An introduction to biological modeling using coin flips to predict the outcome of a diffusion activity

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Bioscene

Abstract

In order to increase students’ awareness for and comfort with mathematical modeling of biological processes, and increase their understanding of diffusion, the following lab was developed for use in 100-level, majors/non-majors biology and neuroscience courses. The activity begins with generation of a data set that uses coin-flips to replicate movement of dye molecules at an interface of a permeable gel. The class results are then collapsed into a single data set that is used to predict the movement of real dye molecules over time, which are then measured by students in a “wet-lab” activity.

First Page

3

Last Page

7

Publication Date

5-1-2016

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