Integrating Molecular Visualization into Experiments in Introductory Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Genetics.

This project will implement change in the design of experiments for first and second year biology and chemistry courses by introducing the capability to conceptualize and visualize structures and transformations in three dimensions. The design will engage students in experiments which connect lectures and laboratory and which reflect the intellectual and laboratory practices of life scientists and chemists. Students will study biological material or chemical in two ways. The student will analyze the molecular structure using computer-based tools and also manipulate the same material in laboratory. The instruments which provide the capability for viewing and analysis of molecualr structure are molecular visualization software running on high-resolution graphics personal computers and molecular models, as requested in this proposal.