Three-Dimensional Molecular Modeling of Amino Acid Sequences and Mutations to Enrich Biophysics Education

In traditional science high school curricula, biological and physical concepts are limited to abstract textbook descriptions and lectures, leaving students with superficial comprehension due to limited priority on experimentation and exploration.Although traditional teaching methods commonly isolate the concepts covered by physics, chemistry, and biology, the real world transcends those boundaries, namely in fields like biophysics, where these concepts converge.Hence, we developed a protein visualization app that transforms abstract ideas such as the protein structure, the central dogma of molecular biology, Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mutations, and the sequence-to-structure relationship into interactive learning experiences using 3D molecular models.Our study implemented the app within the curriculum of an honors biology class, and 53 students rated their comprehension of three biophysics topics on a scale of 1-5 before and after using the app.The results highlight that the app enhanced students' comprehension of amino acid structures, DNA to protein relationships, and mutations, particularly for those with a moderate foundation of prior knowledge in biophysics.Overall feedback highlighted the app's potential as an educational tool for enriching learning in biophysics and related fields by fostering comprehension and creative problem-solving skills.By bridging the gap between abstract education and molecular-level understanding, our protein visualization app has the potential to elevate biophysics education.