Reading and Writing a Scientific Paper

Title and Authors

• Active – Makes a Point

• Authors:

– First Author: Main experimenter

– Last Author: Mentor, PI

– Institutions

Abstract

Introduction

Method (and some intro)

Results

Discussion

Introduction

• Malaria is a bad disease• Sterilization of male mosquitos

could prevent malaria• Mating plug seals sperm and is

crucial for fertility –tranglutaminase 3 is cruciual

• Transglutaminases are crucial enzymes that cross-link proteins

• Cys323 is an active site• Hypothesis: Mutation of Cys323

can disrupt transglutaminaseactivity and prevent formation of mating plug

Inverted TriangleStructure

Methods

• Can break into subsections

• As detailed as possible

• Include: model/catalog numbers, concentrations, time, etc

Results

Subsection title = result

Introduction to why doing the experimentAnd what it is

Brief summary of method

Results with specific observations

Supported by references to Figures

Discussion

Inverted TriangleStructure

References

• Primary Sources

• Reviews

• No Wikipedia, Internet Sources

• How to Find

– Pubmed (Keyword or MESH search)

– Google Scholar (.ezp1.harvard.edu)

– Countway Library