We have been using molecular and chemical structures for many years to improve our teaching and understanding of biology. As we started using molecular models more frequently, we realized it would be helpful to have defined sets of structures that could help students meet specific learning goals and use guided inquiry to investigate phenomena.
Structure collections help us in the following ways:
- Structure collections save time in preparing for class and grading assignments. Instead of downloading twenty structures for twenty student devices, we can download one collection on each device or have the students do this.
- Internet access is not needed once a collection has been downloaded.
- Collections save time in searching databases and identifying the best structure.
- Problems where students mix up characters like 1' and l's or O's and 0's are avoided.
- Annotated structures can be stored.
- Structures can be organized and compared.
Each of Molecule World structure collection has been compiled with certain learning goals in mind. We have added collections over the years to accompany museum exhibits, textbooks, and curriculum. If you have an idea for a collection, let us know! We're happy to help.
View all: Molecule World
| Collection | Description |
|---|---|
| Sugar Collection |
 Sugar (Glucose and sucrose) and the building blocks of sugar: water, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide |
| Siamese cats Collection |
 These structures can be used to show the affect of a frameshift mutation and to examine temperature sensitive mutations. Read more about the biochemistry of melanin production. |
| Receptors - hot stuff Collection |
 Molecular structures of selected receptors and some of the chemicals they bind like capsaicin and wasabi. |
| Project Violet Collection |
 Structures used in the Project Violet Exploration at Fred Hutch. |
| Molecular Murder Mystery Collection |
 A number of victims were found in compromising circumstances. How did this happen? Can you solve the mysteries? |
| Influenza-drug-resistance Collection |
 These structures are from aligned pairs of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant influenza proteins bound to different types of antiviral drugs. Comparing the pairs of structures shows how a single base mutation can allow a virus to become resistant to a drug. |
| Immunology Basics Collection |
 This set of immunology-related structures was created with an innovation grant from Shoreline Community College. |
| Hemoglobin Collection |
 These structures are from different forms of hemoglobin. You can use these to compare hemoglobin with and without oxygen and the hemoglobin structures found in two types of sickle cell anemia (Hemoglobin S, and Hemoglobin C). |
| Genetic disease mutations Collection |
 These structures show human proteins where missense mutations are associated with disease. You can view these structures, by downloading the collection and open it in the Molecule World iPad app. |
| DNA Exploration Collection |
 A collection of structures for exploring DNA, different forms of DNA, and deoxyribonucleotides. Learn more about the different forms of DNA structures in our blog post, The A, B, Z's of DNA. |
| DNA Binding Lab Collection |
 Investigate structures of DNA and determine if other molecules (protein or other chemicals) are bound in the major groove of the DNA or the minor groove. Use this collection of structures to see how molecules interact with DNA. Both proteins and drugs bind to specific sequences in DNA by recognizing the three dimensional shapes. |
| CRISPR Collection |
 Structures of immune cascade complexes from bacteria. These include CRISPR complexes from different bacteria,with guide RNA, target DNA, and the Cas1, Cas2, Cas3, and Cas9 nucleases. This collection of structures can be used to show how bacteria recognize and destroy viral DNA. This system has become an important tool for genome engineering. |
| BRCA1 Collection |
 Chemical and molecular structures that accompany the Bio-ITEST Genetic Testing curriculum strand. Includes NEW structures! |
| BiotechEd Collection |
 Chemical and molecular structures that accompany the upcoming edition of Biotechnology: Science for the New Millennium, by Ellyn Daugherty. |
| Biochemicals Collection |
 This collection contains the four major types of biochemicals: carbohydrates, fatty acids, nucleic acids, and proteins. Worksheets and eight unlabeled structures give students a chance to practice identifying these four groups of macromolecules.Two worksheets can accompany this investigation: |
| Bio-ITEST Collection |
These structures are part of the Bio-ITEST curriculum. |
| Beautiful Brain Collection |
 The Beautiful Brain structure collection accompanies the traveling art exhibit: The Beautiful Brain: Drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal. |
| Antifreeze Proteins Collection |
 A collection of antifreeze proteins. Antifreeze proteins are found in a variety of species that tolerate cold temperatures. These include arctic fish, antarctic bacteria, plants, insects, and mold. |