Illustrating Drug Design Using Molecular Modelling
Activity aimed at KS3, KS4, Post 16
1 hour approximately for the demonstration talk
1 hour approximately for any practical
Activity Content
Presented in collaboration with The University of Manchester and Salford, this activity looks to show students how drug molecules may work in the human body and reveals the process of how potential drug systems are designed. Combining the biology and chemistry syllabuses tightly together, the presentation uses a 6ft model of a protein called "Boris" (Biological ORigins of Systems) which is used as the
target for a range of drug molecules which are constructed from a range of templated MolyMod models. The presentation re-emphasises and introduces in a different way the role of cells, genetic information and protein in the body in biology as well as covalent bonding, compounds and isomerism in chemistry.
In the practical, students extract and bottle their own DNA-the essential molecule that determines who they are and discover the link between DNA and proteins.
Since the presentation's conception in January 2007, this activity has been warmly received and can be presented from KS2 to KS5 with equal fluidity.