SHaping Authentic Practices by Engaging in Modeling of A Topic with Teachers to Explore Research in Science (SHAPE MATTERS) is funded by an NIH Science Education Partnership Award. The program has three objectives.
Overview: In this lesson, students will use 3D Molecular Designs water kit to explore the chemical properties of water. Students will use the water models to investigate the polarity of water molecules, explore ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds, and experiment with adhesion, cohesion, and capillary action. The chemical properties of water will then be connected to protein folding as proteins fold in an aqueous environment in the cell. Therefore, water and its chemical properties largely drive protein folding.
3.2.9-12.A Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
3.2.9-12.C Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
3.1.9-12.A Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
Overview: Building on concepts explored in the water kit, students will use 3D Molecular Designs amino acid building block kit and amino acid starter kit to explore the chemistry of the building blocks of proteins, amino acids, and to discover the rules of protein folding. Students will build an amino acid, perform a dehydration synthesis reaction to link two amino acids together, look for patterns in the backbone of a protein, look for patterns in the chemistry of the 20 different amino acids, explore the principles of protein folding, and fold their own protein.
3.2.9-12.A Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
3.1.9-12.A Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
Overview: In this lesson, students will learn how molecular biologists determine the structure of proteins using X-ray crystallography. Students will crystallize the protein lysozyme, learn how data is obtained through X-ray crystallography, and learn how the obtained data is used to build a computational model of the protein. These published computational models can be found in a data bank, the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Students can use the PDB and molecular visualization software, JUDE, to view these models, analyze structure and function, and ask scientific questions.
3.2.9-12.A Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
3.1.9-12.A Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
Overview: Explore the molecular story of Insulin with 3D Molecular Designs Insulin mRNA to Protein kit and molecular visualization software JUDE. Students will analyze a bioinformatics map to determine the nucleotide sequence, explore how mRNA is translated into a precursor form, discover how the precursor form is process, and fold the final functional protein. Then, students can use JUDE to visualize and model insulin as a monomer, dimer, and hexamer to explore the active form and the stored form in the beta cell of the pancreas.
3.1.9-12.A Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
3.1.9-12.B Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.
3.1.9-12.C Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
Overview: Investigate designer insulins using the Protein Data Bank and molecular visualization software JUDE. In this lesson, each group of students will explore a designer insulin on JUDE and compare the designer insulin to the wildtype insulin. Students will also explore how the change in structure changes the function of the designer insulin in the body. Additionally, students will consider why that change is beneficial for the treatment of diabetes.
3.1.9-12.A Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
3.1.9-12.B Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.
3.1.9-12.C Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
Overview: Get into the science behind GLP-1 agonist drugs by exploring the structure of GLP-1, then learn the GLP-1 and Insulin Signaling pathway and how they relate to blood sugar homeostasis. Explore recent news about GLP-1 agonists drugs and hot topic issues with a discussion. Then, bring the science together with an open investigation in JUDE on the different GLP-1 agonist drugs. Have students explore different GLP-1 agonists drugs and their cost, how they compare to the native GLP-1, how it interacts with the GLP-1 receptor, the difference in half-life, and the importance to GLP-1 signaling and Diabetes.
3.1.9-12.A Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
3.1.9-12.B Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.
3.1.9-12.C Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
Overview: In this lesson, students will use 3D Molecular Designs water kit to explore the chemical properties of water. Students will use the water models to investigate the polarity of water molecules, explore ionic, covalent, and hydrogen bonds, and experiment with adhesion, cohesion, and capillary action. The chemical properties of water will then be connected to protein folding as proteins fold in an aqueous environment in the cell. Therefore, water and its chemical properties largely drive protein folding.
Overview: Building on concepts explored in the water kit, students will use 3D Molecular Designs amino acid building block kit and amino acid starter kit to explore the chemistry of the building blocks of proteins, amino acids, and to discover the rules of protein folding. Students will build an amino acid, perform a dehydration synthesis reaction to link two amino acids together, look for patterns in the backbone of a protein, look for patterns in the chemistry of the 20 different amino acids, explore the principles of protein folding, and fold their own protein.
Overview: In this lesson, students will learn how molecular biologists determine the structure of proteins using X-ray crystallography. Students will crystallize the protein lysozyme, learn how data is obtained through X-ray crystallography, and learn how the obtained data is used to build a computational model of the protein. These published computational models can be found in a data bank, the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Students can use the PDB and molecular visualization software, JUDE, to view these models, analyze structure and function, and ask scientific questions.
Overview: Explore the molecular story of Insulin with 3D Molecular Designs Insulin mRNA to Protein kit and molecular visualization software JUDE. Students will analyze a bioinformatics map to determine the nucleotide sequence, explore how mRNA is translated into a precursor form, discover how the precursor form is process, and fold the final functional protein. Then, students can use JUDE to visualize and model insulin as a monomer, dimer, and hexamer to explore the active form and the stored form in the beta cell of the pancreas.
Overview: Investigate designer insulins using the Protein Data Bank and molecular visualization software JUDE. In this lesson, each group of students will explore a designer insulin on JUDE and compare the designer insulin to the wildtype insulin. Students will also explore how the change in structure changes the function of the designer insulin in the body. Additionally, students will consider why that change is beneficial for the treatment of diabetes.
Overview: Get into the science behind GLP-1 agonist drugs by exploring the structure of GLP-1, then learn the GLP-1 and Insulin Signaling pathway and how they relate to blood sugar homeostasis. Explore recent news about GLP-1 agonists drugs and hot topic issues with a discussion. Then, bring the science together with an open investigation in JUDE on the different GLP-1 agonist drugs. Have students explore different GLP-1 agonists drugs and their cost, how they compare to the native GLP-1, how it interacts with the GLP-1 receptor, the difference in half-life, and the importance to GLP-1 signaling and Diabetes.
To get the signaling kit used at the workshop, please contact 3D Molecular Designs.
Overview: This 90-minute interactive course is designed for secondary teachers and students to explore how the central dogma can be used to improve human health, with a focus on diabetes. Discover the connection between DNA, proteins, disease, and molecular modeling.