How to Write a Scientific Abstract
by Patrick Curtis
A scientific paper is broken down into 4 sections:
1. Introduction – all the background knowledge on your topic necessary for the reader to
understand the details of your research. The Introduction has the general format of going from
GENERAL to SPECIFIC. Usually, the introduction ends in your hypothesis, or at least a
statement of the questions your research intends to address.
2. Materials and Methods – a step-by-step description of the physical work that you have done.
This is written paragraph style and does not include any results.
3. Results – a plain description of what, exactly, your results were. Discussion as to what the
results mean is NOT included here.
4. Discussion – here, the Results are discussed as to how they address your
hypothesis/questions.
At the beginning of scientific paper is the ABSTRACT.
The Abstract is a general synopsis of the entire paper.
Therefore, the Abstract must contain information from all 4 sections of the paper.
Characteristics of an Abstract:
1. Around 250 words.
2. Begins with 1-2 sentences of Introduction, usually specific information.
3. The bulk of the Abstract is the data. This is told by a combination of the
Methods and Results. The summation of the data is given along with the technique
used to obtain the data. Specific details about procedure and results are omitted
unless they are very important.
4. At the end are 1-2 sentences of Discussion, explaining what the data means and
summarizing the work.
5. Somewhere in the abstract (either at the very beginning or very end) is usually a
phrase/sentence talking about the importance of work being done, or how it
affects the world/science.
Example of a Scientific Abstract:
Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings
and binds DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 99:17203-8.
KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian
clock protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion
in the RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily
is that they form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that
KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by
electron microscopy. A combination of analytical ultracentrifuation and
chromatographic analyses demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The
association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The
KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA
or DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates. These data support
the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important
implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in the circadian clock mechanism that
regulates global changes in gene expression patterns.
Let’s break this abstract down into the characteristics mentioned above.
1. Length. This abstract is 143 words long. This is short of the 250 word limit,
but in an abstract it is better to be shorter than longer (within reason). This is about
the absolute shortest an abstract should be.
2. Introduction. The abstract begins with three sentences of introduction.
KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock protein in
cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the RecA/DnaB
superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they form
homohexameric complexes that bind DNA.
Notice that the information is specific to the work being done. General
information about the organism or overall field of research is in the Introduction
section of the paper. The purpose of the abstract is the give the maximum amount
of pertinent information in the minimum amount of space.
3. Methods/Results (data). The data is given in individual segments.
We show here that KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by
electron microscopy.
A combination of analytical ultracentrifuation and chromatographic analyses demonstrates that
these complexes are hexameric.
The association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP.
The KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or DnaB.
Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates.
Notice that individual pieces of data are given usually in 1 sentence.
The end result of the experiment is given (depends on the presence of ATP)
without details (numbers, band on gel, etc.)
Also notice that often the technique used is mentioned but not described in detail.
(electron microscopy, ultracentrifugation, chromatographic analyses)
4. Discussion. The meaning of the results in relation to the hypothesis/topic is
given.
These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important
implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in the circadian clock mechanism that regulates
global changes in gene expression patterns.
The end result of the data is summarized and the importance of it is involved with
the overall topic of “circadian clock mechanism”.
5. Importance. Why the work was done.
..and have important implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in the circadian clock
mechanism that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns.
The last sentence leaves the impression that this work has “important implications”
on the clock model “that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns”.
Though a statement of purpose, it is a fairly weak one. A stronger one would have
stated why the study of the circadian clock mechanism is important to the world.
Writing an Abstract for a Work-In-Progress:
Often you will have to write an Abstract for work that is still being done. The
same general guidelines should be followed, with minor modifications.
First off, report what data you have. The more actual data the better.
For work that hasn’t been done, write about how the work will be done and what
importance it has. Perhaps talk about the technique a little. But don’t overdo it.
An abstract is never a place to discuss technique in depth. If you do, people can
tell that it hasn’t been done.
Spend more time on background, and more time on importance.
State clearly what and how experiments will be performed as if it has been done,
BUT NEVER NEVER WRITE RESULTS AND/OR DISCUSSION FOR WORK
THAT HASN’T BEEN DONE. This is unethical.
(in other words, you can say that X was analyzed by Y method even if the work
hasn’t been done YET so long as it will be before your talk, but you can’t say X
was analyzed to give you Z)
Be conservative in your estimates of how much work will be done. Never
overstate your case.
Here is an example of an abstract that was written for a work-in-progress
Curtis et al. An Endogenous Lipid Chemoattractant During Development of
Myxococcus xanthus
The mechanism of cellular aggregation during fruiting body development has not been
fully elucidated. One model of aggregation involves chemotaxis towards a chemical attractant.
It has been previously shown that the phospholipid dihexadecanoyl phosphotidylethanolamine
(di 16:1ω5c PE) serves as a chemoattractant during development, and that the fatty acid 16:1ω5c
is present in the phospholipid profile of M. xanthus at physiological relevant concentrations, yet
the exact lipid species containing this fatty acid is not known. Of further interest is the
complexity of the organism's phospholipid profile. M. xanthus has at least seven different
phosphatidylethanolamine species and ten unique fatty acid chains. This remarkable variety of
phospholipids has an equally remarkable biochemical synthesis system. Whereas Escherichia
coli has only one enzyme (plsB) to transfer an acyl group to the sn-1 position of glycerol-3-
phosphate, and one enzyme (plsC) for the sn-2 position, M. xanthus has two putative enzymes
for the sn-1 position and five putative enzymes for the sn-2. To investigate the relationship
between these acyl transferases and the phospholipid profile, knockout mutations were made for
some of the genes and the phospholipid profiles of the mutants were analyzed by fast-atom
bombardment mass spectrometry to elucidate the fatty acid subset of each acyl transferase. The
purpose of this experiment is to generate a mutant defective in producing this lipid
chemoattractant and determine if it is the aggregation signal. If this lipid serves as the
aggregation signal, then removing the signal should arrest fruiting body development at the
aggregation stage.
Notice the bulk of the abstract is introduction.
Also notice that work was stated without results:
To investigate the relationship between these acyl transferases and the phospholipid profile,
knockout mutations were made for some of the genes and the phospholipid profiles of the
mutants were analyzed by fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry to elucidate the fatty acid
subset of each acyl transferase.
Then the purpose of the work was stated and concluded with the importance and a
little bit of speculation:
The purpose of this experiment is to generate a mutant defective in producing this lipid
chemoattractant and determine if it is the aggregation signal. If this lipid serves as the
aggregation signal, then removing the signal should arrest fruiting body development at the
aggregation stage.
Eventually this work was completed, but in the time between abstract submission
and the talk given. It is important that the work stated be completed before the
talk. Otherwise, you promise on something and don’t deliver. This is also
unethical.
