Western Kentucky University
Understanding Genetics: Punnett Squares
Can scientists really predict genetic outcomes or are they simply making a lucky guess? Scholars first learn about Gregor Mendel and how to make Punnett squares. Then they extract DNA from a strawberry in a lab with included conclusion...
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Genetic Disease Symposium
Students research simple and complex inheritance patterns, fetal development and the potential complications of teratogens, fetal and genetic testing, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetic counseling.
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Cave Painting in the Ice Age
Students take notes and sketch during the Internet research. They take notes of the colors found in the cave paintings (black, browns, ochre, sienna). They create an initial full size comprehensive sketch on scrap paper and in their...
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Geneticist for a Day
Students discuss and compose a document discussing the transmission of the Huntington's gene- dominant or recessive, sex linked, etc. Additionally, they ought to consider Dr. Wexler's own odds for contracting the disease.
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Where Do Birds Live? Cavity Nesters of the Watsonville Wetlands
Students compare and contrast primary and secondary cavity nesters. In this life science lesson, students explore the different types of nests that birds make. They play a team game to apply what they learned.
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Human Evolution
Students make and use observations of Laetoli footprints to provide clues to life in the past. They collect and analyze data to study the relationship between foot length and body height.
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Toxicology and Living Systems
Young scholars investigate how toxic chemicals affect biological systems. They determine the toxic dose of a chemical that inhibits seed germination in a Brassica rapa. They investigate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on human...
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Raptors: Senses and Influences
Students compare the traits of humans to raptors. In this senses and beneficial traits instructional activity students create a newsletter and compare raptors to aircraft.
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Can You Beat Jet Lag?
Students examine the health condition of jet lag. Using mealworms, they test the effect of light on the development of them into adults. They answer discussion questions and examine the relationship of age and one's activity level.
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What's So Special?
Learners study the biology and morphology of Lophelia corals. In this investigative lesson plan students explain how the coral contributes to communities, and create a poster.
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Amazon Adventure: A Case Study in Medical Technology and Bioethics
Students explore a case study. They use problem solving skills to determine initial procedures or experiments necessary slow disease and develop a drug. Students examine FDA drug approval procedures. They consider environmental and...
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Disease and Epidemics
Students explore how the study of diseases, epidemics and disease management offers opportunities for exploration of biological evolution, immune systems, interaction between humans and their environment, and interaction among organisms....
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Model Organisms: The Genes We Share
Middle schoolers gather information about gene banks. In this biology lesson, students work in groups to complete an activity sheet about genetic databases and organism genomes. Lesson includes extension ideas.
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Genes-R-Us: or, Real Genetics For Real Students
Students explore genetics and genetic counseling. They research information on human genetic disorders. Students simulate developing a complete counseling service to assist the community.
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Predators Among Us
Students study environmental science. In this ecosystems lesson, students discover how humans have an impact on life in the coral reef. They watch video clips and work on small group activities. This lesson includes links to the videos...
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The Genetic Basis of Neurological Disorders
Pupils explore neurological disorders. They examine the presence and absence of discernible genes. Students describe neruological diseases and draw faces of affected persons. They play a human neurology disorders learning game.
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Evolution of Sea Creatures
Students identify and describe the mechanisms of natural selection. They study Cambrian Period animals and discuss adaptations for their specific environment.Students compare and contrast a modern sea animal with the Cambrian era animal...
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Pets: Oh Behave
Students develop an understanding of how innate and learned behaviors and the environment determine behavior.
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Observing Atherosclerosis
Students develop a model to visually observe the change in blood flow rates between healthy and unhealthy arteries. They calculate data that they have collected and graph their results. They determine the relationships the flow of...
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From Restriction Maps to Cladograms
Students develop a matrix to determine the number of differences between each set of primate species. They determine closely related organisms then complete the cladogram and answer a set of questions.
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Deadly Disease among Us
Students recognize that infectious diseases are a continuing problem among all human populations. They define and give examples of emerging infectious diseases. Students define and give examples of re-emerging infectious diseases.
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Decision Making and Bioethics
Pupils demonstrate an ability to apply their knowledge of genetic engineering. They use decision making strategies to recommend a decision concerning the future use of genetic engineering in humans.
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Current Topics in Biotechnology
Eleventh graders are introduced to the concept of biotechnology. Using the internet, they research the latest developments in this field and the tools used by biotechnologists. They share their information with the class and create a...
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Totem Transformations
Students are introduced in the Humanities class, as they explore the origins of Totems in Native American folklore. In the computer lab, students read Totem stories and explore the meaning and symbolism behind the myths using various Web...