Integration of biology, mathematics and computing in the classroom through the creation and repeated use of transdisciplinary modules.

The integration of biology with mathematics and computer science mandates the training of students capable of comfortably navigating among these fields. We address this formidable pedagogical challenge with the creation of transdisciplinary modules that guide students toward solving realistic problems with methods from different disciplines. Knowledge is gradually integrated as the same topic is revisited in biology, mathematics, and computer science courses. We illustrate this process with a module on the homeostasis and dynamic regulation of red blood cell production, which was first implemented in an introductory biology course and will be revisited in the mathematics and computer science curricula.

What is the impact of aminoglycoside exposure on soil and plant root-associated microbiota? A systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Aminoglycosides are potent bactericidal antibiotics naturally produced by soil microorganisms and are commonly used in agriculture. Exposure to these antibiotics has the potential to cause shifts in the microorganisms that impact plant health. The systematic review described in this protocol will compile and synthesize literature on soil and plant root-associated microbiota, with special attention to aminoglycoside exposure. The systematic review should provide insight into how the soil and plant microbiota are impacted by aminoglycoside exposure with specific attention to the changes in the overall species richness and diversity (microbial composition), changes of the resistome (i.e. the changes in the quantification of resistance genes), and maintenance of plant health through suppression of pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, the proposed contribution will provide comprehensive information about data available to guide future primary research studies. This systematic review protocol is based on the question, "What is the impact of aminoglycoside exposure on the soil and plant root-associated microbiota?". METHODS: A boolean search of academic databases and specific websites will be used to identify research articles, conference presentations and grey literature meeting the search criteria. All search results will be compiled and duplicates removed before title and abstract screening. Two reviewers will screen all the included titles and abstracts using a set of predefined inclusion criteria. Full-texts of all titles and abstracts meeting the eligibility criteria will be screened independently by two reviewers. Inclusion criteria will describe the eligible soil and plant root-associated microbiome populations of interest and eligible aminoglycosides constituting our exposure. Study validity will be evaluated using the CEE Critical Appraisal Tool Version 0.2 (Prototype) to evaluate the risk of bias in publications. Data from studies with a low risk of bias will be extracted and compiled into a narrative synthesis and summarized into tables and figures. If sufficient evidence is available, findings will be used to perform a meta-analysis.

Broadening the impact of plant science through innovative, integrative, and inclusive outreach.

Population growth and climate change will impact food security and potentially exacerbate the environmental toll that agriculture has taken on our planet. These existential concerns demand that a passionate, interdisciplinary, and diverse community of plant science professionals is trained during the 21st century. Furthermore, societal trends that question the importance of science and expert knowledge highlight the need to better communicate the value of rigorous fundamental scientific exploration. Engaging students and the general public in the wonder of plants, and science in general, requires renewed efforts that take advantage of advances in technology and new models of funding and knowledge dissemination. In November 2018, funded by the National Science Foundation through the Arabidopsis Research and Training for the 21st century (ART 21) research coordination network, a symposium and workshop were held that included a diverse panel of students, scientists, educators, and administrators from across the US. The purpose of the workshop was to re-envision how outreach programs are funded, evaluated, acknowledged, and shared within the plant science community. One key objective was to generate a roadmap for future efforts. We hope that this document will serve as such, by providing a comprehensive resource for students and young faculty interested in developing effective outreach programs. We also anticipate that this document will guide the formation of community partnerships to scale up currently successful outreach programs, and lead to the design of future programs that effectively engage with a more diverse student body and citizenry.

Barley Anther Culture.

The production of doubled haploid (DH) barley plants through anther culture is a very useful yet simple in vitro technique. DH plants derive from divisions of haploid microspores that have undergone a developmental switch under the appropriate conditions. The successive divisions lead to the formation of an embryo or callus rather than the formation of mature pollen grains. Plants that regenerate from these embryos are often either haploid, in which case their chromosome set can be doubled by treatment with colchicine, or spontaneous double haploids. The efficiency of DH plant production is highly variable depending on the genotype of the source material. Despite this limitation, DH plants have been widely used in breeding and research programs. Compared to conventional approaches, breeding strategies that makes use of DH plants achieve a homozygous state, allowing transgene or mutation stabilization in the genome, within a considerably shorter time, thus accelerating workflow or reducing work volume.

Laser-induced fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy of GFP transgenic plants.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and other fluorescent protein bioreporters can be used to monitor transgenes in plants. GFP is a valuable marker for transgene presence and expression, but remote sensing instrumentation for stand-off detection has lagged behind fluorescent protein marker biotechnology. However, both biology and photonics are needed for the monitoring technology to be fully realized. In this paper, we describe laser-induced fluorescence imaging and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of GFP-transgenic plants in ambient light towards the application of remote sensing of transgenic plants producing GFP.