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TeachingBASE |
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| Discovering bioinformatics A protein in the World Wide Web |
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[Italiano]
Authors
Sami Khuri, Natascha Khuri, Alexander Picker, Aidan
Budd, Sophie Chabanis-Davidson, Julia Willingale-Theune
Description
In this activity students can search for information
about a protein using databases of biological information
on the World Wide Web. These databases collect and
store information about genes and proteins [sequence,
structure, expression] about human inherited diseases
for which the genetic cause is known, scientific
literature, etc. Many databases that are accessible
via the World Wide Web offer so-called 'Query Interfaces':
special web pages on which you can enter and combine
search terms and restrict them to special sections
or fields of the database. In a text search you
can enter a search term, [the name of a protein,
a disease, a cell type] which is subsequently compared
to the textual content of the database. You can
also compare the sequence of a protein or gene to
the collection of known, annotated sequences stored
in a protein or genes database. In other words,
you can search these databases to find out what
is already known about your favourite protein. As
we will see the main biological databases are interconnected
[through so-called cross-references], providing
links with one another and allowing the user to
access different types of information from the result
of a single 'Query'.
We are going to look at the Pax6 protein
from zebrafish which is involved in eye development.
By 'following' this protein on the World Wide Web
we can find the human protein corresponding to the
zebrafish Pax6 [its Ortholog], information
about its function, strucutre, sub-cellular localization,
and the molecular basis of diseases linked to mutations
in its sequence.
The standard conventions to denote genes and their products
(proteins) are as follows:
PAX6 = human gene
pax6 = gene any other species
Pax6 = protein
Target audience
Age 16-18 years
Objective
To introduce the field of bioinformatics in the
classroom.
GCSE Syllabus
Advanced Subsidiary GCE and Advance GCE specifications for Human Biology
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This activity
can be used to challenge students key skills,
especially IT [level 3]. |
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Plan and use
different sources to search for, and select,
information required for two different purposes. |
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Explore, develop
and exchange information and derive new information
to meet two different purposes. |
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Present information
from different sources for two different purposes
and audiences. |
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Materials
Bioinformatics Module [PDF]
Copyright © 2005 European Molecular Biology
Laboratory |
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