Tuesday, June 8, 2021

A sweet father-son bond inspires tasty new molecule models

 A father has been inspired by his son with impaired eyesight, lowering his son’s education in science. The researchers created bite-sized molecule models to use the mouth’s super sensitive touch sensors, instead of a fingertip touch. They created gummy candy models and 3-D printed nonedible nontoxic versions of proteins. They tested many students from elementary to college to identify the protein. 85% of the time the student correctly identified the protein. These cheap models could help students with or without visual impairment about proteins. Bryan Shaw got the idea while eating a blackberry. His tongue can feel all the different spheres in fruit. Many scientists represent atoms in a protein with spheres. The prototype will take a lot of work, research, and professional equipment. Shaw has been talking to the educators at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austin about the models.

Drahl, C. (2021, May 27). A sweet father-son bond inspires edible, helpful molecule models. Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/molecule-models-blind-protein-candy-chemistry

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