Talk:CH391L/S14/Liz's First assignment

Here's my Wiki Feeback worksheet for the first assignment

Worksheet: This should take you about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, including reading the wiki. Use whatever space you need. [ask for the word file, if you do not have it]

Overall Format and structure: Everything seems pretty good. Would have reworked Applications to be more meaningful and moved Synthetic Biology... section somewhere else. I wish there had been another in depth example like the one author gave for spider silk, which I think could easily have been accommodated by condensing other sections. Introduction and background material: I like the immediate distinction from possibly related "biomaterials" concept (with link provided). The rest could have been condensed/edited to solely define the main idea.

Background- good definition of terms (materials science+ biological structure). No examples off the top of my head, but this can't be a new idea- are there a historical/ maybe less deliberate scientific examples? (Also, material vs materials science). Author should specify spider silk in last bit.

Set off lists with heading of Aims/Goals?

Methods and main body/concepts: "Applications": Could be "Further Examples" down at bottom- doesn't really describe general Applications or elaborate on how these specific biological structures were harnessed to inspire the products. "Synthetic Biology..." First paragraph seems more like introduction material. Again, more cool examples, this time of the inspirations. Not sure exactly what author means by "gene products". Great point about organisms producing small amounts of desirable products, but I see that as justification for interest in the field - which to me should go up in an introduction.

"Spider Silk"- Great example. I like how author progresses from emphasizing why the material is a nice target/possible uses to a bit of history on the effort to some challenges- nice organic flow. The main problem with this section for me is the inclusion of detail that leaves me hanging/ unclear. Either I'm not sure why it is important (information on specific silk genes), or I don't understand the biochemistry enough (recombinant efforts).

"Beyond Spider Silk" - I like this, though I think the heading could be rewritten to be more general.

Relation to iGEM and future directions: Seems in order

Figures, Figure legends, and citations:

Eyecatching first figure, but not exactly sure how it ties into subject - would have been better to have picture of natural inspiration alongside the engineered product. Other pictures fit in well, but caption on spider web is a bit odd. Did link as reference throughout.

Citations- Seem to follow Pubmed, but no annotations

WHEN FINISHED, save the file and e-mail it to dennis.mishler@gmail.com. This is due BEFORE 9:00 AM Friday. Instructor Mishler will then add the revisions to the wiki page and e-mail the worksheet to the author, who will revise the wiki in response to the critiques on this worksheet before the next class.