• Discoverability Visible
  • Join Policy Restricted
  • Created 05 Oct 2019

This is a completed Faculty Mentoring Network (FMN). FMNs are sustained, immersive, community-based professional development opportunities for faculty. FMNs support the adaptation and implementation of materials and/or instructional approaches in their classrooms. Learn more about FMNs.

Interested in upcoming FMN opportunities? Sign up for the QUBES Newsletter

Browse products from this FMN

Molecular Case Studies:

At the Interface of Biology and Chemistry

Brought to you by

Visit Molecular CaseNet Site

 

Goals

  • Teach and learn about biomolecular structure-function
  • Test ready-to-use molecular case studies
  • Develop new cases at the interface of biology and chemistry

Mentors


Final Products

CRISPR Gene Editing: Designing the gRNA and Donor Template

Laurel Lorenz

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Piwi Matters v1.0

In this adaptation, students learn how CRISPR/Cas9 is used in bacterial immunity and gene editing. Students create both a gRNA target and a donor template to edit a gene. Mutations can be from the case study, Piwi Matter, or designed by the instructor.
genetics, education, cell biology, molecular biology, mutation, Stem cells, structure-function, molecular visualization and analysis, 3D protein structure /function analysis, CRISPR/Cas9, crispr, DNA mutation, Piwi, PDB, Molecular Case Study, Piwi Matters
2.6K
806
0
0
07.2020
The adaptation to Understanding COVID-19 Biology to Design a Vaccine entails two ethics supplements. The first supplement addresses the use of off-label drugs in the pandemic (or other situation). The second supplement addresses wet markets.
bioethics, BLAST, protein structure modeling, molecular visualization and analysis, ethics, COVID19, PDB
3.3K
989
0
0
07.2020

Sickle Cell Anemia using Nicholas’ Story

Sharon Cisneros

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Nicholas' Story v1.0

The goal of this exercise is to introduce students to 3-D structures of biological molecules, visualize and manipulate them to understand their functions. The exercise also helps them see the effect of changing an amino acid.
Hemoglobin, sickle cell disease, Molecular Case Study
1.2K
645
0
0
06.2020
This case was written in Spring 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on understanding the structure and interaction of the SARS-Cov-2 viral spike protein that facilitates infection in human cells.
infection, vaccine, molecular visualization and analysis, COVID19, PDB, SARS-CoV, Molecular Case Study
1.3K
1.8K
0
0
06.2020

Drugging SARS-CoV-2

Mallory Bliss, Alexzandria Khan, Nandni Verma, Kasandra Jean-Louise Riley

Version: 1.0

This case study leads students through the process of proposing a drug for a novel protein. The Mpro protease of SARS-CoV-2 is explored in detail within the PDB. Aligns with first semester biochemistry objectives.
virus, coronavirus, PDB, SARS-CoV-2, protease, drug design
1.4K
383
0
0
06.2020

Molecular Basis of Sickle Cell Disease

Didem Vardar-Ulu

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Nicholas' Story v1.0

This multi part case on hemoglobin structure as it relates to oxygen binding and sickle cell disease focuses on utilizing bioinformatics and molecular visualization tools to learn about the sickle cell disease, its cause, symptoms and possible cures.
Hemoglobin, molecular visualization and analysis, introductory bioinformatics, sickle cell disease, PDB, Molecular Case Study, oxygen binding, myoglobin, molecular literacy, 3D protein structures, structural representations
1.8K
2.2K
0
0
06.2020

The Happy Blue Baby Hemoglobin

Kasandra Jean-Louise Riley, Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Happy Blue Baby v1.0

This case, about a specific mutant of hemoglobin, focuses on visualizing and understanding the molecular basis of why an infant turned blue soon after birth and how the cyanosis resolved.
mutation, Hemoglobin, molecular visualization and analysis, PDB, Molecular Case Study
1.4K
653
0
0
06.2020

Nicholas' Story

Nik Tsotakos

Version: 1.0 Adapted From: Nicholas' Story v1.0

This 3 part case on sickle cell disease focuses on visualizing and understanding the molecular basis of its cause, symptoms, complications, management, treatment, and possible cures.
Hemoglobin, molecular visualization and analysis, sickle cell disease, PDB, Molecular Case Study
1.3K
527
0
0
06.2020
This multi-part case study introduces the reader to the SARS-CoV-2 virus origins, the molecular basis of the infection, the development and severity of symptoms, and treatment.
BLAST, protein structure modeling, molecular visualization and analysis, COVID19, PDB
1.1K
3.9K
0
0
06.2020

Understanding COVID-19 Biology to Design a Vaccine

Keith Johnson, Didem Vardar-Ulu, Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0

This multi-part case study introduces the reader to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, replication, and treatment. Additional worksheets introduce students to bioinformatics tools of 3-D protein visualization and BLAST searches.
BLAST, protein structure modeling, molecular visualization and analysis, COVID19, PDB
1.8K
2.3K
2
0
06.2020

COVID-19: Molecular Basis of Infection

Didem Vardar-Ulu, Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0

This case was written in Spring 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on understanding the structure and interaction of the SARS-Cov-2 viral spike protein that facilitates infection in human cells.
infection, vaccine, molecular visualization and analysis, COVID19, PDB, SARS-CoV, Molecular Case Study
2.1K
670
2
0
06.2020

A Case of Severe Insulin Resistance

Melanie Lenahan, Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0

This case focuses on understanding how a mutation in a cell signalling protein (a kinase) can prevent insulin function and lead to diabetes.
molecular visualization and analysis, PDB, Molecular Case Study, insulin resistance
1.5K
588
1
0
06.2020

Evolution of Caffeine Biosynthesis Enzymes

Brian Sullivan, Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0

This case focuses on exploring why plants make secondary metabolites like caffeine and how the enzymes required for making caffeine evolved.
Evolution, caffeine, molecular visualization and analysis, enzymes, PDB, Molecular Case Study
1.5K
581
0
0
06.2020

Piwi Matters

Laurel Lorenz, Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0

This case focuses on understanding structure and function relationships in Piwi, a protein that is critical for germline stem cell function and development of eggs in the fruit fly ovary.
Stem cells, molecular visualization and analysis, 3D protein structure /function analysis, Piwi, PDB, Molecular Case Study
1.4K
591
1
0
06.2020

Waking up Anna

Kate K. O'Toole, Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0

This case focuses on understanding the molecular basis of Anna's sleeping disorder and its treatment.
sleep, molecular visualization and analysis, PDB, Molecular Case Study, GABA
1.4K
529
1
0
06.2020

Happy Blue Baby

Shuchismita Dutta

Version: 1.0

This case, about a specific mutant of hemoglobin, focuses on visualizing and understanding the molecular basis of why an infant turned blue soon after birth and how the cyanosis resolved on its own in a few months.
mutation, Hemoglobin, molecular visualization and analysis, PDB, Molecular Case Study
1.6K
562
3
0
06.2020

Nicholas' Story

Shuchismita Dutta, Kimberly Linenberger Cortes, Henry Vincent Jakubowski, Melanie Lenahan, David Marcey, Pat Marsteller, Cassidy Terrell

Version: 1.0

This 3 part case on sickle cell disease focuses on visualizing and understanding the molecular basis of its cause, symptoms, complications, management, treatment, and possible cures.
Hemoglobin, molecular visualization and analysis, sickle cell disease, PDB, Molecular Case Study
1.7K
527
4
0
06.2020