Activity
National Academy of Sciences

Genetic Disease: Putting DNA to Work

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Scientific knowledge of genetic information has grown quickly over the last decade. An interactive lesson has learners research the role of science and medicine in diagnosing and treating genetic disorders. They consider the job of the...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

Soap Opera Genetics – Genetics to Resolve Family Arguments

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did she cheat on her husband? Did the hospital switch the babies? Should they have children? As much as this sounds like the plot for a soap opera, all of these questions fit into a single lesson on genetics. Scholars read about three...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

Genetic Engineering Challenge – How Can Scientists Develop a Type of Rice That Could Prevent Vitamin A Deficiency?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Brown rice contains vitamins B and E, while white rice lasts longer in storage. The availability of rice around the world makes it a great candidate for genetic engineering. Scholars apply their knowledge of genetic engineering to solve...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

UV, Mutations, and DNA Repair

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How effective are cells at repairing UV damage? An inquiry-based activity has learners experiment with organism by exposing them to various levels of UV light and then examining their DNA after a period of time. Pupils test different...
Activity
Gene Jury

DNA Detectives

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Police find a man murdered in a local hotel, DNA everywhere, and now they need scholars' help. Budding detectives step into a crime scene playing the roles of victim, suspects, and investigators. They apply knowledge of criminology and...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

The Molecular Biology of Mutations and Muscular Dystrophy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Different types of mutations cause unique types and degrees of muscular dystrophy. Scholars learn about the types of mutations and the impact on the body. They compare the location of the mutations and draw conclusions about how it is...
Lesson Plan
Serendip

Understanding the Biology of Cancer

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
After initial exposure to a carcinogen, a cancer diagnosis often takes more than a decade due to the slow buildup of mutated cells in the body. Scholars learn about the biology of cancer with a worksheet and discussion questions. They...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Experiment With Genetically Modified Seeds

For Students 9th - 10th
Compare the growth of normal plants with plants that have been genetically modified to make them resistant to the chemical herbicide Roundup. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract,...
Activity
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: The Human Genome Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Access Excellence gives an introduction to the Human Genome Project. The page links to a graphics gallery and to discussions about related ethical issues.