Peer Review

The Molecules of Life

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Effectiveness:

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Overview:: "Molecules of Life" provides information on DNA, proteins, the human genome and laboratory techniques used in that area (including an introduction to X-Ray Crystallography). This site uses short movies, figures, graphs and written information to convey the information to the user. There are also a link to the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics at the University of Oxford.
Type of Material:: The material is a reference material containing mainly textual information with some movies addressing DNA and protein structure related material.
Recommended Uses:: 1. May be used to demonstrate application of X-Ray crystallography
2. May be used as a reference
3. May be assigned as home-work for group study
Technical Requirements:: Standard computer platform with "RASMOL" for manipulating certain structures and is best viewed using Internet Explorer.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Users will be able to read and visualize information that will explain in simple terms the basics of DNA, proteins, the human genome and biochemistry laboratory techniques. It also provides background to the work being done in the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics at the Univeristy of Oxford.
Target Student Population:: This site will be useful for students studying biology/biochemistry in high school as well as college level students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: A basic background of biology and an introductory knowledge of matter and cells.

Rating:
Strengths:: 1. The content is valid,accurate,and current in addressing relevant information on DNA, genes and protein structure.
2. It is consistent with information in textbooks and presents short movies, photos and molecular models that enhance the learning process
3. The brief guide to X-Ray Cyrstallography includes good, full-size images, movies and graphics of equipment, procedures and results.
4. Link to Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics provides additional resources that enhance the strength of the module.
Concerns:: Graphics and movies are of lower quality (too small to view on each page, but some have full size images available). While the content of the movies are appropriately used throughout the site, they are usually to short to thoroughly illustrate anything.

Rating:
Strengths:: It is a good reference document with some videos, graphics, and interactive molecular structures adding to the heavily text based site. It covers a lot of background about the topics of proteins, DNA, and X-ray Crystallography.
Concerns:: 1. There are some repetitions in information presented in some of the sections.
2. The material is not particularly engaging; it is heavily text based and videos are short.

Rating:
Strengths:: 1.The site presents the information in a text book table of contents type manner (hierarchical)
2. The directions for use are presented before the user enters the actual content and are clear and complete.
3. The navigation tools, icons and symbols are well-documented and work well.
Concerns:: 1. It is very easy to get "lost" inside the site. It contains many internal links to additional information, but no easy way to return to the previous topic you were reading. If you follow the topic contents from end to beginning, you will not experience this problem.
2. Nearly all external links given in the module are broken. In order to view the details/coordinates of the protein structures a program called "Rasmol" is needed. The link provided to download "Rasmol" is broken.

Other Issues and Comments:: This is a very good site that serves as an introduction to the topics of protiens, DNA, genes, and X-Ray Crystallography.
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