Examples of Using GENI-ACT in Different Courses 1. Connecting to the concept of evolutionary relationships, assign students genes from the human pathogen Shigella. Students use Modules 1 and 2 of GENI-ACT to determine if they can say something about these genes using sequence similarity searches (BLAST). Students will find that virtually every gene in Shigella gets extremely strong hits to genes in E. coli. The degree of sequence similarity is higher than the cutoff used to group bacterial strains in the same species. Shigella is really just a subgroup of E. coli. It was given a different name based on a few added virulence genes and the loss of some genes from its ancestral E. coli strain. - Could be used in General/Introductory Biology, General Microbiology, or Medical Microbiology 2. Connecting to the concept of genes encodes proteins which catalyze reactions, assign students genes from a commonly used model bacterium such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa that will connect to standard microbiological lab tests (e.g., catalase, nitrate reduction, coagulase). Students use only Modules 1 and 2. - Could be used in General Microbiology or Medical Microbiology. 3. Connecting to the concept of protein sequence determining protein localization within a cell, assign students genes encoding the different subunits of ABC transporters. Some of these transporter subunits go across the membrane into the periplasm, others are transmembrane proteins, and finally others are cytoplasmic. Students use Modules 1, 2, and 3. - Could be used in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or Genetics. 4. Connecting to the concept of gene flow through mechanisms of conjugation, transformation, and transduction, assign students genes from the Ammonifex degensii genome. A. degensii is a thermophilic chemolithoautotroph found in a thermal hot spring on the island of Java. Its genome shows good evidence of horizontal gene transfer of genes from Archaea and distantly related Bacteria that are also found in the same habitat. Students use Modules 1, 2, and 8. - Could be used in General Microbiology or Genetics.