Read on Twitter
Here's something which is going around Twitter-and I'm going to break with my colleagues here.
This is not a difficult concept, it's a question which is worded in a way which makes it difficult to succeed. https://twitter.com/louftkissy/status/1262459759007010816
This is not a difficult concept, it's a question which is worded in a way which makes it difficult to succeed. https://twitter.com/louftkissy/status/1262459759007010816
She posted an email from her instructor, and it's all pretty basic protein biochemistry concepts.
What do the amino acids do?
What are the basic elements of protein structure?
How do these combine to give the protein function? https://twitter.com/louftkissy/status/1262599948333461504?s=09
What do the amino acids do?
What are the basic elements of protein structure?
How do these combine to give the protein function? https://twitter.com/louftkissy/status/1262599948333461504?s=09
These might SOUND difficult, but they're very simple in concept.
Acidic amino acids are proton donors. Basic amino acids accept electrons.
Proteins are alpha-helices or beta sheets separated by unstructured elements, all of which have their own unique interactions.
Acidic amino acids are proton donors. Basic amino acids accept electrons.
Proteins are alpha-helices or beta sheets separated by unstructured elements, all of which have their own unique interactions.
If you've had a unit on biochemistry, I don't think it's unfair to ask these kinds of questions.
BUT...giving the student a specific enzyme, and asking them to describe minute biochem details from memory is unfair and inappropriate.
They wouldn't do this in a PhD level class
BUT...giving the student a specific enzyme, and asking them to describe minute biochem details from memory is unfair and inappropriate.
They wouldn't do this in a PhD level class
As someone who's doing plant physiology work, if I need to know this information, I'm looking it up.
I know all the subunit/side chain stuff, and I can incorporate it when dissecting the structure.
I know all the subunit/side chain stuff, and I can incorporate it when dissecting the structure.
This is more or less my area of expertise, because understanding how a protein works is essential to determining whether it's related to the process you're trying to dissect.
I've had to look at dozens-maybe hundreds-of these kinds of interactions over the years...
I've had to look at dozens-maybe hundreds-of these kinds of interactions over the years...
...and I don't remember a single one in this kind of detail.
If I'm a professional scientist, why should a high-schooler have to do this?
The concepts, sure. For a specific enzyme? Absolutely not.
Also, if the OP wants an explainer for this, I'd be happy to do it.
If I'm a professional scientist, why should a high-schooler have to do this?
The concepts, sure. For a specific enzyme? Absolutely not.
Also, if the OP wants an explainer for this, I'd be happy to do it.
The reason this question is so bad is that it takes a concept which is intimidating, but can be made easy if the instructor is careful in how they teach it, and then makes this topic seem impossible.
Biochemistry isn't that hard*, it just seems like it if you're thrown in.
Biochemistry isn't that hard*, it just seems like it if you're thrown in.
*Except for X-ray crystallography, which might just be the most complex thing in all of science.
I don't really know any biochemists who would be able to hop into a crystallography lab and be immediately ready to rock.
I don't really know any biochemists who would be able to hop into a crystallography lab and be immediately ready to rock.
