each group's website). NOTE: To support blind grading students replaced their names with codes. Some students may have forgotten to reveals their names on the final manuscripts online.


Student websites reporting their findings at the end of the independent investigations

Studying bird communication (and homologous human behaviors) linked to genes

birds and OXT: Observing Homologous Behavior Through OXT/AVP Genes between Birds and Humans to Auditory and Visual Cues of Predators

Studying duck communication (and homologous human behaviors) linked to genes

ducks and COMT: Natural Observation of Negative Social Behaviors in Mallard Ducks and Humans Due to Stress and COMT Presence

ducks and DRD4: Mallard Ducks and Humans Elicit Highest Response to Multisensory Stimuli Due to DRD4 Gene

ducks and GnRH1: Playback vocalizations reveal behaviors of sexual selection in mallards and humans due to GNRH-1 gene

ducks and NRSF: Playback and Sudden Movement Tests Displayed Different Fear Responses in Humans and Ducks Due to the NRSF Protein

ducks and PMNT: How Mallard and American Black Duck Similar Response Patterns to Playback Sounds are Linked with Predation

ducks and SLC26A5: Discovery of Similar Reactions to Varied Frequencies of Human and Mallards Related to SLC26A5 Gene via Playback Sound

Studying squirrel communication (and homologous human behaviors) linked to genes

squirrels-ADRB2: Fox Squirrels and Humans Show Homologous Responses During Playback of Predatory Auditory Fight or Flight Stimuli.

squirrels-DRD1: Observed Satiated Behaviors in Fox Squirrels that Parallel Humans Using E-Cigarettes Correlated to DRD1 Gene.

squirrels-DRD4: Discovering Similar Attention Spans of Humans and Sciurus Niger Due to Gene DRD4 Through Observational Experiment

squirrels-STMN1: Playback Experiment Demonstrates how Fox Squirrels (Sciurus Niger) and Humans React to Threats in Different Areas


Student Bio 1 Research Projects examples
"BioCore" (cohort 2.0, n=111 students):
"BioCore cohort 2" student research teams could design and begin a full year-long research experiment. This was part of the second offering of the BioCore curriculum and this semester included an aligned new renovated laboratory for Bio 1 (LB144). This semester teams of students first studied the literature on animal behavior and identified publication(s) with methods they wished to replicate when examining their own research organisms. They then applied those published methods to examine a set of behaviors in an avian or aquatic animal, as well as looked for a homologous behavior in humans. This project also required students to identify a potential gene linked to the behavior that they could then examine during the next semester, Biology II (LB145) and propose studies to evaluate it at the molecular level. NOTE: Student work was graded in a blinded environment, so instructors did not know who's paper they were grading. To support blind grading students replaced their names with codes. Some students may have forgotten to reveals their names on the final manuscripts online.

Three sample documentary films
(direct link to mp4 files)
Aussie Squirrels, "Channeling Jane Goodall," Lennons Ducks
All student groups also learned HTML and hand-coded their own websites, some used animated gifs and sound files in their figure section. Each group also created a short documentary film, limited to 5-minutes in length, to communicate the findings of their animal behavior studies (in addition to these three samples, see links to YouTube, often at the bottom of each group's website).


Student websites reporting their findings at the end of the independent investigations (the first semester of the two-term BioCore)

Studying native bird behavior at feeding stations (and homologous human behaviors) linked to genes

goldfinch-soundpollution: Video Captured Increase in Homo Sapien and Spinus tristis call repetition due to increased noise pollution.

birds-aggressive playback: Playback of Predator calls in Mixed Birds in Ingham County and a MSU Fraternity Resulting in Correlated Behaviors

birds-agonistic behavior: Observational study showing agonistic behavior of Midwestern birds and humans related to temperature variation.

birds-harm avoidance: An Observational Study of Maladaptive Behaviors in Avian and Human Populations due to Urban Environments

birds-social eating: Observational study of social eating behaviors in humans and midwestern birds due to the OXT gene

chickadee-aggression: Cross-Sectional Study of Increased Aggression in P. atricapillus by NPY Protein Expression when Competing for Food.

chickadee-agressive-behavior: Observational Study Showing Vocal and Physical Aggression in Chickadees and Humans due to Intruders

chickadee-communication: Audio analysis finds geography affects pitch, length, and syllables of Poecile atricapillus and Homo sapiens speech

chickadee-urgency call: Observational/Predator Playback Study Finds Homologous Urgency Behavior in Poecile atricapillus and Homo sapiens

Studying aquatic fish or crayfish behavior in aquariums (and homologous human behaviors) linked to genes

crayfish-dominance: Studying how surroundings affect Procambarus clarkii dominance through controlled observational experiments.

darters-stress: Observing the Fright Response of Etheostoma Blennioides When Exposed to Unfamiliar Sounds.

ducks-aggression: Observation of Fight or Flight Communication Methods Displayed by Mallard Ducks and Humans due to Genes SRY and SOX9.

fish-aggression: Aquaria Observations of Increased Aggressive Behaviors in Actinopterygii and Humans

fish-betta-aggression: Observation of Betta Splendens in Varying Habitats and Their Role on Increasing Aggressive Behaviors.

fish-stress behavior: Observations of Fish Interspecific Interactions as the Cause of Color Changing and Behavioral Stress Responses in the Blue Ram Cichlid

Studying mallard duck behavior on Red Cedar River (and homologous human behaviors) linked to genes

mallard-courtship: Observing an Increase in Three Courtship Behaviors Initiated by Male Mallards Using Video Recordings.

mallards-attention responses: Homologous Communications of Human and Mallard Ducks: Increased Attention Responses to Sex Specific Playback Calls.

mallards-frequencies: Video Recording of Human and Mallard Duck Response Rate Which Increase with Higher Environmental Sound Frequencies.

mallards-headturning: Video Capture Shows Group Communication Through Increased Head Tossing in Mallard Ducks & Humans with Similar Gene.

mallards-matingbehaviors: Video Capture Reveals the Function of the DRD4 Gene Through Common Mating Techniques of Male Mallard Ducks and Humans.

Studying native squirrel behavior on/near campus sites (and homologous human behaviors) linked to genes

squirrel-antipredator: Playback Study of Anti-Predator Behavior in Urban Fox Squirrels and Humans Revealed Habituation Linked to STMN1 Gene.

squirrel-desensitization: Audio playback demonstrates reliance on visual communication in social settings in fox squirrels and humans

squirrel-fearresponse: Video Capture of Fox Squirrel Behavior Due to Three Different Human Actions Causing Specific Reactions.

squirrel-FID: Decreased mean flight initiation distance recorded in feeding fox squirrels and humans at Michigan State University.

squirrel-foraging: Predator Playback Shows Habituation of Eastern Fox Squirrels Prioritizing Foraging Over Vigilance.

squirrel-learned vs instinctual: Eastern Fox Squirrels and Humans have the PNMT gene but React Differently to Potential Predator Stimuli.

squirrel-predator reactions: Fox Squirrel’s Reaction Playback Sounds of Predators Shows Similarity to Humans Due to Similar Genes.

squirrel-tail behavior: Observed Defense Response Behavior in Fox Squirrels in Urban and Rural Setting Correlates to Human Behavior in Danger.

squirrel-tail position: Nonverbal Communication Observed to Classify Dominant Fox Squirrels and Humans Rooted in FOXP2 Gene.