1. Home
  2. Peer Review: ATP Synthase Gradient

Peer Review

ATP Synthase Gradient

Reviewed:

Mar 29, 2014 by Biology
Bookmark

Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8 stars
Content Quality: 4.8 stars
Effectiveness: 4.5 stars
Ease of Use: 4.5 stars
Overview:

The website contains a flash movie animation that describes the chemiosmotic synthesis of ATP using a proton gradient and ATP synthase. This animation also demonstrates how the potential energy that results from a hydrogen ion gradient uses ADP and inorganic phosphate to synthesize ATP by utilizing the enzyme complex ATP Synthase.
Type of Material:

Flash movie animation
Recommended Uses:

This animation could be used to augment a class presentation as a pre-lecture assignment, or as a review of metabolism and ATP synthesis.
Technical Requirements:

Web Browser with Flash plugin
Identify Major Learning Goals:

No specific learning outcomes are specified. However, the animation clearly focuses on proton gradients and how that is used to synthesize ATP through the ATP Synthase enzyme.
Target Student Population:

High school and lower level undergraduate.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Students should have prior exposure to the basic concepts of glyolysis, Kreb's cycle and electron transport.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • An excellent, high-quality animation that is clear and easy to follow
  • Narration is appropriate for the information presented and matches the action in the animation
  • Information is accurate, but does a beautiful job of simplifying it
  • All steps of the process are covered; clearly explains proton gradient role in the process.
Concerns:

  • None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • Would work well as as an adjunct to classroom presentation
  • Could be used as an assignment prior to class
  • Will make a good review
  • It is visual, yet has a clear narration that is easily understandable.
Concerns:

  • Student needs to know the role of the process in overall overall metabolism of aerobic respiration.
  • While use of gradient is clearly explained and initial image shows other proteins in the membrane, their connection to the production of the proton gradient is not included in narrative--that is a separate animation

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • Very easy to use
  • Transcript of narration provided
Concerns:

  • Animation is short and would be better with connection to Electron Transport System explained/demonstrated.
  • Flash player required
Other Issues and Comments:

The purpose is to break the various process into small chunks of information and explain each with a short animation. There are advantages to that approach. The disadvantage is that the student may have difficulty seeing the process as a whole.
Creative Commons:
creative-commonscreative-commons by