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

Birds can sense magnetism!

http://backyardnaturalist.ca/?page_id=702

...but only if they can see

Wiltschko et al. Nature 2002, 419, 467-470.

control right eye covered left eye covered

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