Redox reactions are essential for many biological processes. However, it can be confusing for students to understand the inter-conversion of species with the change of their electronic state. Hemoglobin, an oxygen carrier protein, acts as an oxidizing agent in the presence of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, it can be used as a model for these reactions. Different electronic states of the iron in hemoglobin represent oxi-hemoglobin (II), met-hemoglobin (III) and ferryl-hemoglobin (IV), with different functions. Each species has its own spectroscopic properties which allow the use of spectrophotometer as a tool to study redox reactions.

 (4 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Priscilla Tosqui, Marcio Colombo

Keywords: redox, hemoglobin, spectroscopy, biochemistry

The studies related to cell biology often face the difficulty of the students in understanding the subject, what can be associated with the lack of methodologies that make the subject more dynamic and accessible to the group. Considering that the understanding of basic concepts is fundamental for the comprehension of subsequent processes and keeping in mind the need to adopt techniques that make the study of microscopical structures and complex processes easier, studies report that the use of models, games or dynamics as a way to involve the student, making the subjects more assimilable. From this point of view, we discuss the utilization of a dynamic of easy access and application, created to be used with High School students, which teaches the basics of the Plasma Membrane and its Transport Mechanisms, as the students consider it difficult to understand. The authors were subjected to a documental analysis of their teaching practice, which showed that the activity helped them overcome several common problems in studies of the same nature, pointing the importance of more interactive educational practices.

 (15 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Vanessa Oenning, Juliana Moreira Prudente De Oliveira

Keywords: Alternate Teaching Resources, Plasma Membrane, Transport of Substances, Teaching Biology.

Basic Biochemistry subjects usually use lectures or group work dynamics like strategies of theoretical teaching. The review of important concepts is often done through classical memorization exercises in class. On the other hand, in recent years, textbooks have included CDs, which contain several animated figures, associated to hypertexts and linked to websites that enable the construction of meanings of biochemistry knowledge. In addition, learning objects in virtual environments have been developed with informative contents, and may be associated or not to challenging proposals. These could encourage students to play a more active role in their understanding of basic Biochemistry. This work is included in this context and it is a learning object, mediated by computer, which presents interactively the “Synthesis of Hepatic Glycogen by direct and indirect pathways”. Its design and creation was performed using the Adobe platform, and its contents were based on biochemical information published in scientific articles and textbooks. The aim is to provide another learning object to the educational software repository which can be useful in the study of a biochemistry topic not yet approached by this teaching strategy.

 (7 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Vera Maria Treis Trindade, Bruno Pastoriza, Luciene Pinheiro Vianna, Christianne Gazzana Salbego, José Del Pino

Keywords: Learning object, hepatic glycogenesis;, direct pathway, indirect pathway.

The teaching of the Sciences associated with experimental activity has been encouraged by several authors. The carrying out of experimental lessons motivates students in their quest for knowledge. This paper describes a practical activity of Biochemistry which sets out pedagogical alternatives aiming at facilitating the learning of concepts about this branch of Biological Sciences as well as untying the shackles of what is instituted in the students’ negative imaginary in relation to Biochemistry. The study was conducted in public High Schools in the Northwest region of Rio de Janeiro State. The work consists in the development and implementation of a kit for teaching Biochemistry using alternative materials and/or low cost ones, such as syringes, wood, plastic bottles etc. In addition, the present project aims to be an agent which will stimulate to work by means of interdisciplinary teams within a holistic multi-disciplinary construction of knowledge that can be exploited in the biological accurate sciences.

 (16 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: William De Azevedo Pinheiro, Wendel Mattos Pompilho

Keywords: Teaching of Biochemistry; Alternative Materials; Classroom Practice.

ENVIAREI EM BREVE

 (14 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Bianca Caroline Rossi-Rodrigues, Eduardo Galembeck

Keywords: practical classes, lab classes, aminoacids, proteins, investigative classes

Activities based on Internet tools as supports for traditional education were regulated in Brazil by the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) in 2004. In 2005 an e-learning environment, Diorama 1.0, was created in the Laboratory of Long-Distance Education (LAED/CFM/UFSC), based on Moodle 1.5.2. Two disciplines of Biochemistry had been pioneering, in the course of Nutrition of the Center of Sciences of the Health, and in the Department of Biochemistry (UFSC), in using the resources of the long-distance education as a support for traditional classes activities. The disciplines evaluation was performed at the end of the semesters 2008/1 and 2008/2.

 (4 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Denise Nogueira Heidrich, José André Peres Angotti

Keywords: Keywords: implantation and evaluation, Biochemistry disciplines, AVEA e-learning environment.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the perspective of students in the first year of Dental and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences School regarding the use of knowledge in Biochemistry for clinical applications in their future career. Two simple questionnaires were elaborated consisting of multiple choice and open questions regarding the Biochemistry discipline. The questionnaires were given to first-year Dental and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences students at Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, at the beginning and the end of their Biochemistry course (2007 and 2008 years). The students answered the questions voluntarily and in an unidentified format. The answers were then divided (multiple choice questions) and the written contents (open questions) evaluated, indicating the students’ opinion with regards to each question. One hundred and fifteen students answered the first questionnaire and one hundred and thirty nine answered the second one. In the great majority of the multiple choice questions, the predominant opinion was that the Biochemistry discipline is important for their future careers (59.0%) as well as for their routine clinical setting (51.1%). We may conclude that students are aware of the importance of the acquired knowledge in Biochemistry for their future career although are not yet capable of defining how such knowledge will be applied.

 (3 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Rodrigo Cardoso De Oliveira, Natalia Fernanda Garro Monteiro, Flávia Godoy Iano, Thelma Lopes Da Silva, Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf

Keywords: Biochemistry, knowledge, health area.

Biochemistry is a basic subject in health courses. These students should be able to work in an environment where organic reactions knowledge is essential to understand the health-disease dialectic. It is especially important in nursing, which requires the ability to research, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of care process. Because of this, biochemistry should seek to link content to professional activity, with emphasis on pathophysiology, without ignoring its own objectives. Once the first option makes teaching the subject more attractive and interesting, on the other hand a solid basic training would enable students to solve unexpected situations, adapting to new circumstances. In this context, we attempted to describe the UFBA’s nursing students views about the importance of discipline for the future profession and to verify the perception of the actual yield on the discipline and ability to relate concepts of biochemistry pathophysiology. Students’ interest was divided between metabolism understanding and its disorders, contributing for the diseases diagnosis. Overall, students showed good subject performance. Thus, it became impossible to think biochemistry devoid of pathophysiology. This view is claimed by the students themselves, encouraging performance in the course.

 (10 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Rodrigo Grazinoli Garrido, Fernanda Oliveira Araújo, Thiago Henrique Oliveira, Fabiola De Sampaio Garrido

Keywords: teaching, undergraduate, metabolic disorders

Intends the construction of some simple devices that can be used in the investigation of the ions flow through a membrane exploring the influence of the phenomena of the diffusion and of the electric field. This functional model allows to simulate and to visualize electrochemical processes that happen in the cellular membrane and to explore, by means of suggested activities, the main elements and variables involved. The aims of these activities are promote a larger interaction with the theory, as well as, to contribute for a better understanding of the passive and active transports.

 (11 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Paulo Henrique Dos Santos Sartori, élgion Lúcio Da Silva Loreto

Keywords: Cellular membrane; diffusion; electric field; functional model.

Failure rates are high in introductory courses, such as general chemistry, physics, calculus and also biochemistry, among others, in Brazilian universities. This present work aimed at to study several issues about prior knowledge considered important for learning biochemistry. Were interviewed 85 students of health area courses, medicine and dentistry (first semester) and pharmacy and physiotherapy (second semester). Some differences between answers of distinct semesters, showing a little improvement of knowledge were observed. Although the students showed difficulty in the explain functions, being difficult to associate the molecules, function and organelles, that constitute the cell. Perspective meaningful learning set and prior knowledge is of fundamental importance because these factors determine not only what is learned but also how it is learned and thus the final result of the teaching -learning process. It would be important that the professor could investigate the students’ alternative conceptions or prior knowledge on the content to be administered and after proposed to their students’ different activities, theorist and practice.

 (5 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Ana Lúcia Bertarello Zeni

Keywords: prior knowledge, alternative conceptions, meaningful learning.

This article describes the process of construction and application of low-cost models in the field of cell and molecular biology. The microscopic character of the contents in these two disciplines may turn the didactic approach too abstractional, difficulting the learning process. At the same time, the lack of laboratories and equipments in many schools compromises the teaching of these disciplines. In this context, undergraduate students of biological sciences developed and applied seven models with secondary students at a public school, used as didactic materials to support the Biology discipline content. The results were very positive both for secondary and undergraduate students.

 (25 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Tereza Cristina Orlando, Adriene Ribeiro Lima, Ariadne Mendes Da Silva, Carolina Nakau Fuzissaki, Cíntia Lacerda Ramos, Daisy Machado, Fabrício Freitas Fernandes, Júlio César C. Lorenzi, Marisa Aparecida De Lima, Sueli Gardim, Valéria Cintra Barbosa, Thales De Astrogildo E Trèz

Keywords: three-dimensional models, secondary level, cell biology, molecular biology, biology teaching.

Biochemistry is a discipline of a basic cycle offered in almost all of the undergraduate health courses including Physiotherapy. The understanding of the details of the most fundamental processes in biochemistry is essential for the evaluation and treatment of clinical manifestations of diseases by qualified physiotherapists. However, a high percentage of the students present difficulties in the understanding of the contents or in recognizing their importance in acquiring professional competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiotherapy students’ view of applicability and importance of biochemistry concepts at the beginning of their studies utilizing an exploratory and a qualitative research method. The results will help teachers in their educational procedures and will provide students with a more practical and interesting approach to biochemistry, such as the application of theoretical knowledge to real situations (diseases, experiments, media information, and scientific discoveries).

 (23 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Tamara Deyse Lins Pinheiro, Juliana Alves Da Silva, Pamella Ramona Moraes De Souza, Magnely Moura Do Nascimento, Hermógenes David De Oliveira

Keywords: Biochemistry, Physiotherapy, Biochemistry teaching

A new game, using analogies, presents the main aspects of protein synthesis. The purpose of this practice is to improve learning about the process of protein synthesis for students in high school. We use low cost and easy access materials to the development of this game. For students to understand the theory must be an introductory lecture on protein synthesis, before the implementation of this practice. To play, students are divided into two groups. The teacher gives each group a plug, representing an amino acid and a table with the genetic code. Students start the game by answering the questions raised by the opponent to get the permission for fishing from the nitrogen base. If the answer is correct the nitrogen bases will be delivered to the group, which will have to fill a panel that contains sequences corresponding to the messenger RNA, DNA and complementary DNA template, decoded from the amino acid provided by the teacher early in the game. The first group to complete all the steps of protein synthesis wins the game. The application of this practice in schools in the high schools of the Manaus city returned an excellent acceptance by the teachers, who reported the great enthusiasm of his students to use the game and an improvement in the understanding of the issue addressed in the classroom. Teachers also commented on the versatility of this practice, which was successfully used to address other issues. So the game is a practice that can be developed to complement the theoretical classes on the subject.

 (14 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Fábio Tonissi Moroni, Raquel Borges Moroni, Silvia C.b. Justiniano, Joselita M. M. Dos Santos

Keywords: nitrogen bases, Biochemistry, Teaching, protein synthesis, aminoacids, DNA, RNA, peptide bond, high school

Biochemistry is a basic discipline that propitiates a critic and reflexive formation of higher education students in the biological and health area. Biochemistry is an ample science that deals with complex and abstract issues, which are commonly difficult for the students to understand, and therefore contributes to high percentages of failure in the discipline. The objectives of the present study were to develop a teaching/learning methodology to minimize the difficulties regarding the understanding of the didactic contents, to explore the potentialities related to the application of these contents to the practice, and to facilitate the study of the protein structure and function in the discipline of biochemistry. METHODOLOGY: Aiming to introduce and contextualize the biochemistry concepts related to the protein structure and function, five strategies were proposed: the confection of bimolecular models made of low cost materials; the use of the body as a pedagogical tool aiming at the memorization of basic concepts; the development of a script for laboratorial procedures regarding reagent substances related to the day-to-day routine, including practical demonstration of the theoretical contents; the contextualization of the biochemistry in relation to the quotidian life of the student and his/her future professional practice; and the use of the internet as a complementary device of the teaching/learning process that was initiated at the classroom. The proposed methodology was applied to the 35 students of the second semester class of the graduation course of nursing. The results were evaluated based on the perception of the teacher and the answers given by the students in a questionnaire specifically designed for this study. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The time necessary to implement the strategies presented at methodology was 150 minutes. According to the teacher, the contents were taught in an easy manner and students were receptive and interested in the explanations. All the 18 students that answered the questionnaire praised the models designed to visually demonstrate the theoretical contents. Two students reported some difficulties related to the understanding of the contents even at the end of the procedures. Additional strategies can be used to correct this remaining deficit. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The methodology developed in this paper seems to be an appropriate proposal to assist the study of proteins and can be used as an additional alternative by biochemistry teachers. Different methodologies used for biochemistry teaching can contribute to better motivation and comprehension by students.

 (8 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: George Sabino, Fernando Costa Amaral , Cláudia De Vilhena Schayer Sabino, Luciene Rodrigues Kattah

Keywords: Teaching, Biochemistry, Proteins

One of the goals of the Coordination of Education and Dissemination of CBME is to contribute for the dissemination and the learning in Cell and Molecular Biology, so that the public can have aroused their scientific interest, and associate these advances with their reality. In this context, was implanted an Interactive Space, opened to the scholar and non scholar public, with different activities that approach since basic concepts of these areas, passing through some diseases considered neglected by pharmaceutical laboratories and that are subject of researches of CBME, by current technologies involved in the study of biomolecules. Thus, the present study aims to present this space considering the possibilities of learning in Cell Biology and Molecular Biology that are offered, as well as their contribution to scientific dissemination as a science center. Results of preliminary evaluations are also discussed considering questions related to the interest aroused by the activities, the importance of the themes and the kind of language used in the exhibition.

 (8 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Daniel Bovolenta Ovigli, Nelma Regina Segnini Bossolan, Leila Maria Beltramini

Keywords: molecular biology, non formal education, science museums, biotechnology

Frequently, scientific concepts are altered through scientific outbreaks, but little of that knowledge is passed on to students, especially those from Middle and High School, therefore the complexity of the information involved makes this approach more difficult. Nonetheless, these subject matters which awake people’s curiosity are talked about more and more as times change. A good example of that are both DNA and metabolism, generally relating these to subjects involving emerging diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer, among others. If the subject matter is so popular among means of communication, why not use a more technical approach on these topics in the classroom, showing students different ways of understanding and grasping concepts, basically though fun and playful activities. In this assignment two playful activities are described, both demonstrating, very practically, an alternative way of teaching mitotic cellular division process and physiology of the respiratory system to Middle School students, involving the discovering of important concepts to the comprehension of molecule phenomenon on the subject. Yet these activities have presented themselves as being of low production cost and easy implementation.

 (15 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Leandro Marcio Moreira

Keywords: Biochemistry learning, Molecular Biology Learning, Middle School, High School, Playful activities, Mitosis, Oxygen Transport

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the contribution of Post-Graduation Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul to the disciplines of graduation. The post-graduation students organized innovative teaching projects to be implemented in classes of biochemistry for several courses of the health professions. Thirty projects were evaluated by analyzing their written report and also through interviews with the teachers responsible for the disciplines of graduation where the projects were performed. The results showed that 9 projects (30%) become at least partially incorporated to the same or to other disciplines of graduation in the next years. One of these projects originated a new discipline for the graduation course of Biology. In general, the students of post-graduation contributed with their expertise obtained in their laboratory experience. These results indicate that the organization and implement of innovative teaching projects may help to training post-graduation students and also benefit the graduation students.

 (6 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Paulo Gilberto Simões Dávila, Clovis Milton Duval Wannmacher

Keywords: Teaching probation, teaching in practice, integration between graduation and post-graduation

Teachers assistants (TA) have been largely employed at universities to help teachers in educational procedures. TAs are selected among graduate students and work on the development and improvement of some technician-didactic activities, providing also extra support for the undergraduates in their learning process. The project here described has analyzed the contribution of TAs in Biochemistry courses for Health Sciences students at Unileste-MG. Evaluations were made by either students, teachers and TAs. The data was collected through questionnaires filled in by the students and semi-structured interviews with students, TAs and teachers. The results show that a high percentage of the students present difficulties in the understanding of the contents. Nevertheless, they ask for TAs help only a few days before the written tests are due. However, they still declare that TAs contribute for the learning of biochemistry. TAs and teachers share their opinion but point out the importance of a more constant support by TAs and a more intense participation in the classroom as well. By acting as TAs, graduate students are stimulated by their insertion in other academic activities such as teaching, research and extension projects.

 (10 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Valquíria Tiago Santos, Celma Anacleto

Keywords: Biochemist, learning, monitoria, health area

The learning basic sciences discipline in the course of Dentistry is necessary and each time more demanded for the formation of professional in-line the technological advances in the field of health. The objective of this work was to evaluate the perception of the students of the first year of the course of Dentistry of the Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru-USP, in the year of 2006, in relation to the importance of discipline of biochemistry on its formation and professional performance. A simple questionnaire composed of two multiple choice questions related to the discipline of biochemistry, was applied to the undergraduate first-year students evaluating its applicability and importance in the daily one of the dentist. The students (n=34) answered to the questions without identifying themselves, so that they did not suffer any inhibition or even fear regarding the individual answers. The interest for the biochemistry was shown to be high. The great majority of the students (88.23% and 82.35% for the first and the second questions, respectively) related to believe they would use the content of disciplines of biochemistry for their formation and professional performance. A small parcel (11.87% and 17.65% in the first and the second questions, respectively) related not to believe that the content of the discipline was important and applicable in the daily professional life. Considering that the students of the first year of the dentistry course need to be motivated to learn basic concepts for future applications, we can conclude that there are motivation and interest for the discipline of biochemistry and these must be kept, whenever possible, by the responsible professors.

 (5 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Rodrigo Cardoso De Oliveira, Flávia Godoy Iano, Thelma Lopes Da Silva, Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf

Keywords: Biochemistry, knowledge in basic sciences, student of dentistry.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the difficulties that teachers face, in high school as well as in undergraduate education, with the comprehension and interconnection of basic concepts of Molecular Biology (MB) and also evaluating how issues related to this subject, such as genetic engineering, transgenic foods and genome projects has been assumed. The research purpose was to explore new strategies that can contribute to enhance the web of knowledge of the teachers, providing them with confidence to apply the referred subject in classroom. The sample survey included 127 teachers, carried out between 2001 and 2003. They had to reply to a questionnaire with 3 sections of 10 questions each. The first section asked about the identification of the interviewed. The second inquired about the MB conceptions and the third section was about the conceptions of Science. The first section’s analysis indicated that a significant part of the sample did not have MB during their initial formation. The second section showed that good number of the teachers presented an insufficient, and in some cases, inadequate knowledge. Mass media matters seem, for this reason, to be treated on a superficial way and without linking them to the involved cellular processes. A significant amount of the surveyed teachers seemed to have only reached the phase of nominal and functional in the process of scientific literacy, keeping them distant from the multidimensional phase, which indicates the necessity to include MB as part of the undergraduate programs, as well as to provide programs designed to inform about the genome.

 (9 votes)

Category: Scientific Article

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Authors: Solange Soares Camargo, Maria Elena Infante Malachias, José Mariano Amabis

Keywords: Genetics and molecular biology teaching – misconceptions – scientific literacy - biology