How to teach students of medical and biological sciences electrophoresis in the spirit of physical chemistry — a laboratory exercise scenario
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Gel electrophoresis is one of the most important and most widely used tools in biomedical sciences. However, when students are acquainted with these techniques, information related to practical applications often neglects the physicochemical foundations of the occurring phenomena. The following article proposes a laboratory exercises scenario conducted in the problem-solving and decision-making strategies, which aims to familiarize beginner students with the physicochemical basis of electrophoresis in a simple and accessible way. By analyzing the scheme presented, students will gain knowledge of the basic sciences, as they will learn about the advantages and limitations of the method in addition to its applications. The experiments are designed in a way that allows students to draw conclusions about the parameters affecting the electrophoresis process and the sources of obvious errors. Moreover, the use of simple ionic dyes eliminates the need for complex apparatus and toxic reagents, which may be harmful. The main outcome of the class is to develop students' skill to design their own simple experiments using this commonly used technique.
Source: Folia Medica Cracoviensia
Institution: Jagiellonian University
Language: English
Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4402900310