Helicase Wiki Protein Project

The speed at which molecular biology moves often makes certain aspects of textbooks obsolete within a few years.  The aim of this project is to keep our course up to date with the latest findings in molecular biology and look at their impact on our understanding of the fundamental underpinnings of the central dogma: DNA to RNA to Protein.  Rather than have you write a research paper that gets filed away in some filing cabinet, the result of this project will be a public document that anyone can access to get information on your topic.  Future students in the class will read them as part of the course and others may add new information to your work.  Think of it as a dynamic textbook that you will be contributing chapters to.  The second goal of the project is to encourage you to realize the potential of using web-based technologies so that you can design a truly interactive entry (links, video, images) on our wiki. 

I want the topics to be driven by your interests not mine, so I will give you relatively free reign in determining what particular protein you would like to explore.   The only constraint is that it has to be connected to some aspect of the central dogma.  I have appended a list of potential proteins to consider.  The essential elements must include (if possible):

1.    A brief overview of the particular mechanism that your protein participates in.  (Replication, DNA Repair, etc)

2.    The function of the protein (What it does and how it does it)

3.    Is there a crystal structure of the protein?  What does this tell us about how it works

4.    Is there a human disease produced by mutations in the gene that produces this protein?  What is it and why does it occur.

5.    Are there diseases for which this protein is being investigated as a possible therapeutic target?

No matter which topic you choose, you must have 15 peer-reviewed references. 

If you have an idea, but you are unsure if it is appropriate, just stop by and we can discuss it. 

Grading:  I will post the grading rubric that I will use to evaluate your wiki project.  It outlines exactly what I am looking for and how many points will be assigned for each requirement.  As you can see, I will be grading on content but also wiki design and interactivity. 

The complete project is worth 120 points:

•    10 points assigned based on timeliness

•    10 points assigned based on usefulness of your peer-review

•    100 points assigned as outlined in the grading rubric

Project Timeline and Due Dates

•    Topic Approval: Topic must be approved by February 20th

•    Detailed Outline: Due on March 20th

•    Final Draft of Wiki Page: Due on April 3rd

•    Anonymous Peer-review: Due on April 10th

•    Final Wiki Due: Due on April 17th