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The Code of Life
Students study genes, DNA and medical research. They watch "The Code of Life" video and answer discussion questions regarding the transcription and translation of DNA and how errors in these processes and mutations in DNA can produce...
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Biology Honors Final Project
Tenth graders work on a project about cellular biology and genetics. In this biology instructional activity, 10th graders research about the assigned human body system and genetic disorders that affect it. They create a multimedia...
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Blue Genes: Affect Your Life!
Students, in groups, research, analyze and synthesize information on genetic diseases. After watching a video on genetics, groups perform research on a variety of genetic diseases and present their findings to the class.
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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 lesson. Your class monitors daily temperature and insolation amounts over a two week span of time....
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Ethical Decision Making Model-Dealing with Genetic Disorders
In groups, learners read a case study of a couple who produced a child with hemophilia. Although tthe reading breifly mentions how a hemophiliac child is produced, the focus of this lesson is the ethical implications. This lesson is more...
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What Can Pseudogenes Tell Us About Common Ancestry?
Students compare/constrast DNA sequence data for a portion of the rat GULO gene to the corresponding sequence in the inactive GULO gene in humans, chimpanzees, orangutans, and crab-eating macaques by identifying the shared sequences in...
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Squirrel Islands
In this adaptations worksheet, students read about 3 species that have changed over time to adapt to their environment. Students design a squirrel that has adapted to an island habitat that students are assigned. They describe the...
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Cells and Cancer
Young scholars idenitfy that cancer is a growth of mutated cells and that cancer cells are only one type of cell that causes disease in our body. They also identify that all eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus, cytoskeleton, and a cell...
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Basic Introduction to Foundation of Life: Genes, Genetics and Genetic Diseases
Learners are introduced to genetics along with genetic diseases and heredity. In groups, they complete a Punnett Square to determine the dominant and recessive genes. After viewing diagrams, they identify the characteristics of DNA and...
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Spork and Beans
Students examine natural selection, how it works and how it can cause microevolution. In this evolution lesson students complete a lab activity that shows the effects that natural selection has on organisms.
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Tobacco Smoking and Lung Cancer
Students explore tobacco smoking and the impact it has on society. For this health lesson students complete several experiments on smoking and lung cancer.
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Who Owns Rights to Pharmacogenetic Information?
Students develop an understanding of the rationale of ownership over scientific information. They research commercial applications of DNA sequences. They analyze how to evaluate medical ethics issues.
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Cat Study Article
Students write a letter to the editor of USA Today. For this letter writing lesson plan, students read a newspaper article about cats and consider a dog or cat's view on current events. Students reflect this perspective in their letters.
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Model Organisms: The Genes We Share
Students 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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Chromosomes
Students explore genetics, chromosomes and DNA. In this genetics lesson students design a chromosome and identify a family tree through genetics.
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Why Do We Need Vitamin C in Our Diet?
Students compare/contrast the DNA sequence data of the rat GULO gene to the inactive human GULO gene. They translate and align the sequences, and propose a scenario to explain the occurrence of an inactive DNA sequence to that of an...
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Transcription, Translation, and the Genetics of Microbes
Students construct various virus models using Fruit loops and Alphabits to represent nucleotides and molecules. They constructs capsomeres using shoes as the capsomeres and discuss various viruses.
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Why do we need Vitamin C in our diet? Or Why do we carry old inactive genes in our genome?
Students explore and explain how mutations in the DNA sequence of a gene may be silent or result in phenotypic change in an organism and in its offspring. They analyze how evolution and biodiversity are the result of genetic changes that...
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Punnett Squares/Genetics
Ninth graders complete a monohybrid cross and a dihybrid cross. In this biology lesson, 9th graders predict the traits of offspring using the Punnett square. They differentiate recessive and dominant genes.
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Evolution Lab
Students examine the pattern of natural variation in a society. They examine Darwin's theory of evolution and analyze data. They use computer programs to graphically display the variation in organisms.
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Cancer Risks
Studentsbrainstorm ideas about Cancer and its couses. They read an article which describes communities in the United States that have been affected by high rates of cancer and information which describes hereditary factors that...
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Karyotype Puzzle
Young scholars identify chromosome pairs based upon band patterns and location of centromere. They order chromosome pairs based upon size. Students differentiate normal karyotypes from abnormal karyotypes. They correctly record karyotype...
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Genetically-Modified Food
High schoolers investigate the pros and cons of genetic engineering. They watch a short Bill Moyers video, conduct Internet research, create a poster, participate in a pro/con debate, and write an essay expressing their personal feelings...