Introducing Undergraduate Students to Metabolomics Using a NMR-Based Analysis of Coffee Beans

Metabolomics applies multivariate statistical analysis to sets of high-resolution spectra taken over a population of biologically derived samples. The objective is to distinguish subpopulations within the overall sample population, and possibly also to identify biomarkers. While metabolomics has bec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2017-09, Vol.94 (9), p.1324-1328
Main Author: Sandusky, Peter Olaf
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry
Biomarkers
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Coffee
College students
Factor Analysis
Hands on Science
Laboratory Experiments
Metabolism
Multivariate Analysis
Multivariate statistical analysis
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Population (statistical)
Principal components analysis
Science Activities
Software
Spectroscopy
Statistical Analysis
Statistical methods
Students
Subpopulations
Undergraduate Students
Writing instruction
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Summary:Metabolomics applies multivariate statistical analysis to sets of high-resolution spectra taken over a population of biologically derived samples. The objective is to distinguish subpopulations within the overall sample population, and possibly also to identify biomarkers. While metabolomics has become part of the standard analytical toolbox in many areas of chemical research, its principles and methods have not yet been generally incorporated into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Identification of the arabica and robusta varieties of green coffee beans using 1H NMR-based principle component analysis provides an inexpensive teaching laboratory experiment that introduces students to the methods of metabolomics. The experiment does not require any expensive chemicals, or unique equipment or software, or access to higher-field instruments. Because there is a general curiosity among students about the chemical composition of coffee, the experiment is also particularly engaging to the students’ interest and imagination.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00559