To start with why not discuss the structure of protein chains, the mystery (the aminoacid types, the bond angles, the dihedrals, the energetics and so on and so forth) forcing each protein to attain an unique structure.

It would be a good idea. This would give an idea about the future direction of protein engineering. To complicate the proteomics there comes the post translational modifications. Defiitely an interesting subject.

Dr.Preetha, why don't you start the discussion yourself? What do other members think?

Why does a primary sequence of aminoacids take up a particular tertiary structure ? Is it only because of the covalent and non-covalent interactions ? The three dimensional shape is already adopted even before the protein is released from the the ribosome, intriguing isn't it ?

True, it has a message in the primary structure itself that how it should look taking a tertiary structure. However, other post translational modifications do influence the structure. Some of these are dealt with in the book "Protein sequencing and identification using tandem mass spectrometry By Michael Kinter, Nicholas E. Sherman".

Following is the link for a view:

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=1fmdXMG-72AC&pg=PA270&lpg=PA270&dq=effect+of+post+translational+modification+of+protein+structure&source=bl&ots=EjKrba3_xF&sig=d3sy5hnEv292vEEWC0-FPzh8aCI&hl=en&ei=JmjBTNz8M4SivgPb7fzrCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=effect%20of%20post%20translational%20modification%20of%20protein%20structure&f=false

Also the other parameters such as pH, temperature, salt concentration, etc can also change the protein conformation.

It will be an interesting reading to start from the structural ellicidation of protein with the experiments by Sanger whcih runs like a story.

If teachers teach the students the history of the discovery and how several persons contributed to the subject in various stages and various times, things will not only be clear to students but also bring interest in research field.

Thanks for starting this discussion, Dr.Preetha.

Absolutely true, I agree with your point on teaching, the need of the hour is to cultivate and model students with an inherent desire to understand the very basics of the subject right from the very history of its inception, I believe this is the only way to bring them to the field of innovative research, develop curious minds with an ability to think 'out of the box', to view and look at things from a not-so-common perspective.

Thanks for the link and explanations.

Regards

Let us wait for what other members have to say. I feel, in a forum, we need active responses and addition to what is being said or even contradictions.

I suggest that since you are a teacher, you can ask your students ( at least Research students) to take part in discussions or even ask questions which could be answered by the experts.

I some time become sad seeing biochemistry / biotechnolgy students do not even know the general structure of amino acid or which are acidic or basic amino acids. If this cannot be understood, how can one go into protein structure or structure- function relationship or protein engineering research.

Can we all try and make science like a story or game?

Any ideas?

Teachers are the real aspiration of students..if teachers are not able to explain or teach any field of science in an interesting manner, students tend to loose the interest on that field and prefer to mug up in order to clear the exam...

and on other hannd , if the teachers try to make the subject interesting by drawing the link between the subject of study and current/past research scenario so that students are able to think and give answers rather than mugging it up and taking it out..!!

Thanks for your inputs Kritika. I understand you just completed your Masters and hence your comments are very well valid.

Is it also true that being taught by some boring teachers who took up their jobs because they did not get any other which they liked and delevered for the sake of doing and with htat background the new teachers come to teach, will follow their teachers?

In simple terms it becomes cyclic.

My next question is when students like best teachers, how many really want to become teachers to make the difference? If all cream goes for other jobs, we will get secondary and teritiary level people only for teaching. Any comments?

knowing subject well and conveying it to others ie to students so that they understand and get interested in learning more are two diferent things.I think second part become equally important to be a good teacher and that is personal choice.

Thanks Nivedita for that comment. Good teacher is made of those two parts you mentioned.

The part of personal choice is also true, but which personal choice. Is it the choice of becomng a teacher (naturally if the choice was teacher, he / she should also be good) or is it a chice of getting interested after becoming a teacher? There is no choice should be left after becoming a teacher and just delivering something for the name sake. I feel such teachers need to be removed by the authorities if they have to save the education. Teaching is a passion and not just some job.

I am trying to find some who have such passion through the forum. He / she need not be professional teacher. After all I too am not a profession teacher though I love to teach and I just do that as a passion besides my research / innovation and other things.

I dont undrstand what u mean by a professional teacher?A person holding a certified degree from a recognised institute that he/she can teach now?or a person who is having 10-15 years of exp being a teacher?; irrespective of wheather he has a passion,inclination ,interest for teaching.

Till date i find good teachers dont come with a degree or experience tag;only persons who has knowledge,passion and a mission can be a good teacher.

Problem nowdays is that teaching become just other profession where people count what im getting rather than what i m giving.Practically what a person is earning through job is also important;afterall on this earth we hav to fulfill our responsibilities tooo;and there are limited oppertunities where u can get ur passion as ur job.But before joining teaching just as job people sd consider twice as they are going to impact so many minds.

It is true that in a lifetime we may get one good teacher that too if we are lucky but when we do get one such teacher we also should set an example by becoming one. For that you need not be one who is teaching in a school or college with an authorized degree in hand.

You can be a teacher even if you are simply interacting with anybody passing on lessons of life. Dedication, passion and zest for the love of teaching combined with the ability to understand and analyze the experiences of life are the essential qualities to be a teacher irrespective of any professional degree.

Good to hear from Dr.Nivedita and Dr.Preetha. The definitiion that teacher need not be the one teaching in school or college, coming from a teacher herself is encouraging.

Now we have two categories of teachers. Teachers like Dr.Preetha who teach in academic institutions and persons like me who is not in academics full time. I do teach when I am invited by institutions. Incidentally I am an Adjuct Professor for Karpagam University, Coimbatore.

The major concern now will be shifted to the first category teachers, because there is an expectation from the society for delivering the good teaching. That is the reason I had used the word "Professional Teachers". In this category, we find two types. The one who is dedicated and motivated who in tern motivate the young minds. The second category is the one who think that they are doing just another profession.

How to now motivate these second category teachers is the question. By emotional outburst, I do say that they need to be removed. Motivating and Training the Trainer might be a way out? Can we have some reward system for the best performers? Can we have a student-panel for choosing best teachers?

I would like to get inputs on these lines.

Students are rarely seen in these type of discussions - the basic fault lies in the so called system of education. Teachers also cannot be blamed beyond a certain extent because our education system is result oriented. Gaining of knowledge is overshadowed by the quest of excellence in terms of grades or marks and not aptitude.

I personally believe teaching should be a combination of imparting thorough subject knowledge in such a manner that the student is inspired to acquire the love of subject and pursue knowledge for the sake of gaining knowledge and understanding and at the same time enabling students to take on the practicalities of life with confidence and optimistic maturity.

Regards,

Can we motivate our students to take part in these types of discussion? Or, are there a few teahcers who are afraid of some bad remarks by students?

Is there a possibility of sitting across the table and sorting out differences? We need to make a begining rather than going on in cylcles and hypercycles in blaming systems and blaming each other.

Can you all help in identifying such torch bearers who can change the system at large?

hello everyone!

I am a B.Tech- Biotechnology student and I found all statements in this discussion board quite interesting. As students like me are in process of understanding the fundamentals of the field and its applications, may have a fear regarding kind of response they might get when they have discussion with established researchers or teachers of the same field.

The statements encouraged me to participate in discussion. I am interested in field of protein technology and would like current research areas in this area?

Dear Nitesh,

There is no need to fear to express any opinion or ask doubts. Scientists and teachers are not superhuman beings of Godmen who do not want to be questioned. Only with questions the scientific knowledge grow.

Good to know that you are interested in protein technology. The study should commence with the reading of structure of various amino acids and protien structure, its purification, post translational modification, structure - Function relationship and protien engineering. A systematic study alone can help in understanding or further research.

Happy learning. Please aks questions if you need to.

Dear Mr.Charles,

Thank you sir. Now i feel comfortable , as I'm in final semester of B.Tech, as i have to do my final semester project, i am looking forward to do project in area of protein technology. that's the reason for asking that question. As you have specified the subjects to be concentrated in area of protein, i shall learn and understand them.

Sir, i would like to ask you a question that what should be goal any project done at B.Tech level ? because this is first time for me and i feel your inputs will help me.

thank you.

Dear Nitish,

The idea of doing a project during B.Tech., is multifold. Of course, many think it is to invent something, which is not the primary aim. Even a few teachers think that there need to be something new that should come out of every project, someimes, a Nobel prize winning stuff. Teachers need to be honest that in their time, they did not do real great projects. In wanting to do great things I failed many times in those days.

Basically, the project gives the student an opportunity to think of a problem, how he should takle it with the existing knowledge, how to plan experiments, analyze the results and interpret them. If you don't define a problem, you cannot solve it. Once you identify a problem. read more on the existing techniques or technologies including the methodolgies others have used, the results they obtained as well as where they failed. Then you need to practically plan what and how you want to proceed and what you can do in the stipulated time.

After your initial plans (remember you might change a few during the course of time depending on the outcome of results), calculate the time for each experiment and tabulate what materilas such as chemicals you need. Some chemicals might need time to procure! Keep doing literature survey; they are the driving force. Read methodologies carefully. If you need to change the method, do so in consultation with your guide.

All these will make you a good planner. Then check whether your experiments are scientifically valid. This will teach you the Research Methodology.

Once you get initial results, plan next set of experiments. Finally when you finish up, you need to write up. This gives a knowledge on technical writng skill. In this process you would have gained knowledge on the journals in your particular subject and how others wrote their results.

Finallly during your viva, you will learn the art of presentation. I feel, these are the basic things which a project student should gain and it is the aim of the undergraduate project. You make the students thnking and planning people and not protocol scientists. This is my humble request to teachers. Do not discourage the student for negative results. In science both are results. Negative results teach us more than the positive results.

All the Best, Nitish!

Very well said, to the point sir!!