Communication pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Surveying Biochemistry Applications for Mobile Devices To Compare Availability and Topics Covered Thanuci Silva* and Eduardo Galembeck Biochemistry and Tissue Biology Department, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-862, Brazil ABSTRACT: We have surveyed the main mobile application stores to identify the coverage of the biochemistry applications and what kinds of applications are available in such stores. We have found that instructional apps, such as Books and Flash Cards, are the most frequent mobile applications, with 46 occurrences. In terms of subject covered by these applications, the most frequent topics are those related to genes and nucleic acids (20 occurrences), and proteins and amino acids (19 occurrences). With the survey we concluded that online stores have to improve their search engines to allow more accurate searches, and biochemistry applications are still presenting information in a traditional way, not exploring the use of connectivity and interactivity allowed by mobile devices.
KEYWORDS: First-Year Undergraduate/General, Biochemistry, Computer-Based Learning, Multimedia-Based Learning, Molecular Biology
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• 3D models: applications based in a 3D modeling or containing 3D representations • Virtual Learning Environment: applications that simulate a real classroom environment The Instructional category was further divided into three subcategories given below to identify the types of presentation. • Animations: applications comprising animations or laboratory experiment simulations focused on Biochemistry • Books: Revision materials or digital books • Flashcards: applications that are flashcards to memorize concepts The categories described above are not mutually exclusive, because several applications may be categorized into two or more categories. For example, an instructional material that was once categorized as Books may be categorized as Flashcards as well if it brings to the user Flashcards for concept memorization. To identify the biochemistry topics covered, we searched for word occurrence using the app description provided by the developers. On the basis of the most frequent words, it was possible to categorize the topics. Applications may cover all or only one of the following categories: • Genes and Nucleic Acids: nucleic acids biosynthesis, transcription, translation and genes expression • Proteins and Amino Acids: amino acids and proteins biosynthesis as well as structure and function • Metabolism: metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids
INTRODUCTION
To offer a perspective of how Biochemistry has been covered in educational applications for mobile devices, we have surveyed Biochemistry applications available from Google Play, Apple’s App Store, and Amazon (Table 1). Data were collected using the default search tool for each store based on keywords of ́ interest, such as Biochemistry and Bioquimica. The list of apps found available was validated by checking their descriptions to ensure that Biochemistry was the subject of each app. Also, to provide to readers the main characteristics of the applications surveyed, a brief description and users ratings regarding each application is presented in Table 1. Both Comments and Rating data are provided by each store; thus, most of applications from Apple App Store do not show any rating data since they are available only when a given application has achieved a certain amount of downloads. Google Play and Amazon app store make available users evaluation as soon as they are performed and the number of stars represents the average points among them. It was evident that the search tools in these stores were not very precise bringing a lot of non-Biochemistry related content, especially from Google Play and the Apple’s App Store. After locating biochemistry related apps, we organized them into the following categories: • Games: applications that give the user points or grades for performance. Scores could be determined through quizzes, puzzles or game play • Instructional: applications to teach or revise biochemistry topics (e-books founded in the stores’ application category are included) © XXXX American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.
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DOI: 10.1021/ed500879v J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
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Biology Study Guide [3] Biology: Cells [3] BioTest [3] College Biochemistry [3] COM4 [3]
Biology and Human body Anatomy [3] Biology and Microbiology [3]
BiochemPaths [2] Biology A Level [3]
Amino Acid Quiz [2] Biochem [2] BioChem Euchre Deck [2,3] Biochem Flash Cards [2] Biochemistry [2] Biochemistry by WAGmob [3] Biochemistry Dictionary [3] Biochemistry Is FUN [2] Biochemistry Normal Values [3] Biochemistry Personal Trainer 101 [2] Biochemistry Personal Trainer LITE [2] Biochemistry Personal Trainer PRO [2] Biochemistry Quiz Terminology [1] Biochemistry Reference [2] Biochemistry Study Guide [1, 3] Biochemistry Terminology [2] Biochemistry Values Plus [3]
+AMINO- [2] 100% Biochemistry - Textbook and Reference [2] 190 BIOLOGY ROOT WORDS Quiz [3] 645+ BIOCHEMISTRY Terms Quiz [3] Adivinha Palavras: Biologia [3]
Application
3 4.7
Multiple-choice quizzes, flashcards and a dictionary that includes biochemistry definitions.
Quiz covering biochemistry topics, including concepts ranging from macromolecules and nucleic acids to metabolism.
The Portuguese version of the Biotest App. It is a hangman game with more than 1200 questions grouped by categories such as Cell Biology, Physiology, Botany and Biochemistry. Application that helps students memorize concepts such as polarity of amino acids and their one and three letters codes. General biochemistry interactive flashcards. Nucleic acids and amino acids flashcards. Flashcards that cover nomenclature, structural and specific information about chemical properties of amino acids. Overview of metabolic pathways and essential knowledge in basic biochemistry, illustrated with chemical structures and reactions. Overview of biochemistry core concepts formatted as e-book and flashcards. Biochemistry Dictionary that offers over than 1000 definitions. Biochemistry related videos, mnemonics and flashcards. Biochemistry reference application for health sciences students. A snack-sized version of Biochemistry Normal Values Plus, for trial.
3 3.8 2.7
Biochemistry Quiz Terminology consists of multiple-choice quizzes, flashcards and a dictionary with over than 360 definitions.
Biochemistry Reference adds 350 pages of articles for biochemistry graduate students. E-book developed for undergraduates and graduate students to assist in the general biochemical studies.
Biochemistry dictionary comprising over than 645 definitions. This app also features flashcards to practice terms and 645 multiple-choice questions. Reference application for health sciences students. Displays normal ranges for experiments that are usually given in biochemistry classes as blood cell count, pulmonary function and thyroid tests. Quick descriptions of metabolic pathways. This application about biology presents some biochemistry topics, such as osmosis and enzymes. The application has a quiz containing over 800 questions and answers. Summary of essential concepts of biology and anatomy. This application has short chapters containing quizzes and flashcards to memorize concepts.
Short tutorials, quiz and set of flashcards. Although this version has limited topics, the user can buy packages to have full content access. Biochemistry content goes through the chemistry of life and cell metabolism. General biology quick guide. Flashcards, glossaries, and multiple-choice questions. Hangman game with more than 1200 quiz questions, which are grouped by categories such as Cell Biology, Physiology, Botany and Biochemistry. 900 fundamental concepts in biochemistry spread over its glossaries, quizzes and flashcards. Oxygen consumption by isolated mitochondria simulation.
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2.7 4.0 4.9 2.2 4.8
3.8
4.0
4.2
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Biochemistry Personal Trainer LITE is a short version of Biochemistry Personal Trainer PRO. It has 165 multiple-choice questions. Most questions come with answers explained in detail. Quiz with 1000 multiple-choice questions. The questions are divided between basic intermediate or advanced and user performance is tracked.
1 2 -
22
32
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1
1
1
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1 1 5 2 4 42
5
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2 -
Positive
1 1 -
11
9
1
1
1 1
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1
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3 1 1 4 9
2
1
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4 -
Negative
Comments
Snack-sized app based on Biochemistry Personal Trainer PRO/LITE. This application is a quiz with over than 300 multiple-choice questions.
4.2 3.4 4.4 4.1
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Rating (stars)
Instructional flashcards, presents structures and abbreviations of amino acids. It is illustrated with chemical structure. E-book that addresses concepts covering from nucleic acids to protein synthesis and metabolism.
App description
Table 1. Biochemistry Applications Descriptions, Ratings from Users, and Nature of Comments Provided by Thema
Journal of Chemical Education Communication
DOI: 10.1021/ed500879v J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
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Presents techniques commonly used in Protein Purification, and allow users to virtually simulate them.
Set of flashcards designed for a specific class in Tufts University School of Medicine, called Medical Foundations I.
3 -
Instructional biochemistry application essentially designed to provide knowledge about carbohydrate, lipid and protein structure and metabolism. This application provides biochemistry content within oxidative phosphorylation to biochemistry senior high school students and first year undergraduate medical students. E-book that covers core concepts on physiology and biochemistry.
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File editor for the Protein Purification app. Users are able to create, edit and delete mixtures, or even create multisubunit proteins from different proteins found in some online databases. Converts DNA sequences to its complements, calculate protein concentration, dilutions and molarity in its samples. This application also offers a list of approximately 280 restriction enzymes and their sites. MrBioChem Lite is a short version of Mr Biochem Plus.
Software designed to promote the association between the content of a basic undergraduate biochemistry course and the professional activities of physical education students. This application is a deck of flashcards, which was designed to help formed dentists study Biochemistry and Physiology to the NBDE exam.
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1
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1
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Enzimatic! Games, puzzles and experiments about enzymes. A set of flashcards. Quizzes and a glossary with definitions related to enzymes. Tools to plot and compare different fluorescent proteins. Quiz containing 200 multiple choice questions in biochemistry. Instructional app designed to help undergraduates in general biochemistry.
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Positive
2.8
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Rating (stars)
The Portuguese version of Muscular Contraction App. The software Muscular Contraction was designed to promote the association between the content of a basic undergraduate biochemistry course and the professional activities of physical education students. A full illustrated e-book covering biology topics.
App description
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4 -
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2
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Negative
Comments
Coding: 1 = Applications in Amazon, 2 = Applications in Apple App Store, 3 = Applications in Google Play. Two or more codes in the same application indicate that the item was found in more than one store.
a
Plantphysiology & Biochemistry [3] Protein Purification for iPhone [2] Tufts Biochemistry [2]
NBDE Biochemistry & Physiology [2] NutriBiochem [2] Oxidative Phosphorylation [2]
Enciclopedia della BIOLOGIA [3] Enzymatic! [2] Enzyme Biology [3] Enzymes [1] Fluorescence Spectraviewer [2] iMCQs in Biochemistry [2] Medical Biochemistry Certification [2] Mixture Editor for Protein Purification [2] MrBioChem -Biochemistry lab help (plus) [2] MrBioChem Lite Biochemistry lab help [2] Muscle Contraction LTE [2]
Contraçaõ Muscular [2]
Application
Table 1. continued
Journal of Chemical Education Communication
DOI: 10.1021/ed500879v J. Chem. Educ. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX
Journal of Chemical Education
Communication
• General Biochemistry: applications that did not provide a list of the topics covered, for example dictionaries • Photosynthesis • Osmosis • Hormone Biosynthesis • Muscle Contraction All biochemistry applications were categorized according to the above-mentioned topics.
Table 4. Frequency of Biochemistry Topics in All Stores Surveyed
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RESULTS The Apple store had the most biochemistry related applications with 28 applications. Google Play came in second with 21, then Amazon with 3 apps (Table 1). In looking at the apps categories, instructional apps were the most frequent with 48 instances. The second most frequent were games, counted 17 times. We did not find any 3D Models and Virtual Learning Environments that related explicitly to Biochemistry content (Table 2). It does not mean the surveyed stores do not have applications related to this topic, although our keywords search did not return any results.
Google Play
App Store
Amazon
0 11 18 0 29
0 4 27 0 31
0 2 3 0 5
The data from the application type within the instructional category showed that books are most common (27 instances), followed by flashcards (22 instances) and animations (9 instances) (Table 3). Table 3. Instructional Application Types within Each Store Application types
Google Play
App Store
Amazon
Animations Books Flashcards Totals of instances
2 12 10 24
7 12 10 29
0 3 2 5
Biochemistry Apps
Genes and Nucleic Acids Proteins and Amino Acids Metabolism General Biochemistry Enzymes Macromolecules Biosynthesis Photosyntesis Osmosis Hormones Biosynthesis Muscular Contraction
20 19 17 16 12 12 4 3 2 2
returned by every search. One suggestion that may help the community interested in Biochemistry is to have the developers use biochemistry as a keyword when submitting their work to mobile app stores. We have found that books were the most common application type found within the instructional category. Therefore, the surveyed applications are mainly presented in traditional formats that do not incorporate two of the most innovative approaches to be exploited in mobile devices, namely connectivity and interactivity.1 Nevertheless, Pence and Williams2 have found that e-books are continuously evolving to more rich experiences incorporating the strengths of new mobile media, since the students are turning to their mobile devices to read chemistry texts. Moreover, according to Libman and Huang,3 the hand-held e-books are able to provide a quick and easy review of chemistry basic concepts, changing the way the students memorize and utilize chemical knowledge. This prospect reflects how new technologies develop, first by reproducing what could be done with previous technologies and then providing something new. We recommend that developers consider incorporating connections to databases, to access data such as protein structures that allow users to view a huge number of molecular structures. Users can then save database items of interest for offline use. Another recommendation to developers is to explore games as a good way to incorporate interactivity.4 Through games, users can be challenged to compete and/or collaborate using biochemistry skills and knowledge to improve their understanding. We look forward to mobile apps becoming more numerous and interactive as students and developers become more immersed in the possibilities of the new mobile communication devices.
Table 2. Categories of Biochemistry Applications within Each Store 3D Models Games Instructional VLE Totals of instances
Biochemistry Topics
The most frequent Biochemistry topics are genes and nucleic acids (20 instances), followed by proteins and amino acids (19 instances), metabolism (17 instances), general biochemistry (16 instances), enzymes (12 instances), macromolecule biosynthesis (12 instances), photosynthesis (4 instances), osmosis (3 instances), hormone biosynthesis (2 instances), and muscle contraction (2 instances) (Table 4).
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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
*E-mail:
[email protected].
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Notes
CONCLUSIONS There are a wide variety of applications available for mobile devices that cover Biochemistry. Our survey was limited to the ́ applications returned when Biochemistry or Bioquimica was used in the search, but there are a lot of Biochemistry related applications that cannot be found using those words. The two most popular online stores, Google Play and Apple App Store, have poor search engines that bring up lots of unrelated applications. Consequently, extra time is required for mining data in order to find relevant applications among the huge list
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
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REFERENCES
(1) Teri, S.; Acai, A.; Griffith, D.; Mahmoud, Q.; Ma, D. W. L.; Newton, G. Student Use and Pedagogical Impact of a Mobile Learning Application. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Educ. 2013, 1−15 DOI: 10.1002/ bmb.20771. (2) Williams, A. J.; Pence, H. E.; Society, R.; O, U. S.; Forest, W.; Carolina, N.; States, U. Smart Phones, a Powerful Tool in the Chemistry Classroom. J. Chem. Educ. 2011, 88, 683−686.
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(3) Libman, D.; Huang, L. Chemistry on the Go: Review of Chemistry Apps on Smartphones. J. Chem. Educ. 2013, 90, 320−325 DOI: 10.1021/ed300329e. (4) Stark, L. a. Cell Biology Apps for Apple Devices. CBE Life Sci. Educ. 2012, 11, 226−230 DOI: 10.1187/cbe.12-06-0085.
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