News
NJ Science Olympiad Protein Modeling Results
01/25
West Windsor Plainsboro South (Team 2) and their prebuild model of 2wbu.
Teams built a portion of PDB entry 1gt0 using Jmol during the competition.
48 teams from high schools in New Jersey demonstrated their understanding of protein structure and stem cells at three regional Science Olympiad competitions.
The competition focused on proteins that have been shown to reprogram adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. Teams were judged by the RCSB PDB on their knowledge of protein structure and function based upon a protein model of PDB entry 2wbu built before the competition, a model quickly built at the competition of a portion of PDB entry 1gt0, and a written exam.
RCSB PDB team member Huangwang Yang awarded points for models that illustrated the protein's function.
The top scoring teams were:
Southern (January 8)
1. Cherry Hill East (85 points)
2. JP Stevens (Team 2, 84)
3. Lawrenceville (81)
Central (January 11)
1. Hillsborough (88.5)
2. Westfield (86)
3. Union County Vo-Tech (83)
Northern (January 14)
1. West Windsor-Plainsboro HS South (Team 2, 95.5)
2. West Windsor-Plainsboro HS South (Team 1, 91)
3. Livingston (88.5)
Full results are posted online. Information and resources about this NJ event are posted at education.pdb.org and on Twitter at @buildmodels.
Protein modeling will be one of several events at Science Olympiads across the country. Teams are recognized for their performance in individual events and in the overall tournament. For more information, see http://cbm.msoe.edu/stupro/so/index.html.
Many thanks to the RCSB PDB judges (Batsal Devkota, Brian Hudson, Buvaneswari Narayanan, Chengua Shao, Huangwang Yang, and Christine Zardecki), the NJ Science Olympiad organizers and volunteers, the host colleges, and to the MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling for the materials and design of this event. We look forward to seeing everyone at the state finals in March!
