Teach Engineering
Quantum Dots and the Harkess Method
The Fantastic Voyage is becoming close to reality. The class reads an article on the use of nanotechnology in the medical field and participate in a discussion about what they read. The discussion method helps class members become more...
Curated OER
Maintaining Plant Genebanks
Students examine the use, costs, and the need for plant gene banks. The rationale for gaining ownership over scientific information and the implications of the developing nations' reliance on biotechnology is explored in this...
Curated OER
Ethical Applications of Human Genetics
Tenth graders read about, observe case study videos, and participate in live interactive broadcasts, and maintain a log book on all of the activities pertaining to the Human Genome Project.
Curated OER
Cystic Fibrosis
Students examine the disease Cystic fibrosis, the causes, and the effects it has on the respiratory system. Students use the Biology Workbench and tools on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website to study the protein...
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Genetically Modified Food (GMF)
Explore genetically modified foods through various experiments. In this biology lesson, students discuss the safety issues related to GMF's. They conduct a PCR analysis to identify the presence of genetic modification.
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Human Cloning: Is it Biological Plagiarism?
Is cloning good or harmful? Help your class understand the risks and benefits as they read, research, and discuss human cloning. Individuals form teams, research information, and present to the class before concluding with an in-depth...
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Genetic Engineering
Students examine the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering. In this genetics activity students simulate the genetic engineering of a human insulin gene.
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DNA on Stick
Students experience a "hands-on" activity to get visual evidence of the physical nature of DNA and the process of DNA purification. They explore one method of chromosomal DNA isolation and DNA extraction.
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Population Growth in Yeasts
Students design an investigation using yeast. In this environmental engineering lesson plan, students design an investigation to determine how environmental factors affect the growth of yeast. They will collect quantitative data and...
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Catalase: A Bioinformatics Case Study
High schoolers investigate the physical structure of a protein by using a computer simulation tool. They record its primary amino acid structure while viewing it in three dimensions for a better visual recognition. There is also a...
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Mussel Ecology
Students are introduced to the marine environment of the mussel. The emphasis of the lesson is upon what human factors are present to influence the environment in positive and negative ways. They brainstorm in groups in order to conduct...
University of Washington
Toothpick Fish
With colored toothpicks representing genes, youngsters practice passing them through generations of fish and learn about heredity. Consider this as an introductory activity since it does not represent recessive genes with lowercase...
Curated OER
Genetically Engineered Food AD
Students examine various genetically engineered foods by lecture and library research. They are then placed in groups of two to produce their ad and make a presentation on a food they have developed.
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Bacteria's Role in Food
Young scholars grow bacteria cultures on agar in petri dishes and do a plate count. They participate in a yogurt making lab to see how bacteria produce lactic acid. They prepare a recipe and identify fungi, fermentation and the role of...
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Liver Roulette: Who Gets the Liver?
Students complete various exercises and activities as they examine the procedures involved in organ transplants and the ethical issues surrounding organ donations.
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Science Lesson: Chocolate Flavored Cherries
Students are able to identify start and stop sequences in DNA. They are able to model using restriction enzyme and ligase to remove sections of DNA and reattach them. Students are introduced to the process of recombinat DNA through the...
Curated OER
Toothpick Fish
Students experiment with genes and environment for a population of "Toothpick Fish."
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Who Owns Rights to Pharmacogenetic Information?
Students develop an understanding of the rationale of ownership over scientific information. They research commercial applications of DNA sequences. They analyze how to evaluate medical ethics issues.
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Jurassic Park Debate
Students research behavior, phsyiology, and ecology of dinoaurs. Students role-play as scientific specialists such as geneticists and ecologists. They present their research findings in a research paper.
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Agarose Gel DNA Quantitation
Students examine agarose gels to compare a known DNA sample to an unknown sample to determine the quantity and size of an unknown DNA sample.
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What is DNA? DNA Extraction from Kiwifruit
Learners isolate DNA from kiwi cells, spool DNA from a kiwi, describe role of the DNA and genes, and explain how knowledge of DNA and genes can be used in genetically modifying foods.
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Electrophoresis Analogy
Students participate in a simulation of electrophoresis separation of DNA fragments. They link arms to form DNA fragments with each student representing a nucleotide. As they move through an obstacle course they discover how fragments...
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Elements of Biology: The Cell
Pupils study tissue engineering and its risks and benefits. In this biology lesson students take a stand on a side then research and support their position.
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Zebrafish as a Model for Muscle Development
Students explore the steps of protein synthesis in zebrafish. They view video clips to identify the parts of a zebrafish and observe them as they sequence the developmental stages. In groups they identify the muscles and how proteins are...