Models in Movies: Teaching Abstract Concepts in Concrete Models

Abstract

The tool created here is an instructional video that demonstrates how to create models of the heavy and light chains of an antibody using pipe cleaners, and how the process of V, D, and J gene recombination functions, using the model as a visual aide. The video was created by undergraduate students, with the intended audience being other undergraduates. This type of direct peer teaching aids in education because the “teachers” in this situation greatly enhance their own knowledge through instruction, and their imparting of knowledge is often more helpful to that of another student because they are more aware of comprehension gaps within their peer groups. As such, the supplementary goal of the model is to have students follow along with the video by creating and using their own models, thereby gaining a deeper knowledge of the process with a more thorough interaction

A Hands-On Activity to Demonstrate the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology Via a Simulated VDJ Recombination Activity

“…These two exercises differ, as the present exercise spotlights the changes to the protein product as chromosome structural changes are made, while Norflus and Allen’s activity covers the recombination process itself. Alternatively, students could model VDJ recombination with pipe cleaners ( 9 ) and then perform this activity to deduce the polypeptide consequences of the recombination. This described activity concentrates on the gene product, as contrasted with the techniques described in ( 8 , 9 ) that are constructed around the process ( 8 ) and structural outcome ( 9 ) of VDJ recombination.…”

“…Alternatively, students could model VDJ recombination with pipe cleaners ( 9 ) and then perform this activity to deduce the polypeptide consequences of the recombination. This described activity concentrates on the gene product, as contrasted with the techniques described in ( 8 , 9 ) that are constructed around the process ( 8 ) and structural outcome ( 9 ) of VDJ recombination. The novelty of this activity arises from its integration of the kinesthetic activity of chromosome assembly and folding with its fusion of deliberate iteration to illustrate the central dogma of molecular biology.…”

“…The instructor describes VDJ recombination to students, similar to Figure 1 , and can extend activities as in ( 8 , 9 ).…”