Computational strategy for visualizing structures and teaching biochemistry

Computational techniques have great potential to improve the teaching‐learning. In this work, we used a computational strategy to visualize three‐dimensional (3D) structures of proteins and DNA and help the student to comprehend biochemistry concepts such as protein structure and function, substrate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemistry and molecular biology education 2019-01, Vol.47 (1), p.76-84
Main Authors: Abreu, Paula Alvarez, Carvalho, Karina de Lima, Rabelo, Vitor Won‐Held, Castro, Helena Carla
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry
College Science
Computer applications
Computer Uses in Education
computer‐based learning
Concept Formation
Data banks
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA structure
Educational Technology
Genetics
Knowledge Level
Learning
Molecular Biology
Program Effectiveness
Protein structure
Proteins
Scientific Concepts
Structure-function relationships
teaching and learning
Teaching Methods
Undergraduate Students
Visualization
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Summary:Computational techniques have great potential to improve the teaching‐learning. In this work, we used a computational strategy to visualize three‐dimensional (3D) structures of proteins and DNA and help the student to comprehend biochemistry concepts such as protein structure and function, substrate, and inhibitors as well as DNA structural features. The practical classes included tutorials to be done in the computer using structures from Protein Data Bank and a free 3D structure visualization software, Swiss PDB Viewer. The activity was done with 76 students from biology and pharmacy undergraduate courses. Questionnaires were administered to evaluate the knowledge regarding specific biochemistry contents before and after the activity and the opinion of the students. An overall increased percentage of correct answers post‐classes (75.91%) were observed in comparison to pre‐classes (35.53%). All the students indicated that it could contribute to the learning of DNA and protein structure contents; approximately 90% stated that it enables structures visualization or makes the learning and understanding easier. Therefore, the strategy has shown to be effective, allowing the contextualization of biochemistry themes and may complement theoretical classes. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(1):76–84, 2018.
ISSN:1470-8175
1539-3429
DOI:10.1002/bmb.21199