What is Case It?

Case It! is a  project providing a framework for collaborative case-based learning via free, open-ended molecular biology simulations and cases based primarily on genetic and infectious disease.  It is based at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and has been funded by the National Science Foundation. View the video for a brief introduction to the project:

Case It v6.07 is a simulation that performs common laboratory procedures on any DNA or protein sequence. It adds new features such as SNP and expression microarrays to the existing capabilities: restriction enzyme digestion, gel electrophoresis, PCR, ELISA, Southern or Western blot, dot blot, and connection to the NCBI BLAST database (see tutorial links at right and on menu bar).  The download includes sequences necessary to analyze the cases described in the Resource Manual.

Both the PC and Mac versions of Case It v6.07 automatically open up the MABL web site for bioinformatics analyses.  In addition, the PC version can be used in conjunction with MEGA5 software* to  implement bioinformatics features (sequence alignment, tree building).   See the new Getting Started tutorial for instructions on integrating Case It and MEGA, both of which are free of charge for educational use.

Case descriptions are in the student version of the Resource Manual. For access to the Instructor’s version, contact Mark Bergland. That version includes keys to cases and other information on case development and class use.

Suggestions for using Case It in classes

*Tamura K, Dudley J, Nei M & Kumar S 2007.  MEGA4: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software version 4.0. Molecular Biology and Evolution 24:1596-1599.