The experimental teaching reform in biochemistry and molecular biology for undergraduate students in Peking University Health Science Center

Abstract

Since 2010, second-year undergraduate students of an eight-year training program leading to a Doctor of Medicine degree or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC) have been required to enter the "Innovative talent training project." During that time, the students joined a research lab and participated in some original research work. There is a critical educational need to prepare these students for the increasing accessibility of research experience. The redesigned experimental curriculum of biochemistry and molecular biology was developed to fulfill such a requirement, which keeps two original biochemistry experiments (Gel filtration and Enzyme kinetics) and adds a new two-experiment component called "Analysis of anti-tumor drug induced apoptosis." The additional component, also known as the "project-oriented experiment" or the "comprehensive experiment," consists of Western blotting and a DNA laddering assay to assess the effects of etoposide (VP16) on the apoptosis signaling pathways. This reformed laboratory teaching system aims to enhance the participating students overall understanding of important biological research techniques and the instrumentation involved, and to foster a better understanding of the research process all within a classroom setting. Student feedback indicated that the updated curriculum helped them improve their operational and self-learning capability, and helped to increase their understanding of theoretical knowledge and actual research processes, which laid the groundwork for their future research work.

Incorporation of classical scientific research stories into traditional lecture classes to promote the active learning of students

“…Biochemistry is an important curriculum for all medical students. Biochemistry courses in Peking University Health Science Center have now been taught by means of lectures, laboratory‐based exercises 1 and problem‐based learning organized by the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department. The traditional lecture course integrates an introduction to the structure of macromolecules and a biochemical approach to cellular function, aiming to establish the principles and base knowledge of biochemistry in order to build the understanding of living things at the molecular level.…”