Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other.
The ability to manage the constantly growing clinically relevant information in genetics available on the internet is becoming crucial in medical practice. Therefore, training students in teaching environments that develop bioinformatics skills is a particular challenge to medical schools. We presen...
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doaj-6d015fb8b47541a29de92bc4c544c7f52020-11-24T21:55:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032007-01-0125e48110.1371/journal.pone.0000481Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other.João Carlos SousaManuel João CostaJoana Almeida PalhaThe ability to manage the constantly growing clinically relevant information in genetics available on the internet is becoming crucial in medical practice. Therefore, training students in teaching environments that develop bioinformatics skills is a particular challenge to medical schools. We present here an instructional approach that potentiates learning of hormone/vitamin mechanisms of action in gene regulation with the acquisition and practice of bioinformatics skills. The activity is integrated within the study of the Endocrine System module. Given a nucleotide sequence of a hormone or vitamin-response element, students use internet databases and tools to find the gene to which it belongs. Subsequently, students search how the corresponding hormone/vitamin influences the expression of that particular gene and how a dysfunctional interaction might cause disease. This activity was presented for four consecutive years to cohorts of 50-60 students/year enrolled in the 2(nd) year of the medical degree. 90% of the students developed a better understanding of the usefulness of bioinformatics and 98% intend to use web-based resources in the future. Since hormones and vitamins regulate genes of all body organ systems, this activity successfully integrates the whole body physiology of the medical curriculum.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1868778?pdf=render |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
João Carlos Sousa Manuel João Costa Joana Almeida Palha |
spellingShingle |
João Carlos Sousa Manuel João Costa Joana Almeida Palha Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
João Carlos Sousa Manuel João Costa Joana Almeida Palha |
author_sort |
João Carlos Sousa |
title |
Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other. |
title_short |
Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other. |
title_full |
Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other. |
title_fullStr |
Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other. |
title_sort |
hormone-mediated gene regulation and bioinformatics: learning one from the other. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2007-01-01 |
description |
The ability to manage the constantly growing clinically relevant information in genetics available on the internet is becoming crucial in medical practice. Therefore, training students in teaching environments that develop bioinformatics skills is a particular challenge to medical schools. We present here an instructional approach that potentiates learning of hormone/vitamin mechanisms of action in gene regulation with the acquisition and practice of bioinformatics skills. The activity is integrated within the study of the Endocrine System module. Given a nucleotide sequence of a hormone or vitamin-response element, students use internet databases and tools to find the gene to which it belongs. Subsequently, students search how the corresponding hormone/vitamin influences the expression of that particular gene and how a dysfunctional interaction might cause disease. This activity was presented for four consecutive years to cohorts of 50-60 students/year enrolled in the 2(nd) year of the medical degree. 90% of the students developed a better understanding of the usefulness of bioinformatics and 98% intend to use web-based resources in the future. Since hormones and vitamins regulate genes of all body organ systems, this activity successfully integrates the whole body physiology of the medical curriculum. |
url |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC1868778?pdf=render |
work_keys_str_mv |
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