Didactic Sheet: 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Abstract

The present didactic sheet includes classroom activities designed as teaching aids. These exercises introduce students to the chemical principles guiding protein folding and aim to help them recognize the importance of the technological advancements behind Rosetta and AlphaFold. Through this, students will understand why the developers of these remarkable tools were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The didactic sequence is intended for university, middle, and high school students and focuses on the three-dimensional structure of a small protein with a well-known role in human health. From this knowledge, students can infer the significance of reliable experimental databases of macromolecular structures and the need for state-of-the-art computational tools to manage the overwhelming complexity of protein folding. This understanding is crucial for studying protein function and attempting to redesign innovative protein molecules with novel applications.