MOLECULAR MODELING AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING TOOL

Y. H. D. Santos (IC); UTFPR; Driele Larissa de Souza; Marcos Brown Gonçalves

All Papers

Submission

Paper Title

MOLECULAR MODELING AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING TOOL

Authors

Y. H. D. Santos (IC); UTFPR
Driele Larissa de Souza
Marcos Brown Gonçalves

Modality

Pôster

Subject area

Divulgação científica

Publishing Date

12/12/2023

Country of Publishing

Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/workshop-do-ineo-2023/614176-molecular-modeling-as-an-interdisciplinary-teaching-tool

ISBN

978-65-272-0088-8

Keywords

molecular modeling, macromolecules, Virus

Summary

The understanding of scientific advances by the population is increasingly distant due to the high complexity of the topics and the lack of interest in forming a common language between those who do science and those who consume it in its final application. Scientific dissemination enters this equation as a catalyst, a facilitator between the parties. Working with scientific dissemination combined with immersive educational methodologies makes the content more natural and contextualized to attract students' attention. Within this perspective, we use virtual tools to explain the microscopic world that is formed by atoms, molecules and biological macromolecules for the reality of students. This virtual tool called molecular modeling allows to simulate in a very realistic way the molecular environment with the degree of detail that one is interested in. The topic addressed was to explain, from a microscopic perspective, how drugs are capable of neutralizing viruses. The target audience consisted of high school students from various public and private schools in Curitiba and the metropolitan region where, once a week, students participated in remote or local activities at the Federal Technological University of Paraná on Campus Curitiba. During almost a year of work, the students investigated the molecular structure of anti-HIV drugs, then identified the viral replication functions, the target macromolecular structures of the drugs, until they understood the mechanism of action of a class of drugs on their biological target. Between expository and practical classes, there was a prevalence of the use of molecular modeling software for the construction of chemical structures and the virtual investigation of biological macromolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins. Finally, the students used molecular docking software that allows investigating the best fits between drugs and their biological receptors. The students also learned programming elements to analyze the results of the interaction between the drugs and the biological target. This project aimed to introduce high school students to a first contact with a research project of an interdisciplinary nature, seeking to create an accessible language for the school context.

Title of the Event: Workshop do INEO 2023
City of the Event: Nazaré Paulista
Title of the Proceedings of the event: Anais do Workshop INEO 2023
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

UTFPR, Y. H. D. Santos (IC);; SOUZA, Driele Larissa de; GONÇALVES, Marcos Brown. MOLECULAR MODELING AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING TOOL.. In: Anais do workshop INEO 2023. Anais...Nazaré Paulista(SP) Hotel Estância Atibainha, 2023. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/workshop-do-ineo-2023/614176-MOLECULAR-MODELING-AS-AN-INTERDISCIPLINARY-TEACHING-TOOL. Access in: 30/04/2025