THE EFFECTS OF A KNOWLEDGE BASE ON THE LOGICAL REASONING OF STUDENTS IN THE FIRST-SEMESTER ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LECTURE

poster abstractWhile several studies have been conducted on the correlation be-tween gains in students’ individual reasoning ability and using web-based learning tools, this is the first investigation of the effect of use of an online knowledge base on students reasoning ability in organic chemistry. The IUPUI Chemistry Knowledge Base (chemkb.cs.iupui.edu) was developed to provide a supplemental prob-lem-solving tool and information repository for organic chemistry lec-ture students. An initial Group Assessment of Logical Thinking (GALT) test was given to establish a baseline of students’ reasoning ability and to form comparable group populations. The experimental group of stu-dents was encouraged to use the knowledge base and the control group of students was given no treatment. The GALT test was modified and re-administered to determine any potential gains in logical reason-ing ability. Two content specific tools, a written quiz and a group solved workshop problem, were used to determine content oriented reasoning and problem-solving between experimental and control groups. Statistical analysis of correlations between initial logical rea-soning ability, exposure to the knowledge base, and performance on the administered tools will be presented. 1Department of Computer Information and Leadership Technology, Indiana Universi-ty Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202 This study was sponsored by the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Institute (MURI

Creating class I MHC-null pigs using guide RNA and the Cas9 endonuclease

Pigs are emerging as important large animal models for biomedical research, and they may represent a source of organs for xenotransplantation. The MHC is pivotal to the function of the immune system in health and disease, and it is particularly important in infection and transplant rejection. Pigs deficient in class I MHC could serve as important reagents to study viral immunity as well as allograft and xenograft rejection. In this study, we report the creation and characterization of class I MHC knockout pigs using the Cas9 nuclease and guide RNAs. Pig fetal fibroblasts were genetically engineered using Cas9 and guide RNAs, and class I MHC(-) cells were then used as nuclear donors for somatic cell nuclear transfer. We produced three piglets devoid of all cell surface class I proteins. Although these animals have reduced levels of CD4(-)CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood, the pigs appear healthy and are developing normally. These pigs are a promising reagent for immunological research