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Marshall AG, Neikirk K, Stephens D, Garza-Lopez E, Vue Z, Beasley HK, Doe YJ, Campbell D, Fears L, Alghanem A, Spencer EC, Scudese E, Owens B, Vang C, Morton DJ, Conley Z, Hinton A. A workshop to showcase the diversity of scientists to middle school students. Adv Physiol Educ 2024; 48:186-192. [PMID: 38234295 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00117.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Identity matters in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) because it can affect an individual's long-term sense of belonging, which may in turn affect their persistence in STEMM. Early K-12 science classes often teach students about the foundational discoveries of the field, which have been predominately made, or at least published, by White men. This homogeneity can leave underrepresented individuals in STEMM feeling isolated, and underrepresented K-12 students may feel as though they cannot enter STEMM fields. This study aimed to examine these feelings of inclusivity in STEMM through an interactive workshop that asked middle schoolers to identify scientists from images of individuals with various racial and gender identities. We found that a plurality of students had a positive experience discussing diversity in science and recognizing underrepresented individuals as scientists.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We observed positive sentiments from middle school students following a workshop that showcased diversity in science. This workshop uniquely encourages students to recognize that physiologists and scientists today are much more diverse than textbooks typically demonstrate and can be adapted for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Marshall
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Kit Neikirk
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Dominique Stephens
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Edgar Garza-Lopez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Zer Vue
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Heather K Beasley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Yelena Janumyan Doe
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Desmond Campbell
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Letimicia Fears
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Ahmad Alghanem
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Ali Al Arini, Ar Rimayah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elsie C Spencer
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Estevão Scudese
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Laboratory of Biosciences of Human Motricity, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Sport Sciences and Exercise Laboratory, Catholic University of Petrópolis, Brazil
| | - Beverly Owens
- Department of Chemistry, Cleveland Early College High School, Shelby, North Carolina, United States
| | - Chia Vang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Counseling Department, New Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States
| | - Derrick J Morton
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Zachary Conley
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Antentor Hinton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
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Neikirk K, Lopez EG, Marshall AG, Alghanem A, Krystofiak E, Kula B, Smith N, Shao J, Katti P, Hinton A. Call to action to properly utilize electron microscopy to measure organelles to monitor disease. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151365. [PMID: 37864884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the current methods for quantifying mitochondrial ultrastructure, including cristae morphology, mitochondrial contact sites, and recycling machinery and a guide to utilizing electron microscopy to effectively measure these organelles. Quantitative analysis of mitochondrial ultrastructure is essential for understanding mitochondrial biology and developing therapeutic strategies for mitochondrial-related diseases. Techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy, as well as how they can be combined with other techniques including confocal microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and correlative light and electron microscopy are discussed. Beyond their limitations and challenges, we also offer specific magnifications that may be best suited for TEM analysis of mitochondrial, endoplasmic reticulum, and recycling machinery. Finally, perspectives on future quantification methods are offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kit Neikirk
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Edgar-Garza Lopez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Andrea G Marshall
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ahmad Alghanem
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Ali Al Arini, Ar Rimayah, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Evan Krystofiak
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Bartosz Kula
- Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester 14642, USA
| | - Nathan Smith
- Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester 14642, USA
| | - Jianqiang Shao
- Central Microscopy Research Facility, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Prasanna Katti
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Antentor Hinton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Marshall AG, Neikirk K, Stephens D, Garza-Lopez E, Vue Z, Beasley HK, Janumyan Doe Y, Campbell D, Fears L, Alghanem A, Spencer EC, Scudese E, Owens B, Vang C, Morton DJ, Conley Z, Hinton A. A workshop on mitochondria for students to improve understanding of science and hypothesis forming. Adv Physiol Educ 2023; 47:823-830. [PMID: 37650143 PMCID: PMC10854815 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00116.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
There remains a clear deficiency in recruiting middle school students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine fields, especially for those students entering physiology from underrepresented backgrounds. A large part of this may be arising from a disconnect between how science is typically practiced at a collegiate and K-12 level. Here, we have envisioned mitochondria and their diverse subcellular structures as an involver for middle school students. We present the framework for a workshop that familiarizes students with mitochondria, employing three-dimensional visual-spatial learning and real-time critical thinking and hypothesis forming. This workshop had the goal of familiarizing middle school students with the unique challenges the field currently faces and better understanding the actuality of being a scientist through critical analysis including hypothesis forming. Findings show that middle school students responded positively to the program and felt as though they had a better understanding of mitochondria. Future implications for hands-on programs to involve underrepresented students in science are discussed, as well as potential considerations to adapt it for high school and undergraduate students.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here we employ a workshop that utilizes blended and tactile learning to teach middle schoolers about mitochondrial structure. By creating an approachable and fun workshop that can be utilized for middle school students, we seek to encourage them to join a career in physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Marshall
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Kit Neikirk
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Dominique Stephens
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Edgar Garza-Lopez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Zer Vue
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Heather K Beasley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Yelena Janumyan Doe
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Desmond Campbell
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Letimicia Fears
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Ahmad Alghanem
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elsie C Spencer
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States
| | - Estevão Scudese
- Laboratory of Biosciences of Human Motricity (LABIMH) of the Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Sport Sciences and Exercise Laboratory (LaCEE), Catholic University of Petrópolis (UCP), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beverly Owens
- Department of Chemistry, Cleveland Early College High School, Shelby, North Carolina, United States
| | - Chia Vang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Counseling Department, New Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States
| | - Derrick J Morton
- Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, Pasadena, California, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Zachary Conley
- Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Antentor Hinton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
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Hinton A, Katti P, Christensen TA, Mungai M, Shao J, Zhang L, Trushin S, Alghanem A, Jaspersen A, Geroux RE, Neikirk K, Biete M, Lopez EG, Shao B, Vue Z, Vang L, Beasley HK, Marshall AG, Stephens D, Damo S, Ponce J, Bleck CKE, Hicsasmaz I, Murray SA, Edmonds RAC, Dajles A, Koo YD, Bacevac S, Salisbury JL, Pereira RO, Glancy B, Trushina E, Abel ED. A Comprehensive Approach to Sample Preparation for Electron Microscopy and the Assessment of Mitochondrial Morphology in Tissue and Cultured Cells. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200202. [PMID: 37140138 PMCID: PMC10615857 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria respond to metabolic demands of the cell and to incremental damage, in part, through dynamic structural changes that include fission (fragmentation), fusion (merging of distinct mitochondria), autophagic degradation (mitophagy), and biogenic interactions with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). High resolution study of mitochondrial structural and functional relationships requires rapid preservation of specimens to reduce technical artifacts coupled with quantitative assessment of mitochondrial architecture. A practical approach for assessing mitochondrial fine structure using two dimensional and three dimensional high-resolution electron microscopy is presented, and a systematic approach to measure mitochondrial architecture, including volume, length, hyperbranching, cristae morphology, and the number and extent of interaction with the ER is described. These methods are used to assess mitochondrial architecture in cells and tissue with high energy demand, including skeletal muscle cells, mouse brain tissue, and Drosophila muscles. The accuracy of assessment is validated in cells and tissue with deletion of genes involved in mitochondrial dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antentor Hinton
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, 169 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core Facility, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Prasanna Katti
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Trace A Christensen
- Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core Facility, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Margaret Mungai
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, 169 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Jianqiang Shao
- Central Microscopy Research Facility, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Sergey Trushin
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Ahmad Alghanem
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Eastern Region, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh 11481, Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adam Jaspersen
- Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core Facility, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Rachel E Geroux
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Kit Neikirk
- College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili St, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
| | - Michelle Biete
- College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili St, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA
| | - Edgar Garza Lopez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Bryanna Shao
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Zer Vue
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Larry Vang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Heather K Beasley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, School of Graduate Studies and Research, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, 37208, USA
| | - Andrea G Marshall
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Dominique Stephens
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
- Department of Life and Physical Sciences, Fisk University, Nashville, TN, 37208, USA
| | - Steven Damo
- Department of Life and Physical Sciences, Fisk University, Nashville, TN, 37208, USA
| | - Jessica Ponce
- School of Medicine, University of Utah, 30 N 1900 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Christopher K E Bleck
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Innes Hicsasmaz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, 169 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Sandra A Murray
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, USA
| | - Ranthony A C Edmonds
- Department of Mathematics, Ohio State University, 281 W Lane Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Andres Dajles
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Young Do Koo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, 169 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Serif Bacevac
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, 169 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Salisbury
- Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core Facility, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Renata O Pereira
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, 169 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Brian Glancy
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Eugenia Trushina
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - E Dale Abel
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa - Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, 169 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Department of Medicine, UCLA, 757 Westwood Plaza, Suite 7236, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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