Bio-Engineering: Making and Testing Model Proteins
Students act as if they are biological engineers following the steps of the engineering design process to design and create protein models to replace the defective proteins in a child’s body. Jumping off from a basic understanding of DNA and its transcription and translation processes, students learn about the many different proteins types and what happens if protein mutations occur. Then they focus on structural, transport and defense proteins during three challenges posed by the R&D bio-engineering hypothetical scenario. Using common classroom supplies such as paper, tape and craft sticks, student pairs design, sketch, build, test and improve their own protein models to meet specific functional requirements: to strengthen bones (collagen), to capture oxygen molecules (hemoglobin) and to capture bacteria (antibody). By designing and testing physical models to accomplish certain functional requirements, students come to understand the relationship between protein structure and function. They graph and analyze the class data, then share and compare results across all teams to determine which models were the most successful. Includes a quiz, three worksheets and a reference sheet.
Figure 1. This student-designed structural protein model held a load of 206 pounds of books!Copyright 2017 Lauren Sako, RET Program, College of Engineering, North Dakota State University Fargo
Biological engineers design solutions in the form of machines, structures, processes and instrumentation that address problems involving living biological systems including plants, animals and microbes. In this activity, like bio-engineers, students imagine and create structures that model the functions of specific proteins and then test how well they perform, all while guided by the engineering design process.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain that proteins are composed of amino acids.
- Describe the functions of three proteins.
- Brainstorm, sketch and build model proteins using common materials.
- After testing, modify their models to improve effectiveness and better meet requirements.
- Keep records of the design and proficiency of the tested models.
- Communicate to others the model design and its strengths and weaknesses.
- Compare the strengths and weaknesses of other models to their own and reflect on ideas that might improve their own designs.