Bad Fish: General Biology Edition

By James A. Hewlett

Abstract

In this version, developed for a course in general biology, the protagonist of the case, Dr. Westwood, survives an accidental poisoning-not once, but twice. Students read about each incident, applying what they learn in each part of the case to the later sections, and then design a drug to treat the neurotoxin poisoning described in the story. The case comes in three different versions, or editions. The General Biology Edition is designed for an introductory biology course. Its basic storyline and core objectives are carried over into a Human Anatomy & Physiology Edition and a Cell & Molecular Biology Edition, also in our collection, each of which has its own set of questions.

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Date Posted

04/10/2003

Overview

Objectives

Apply basic principles of organic and inorganic chemistry to answer questions related to the case.
Apply the basic concepts of cell membrane structure and function to answer questions related to the case.
Explore the distribution of ions and charged molecules in the cellular environment.
Use knowledge of membranes and transport mechanisms to explore membrane potentials (resting and action potentials).
Use knowledge of membrane potentials to explore the structure and function of a neuron.
Be introduced to the concept of neurotoxins and their actions at the molecular level of cell function.
Use rational design to describe the mechanism of action of a drug that students design to treat neurotoxin poisoning.

Keywords

Neurotoxin poisoning; toxin; tetrodotoxin; TTX; dissociation constant; membrane transport; action potential.; molecular interaction; neuron; nerve cell; nervous system; puffer fish; pitohui; songbird; Indonesia, Papua New Guinea

Subject Headings

Biochemistry

Biology (General)

Cell Biology

Physiology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Directed, Jig-Saw

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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