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ERIC Number: EJ1443559
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Feb
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1328
BasePairPuzzle: Molecular Models for Manipulating the Concept of Hydrogen Bonds and Base Pairs in Nucleic Acids
Jiro Kondo; Shota Nakamura
Journal of Chemical Education, v100 n2 p946-954 2023
The use of molecular models in chemistry and biochemistry classes is very effective in helping students understand covalent bonds and the chemical structure of molecules. However, conventional molecular models cannot represent intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. Herein, we describe 3D printed molecular models of nucleobases with the S and N poles of neodymium magnets placed as the donor and acceptor atoms of hydrogen bonds, respectively. The molecular models, called BasePairPuzzle, allow the user to experience manually how molecular recognition occurs when molecules attract or repel each other. This helps to understand the concept of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. By playing with two or more molecular parts, by attaching and detaching them, users can understand and realize various biological phenomena at the molecular level, such as why DNA forms complementary A-T and G-C base pairs to store genetic information, how DNA mutations can occur, and how nucleic acids can form various noncomplementary base pairs to have complex structures and functions other than storing and transmitting genetic information. In addition, for professional research scientists, the molecular models can support the discovery of new molecular design ideas in drug discovery and nanotechnology.
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A