Don't tell your students about triplet codons, reading frames, and introns and exons. Let your students discover these features of eukaryotic genes as they explore the map of the buman ß-Globin gene. After searching through the nucleotide sequence to find the ß-Globin gene, your students will appreciate bioinformatics software that automates DNA sequence analysis. The Teacher's Map includes highlighted reading frames and CD with instructions and Teachers' Notes. Map can be used individually or by small student teams.
David Goodsell, PhD, scientist, author and artist of all things small, creates landscapes that accurately illustrate the size, shape, and distribution of proteins in
their natural environment of the cell. These unique images connect the molecular world, inferred by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, with the cellular world, observed by light and electron microscopy.
These laminated prints of Goodsell’s stunning water color paintings illustrate biology in a dimension not seen in other instructional tools. Adjacent text identifies the proteins and explains their functions. Whether teaching the flow of genetic information, the many jobs of proteins, energy metabolism or the immunology of a flu shot, these landscapes may be the missing piece in your current collection of instructional tools.
Meets National Science Education Standards.
Let your students discover the
structure of DNA—just as Watson and Crick did. The DNA
Discovery Kit combines powerful magnets with accurate, 3D nucleotides
which makes the kit self-instructive. As your students correctly
join the nucleotides, they will "feel" hydrogen bonding.
Teacher-developed and field-tested, the classroom kit contains
12 base pairs (six of each nucleotide).
Each
ion has six embeded magnets to simulate ionic bonding. Your students
can also discoverthe cubic nature of salt crystals, efficient lattice
packing, high melting temperature, brittleness and more.
Flexible Modeling Toobers (made of foam-covered wire) allow students to create their own protein structures while exploring basic protein-folding principles. Toobers are 4’ long and now come only in blue Find out more.
3D
Molecules on CD for High School Biology BioMolecular Explorer 3D (BME3D) is a collection of 3D-interactive, biologically significant
molecules relevant to a high school biology curriculum. Windows software
is provided on the CD. (Mac users, see the online version of BME3D.
Classic or OS9 required.)
BME3D provides easy access to interactive 3D structures of biologically
significant molecules without needing to connect to the Internet, and
without requiring a great deal of technical expertise. All molecules
included on the Biomolecular Explorer 3D CD are displayed and explored
in a browser window following software installation. The price of the
CD covers the media, production and handling costs-- software and other
materials are free, thanks to support from the National Science Foundation,
and MDL, Inc.
The BME3D CD includes:
software for Windows (Mac users see
below)
step-by-step instructions
10 pre-selected molecules with descriptions
to place them in context: DNA, antibody, HIV protease with inhibitor,
hemoglobin, a lipid bilayer, collagen, lactase, lac repressor, myosin,
water.
links to online lesson planning resources
for each molecule
links to more molecules online
To preview the contents of
the CD, visit BME3D
online! If you have stable internet access in your classroom, you
can use all BME3D materials from BME3D online, without getting the CD.
Software for Macs (Classic or OS9 required) is available only at the
BME3D online web site.
30S Ribosome 4"
Also available
as a pair: 30S and 50S pair - $175
(see below)
50S Ribosome 4"
Also available
as a pair: 30S and 50S pair - $175
(see above)
Anthrax
Protective Antigen Too
pretty to be so deadly 3.25"
The
anthrax protective antigen is a 7-subunit, pore-forming heptamer
that allows 2 additional toxic anthrax protreins (Lethal Factor
and Edema Factor) to enter and destroy cells. The white colored
subunit in this spacefilled model is a “dominant negative
inhibitor” that prevents pore formation. This inhibitor
is being developed in Dr. John Collier’s Laboratory (Harvard
Medical School) as a biodefense agent against anthrax infection.
tRNA 3.5" So that’s
what it looks like!
This
spacefilled model of tRNA (the adapter molecule that delivers
activated amino acids to the ribosome) will prompt students to
ask many questions about protein synthesis. Both the 3" end
where the amino acids are “charged,” and the anticodon
that base-pairs with mRNA are clearly color-coded in this mini
model.
Antibody3.5" Another Common Protein Motif
Antibodies (immunoglobulins) area composed of 12 immunoglobulin folds; 4 in each heavy chain (colored yellow in the model), and 2 in each light chain (colored red in the model). The antigen binding site of an antibody is composed of the ends of two immunoglobulin folds (1 yellow heavy chain and 1 red light chain) that are positioned at the tips of the Y-shaped antibody
IgG Fold 3.25" Another Common Protein Motif
The immunoglobulin (IgG) fold consists of a four-stranded beta sheet – opposite a three-stranded beta sheet - joined by a disulfide bonds. This highly successful protein fold is found in many proteins, especially those that function in our immune system.
Beta Globin Mini Model 4" An Oxygen Transporter
ß-Globin is a small protein (146 amino acids) that transports oxygen throughout our bodies. This model features: the heme group with its iron atom which binds oxygen, the location of the sickle cell mutation; and selected charged, hydrophobic and hydrophylic sidechains. The model is useful in teaching both physiology and protein structure. While at a smaller scale, this Mini Model can be used as an accurate template when using the Mini-Toober ß-Globin Folding kit (above). Mini Models are made of plaster by rapid prototyping and should be handled with care.
Zinc Finger 3.5" A Common Protein Motif
A zinc finger is a short (~30 amino acid) protein motif that is often found in proteins that bind DNA. Zif268 is a DNA binding protein that contains three consecutive zinc fingers. Proteins with zinc fingers are one of the largest families of proteins found in the human genome. Each zinc finger consists of a two stranded beta-sheet and a short alpha-helix. Its structure is stabilized by two cysteine and two histidine sidechains that bind to a single zinc atom. Mini Models are made of plaster by rapid prototyping and should be handled with care.
Hemolysin 3.5" Poking Holes in Red Blood Cells
Hemolysin is a protein of Staphylococcus aureus. Like the anthrax protective antigen heptamer, seven subunits of hemolysin assemble into a complex that embeds itself into the membrane of a red blood cell. Each member of the heptamer contributes two-strands to a 14-stranded beta-barrel that is inserted into the membrane to create a hole. Hemoglobin protein then leaks out of the red blood cells -- making the iron available to the bacteria to support their growth. Mini Models are made of plaster by rapid prototyping and should be handled with care.
Potassium Channel 3.75" A Trans-Membrane Ion Transporter
The potassium channel is a four-subunit, trans-membrane protein that allows the rapid passage of potassium ions – but not calcium ions – across the membrane. The protein backbones of the four subunits come together to form a channel, with carbonyl oxygen atoms precisely positioned in 3D space to replace the water that normally hydrates each ion. Because there is no energetic difference between a hydrated potassium ion and the same ion bond in the pore of the potassium channel, the ion rapidly passes through the channel in a frictionless manner. This protein was highlighted in the 2003 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Mini Models are made of plaster by rapid prototyping and should be handled with care.
DNA Hand Held 8" Multi Formats in One Model
The DNA mini model represents the classic DNA double helix in four different formats. The first quarter (bottom) of the model presents a surface format emphasizing major and minor grooves. Moving upward, in the second quarter, all atoms are shown in a spacefilled format and CPK coloring. In the third quarter, the four nitrogenous bases (AGCT) are shown in a wireframe format, CPK colored. In the fourth quarter of the model, each of the four bases are colored with a solid color.
Custom Models
3D
Molecular Designs is happy to estimate the cost of a model that
is customized to meet your research or education needs. Receive a custom model price quote.
If you encounter any problems with the online ordering system, you may also order via mail. Print the order form found in our catalog (pdf file) and send. Or you can go to our contact us page and follow the directions given.
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