Metabolism in Motion: Engaging Biochemistry Students with Animation

Abstract

Metabolism, including cellular respiration, encompasses a large component of the topics covered in foundational biochemistry and life science undergraduate courses. The difficulty in instruction and student retention of this topic lies in the conceptualization of the numerous enzymatic reactions involving various substrates/products and their regulation. Learners typically end up focusing on memorizing individual metabolic pathways and their subcomponents (e.g., enzymes, substrates, and products) rather than developing a high-level understanding of the interplay and regulation occurring between pathways and appreciating the real-life application of this knowledge. To address this challenge, we created a 3D animation that introduces students to the fundamental concepts of glucose and fat metabolism, energy production by the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as the major points of regulation that emphasize the integration and flux of these metabolic pathways. Survey feedback from cohorts of University of Toronto second-year undergraduate life science students and School of Continuing Studies learners indicated that the animation increased their engagement with the material and confidence in understanding the connectivity between competing pathways and the regulation of metabolism.