World Index of BioMolecular Visualization Resources

K-12 Molecular Structure Visualization Tutorials

Titles     Subjects     Authors: Detailed Compact     HOME


            
Top 0 1 2 3-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

  Balloon Molecules:   (English, German )
Instructions are given for "knotting" balloons in order to sculpt inexpensive and fun molecular models. Detailed steps for particular molecules are not given, however. Finished models are pictured for tetrahedron, octahedron, Buckminster-Fullerene, diamond, graphite, faujasite, cuban cluster, and a DNA double helix. If you work out details for a specific molecule, please contact emartz@microbio.umass.edu so they can be included here!

  BioMolecular Explorer 3D:
BioMolecular Explorer 3D is a collection of 3D-interactive, biologically significant molecules relevant to a high school biology curriculum. The site (and a CD version) are designed to give high school biology teachers and their students easy access to exploration in 3D (no software installation required!). The molecules are listed with brief descriptions and links to background information, and there is one-click acess to the 3D displays of each. The molecules include:
  • DNA
  • Antibody
  • Carbohydrates
  • Collagen
  • Hemoglobin
  • HIV Protease
  • Lactase
  • Lipids
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Myosin
  • The Nucleosome
  • Vitamins A and B2
  • Water
    		•
    The site and CD use the Jmol java applet to display the structures on web pages.    

      EXPLAIN IT WITH MOLECULES:
    Many questions that arise in K-12 education can be better understood by seeing and interacting with molecules in 3-D. Explain it with Molecules -- Interactive Molecules-- is about "real interactivity"! All you need is to be java enabled. The Jmol Applet used with these molecular structures will allow you to view molecular structures in 3-D. Images can be viewed as wire-frame, ball and stick or CPK. As with the Chime plug-in, it is also possible to measure distances and angles.

    Examples: Why does ice float? Why is water such a good solvent? Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous? How does soap work? Why can plain carbon be hard (diamond) or soft (graphite)? Why does nicotine cause cancer? How do drugs work?   
    Top 0 1 2 3-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

      Genetic Jewels: Building DNA Model Earrings:
    Students build short segments (about 10 base pairs) of DNA using jewelry beads, becoming intimately involved in DNA structure. The kinesthetic experience and durable product combine to make a lasting impression, and something useful deeply learned about a seemingly complex topic. Middle school students, high school students, and teachers in our workshops have all successfully constructed the molecule. They reinvent the process and make wonderful embellishments. Includes detailed lesson plans, a source for beads, and step-by-step photos for construction.

    From the Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes. Site includes many other lessons including Say it with DNA: Making and Translating DNA Messages (by Larry Flammer):

     

      High school teachers' resources:
    This article, which is within the Proteopedia.Org wiki, lists macromolecular 3D structure educational resources suitable for high school teachers.

    The photo at right shows a physical model designed by a SMART Team that included high school students.

         

      Mathematics and Molecules:
    The MathMol Library of Molecular Structures contains GIF, PDB and 3-D (VRML) files of molecules that are found in most introductory biology and chemistry textbooks (e.g., water and ice, carbon, hydrocarbons, amino acids, nucleotides, lipids, sugars, photosynthetic pigments and drugs). A water module for middle and high school students that allows students to calculate the density of water and ice on-line is available here. View the structure of the Photosynthetic Reaction Center and more.

    There is a new revised Review of density, mass and volume that contain javascripts that test students knowledge as they work through the activity. Also new is an online tutorial using Chime for Middle and High School students and a revised (version2) MathMol Hypermedia Textbook which includes activities using java applets including Java Mage.

    Top 0 1 2 3-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

      Molecular Workbench: Science of Atoms and Molecules:
    The Molecular Workbench (MW) project offers free, ready-to-use educational activities as well as software for authoring such educational activities. The existing activities are primarily targeted to the middle and high school levels. College-level activities are under development. The Science of Atoms and Molecules group of activities are discovery-based and require student responses. Students can conduct experiments with simulations, and explore rotatable 3D macromolecules. Students can pilot a Molecular Rover (shown at right) to explore hemoglobin or histocompatibility molecules with virus peptides. Students answer multiple-choice questions with immediate feedback, and make snapshots of interactive rotatable 3D molecules in Jmol. The answers and snapshots, together with open text answers to some questions, are gathered in a report that can be printed or emailed to the teacher. All products of the Concord Consortium are free and open-source.        

      TASTE MOLECULES:
    Many questions that arise in K-12 education can be better understood by seeing and interacting with molecules in 3-D. TASTE MOLECULES is about "real interactivity"! All you need is to be java enabled. The Jmol Applet used with these molecular structures will allow you to view molecular structures in 3-D. Images can be viewed as wire-frame, ball and stick or CPK. As with the Chime plug-in, it is also possible to measure distances and angles.

    This site provides a brief introduction to the physiology of taste, and enables 3D interactive visualization of sugars, artificial sweeteners, bitter chemicals, sour chemicals, capsaicin, and menthol.   

      Virtual Cell Animation Collection:
    These very educational short movies will help help to convey major biochemical processes, and aid students to appreciate the connections between molecular structure, functional macromolecular assemblies, and the cell.

    Eight separate short movies introduce proton gradients and ATP synthesis, cellular respiration (electron transport chain), protein transport (mitochondrial), transcription, mRNA processing, mRNA splicing, translation, and lac operon function.

    The movies are narrated with clear and nicely paced explanations, and component "players" are labeled. Molecules, complexes, and organelles are presented in schematic simplification, enabling the key points to be appreciated without being lost in unnecessary visual complexity. Each movie tells a story that integrates biochemical, genetic, and cellular processes. There are presently eight movies, each about three minutes in length. The movies are appropriate for grades 7-12, college, or post-graduate levels, having sufficient simplicity yet sufficient detail to intrigue viewers at all levels.        
    Top 0 1 2 3-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

    9 total titles.
    Visitor-Maintained Index programming by Trevor D. Kramer.