Combining a computer simulation with a laboratory class—The best of both worlds?

Abstract

While clear educational objectives can be advanced for including traditional laboratory classes in biochemistry in the undergraduate medical curriculum, it is obvious that most practical exercises fail to give the students any real appreciation of the important elements of data interpretation or experimental design, and rarely permit useful staff-student or student-student interaction. Computer simulation of laboratory exercises has significant educational advantages, and certainly permits the student to interpret a great deal of “experimental” data. However, it is considered desirable for medical students to have at least some appreciation of the techniques and methods involved in obtaining such data. Hence, a combination of simple laboratory exercises with computer simulation seems to be a good compromise. Three computer simulations of biochemistry laboratory classes are described: enzyme assay, urea synthesis and peptide sequence. All three have been used with apparent success for several years with classes of medical students.