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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how PCR works through various activities. In this biology lesson, students explain how PCR generate copies of DNA. They simulate the process using an online interactive website.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polymerase Chain Reaction Activity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explain the importance and function of enzymes. They compare and contrast the processes of DNA replication and polymerase chain reactions. They practice using new vocabulary as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polymerase Chain Reaction and DNA Profiling

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine DNA fingerprinting and polymerase chain reaction and how they are used in everyday life and for criminal investigations. They discover how these techniques can also be used to answer ecological and evolutionary questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Is It?/Who Done It?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment that allows them to assess individual differences in random DNA sequences and apply those differences when solving a forensic problem. After discussing the polymerase chain reaction and its use to identify...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cut-off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the relationships between different deep-sea organisms by DNA sequencing. A worksheet provides instructions for DNA sequencing and space to work. They simulate gel electrophoresis by cutting out paper "DNA strands." Modeling...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do We Generate a Large Amount of a Specific DNA Sample?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Module 1, Unit 2, Lesson Plan 2: PCR and DNA Diagnosis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the importance of the Polymerase Chain Reaction for biologists. They explain what factors make the Polymerase Chain Reaction possible. Students explain the steps in thermocycling and what happens during each step.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Doggy DNA: The Power of PCR

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students listen as the teacher lectures about Polymerase Chain Reaction, and the technical information about its uses. They collect dog saliva and run/analyze a gel electrophoresis. Students use a computer to integrate information, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Invent PCR: You May Win a Nobel Prize

For Teachers 11th - 12th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Arizona Hedgehog Cactus: Endangered Species or not?: Biology, Plants

For Teachers All
In this lesson plan students will study the: "Classification of Echinocereus triglochidiatus and Geographical Ranges of its Varieties." Students read background material and scientific literature to analyze the cactus populations and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Infectious Disease Case Study

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students list the steps an epidemiologist takes to detect a pathogen. They role-play as scientists as they investigate the cause of the outbreak in Japan during 1996.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

West Nile Virus Strikes Again

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars examine the West Nile virus and how it is impacting an American Indian reservation,  In this virus lesson plan students devise a prevention plan for an Indian reservation to help limit the transfer of the West Nile virus.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cutt-Off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how gene sequence analysis can be used to examine phylogenetic similarities of different organisms. Students work in groups to simulate a gel electrophoresis separation of fragments using poster board to create their gel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cut-Off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain the concept of gene sequence analysis. In this gene lesson, students draw inferences about phylogenetic similarities of different organisms.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Biotechnology By Analogies And Models

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students explore biotechnology by analogies and models. They read several provided scenarios and answer questions to discover some basic concepts of biotechnology.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determination of Phylogenetic Relationships Using Restriction Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars applied various mathematical analyses to interpret their data. By using the resulting DNA fragment patterns from several enzymes students established a possible evolutionary relationship among the mice.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Biotechnology by Analogies and Models

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine analogies and create models to help visualize the concept and technique of basic biotechnology. Common scenarios are used to explain the complex procedures of genetic engineering.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DNA Race Track

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders simulate a DNA fragment running through a gel electrophoresis in a class activity. Students work in teams as a DNA sample with each person on the team representing a fragment that moves through the gel at a specific speed.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: "Dummie's" Guide to Pcr

For Teachers 9th - 10th
(This lesson is for a more advanced class such as honors or AP Biology.) The lesson will look at one of the most important tools to the molecular biologist, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). The young scholars will learn the science...