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Digital World Biology Posters

Immuno-biotechnology and Bioinformatics in Community Colleges

Immuno-biotechnology is one of the fastest growing areas in the field of biotechnology. Digital World Biology’s Biotech-Careers.org database of nearly 7000 biotechnology employers has nearly 700 organizations that are involved with immunology in some way. With the advent of advanced DNA sequencing, and other technologies, immuno-biotechnology has significantly increased the use of computing technologies to decipher the meaning of large datasets and predict interactions between immune receptors (antibodies / T-Cell receptors / MHC) and their targets.

The use of new technologies like ... Read more



Visualize it:  biochemistry games for building skills and making scientific contributions

Todd M. Smith, Sandra G. Porter, Digital World Biology, LLC, Seattle, WA

The wide application of DNA sequencing has made it possible to identify numerous missense mutations.  While it is possible to assign functional consequence to small numbers of changes, understanding why a given change has impact in ways that the can broadly understand is much harder.  This level of translation requires either an in-depth understanding of biochemistry or access to a knowledgebase containing this kind of information. Thus far, neither exist. If we can teach students how to predict the effects of ... Read more



Zika virus, drug discovery, and student projects in bioinformatics

Sandra Porter, Austin Community College and Digital World Biology LLC, Seattle, WA

Our bioinformatics course at Austin Community College focuses on basic concepts and techniques.  Students learn how to search databases, use molecular models, apply sequence analysis tools, and characterize genetic variation.  Although bioinformatics provides us with interesting real-life examples to study, our abilities are limited when it comes to finding student projects that include opportunities to make new discoveries.  We don’t have a lab and we’re not able to generate our own data, so we rely ... Read more



Using molecular models and sequences to understand new technologies: CRISPR/Cas9 in Molecule World™

Todd M. Smith and Sandra G. Porter, Digital World Biology LLC, Seattle WA.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a hot topic. CRISPR/Cas9 is not only revolutionizing the field of gene editing, aspects of this system can be used to teach fundamental concepts in immunology and evolution. In terms of immunology, CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and restriction/methylation systems protect bacteria from phage. CRISPR sequences are in essence an adaptive immune system for prokaryotes, storing information from previously encountered invaders.

Molecular models provide ... Read more



Developing Bioinformatics Core Competencies for Agricultural Biotechnology

Todd M. Smith [1,2], Sandra Porter [1,2], Linnea Fletcher [2,3]

1. Digital World Biology (DWB), 2. Bio-Link, 3. Austin Community College (ACC)

Students graduating from college in the 21st century need to be skilled in using a computer. Through several experiences including Austin Community College’s (ACC’s) interactions with industry, DWB’s experience, and combined participation in efforts such as the Network for Integrating Bioinformatics into Life Sciences Education (NIBLSE), it is clear students need to be more aware of how computing is used in the life sciences and the ... Read more

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Overcoming Technical Barriers to Incorporate Molecular Structures in Teaching with Molecule World[TM] on the iPad and iPhone

TM. Smith, SG. Porter. Digital World Biology® LLC, Seattle, WA. @finchtalk, @moleculeworld  

It is impossible to grasp fundamental concepts of genetic variation without understanding the relationship between sequence, structure, and function. In response to nearly two hundred interviews with KI12 and college teachers and students, we created the Molecule WorldTM iPad and iPhone apps to display 3D-data from multiple structure databases (MMDB, PDB, and PubChem). Molecule World employs a novel rendering engine that allows us to convey depth, and uniquely highlight chemical ... Read more



Blending art and science to understand genotype and phenotype with public data and Molecule World™ on the iPad

Todd M. Smith, Sandra, G. Porter, Ditigal World Biology LLC. Seattle WA. 

It is impossible to grasp fundamental concepts in biology without understanding the relationship between sequence, structure, and function. Modern data collection technologies are creating enormous data resources that can be used to help students’ understand these relationships, but currently are underutilized. This is due to the fact that easy-to-use tools that meet teachers’ needs for clear instruction and data visualization are not yet commonplace. Filling the gap between the embarrassment of data riches ... Read more



Exploring the structural basis of the genotype and phenotype relationship with public data and Molecule World[TM] on the iPad

TM. Smith, SG. Porter. Digital World Biology® LLC, Seattle, WA. @finchtalk, @digitalbio  

From plant and animal breeding to genetic modifications to creating new kinds of energy resources, it is impossible to design improvements without understanding the relationship between molecular sequences and their structure and function. As we contemplate new ways to produce food and energy, understanding molecular structures is critical to both target development and follow on manufacturing processes. Additionally, to have large-scale benefit, our emerging scientists, the technical ... Read more



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