America's Stone Age Explorers

Where is a geneticist's favorite place to swim? A gene pool. Young geneticists complete hands-on activities, experiments, and real-world problem solving throughout the unit. With extra focus on dominant and recessive genes, Punnett...

Everyone loves a good mystery ... can your class actually solve one? Partnered pupils take on the role of forensic investigators during a three-part activity focusing on DNA evidence processing. Learners discover the methods used to...

Do young scientists know that some traits are only passed down by the mother? Mitochondrial DNA is an interesting phenomenon that provides researchers with a lot of useful information. Scholars learn about the endosymbiotic theory, what...

Match up the DNA code. Pupils read the website from the American Museum of Natural History about how DNA can determine whether a skin is from a particular type of reptile. Using the same technique, learners match up products with the...

A pinch of adenine, a dash of thymine and ta-da, you have life! Well, it's not quite that simple, but through this series of activities and experiments young scientists learn about the structure of DNA and how it contains the recipe...

DNA follows specific rules when it comes to structure and pairings. Understand what DNA looks like, how it builds itself, and some of the rules that limit it. Individuals view animations showing details not observable under a microscope...

DNA transcription finds regulation in a few different forms. Pupils learn about the activators, repressors, and the relationships with RNA through a short animation. After viewing the process with colors highlighting each step for...

A double helix looks similar to a curled zipper. Viewers see transcription, which appears similar to unzipping the DNA. The basic level of detail works well as an introduction to transcription, RNA, and proteins.

Ever wonder how they solve those mysterious murders in TV crime dramas? The second of four units in a Biotechnology series introduces scholars to the many methods of DNA analysis. Pupils create and run their own gel electrophoresis...

Sometimes science lab can be ... delicious! Middle school science scholars extract DNA from strawberries and other fruits in an engaging lab activity. The teacher's guide includes pacing, materials list, and worksheets with answer keys.