Dealing with the challenges of teaching molecular biophysics to biochemistry majors through an heuristics‐based approach

Castanho, Miguel A. R. B.

doi:10.1002/bmb.2002.494030030031

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…This laboratory experiment could also be used in a molecular biophysics or physical chemistry laboratory. Molecular biophysics is focused on the use of physical measurements for biological molecules that gives rise to quantitative information . However, there are few teaching laboratory experiments designed to cover the growing field of molecular biophysics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluorescence quantum yield measurements of fluorescent proteins: A laboratory experiment for a biochemistry or molecular biophysics laboratory course

Wall

Dillon

Knowles

2014

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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Fluorescent proteins are commonly used in cell biology to assess where proteins are within a cell as a function of time and provide insight into intracellular protein function. However, the usefulness of a fluorescent protein depends directly on the quantum yield. The quantum yield relates the efficiency at which a fluorescent molecule converts absorbed photons into emitted photons and it is necessary to know for assessing what fluorescent protein is the most appropriate for a particular application. In this work, we have designed an upper-level, biochemistry laboratory experiment where students measure the fluorescence quantum yields of fluorescent proteins relative to a standard organic dye. Four fluorescent protein variants, enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP), enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), mCitrine, and mCherry, were used, however the methods described are useful for the characterization of any fluorescent protein or could be expanded to fluorescent quantum yield measurements of organic dye molecules. The laboratory is designed as a guided inquiry project and takes two, 4 hr laboratory periods. During the first day students design the experiment by selecting the excitation wavelength, choosing the standard, and determining the concentration needed for the quantum yield experiment that takes place in the second laboratory period. Overall, this laboratory provides students with a guided inquiry learning experience and introduces concepts of fluorescence biophysics into a biochemistry laboratory curriculum. V C 2014 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43(1):52-59, 2015.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluorescence quantum yield measurements of fluorescent proteins: A laboratory experiment for a biochemistry or molecular biophysics laboratory course

Wall

Dillon

Knowles

2014

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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“…They are supposed to have basic mathematical knowledge as well. Still, some students seem to have “an aversion to math, ‘Mathematophobia,’” having “little appreciation for the importance of models in scientific progress” [1]. Mathematics does not seem to be properly appreciated by teachers (or textbook writers), either.…”

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confidence: 99%

Growth of microbial populations. Mathematical modeling, laboratory exercises, and model‐based data analysis

Juška

Gedminienė

Ivanec

2006

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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This paper has arisen as a result of teaching Models in Biology to undergraduates of Bioengineering at the Gediminas Technical University of Vilnius. The aim is to teach the students to use a fresh approach to the problems they are familiar with, to come up with an articulate verbal model after a mental effort, to express it in rigorous mathematical terms, to solve (with the aid of computers) corresponding equations, and finally, to analyze and interpret experimental data in terms of their (mathematical) models. Investigation of microbial growth provides excellent possibilities to combine laboratory exercises, mathematical modeling, and model-based data analysis. Application of mathematics in this field proved to be very fruitful in getting deeper insight into the processes of microbial growth. The step-by-step modeling resulted in an extended model of the growth covering conventional "lag," "exponential," and "stationary" phases. In contrast to known models (differential equations that can be solved only numerically), the present model is expressed symbolically as a finite combination of elementary functions. The approach can be applied in other areas of modern biology, such as dynamics of various cellular processes, enzyme and receptor kinetics, and others.

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Early integration of the individual student in academic activities: a novel classroom concept for graduate education in molecular biophysics and structural biology

et al. 2014

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BackgroundA key challenge in interdisciplinary research is choosing the best approach from a large number of techniques derived from different disciplines and their interfaces.ResultsTo address this challenge in the area of Biophysics and Structural Biology, we have designed a graduate level course to teach students insightful use of experimental biophysical approaches in relationship to addressing biological questions related to biomolecular interactions and dynamics. A weekly seminar and data and literature club are used to compliment the training in class. The course contains wet-laboratory experimental demonstration and real-data analysis as well as lectures, grant proposal preparation and assessment, and student presentation components. Active student participation is mandatory in all aspects of the class. Students prepare materials for the class receiving individual and iterative feedback from course directors and local experts generating high quality classroom presentations.ConclusionsThe ultimate goal of the course is to teach students the skills needed to weigh different experimental approaches against each other in addressing a specific biological question by thinking and executing academic tasks like faculty.

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Dealing with the challenges of teaching molecular biophysics to biochemistry majors through an heuristics‐based approach

Cited by 4 publications

References 22 publications

Fluorescence quantum yield measurements of fluorescent proteins: A laboratory experiment for a biochemistry or molecular biophysics laboratory course

Fluorescence quantum yield measurements of fluorescent proteins: A laboratory experiment for a biochemistry or molecular biophysics laboratory course

Growth of microbial populations. Mathematical modeling, laboratory exercises, and model‐based data analysis

Early integration of the individual student in academic activities: a novel classroom concept for graduate education in molecular biophysics and structural biology

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