Creating an inquiry-based cell biology lab with Western blotting or fluorescence tag

[Dennis_T]

I'm a teaching assistant for an introductory cell biology course, and I'm trying to develop a new lab module that goes beyond simple microscopy to give undergraduates a more authentic, inquiry-based experience with a modern technique like western blotting or fluorescence tagging. The challenge is designing a protocol that is robust enough to work reliably for novice students within a three-hour window, while still teaching core concepts about protein function or organelle dynamics. For educators or researchers who have designed similar hands-on activities, what specific techniques and model organisms have you found most successful for a teaching lab? How do you balance the desire for students to get "real" data with the high likelihood of technical failure, and what are the most effective pre-lab preparations to ensure they understand the theory behind the steps they're performing?