Using Physical Models of Biomolecular Structures To Teach Concepts of Biochemical Structure and Structure Depiction in the Introductory Chemistry Laboratory

Abstract

Basic concepts of biomolecular structure were introduced to students in the laboratory portion of a large-enrollment first-year chemistry class. Custom-made physical models of α-helices and β-sheets, the zinc finger moiety, β-globin, and green fluorescent protein were used. α-Helix and DNA construction kits were also employed. Students investigated primary, secondary, and tertiary structure of proteins.