Curated OER
Innocent or Guilty: A Lab on DNA Gel Electrophoresis
Students use the prelab as an introduction to the importance of DNA fingerprinting- a form of identification that us being accepted by both scientific and leagl experts. They prepare a gel for electrophoresis. DNA fragments, which have...
Curated OER
Human Cloning: Is it Biological Plagiarism?
Is cloning good or harmful? Help your class understand the risks and benefits as they read, research, and discuss human cloning. Individuals form teams, research information, and present to the class before concluding with an in-depth...
Curated OER
Kildare, USA: An Environmental Health Simulation
Your biology class plays the role of epidemiologist when a mysterious illness breaks out in Kildare, USA. Using interviews with doctors, patients, and local citizens, maps, the results from different materials sampling, they work to...
Curated OER
Should Humans Be Cloned?
Students explore links on the Internet to collect facts about cloning then prepare an essay on their findings. In this research writing lesson students examine how to include their opinions on what they have found in their research.
Curated OER
Transgenic Salmon
High schoolers research the various aspects of transgenic salmon. In stakeholder groups, they create posters intended to sway voters for or against the creation of transgenic salmon. They also write an individual position paper on the...
Curated OER
Using Abiotic and Biotic Parameters to Monitor Air Quality
Students identify the abiotic factors that influence a river or stream and the organisms that live in it. They measure several abiotic and biotic parameters to gauge water quality. Students examine the biotic environment by identifying...
Curated OER
Temperature and the Tomato
You will need a photovoltaic system and monitor at your school in order to obtain all of the data required to thoroughly implement this instructional activity. Your class monitors daily temperature and insolation amounts over a two week...
Curated OER
Bioethics
Students are introduced to the issues surrounding bioethics and begin to discover how some of these values can influence decision making. The exciting part of this lesson is the constructivist method used to engage students of all...
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
DNA Extraction
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...
Curated OER
Bioethics and the HGP
Young scholars analyze case studies using the rules and principles of ethics. They comprehend which rules and principles of theics are of great importance to the Human Genome Project. Students participate in mock student hearings.
Curated OER
Biotechnology
Students are introduced to the topic of biotechnology. Using the internet, they research issues that have been improved or brought about because of biotechnology advancements. In groups, they participate in activities in which they...
Curated OER
Issues in Genomics
Learners explore the definition of ethics and genomics. In this organism lesson students participate in the chosen teacher lesson.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Biotechnology and The Chocolate Milk Cow
Students discuss new discoveries that have resulted from the use of recombinant DNA technology and otehr biotechnology. In groups, they create a transgenic cow capable of producing chocolate-flavored milk.
Curated OER
The Human Genome Project: WebQuest Jigsaw
Twelfth graders research facts about the Human Genome Project. In this biology lesson, 12th graders brainstorm on the pros and cons of this project. They complete the jigsaw puzzle and present their findings in class.
Curated OER
How Hazardous Substances Affect People
Students examine the health effects of hazardous waste on people. They work together to complete an experiment in which worms are exposed to chemicals. They discuss the results of the test.
Curated OER
Alcohol Tolerance in Drosophila and You
Students develop and run a laboratory comparing alcohol tolerance in flies with and without the ADH enzyme.
Curated OER
The Man in the White Suit
High schoolers view and discuss the movie from 1951 "The Man in the White Suit" and how scientific discoveries can sometimes have negative social and economic consequences. They define key vocabulary terms from the movie, watch the...
Curated OER
DNA Chips
Students discover what they need to know about DNA chips. They extend this knowledge to analyze gene expression data to diagnose two kinds of leukemia.
Curated OER
Invent PCR: You May Win a Nobel Prize
Students gain an appreciation for the simplicity, but also complexity and elegance of PCR. They comprehend all components of the protocol. Students explain exactly how CPR works, and why, after the third cycle, the predominant DNA being...
Curated OER
Do we Really Need Wild Nature
Students research challenges with which modern biotechnology confronts wild nature. Students collect articles that relate to biotechnology and the environment. Students prepare a collaborative answer to the question, "Do we really need...
Curated OER
Bioethics and Humans
Students evaluate "humanity" and conditions associated with it. For this activity lesson students take on issues and construct their own limitations by defining the "human" condition.
Curated OER
Legal Aspects of Tissue
Students research their role and develop a group position on the appropriate use of fetal tissue transplantation. They engage in role play discussion focused on the case study.