Amplification of Biochemical Signals: the ELISA Test (an 8-page activity for technical students)

Interactive, scaffolded model

Overview and Learning Objectives

The shape of molecules affects the way they function. A test for the body's response to intruders can make use of this. Students are introduced to the role of molecular shape, weak attractions and charge in biology and biochemistry, and then undertake a simulated Direct ELISA test.

Students will be able to:

• explain the role of molecular shape, van der Waals attractions, and charge in intermolecular attractions;
• connect these attractions with the antibody/antigen ELISA procedure.
• connect the enzymatic reaction with amplification of biological signals (production of antibodies).

return to top

Assessment

Test

http://www.concord.org/~barbara/workbench_web/pdf/ELISA_asses.8.07.pdf

Rubric

http://www.concord.org/~barbara/workbench_web/pdf/ELISA_rubric8.07bt.pdf

return to top

Central Concepts

Key Concept:

The shape of molecules affects the way they function. A test for the body's response to intruders can make use of this.

Additional Related Concepts

Molecular Biology

• Antibody-antigen
• Protein Function
• Protein structure
• Recognition

Physics/Chemistry

• van der Waals

return to top

Textbook References

• Biology (Miller and Levine) Prentice Hall 5th Edition - Unit 2: Chapter 5 - Cell Structure and Function
• Biology (Prentice-Hall) New York Edition - Chapter Seven: Cell Structures and Functions
• Biology: Exploring Life - Chapter 31: The Body's Defense System
• Biology: The Dynamics of Life - Chapter 39: Immunity from Disease
• BSCS Blue (8th Edition) - Chapter 23 - Immune System

return to top

Benchmarks and Standards

AAAS

• THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT: BASIC FUNCTIONS - The immune system is designed to protect against microscopic organisms and foreign substances that enter from outside the body and against some cancer cells that arise within (Full Text of Standard)
  
  
• THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT: CELLS - The work of the cell is carried out by the many different types of molecules it assembles, mostly proteins (Full Text of Standard)
  
  
• THE PHYSICAL SETTING: FORCES OF NATURE - Magnetic forces are very closely related to electric forces and can be thought of as different aspects of a single electromagnetic force (Full Text of Standard)
  
  

return to top

Macro Micro Link

A connection is made between illness, a test for antigens of that illness, and a body's immune response -- the antibodies -- to it.

return to top

Activity Credits

Created by CC Project: Molecular Workbench using Molecular Workbench

return to top

Requirements

• Java 1.5+ - Java 1.5+ is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X 10.4 and greater. If you are using Mac OS X 10.3, you can download MW Version 1.3 and explore within it instead.

return to top