When you hear the words virtual reality or 3D glasses, you may be inclined to think of the newest video game or watching a movie at a local theater, but what if this same technology allowed students and researchers to interact with science?
James Hinton, a biochemist at the University of Arkansas, figured out a way to do just that.
Hinton, along with the help of the visualization company, Virtalis, developed a computer program that showcases proteins three-dimensionally and allows the molecules to be examined from different angles.
This is vital, especially since proteins play a critical role in building up, maintaining, and replacing the tissues in the body.
Not only is the virtual computer program a way to get teach biochemistry, it is also a tool used in medical research. The program is currently being used for cancer research at the University of Arkansas. The program would allow drug companies to learn about deactivating disease-causing proteins and how to create drugs to interact with them.
Quotes
From a teaching standpoint, it's really, really important that students be able to touch, feel, see, embrace if you like, these proteins.” -James Hinton, University of Arkansas.
“Kids are visual people nowadays, and so I began to look around for ways of actually visualizing three dimensional structures.” -James Hinton, University of Arkansas.
“It really brings the point home in three-dimension as opposed again to using just a regular computer.” Paul Adams, University of Arkansas.
Warm Up Questions
1. What is virtual reality?
2. How might a teacher use virtual reality to teach biology?
3. How can 3-D models help explain complicated systems?
Discussion Questions
1. What does the program allow students and researchers to do?
2. Why would young people be interested in this form of learning?
3. How can this virtual program change the way young people appreciate science?
4. How can drug companies use this program in creating or changing the drugs they produce?
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