Suggested format for the 20 – 25 minute presentation:

Introduction (~5 minutes): Should provide useful background information which will introduce the research topic to the entire audience. In general, try to transition from a general overview to more specific information directly relevant to the research article. A good introduction should at least answer the following questions: What is the current state of research in this field? Why is this research important? What is the hypothesis that the researchers sought to prove or disprove? How is this relevant to genetics?

Research Article (~10 - 15 min): Discuss the major findings of the paper. Describe the data as presented in the tables and figures along with a discussion of the relevant methods used. Don’t dwell on minute details; focus on the major points of the paper and how they were determined. Comment on whether the methods used were adequate to address the hypothesis. Comment on the discussion - does the data support the conclusions reached? Are there any alternative explanations for the results obtained? What are the implications of the research?

Future Directions (~5 min): Based on the findings reported in the paper, predict and describe future research that will likely follow from the findings presented. If you disagree with the findings, describe experiments that will conclusively disprove the author’s interpretations. How would you proceed if you were the director of this research project? What experiments would you do to extend the results and to advance knowledge in this field?

The time remaining will be devoted to group discussion of the paper. All students are expected to have read the paper carefully prior to the presentation and should demonstrate this by actively participating in the discussion.