Curated OER
Micro-Ecosystems
Students create a sustainable, self-contained ecosystem in a ten-gallon aquarium.
Curated OER
Dirt Life
Students select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate it on a...
Curated OER
Bioinformatics
Students are exposed to the tools and databases currently used by researchers in molecular and evolutionary biology. They gain a better understanding of gene analysis, taxonomy, and evolution.
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
Operating the spectrophotometer
Working in small groups, students explore the operation of spectrophotometer. Using the spectrophotometer, they investigate Beer's Law with everyday items.