Educational Resources

Overview

Humans have been fascinated by what exists beyond our skies for centuries, as documented across cultures and timelines in history. While the ability to explore has improved vastly, NASA’s interest in going deeper into space, especially with human-crewed flight, is dependent upon an understanding of space biology in order to mitigate health risks to space explorers. Space biology refers to the study of the effects of spaceflight conditions, ranging from factors such as microgravity, cosmic radiation, nutrition, confinement, light cycles, and more on organisms. In order to gain such biological insights, NASA uses model organisms and biological techniques such as Omics analyses.

A model organism is a non-human species that is used to study biological processes, usually in laboratory experimentation. Model organisms tend to have a short generation time yet are able to be used as comparisons to humans. Common examples of model organisms used in spaceflight studies include fruit flies, certain types of fish, worms, plants (Arabidposis thaliana) and rodents such as mice. For studies of cellular behavior, yeast is also a common model organism.

In general, omics analyses involve a collective set of information all of which can be used to paint a more complete picture of how spaceflight affects biology at the molecular level. A few examples of omics analyses include:

• Genomics – an examination of the genome or DNA of an organism.
• Transcriptomics – an examination of the transcriptome or RNA genetic code. One method of analyzing the transcriptome is called RNA sequencing (RNAseq), where gene expression can be processed, quantified, and analyzed. This is the primary focus for the GeneLab educational resources.
• Proteomics – a large-scale study of the proteins in an organism.

GeneLab has created educational resources that are publicly available to help drive research and invite educators along with their students at various skill levels to perform real RNAseq analysis. Open science enables accessibility to an audience that might otherwise not have their own methods of data acquisition through wet labs or experimentation yet have talents or interests in the field. For young scientists, these also provide early career exploration opportunities to allow for effective professional preparation. The educational programs provided by GeneLab include the GeneLab for High Schools Internship (GL4HS) and the GeneLab for Colleges and Universities (GL4U). Here, we describe both programs and provide educational resources that can be used by both educators and students.

GeneLab for Universities (GL4U)

GL4U is designed by NASA GeneLab in collaboration with the GeneLab Educational Working Group (EWG) to provide space biology-relevant training in bioinformatics to the next generation of scientists through direct and indirect approaches. The GeneLab team plans to host two annual data processing bootcamps, one for college-level students (direct) and one for college educators (indirect – training of trainers), for each type of omics data hosted on the GeneLab Data Repository. During the bootcamps, participants will learn about space biology, experimental design, data generation and associated technology usage, and perform hands-on analysis of space-relevant omics data using GeneLab’s standard processing pipelines. During the indirect bootcamp, educators will receive materials and training to enable them to run the direct bootcamp at their home institutions or alternatively to adapt the content to implement within existing college courses, thereby extending the reach of this initiative to more students.

Previous GL4U Bootcamps:

• GL4U: Pilot RNAseq Student Bootcamp – In June 2021, GL4U partnered with San Jose State University (SJSU) and Universities Space Research Association (USRA) to host the pilot GL4U: RNAseq Student bootcamp for SJSU undergraduate students. All content from the bootcamp including links to video recordings from the bootcamp are publicly available on GitHub.
• GL4U: Pilot RNAseq Educator Bootcamp – In June 2022, GL4U partnered with Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Planetary Protection Center of Excellence to host the pilot GL4U: RNAseq Educator bootcamp for professors and graduate student teaching assistants from 4 different HBCUs and MSIs. All content from the bootcamp including links to video recordings from the bootcamp are publicly available on GitHub.
• GL4U: Pilot Amplicon Seq Student Bootcamp – In July 2023, GL4U partnered with Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Planetary Protection Center of Excellence and California State University, LA to host the first in-person GL4U: Amplicon Seq bootcamp for CSULA undergraduate and graduate students. All content from the bootcamp is publicly available on GitHub.

Upcoming GL4U Bootcamps:

• Virtual GL4U: RNAseq Bootcamp (coming August 2024) – This bootcamp will cover the on-demand GL4U: Introduction and RNAseq modules (currently in development)

Sign up for the GL4U Mailing List:

• Stay up-to-date on future GL4U events / bootcamps.
• Send an e-mail to GL4U-join@lists.nasa.gov with the Subject: subscribe

GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) Summer Internship

Overview: Teaching the Next Generation of Scientists

GeneLab for High Schools is a summer intensive internship for fifteen high school students selected from an applicant pool of rising juniors or seniors. The program provides an introduction to space biology and methods associated with bioinformatics analysis. Students run GeneLab’s standardized RNAseq pipeline using the open UseGalaxy.org platform to analyze a dataset, and the final product of the program is a team presentation on an -omics research proposal based on the teams’ findings. In tandem with the high school students, up to three high school teachers are also selected to participate concurrently in the summer internship program. Teacher participants use the knowledge that is gained from this program to customize a lesson or unit for their own classroom use. Since its inception in 2017, GeneLab for High Schools has reached over 60 high schools across the country.

Here is a quick guide for student analyses of the datasets that have been prepared for GL4HS: GL4HS Reference Guide to Analyzing a Dataset.

Curricular Units Developed by GL4HS Teacher Interns

The units published in this section represent a full sequence of lessons and supporting activities that are designed to last approximately 1-2 weeks. Curricular Units will include a statement of content objectives, suggested pacing, methods, and accommodations to scale the lesson up or down to different age groups and ability levels, in addition to both teacher guide and student version of materials.

Exploring Gene Expression with Bioinformatics Using GLDS-288, by Jennifer Bliss

Explore gene expression using GLDS-288, a mouse spleen dataset.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

Space Farming: Space Biology, Plants, and Using the GeneLab Data Repository, by Erin Tubolino

Engage students with this entry-level lesson for learning the importance of plant studies in the context of space biology using the GeneLab Data Repository.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

Effects of Spaceflight on Plants Using GLDS-38, by Monique Salazar, PhD

This week-long unit introduces students to the structure and function of the plant model organism, Arabidopsis thaliana, and the effects of the spaceflight factors on their development.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet: Model Organisms
• Student Worksheet: Plant Parts
• Student Worksheet: Metadata
• Student Worksheet: Volcano Plots
• Student Worksheet: MA Plots

Introduction to GeneLab, by Elisheva Bailey

This set of lessons introduces the GeneLab data repository and the methods used in omics analysis for teaching freshman biology.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

The Importance of Space Biology, by Brie Logan

Introduce students to the breadth and depth of space biology topics using this lesson that was originally written for middle school students but can be adapted to other levels of teaching.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

Worksheets Developed by GL4HS Teacher Interns

The worksheets in this section provide stand-alone lessons that use space biology or bioinformatics concepts that can be woven into a teacher’s existent curriculum across a variety of units and even subjects.

BioBites #1: Intro to Statistics, by Catherine Peterson

Introduction to basic statistics, including p-values and confidence intervals.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

BioBites #2: Intro to Omics, by Catherine Peterson

Use this lesson to help students define omics and differentiate between branches of omics studies.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

BioBites #3: Intro to PCA Plots, by Catherine Peterson

Learn how to read a principle component analysis (PCA) plot in the context of biological data.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

BioBites #4: Intro to Bar and Line Graphs, by Scott Ryan

Strengthen skills in data interpretation by learning how to use bar graphs and line graphs.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

BioBites #5: Intro to Experimental Design, by Scott Ryan

Familiarize students with the basics of experimental design to help prepare students for research.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

Of Bobtails and Bacteria: Intro to Experimentation and the GeneLab Data Repository, by Jennifer Claudio

Introduce students to the GeneLab Data Repository which can be integrated into a unit of symbiosis or variables.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

Introduction to Model Organisms, by Geizi Dejka

Explore the characteristics of model organisms and their importance to data acquisition.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

Who Wants to be the Model Organism?, by Geizi Dejka

Using local and cultural context, consider which organisms could be used as model organisms in the Four Corners region of the United States.

• Teacher Guide
• Student Worksheet

Videos

The links to video walk throughs in this section are intended to support the teaching of space biology and relevant bioinformatics, spanning discussions of background concepts and how to use the GeneLab Galaxy Analysis Platform.

• Overview of GL4HS Teacher Internship
• Five Reasons to Incorporate Space Biology and Bioinformatics in High School Curriculum
• Intro to the RNAseq Workflow
• Getting to Know your Metadata: Preparation for Analyzing a Data Set
• GL4HS Bioinformatics Manual Run Through (Raw Data through Trimmed QC) using Galaxy platform
• GL4HS Bioinformatics Manual Run Through (Alignment Using RNA STAR)
• GL4HS Bioinformatics Manual (Counting Mapped Reads and QC)
• GL4HS Bioinformatics Manual Run Through (Counts Through DGE)
• GL4HS Bioinformatics Manual: Functional Analysis Part 1 (GOSeq)
• GL4HS Bioinformatics Manual Run Through Functional Analysis Part 2 (FGSEA)
• From Analysis to Research

Other Teaching and Learning Resources

Why Teach -omics?

High school biology students classically learn about DNA and its mechanisms. Supplementing this general view with contemporary examples and current research strengthens the value of biology education. The study of bioinformatics and omics analyses allows teachers the opportunity to integrate such topics into traditional biology, while helping students to create meaningful connections between classroom learning and the potential for large scale discoveries in health sciences both in space and on Earth. An introduction to bioinformatics and omics analyses also helps to prepare students by practicing skillsets such as data interpretation and inferential reasoning, and can further extend into coding expertise. Giving students the opportunities to practice these skills empowers them to recognize diverse career opportunities in the numerous branches of biology.

How Can We Use Space Biology to Learn About…

• Model Organisms – Use space biology examples to teach students about the use of model organisms such as mice, zebrafish, and fruit flies, and learn to navigate portions of the metadata on the GeneLab Data Repository.

  Organismo Modelo – Usa ejemplos de biología espacial para enseñar a los estudiantes sobre el uso de organismos modelo, como ratones, peces cebra y moscas de la fruta, y aprende a navegar por partes de los metadatos en el Repositorio de Datos de GeneLab.

• Interpreting Visual Representations of Data (Graphs, Charts, or Plots) – Use one of the GeneLab Datasets to explore visualizations relevant to assessing data for statistical and biological significance. Encourage students to evaluate what a graph depicts by reading labels.

  Visualizacion de Datos – Usa uno de los conjuntos de datos de GeneLab para explorar visualizaciones relevantes para evaluar datos en términos de significancia estadística y biológica. Anima a los estudiantes a evaluar lo que muestra un gráfico leyendo las etiquetas.

• The Immune System – Explore studies in the GeneLab Data Repository associated with the organs of the immune system. This activity can be used to introduce a systems-based approach to health studies.

  Sistema Inmunologico – Explora estudios en el Repositorio de Datos de GeneLab asociados con los órganos del sistema inmunológico. Esta actividad puede usarse para introducir un enfoque basado en sistemas para estudios de salud.

• Plants – Using four GeneLab datasets, introduce students to plant model organisms and the types of equipment needed to conduct plant experiments in space. This activity can be used to address engineering challenges needed for biological systems.

  Plantas – Usando cuatro conjuntos de datos de GeneLab, introduce a los estudiantes a los organismos modelo vegetales y los tipos de equipos necesarios para realizar experimentos con plantas en el espacio. Esta actividad puede utilizarse para abordar los desafíos de ingeniería necesarios para los sistemas biológicos.

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