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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forensic Files: A DNA Dilemma

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Seventh-graders come in to science class to find a file on their desks detailing a crime to be solved! As a demonstration, you simulate the restriction of DNA samples and separate them by electrophoresis. From the gel, learners can...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

NOVA RNA Lab Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Scholars learn the differences between RNA and DNA through discussion, virtual labs, worksheets, and video quizzes. They build their knowledge of molecular biology with support from video clips and handouts.
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Natural Selection and the Evolution of Darwin's Finches

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Darwin explained the connection between species of finches 150 years before scientists understood DNA. Technology and progressing science proved he was right, yet many struggle to understand how natural selection happens. Scholars use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA: The Human Body Recipe

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students describe DNA and the roles in which engineers are involved with the human body.  In this DNA lesson students participate in a class demonstration. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Diagnosis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe the fundamentals of DNA such as structure and replication. Given a picture of a gel, they circle the band that represents the smallest DNA, the largest DNA, and show which DNA sources are the same.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

DNA Technology

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this DNA technology worksheet, students will review 12 vocabulary words relating to the uses and results of DNA technology in this crossword puzzle.
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Unit Plan
Kenan Fellows

Unit 1: Introduction to Biotechnology

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Biotechnology is big! Introduce the uses of biotechnology to science scholars with a fascinating, fact-filled unit. The first installment in a series of four biotechnology units covers the role biotechnology plays in human and...
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Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Genes Can Be Moved Between Species

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Biotechnology changes lives every day, but how did it all start? Learn about Cohen and Boyer's technique for recombinant DNA and the founding of this new scientific study. Then, scholars use the online interactive to discover how Hanahan...
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Passing Traits to Offspring

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What makes each one of us unique? Lead your class in this exciting and educational activity as you uncover traits that show how each individual is different from another. Pupils explore facts about DNA technology and predict the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 16: DNA Technology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students research different areas of biotechnology. In this biology lesson, students create a presentation about their research. They debate the topic presented and share their views on the subject.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Technology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students summarize their classmates' presentation in class. In this biology lesson, students create a graphic organizer based on concepts presented. They discuss and share their organizer.
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PPT
Biology Junction

Protein Synthesis

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Watson and Crick built the first model of DNA in the 1950s, and our understanding of DNA since then continues to grow exponentially. Scholars learn about protein synthesis by observing a presentation and completing a worksheet. Both walk...
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Interactive
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Mutations Are Changes in Genetic Information

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
A red delicious apple tree with a simple mutation means we now benefit from the existence of golden delicious apples. Learn how simple mutations change genetic information in DNA sequences. Using biographies, videos, and animations,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Wall Recipe: A Lesson on Biofuels

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Biotech engineers discover that changes in the DNA code for cell wall formation can help create crops better suited for biofuel production. They extract DNA from wheat germ. They decode paper strips with codes and relate the activity to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genetics 5 Technology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, after studying extraction and gel electrophoresis, recombinant DNA, transgenic organisms, and reproductive cloning, summarize the main concepts in DNA technology. They analyze the applications of DNA: forensics, medicine,...
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Lesson Plan
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

DNA Extraction

For Teachers 5th - 12th
What does your DNA actually look like? Use simple materials with this experiment to find out! Geneticists of all ages can follow these instructions to extract their own DNA. For learners who are hoping to extend the activity, there are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Lesson: Chocolate Flavored Cherries

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
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Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Visualizing Gene-Expression Patterns

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
How do genetics gurus know so much about gene expression? See traits materialize before your very eyes using a presentation with embedded simulations. Science scholars develop an understanding of the techniques used to follow the work of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Cafeteria Caper

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students extract DNA from their own hair roots. They run an electrophoresis gel to examine patterns of their DNA along with standard DNA. The experiment is based on a crime scene scenario.
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

"Something Old, Something New..."

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists learn about DNA replication through a video and model creation. They answer analysis questions before exploring the role of mutations and then complete a summative assessment.
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

The Monster Mash

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists create monsters by applying their knowledge of transcription and translation. They randomly find the DNA, assign it a codon, and build monsters piece by piece. 
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Worksheet
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Microarrays and Stem Cells

For Students Higher Ed
Background reading is available in the first two pages of this worksheet, along with reading comprehension questions and a laboratory activity in which students use mircroarray technology to identify genes used in cell differentiation....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Way We Were: Embryological Development and Disease

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use microscopes to study live fish embryos and animated diagrams of cell division on the Internet. They see that scientists rely on technology to enhance the gathering and manipulation of data. They create web pages on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mad Pursuit Search for the Structure of DNA

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students complete a variety of activities as they study the historical story of Rosalind Franklin not receiving credit for her contributions in discovering the structure of DNA.