Gaining a Structural Perspective on the Molecular Basis of Inherited Diseases

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2014, Volume 35

Isabelle H. Barrette-Ng & Don MacMillan

Abstract

Many undergraduate students in introductory biochemistry courses find it challenging to understand how different levels of protein structure relate to each other. To address this problem, we introduced an inquiry-based laboratory exercise in which students are challenged to explain how the effects of mutations on different levels of protein structure lead to changes in protein function and ultimately to genetically-inheritable diseases. The implementation of this exercise in a large, second-year undergraduate, introductory biochemistry course led to a high level of student satisfaction and a more integrated view of biochemistry and genetics.

Keywords:  Biochemistry, bioinformatics, human genetics, protein structure

University of Calgary (2013)