An active learning process that incorporates visual exploration and analysis of biological molecules can reinforce key concepts and help with retention of knowledge. The Protein Data Bank (PDB) archives experimentally determined structures of over 64,000 biological molecules. Over the past 5 years, RCSB PDB faculty has been running an undergraduate honors course at Rutgers University, where students learn about interaction of biological molecules related to specific topics. They explore, visualize, analyze and integrate information about the molecules at a structural level to understand the physical interactions between these molecules in biological processes or metabolic pathways. In these courses, aside from a new perspective on the subject, students acquired skills in independently visualizing and analyzing molecular structures, exploring and critically reading scientific literature and writing papers describing these molecules - skills that prepare them for future learning.  The RCSB PDB is supported by NSF, NIGMS, DOE, NLM, NCI, NINDS and NIDDK.

Using molecular structures from the PDB for a visual and exploratory learning experience in biochemistry

240th National Meeting (2010)

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