Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Bacteria and Viruses Have DNA Too
In the 1940s, scientists discovered bacteria conjugation, the process of DNA transfer or bacterial sex. The discovery proved that bacteria and viruses contain DNA and led to a Nobel prize. Interested individuals learn about the...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
One Gene Makes One Protein
Very few universities still offer a master's degree in the ecology of grasses, but that was the degree that led George Wells Beadle to an interest in genetics and later a Nobel Prize. Scholars learn about the discoveries of Dr. Beadle...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
DNA and Proteins Are Key Molecules of the Cell Nucleus
When DNA research first began, it required almost an entire day to extract the molecules from a cell nucleus. Now it requires less than an hour. Scholars learn about the early theories of DNA with an online interactive, videos,...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Mendelian Genetics Cannot Fully Explain Human Health and Behavior
The breakthrough of Mendelian genetics solved many puzzles for biologists. Then, scientists decided to apply the theory to human behavior. Learn the story and struggle of finding a genetic explanation for hobbies, interests, and mental...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Mendelian Laws Apply to Human Beings
Why are so many inherited diseases more prevalent in populations of specified races? Scholars learn about pedigrees and genetics using a reading, an animation, primary sourced letters, a short video, a biography, a guided practice...
Biology Junction
Protists and Fungi
It's alive, but what is it? Protists share similarities with plants, animals, and fungi without being classified as any of those three. Learn more about protists and the kingdom fungi with a short presentation. It describes the parts of...
Biology Junction
Mollusks
Mollusks created every shell on Earth. Young scientists learn more about the phyllum mollusca in an informative presentation. It covers their characteristics, body plans, and relationships in the ecosystem. Then, it details each class of...
Biology Junction
Amphibians
Biologists know of more than 2,300 living species of amphibians. Learn more about the four orders of amphibians with an interesting presentation. It explains the similarities and differences between the thousands of species of...
Biology Junction
World of Insects: Characteristics, Orders, and Collecting
Every bug is an insect, but not all insects are bugs. A presentation lists the characteristics of insects, describes their body parts, and explains metamorphosis. It also details every order and includes photographs and multiple facts...
Biology Junction
Birds
Birds adapted to almost every climate on the planet, from the Arctic to the rain forests. A presentation focused on birds covers their similarities and differences. It starts with their evolution from reptiles, their many physical...
Biology Junction
Ecology
Psychologists study human relationships while ecologist study relationships between organisms in the environment. An introduction to ecology and the related vocabulary benefits scholars as they progress through the presentation and...
Biology Junction
Land Biomes
Biomes share similar climates and ecosystems, despite being separated geographically on the planet. A presentation introduces the six most common land biomes. It focuses on the commonalities in climate, plants, and animals with many...
Biology Junction
Water Biomes
Water covers more than 70 percent of Earth's surface. Scholars learn about both freshwater and saltwater biomes in a simple presentation. They compare and contrast the differences in oxygen levels, food sources, and sunlight to better...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
A Gene Is a Discrete Sequence of DNA Nucleotides
Frederick Sanger won two Nobel prizes for protein sequencing and DNA sequencing. Young scientists learn about Dr. Sanger's research and amazing discoveries. They read an article and a biography, view videos and animations, and apply...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
DNA Words Are Three Letters Long
DNA writes 64 different words but only codes for 20 different amino acids. Budding scientists learn about where each of these numbers come from and why they aren't equal with an online interactive. The resource explains the research, the...
Biology Junction
Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
Every living thing requires a food source, thus the interconnections in ecosystems become complex. Scholars learn about these interconnections in a presentation on energy flow. It starts with the sun and moves through many different...
Serendip
Food Webs, Energy Flow, Carbon Cycle, and Trophic Pyramids
The reintroduction of a species to an area doesn't always go as expected. Scholars learn about the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park with a video, reading, and discussion questions. They complete a hands-on activity...
Serendip
The Ecology of Lyme Disease
Areas that previously included no risk of Lyme disease now have cases every year. Scholars learn about the spread of Lyme disease and the relationship with ecological succession. Then, they discuss possible solutions using the known food...
Serendip
Evolution of Fur Color in Mice – Mutation, Environment and Natural Selection
Most species of animals include a variety of fur or hair color, but why? Scholars watch a video about a changing environment for mice. As the rocks around them change hues, different colors of mice begin to thrive. Discussion questions...
Serendip
Homeostasis and Negative Feedback – Concepts and Breathing Experiments
More asthma attacks happen at higher altitudes, but why? Scholars complete worksheets, learning about homeostasis and feedback related to breathing. Then, they work in small groups to experiment with breathing in limited amounts of...
Serendip
How Do We Sense the Flavors of Food?
We taste with our taste buds, so why do flavors change when we have a stuffy nose? Scholars experiment with taste testing while holding their noses and then while smelling. They record their observations in pairs and come together to...
Serendip
Using Molecular and Evolutionary Biology to Understand HIV/AIDS and Treatment
HIV mutates rapidly, making treatments challenging to find. Scholars learn about why it mutates so quickly and how scientists race to find treatments. The resource approaches the issue from both a molecular and evolutionary perspective...
Harvard University
Cosmic Questions
Scholars learn the stories of the universe with a unit study on the cosmos. They model the universe, learn about the relationship with the electromagnetic spectrum, understand the big bang theory, and debate the existence of life on...
Serendip
Changing Biological Communities – Disturbance and Succession
After cutting down a forest to make a farm, how long would it take the environment to turn an abandoned farm back into a forest? Scholars study this exact scenario while they interpret many charts and graphs of the changing ecosystems as...