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Integrating bio‐inorganic and analytical chemistry into an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory
Author(s) -
Erasmus Daniel J.,
Brewer Sharon E.,
Cinel Bruno
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
biochemistry and molecular biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1539-3429
pISSN - 1470-8175
DOI - 10.1002/bmb.20865
Subject(s) - chemistry , environmental chemistry , biochemistry , biochemical engineering , engineering
Abstract Undergraduate laboratories expose students to a wide variety of topics and techniques in a limited amount of time. This can be a challenge and lead to less exposure to concepts and activities in bio‐inorganic chemistry and analytical chemistry that are closely‐related to biochemistry. To address this, we incorporated a new iron determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy exercise as part of a five‐week long laboratory‐based project on the purification of myoglobin from beef. Students were required to prepare samples for chemical analysis, operate an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, critically evaluate their iron data, and integrate these data into a study of myoglobin. © 2015 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43(2):121–125, 2015.