Threshold concepts (TC) are concepts that, when mastered, represent a transformed understanding of a discipline without which the learner cannot progress. Through a process of faculty and undergraduate interviews five TC’s were identified for biochemistry: steady state, biochemical pathway dynamics and regulation, the physical basis of interactions, thermodynamics of macromolecular structure formation, and free energy. A literature search revealed that little is known about what is taught and what students know related to steady state. Student free responses to questions about this concept were analyzed and responses showed wide variation in student understanding of steady state. Several themes were established when analyzing the responses. Many students believed that chemical reactions in biological systems are at equilibrium but failed to articulate how they knew this and the majority of students were unable to define steady state in a biological system.

Investigating cellular steady state as a threshold concept in biochemistry

249th National Meeting (2015)

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