Curated OER
"Easter" Egg Genetics
Using plastic Easter eggs to represent parent phenotypes, genetics enthusiasts simulate the passing of alleles. They record the phenotype of each half of the egg, one representing the mother's and one representing the father's. They...
Curated OER
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Students create DNA models using colored construction papers. In this biology instructional activity, students identify enzyme restriction sites. They model how DNA plasmids replicate when taken up by a bacterial cell.
Serendip
From Gene to Protein - Transcription and Translation
Learners identify the different steps involved in DNA transcription. In this genetics lesson, pupils complete a worksheet and model the translation process with a paper chain activity. They watch a video on sickle cell anemia and explain...
Curated OER
RFLP Paternity Testing: A Simulation
Students use simulated autorads to discover the principle utilized to determine paternity.
Curated OER
Blood Typing Investigation
Students role-play a scenario in which a car crash patient is inadvertently given the wrong blood type during a transfusion. They perform blood typing and explore the genetics behind ABO and RH blood types using simulated blood.
Curated OER
Dragon Genetics Lab-Principles of Mendelian Genetics
Students study genetic traits using popsicle sticks as chromosomes. For this biology lesson, students explain how traits are inherited from parents. They differentiate dominant and recessive genes.
Curated OER
Scientist Simulation
Students envision the work of a research scientist, and the relationship between molecular biology and medicine. This activity allows students to imagine themselves working as research scientists by asking them to complete the end-steps...
Concord Consortium
Modeling Translation
An mRNA sequences make proteins, the most common molecules in cells. Young scientists observe translation of mRNA on ribosomes. They view them forming amino acids. Finally, the amino acids curl into proteins.
Curated OER
Molecular Approaches to Evolution
Students are introduced to working with molecular data. The first activity does both simulated and original data are used to compare amino acid, protein or DNA differences to construct phylogenetic trees or cladograms. These activities...
Curated OER
Virus Tracker
Sixth graders will simulate the spread of a virus such as HIV through a population by "sharing" (but not drinking) the water in a plastic cup with several classmates. Although invisible, the water in a few of the cups will already be...
Curated OER
A Model of a Bacterial Plasmid
Students construct a plsmid model with the materials provided and be able to use it to define certain terms and explain other practical applications of genetic engineering. This simulation allows the students to work through the diagram...
Curated OER
You Gave Me What?
Students see how an infectious disease such as AIDS may be quickly transmitted throughout a population. They conduct a simulated transmission of an infectious disease and mathematically determine the number of possible infected individuals.
Curated OER
A Clone of Your Own: The Legal Issues and the Future of Genetic Engineering on Humans
Twelfth graders define cloning in their own words and examine the different types of cloning. After reading an article, they summarize it in their own words and use the internet to research the history of cloning. In groups, they...
Curated OER
The Selection and Variation in the Egyptian Origami Bird
Students participate in a contrived natural selection simulation in which they build and modify simple paper airplanes. They study divergent and convergent evolution and how it is isolated in sub-populations.
Curated OER
Cells
Young scholars explore the cell and cell processes. They create "cytoplasm", make a model of the cell and its organelles, and simulate the osmosis and the diffusion of materials into and out of the cell.
Curated OER
Genetically Engineered Food: Altering the Blueprint
Young scholars explore the genetic engineering of food. In this health activity students explain how DNA technology can be used to produce food.
Curated OER
Martian Mummies
Students participate in "Raiders of the Future", a role play about futuristic scientists sending a spaceship to Mars for research and exploration. They collect geological samples for analysis, discover the ruins of an ancient...
Curated OER
Job Hiring...Who's the best candidate?
Learners, working in teams, assume they are the newly hired research director of a biotech firm interviewing the top two candidates for the position of research scientist. They evaluate the candidates and decide who should be hired based...
Curated OER
Meiosis
For this meiosis worksheet, students read about the phases of meiosis I and meiosis II and simulate the chromosomes and chromatids in each phase. Students draw the changes in each phase and produce 4 cells with half the DNA in the end.
Curated OER
Scientist Simulation
Students imagine themselves working as research scientists completing the end-steps of a molecular research project and interpreting the data. They compare the gene sequences of normal and abnormal mice and evaluate the protein product...
Curated OER
Protein Synthesis and Words
Learners explain the roles of mRNA, tRNA and ribosomes. They explain how mutations can occur in an individual. Students simulate parts of a cell to access about the process of protein synthesis.
Curated OER
Electrophoresis Protocols
Students explain how an agarose gel is poured and DNA is loaded into the wells of the gel. They practice the technique of pouring and loading an agarose gel and participate in a teacher demonstration.
Curated OER
A Feast for the Future
Students participate in an activity that uses a simulated meal of transgenic foods in order to initiate a discussion of the controversy concerning the use of transgenic food products.
Curated OER
International Institute of Archaeology an Anthropology
Middle schoolers research early humans and their cultures. They conduct Internet research, discuss their findings with their group, evaluate the information provided by artifacts, and create a report to present to a simulated archaeology...