Towson University
Chestnut Tree Lab
What will your class learn in a curious tale of a fungus, a virus, and a chestnut tree? Biology scholars discover the world of viral biocontrols through a DNA restriction lab. Groups research the decline of the American chestnut tree at...
Chemistry Collective
Virtual Lab: DNA Binding Problem
Why do the bases in DNA pair up the way they do? Unravel the mystery of the double helix in a virtual lab. Young scientists follow in the footsteps of Watson and Crick to determine the free energy associated with DNA base pair binding....
Chemistry Collective
Virtual Lab: Unknown Concentration of DNA Solution Problem
Highlight DNA solution with fluorescent dyes! Scholars use dye to determine the concentration of a DNA solution. As the dyes bind with the DNA solution, learners make conclusions about the limiting reactants.
Towson University
Transformation Lab
Transform your class' understanding of genes and antibiotic resistance with the Transformation Lab. Junior geneticists create and observe their own resistant strains of E. coli through research, discussion, and experimentation. The...
Chemistry Collective
Virtual Lab: Predicting DNA Concentration
Play a little game of concentration! A virtual lab investigation allows learners to predict the products and reactants of a DNA reaction. They make their calculations and then test their predictions in the lab workbench.
Gene Jury
DNA Detectives
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...
Curated OER
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Students explore the DNA of strawberries. In this science lesson, students extract the DNA of strawberries. Students complete a lab report.
Curated OER
How Do We Generate a Large Amount of a Specific DNA Sample?
Young scholars investigate the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique that is used to create larger amounts of a gene. They watch and discuss a PowerPoint presentation, explore a website, and write a report listing the materials needed to...
Curated OER
Who Ate The Cheese?!
In this crime scene investigation worksheet, students simulate DNA sequencing and DNA restriction analysis using paper strips of DNA. Students compare the crime scene DNA to the suspects and determine who is guilty.
Curated OER
Simulation of Gene Splicing
High schoolers use the exercise as a prelude to a "wet" lab or as a substitute for such a lab. It correlates well with colony transformation labs. This lab is recommended for students what have difficulty with the abstractions that...
Towson University
Case of the Crown Jewels
Can your biology class crack the Case of the Crown Jewels? Junior forensics experts try their hands at DNA restriction analysis in an exciting lab activity. The lesson introduces the concept of restriction analysis, teaches pipetting and...
Curated OER
Labs on A Chip
Students are introduced to DNA microarrays. They discuss how scientists and doctors use them and how they work. They complete a worksheet and discuss their findings.
Curated OER
Who Did It?
Students apply the concepts from forensic science lessons to do a lab. They solve a mystery using experimentation and observation. They write a technically correct lab report.
Curated OER
Simulation of Gene Splicing
Students simulate gene splicing by examining bacteria. They create a bacterial DNA into which they insert the human DNA (gene) that codes for growth hormone. They cut the sites of the enzyme to study how the human DNA can be joined to...
Curated OER
Who's Who and How Do You Know for Sure?
Learners investigate the applications of DNA fingerprinting, They read crime scenarios and using the details of the crime and laboratory experimentation decide the suspects guilt or innocence.
Curated OER
Physiological Adaptations
Students investigate the concepts of genetics and how it is tied to the variations found within different species and how it is tied to adaptations. They review the theory of evolution and factors found to help create variation. The...
Curated OER
Genetics: Integrated with History and Art
Students work cooperatively in pairing chromosomes, created statistical genetic babies using the face lab, constructed a color DNA booklet and demonstrated mitosis in a flip book.
Curated OER
Genetic Disorders
Seventh graders discuss traits, traits that are inherited and how genes and chromosomes carry the code for traits. They research genetic disorders and their link to chromosome abnormalites and write a report on their findings. which...
Curated OER
Is Anyone Out There? Examining Astrobiology and the Value of SETI
Blow their minds with a instructional activity on the search for life outside of our planet! A brief video proposes the question of how to define life. A couple of articles investigate the possibility of alien existence. Finally, the...
Curated OER
Tobacco Smoking and Lung Cancer
Students explore tobacco smoking and the impact it has on society. In this health instructional activity students complete several experiments on smoking and lung cancer.
Curated OER
All Aboard for Protein Synthesis
Fourth graders walk through the process of transcription and translation to demonstrate and explain protein synthesis. They utilize a worksheet imbedded in this plan to guide their role play.