BNFO 301 
Introduction to Bioinformatics
Questionnaire on notes: Strategies of Life, Protein, and the course as a whole
(please press SUBMIT button when finished)
Spring 2009 


I. Basic Information

A. Your name 
II. Introduction to Course (all true/false)

A. If you don't have a good grounding in computer programming, this is not the class for you.  

B. Mondays will be devoted to lectures, Wednesdays to problems. 

C. Three unexcused absences from class will roast your coals. 

D. The textbook isn't bad. I don't expect you to memorize it, but... couldn't hurt! 

E. Boundaries for D, C, B, and A are 50, 65, 80, and 90, respectively, although curving may be necessary. 

F. Unfortunately we were unable to get funding for a TA, but I have posted an online service that may meet your needs. 

G. Each of you will teach a 30 minute session within a Chesterfield County high school biology class. 

Comments, concerns,...

II. Biological Information
Consider how comfortable you are with the following topics (as defined by the notes Flow of Information):

A. How information passes from DNA through RNA to protein

B. The mechanism by which genes might determine the function of an organism

C. How amphipathic lipids can self-assemble into the sphere shown in Fig. 2B

D. The relationship between monomers and the four major types of biological polymers

E. How in general enzymes might determine the nature of a cell

With this in mind, how could class time best be spent to meet your needs?

Choose up to two study questions that you would most like discussed in class:

SQ1 SQ2 SQ3 SQ4 SQ5 SQ6
IV. Protein structure and function>
Consider how comfortable you are with the following topics (as defined by the notes Protein):

A. What amino acids are and how they differ from one another

B. How amino acids are joined to form proteins

C. How the sequence of amino acids of a protein contribute to its ultimate three-dimensional shape

D. The distinction between primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of proteins

E. How the entire three-dimensional structure participates in forming the critical active site of chymotrypsin

F. Two ways in which hydrophobic amino acids can direct a protein to sit in a membrane

G. How a greater ability to predict protein function from its primary structure would change the world we live in

H. What all of this has to do with bioinformatics

With this in mind, how could class time best be spent to meet your needs?

Choose up to three study questions that you would most like discussed in class:

SQ7  SQ8 SQ9 SQ10 SQ11 SQ12 SQ13 SQ14
V. Miscellaneous comments, questions, suggestions, concerns you may have
What do you need? I would like to have a feel of who everyone is and where they stand, and I certainly don't at the moment. Could you help me out by giving me a summary of where you are regarding what has happened thus far in the semester and what you feel you need to make this a useful experience for you?

Thanks!

REMEMBER TO CLICK SUBMIT! (or click RESET to start over)