Modeling Protein Structure & Function: Pencil Transferase

In this activity, the emphasis is on the functional definition of a domain. [...]the loop region can be referred to as a "pencil binding domain," and the region(s) of the pipe cleaner held by the students (by which the protein "binds" to the hands) can be referred to as the "handle domain(s)." Understanding Bioinformatics: Genetic Testing uses the context of testing for mutations in the BRCAl gene (breast cancer 1, early onset) to introduce bioinformatics while reinforcing basic concepts related to DNA, transcription, translation, and protein structure and function. Because our organization, the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, is committed to promoting an understanding of biomedical research and its ethical conduct, the curriculum also addresses some of the ethical implications of acquiring and using genetic information.