Approaching the Scientific Literature Sections of a paper Title - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Approaching the Scientific Literature

Sections of a paper  Title  Abstract  Introduction  Materials and Methods  Results  Discussion

Title  Usually conveys the take-home message

Abstract  More than just a summary!  Condenses the paper into one paragraph  Lets the reader know why they should read your paper

Introduction Methods Results Conclusions

Introduction  Supplies background information for the reader  Describes the current state of research in the field  Contains a brief description of methods  Outlines a central question or hypothesis

Background information

Methods Prior results Question/Hypothesis

Materials and Methods  Ideally contains enough information to reproduce the experiments  Often ignored by readers

Use your resources!

Results  Presents data in a written and graphical form  Usually not ‘raw’ data  Reiterates or elaborates on methods

Discussion  Not just a conclusion!  Restates the hypothesis or question  Interprets the results  Places the research in context  Outlines future directions

Strategies for reading a paper  Text-centric  Read the paper straight through  Interpret the written description of results, using figures where necessary  Figure-centric  Start with the figures and captions  Refer to text for more information

Questions to ask yourself  What was the scientific goal?  Why is this research important?  What did they measure and why?  What were the results?  What was the interpretation? Do you agree?  Given the results, what would happen if you modified the experiments?  Re-evaluate: Why is this research important?

Searching scientific literature  PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/  Web of Knowledge: http:// apps.webofknowledge.com/  Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/

Magnetosomes Are Cell Membrane Invaginations Organized by the Actin- Like Protein MamK

Earth’s magnetic field

http://backyardnaturalist.ca/?page_id=702 Birds can sense magnetism!

...but only if they can see control right eye covered left eye covered Wiltschko et al. Nature 2002, 419, 467-470.

Bacteria also sense magnetism http:// www.komeililab.org/ videos.html

Bacteria also sense magnetism

Bacterial membranes

Fluorescent proteins Green Fluorescent Protein Fusion Protein

Fluorescent proteins

Magnetosomes  Electron cryotomography: http://www.komeililab.org/ videos.html

Supplemental Information

Magnetism can perturb vision http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/ notrocketscience/files/2010/07/ Bird_compass.jpg