TABLE 1.
Qualitative analysis codebook for the class topic aquaporins along with percentages (n = 77) of student responses in each code
| Code | Description of code (student writes about/a…) | Example student response | Percentage of responsesb |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution (EVO) | ||||
| Aquaporins evolved from prokaryote to eukaryote | how eukaryotes have aquaporins after evolving from prokaryotes. | “Since aquaporins are in bacteria, we can say that is one of the most basic structures in life.” | 20% | aOther 19%; Blank 0% |
| All living things have aquaporins | the origin of aquaporins from a common ancestor. | “Bacteria, animals, plants, they all have them.” | 61% | |
| Structure and Function (SF) | ||||
| Function only | what aquaporins do | “transmembrane protein that allows for osmosis” | 27% | Other 21%; Blank 0% |
| Structure only | about the molecular structure of aquaporins | “must be hydrophobic and hydrophilic in order to be in and out of phospholipid bilayer” | 27% | |
| Both codes [Function only] and [Structure only] | “The protein has to have hydrophobic amino acids and hydrophilic amino acids in order for the water to move through the protein” | 25% | ||
| Information Flow, Exchange and Storage (IFES) | ||||
| Communication between proteins | how proteins (aquaporins) communicate with one another | “the communication of certain proteins to open and close the channels” | 12% | Other 24%; Blank 3% |
| Transport of water | water molecules being transferred and/or the phenomenon of osmosis | “osmosis, H2O molecule sharing” | 61% | |
| Pathways of Transformation of Energy and Matter (PTEM) | ||||
| Energy required | the use of energy by aquaporins | “water is leaving/entering the cell. Requires energy tomove through channel” | 5% | Other 25%; Blank 0% |
| No energy required | diffusion, as a no energy mechanism facilitated by aquaporins | “No, water is just passing through” | 18% | |
| Transport of water | the matter, being the water molecules transported | “water is going through” | 41% | |
| Both codes [No energy required] and [Transport of water] | “H2O is being transferred no energy is used” | 11% | ||
| Systems (SYS) | ||||
| Aquaporin structure | the aquaporin structure, being a system | “a series of polypeptides that differ…[]” | 12% | Other 19%; Blank 0% |
| How the system (osmosis) works | the aquaporins functioning as a system | “Osmosis or/and diffusion” | 29% | |
| List of cell membrane elements | list of cell membrane elements | “water channel, cell membrane” | 40% | |
a
The code “Other” indicates incomplete or irrelevant responses to the specific CC and topic.
b
Boldface text indicates the highest percentage of student responses in each CC.