In this lesson, students read about restoration projects and evaluate the Santa Catalina Island restoration project. Students will gain knowledge about the restoration work scientists are doing to restore the natural resources that were harmed by DDT discharge.
In this exercise, students will use StarGenetics to analyze the nature and mode of inheritance of specific genetic traits.
Students explore how DNA can tell us about ourselves and other organisms and species. They will also learn about the systematic study of the human genome and write an article summarizing what they have learned throughout the lesson.
In this virtual lab, students create a DNA fingerprint and then compare it to those of seven suspects to solve a crime.
Students create a marine ecosystem and describe the adaptive, trophic, and symbiotic relationships between the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.
In this lesson, students will discuss the pro's and con's of prenatal genetic testing. Then students will research a particular genetic disorder and create a pamphlet about the disorder from the point of view of a genetic counselor.
This interactive resource explains how DNA sequences can be used to generate phylogenetic trees, and how to interpret them.
This lesson plan focuses on food chains and food webs. There are multiple associated weblinks to supplemental videos and interactive resources.
This lesson is the second of a two-part series on the cycle of life. This series should help enhance student understanding of the flow of matter and energy and the interdependence of life by focusing on food chains and food webs.
This forensics presentation is an overview of how DNA is used to solve crimes. An accompanying student worksheet can be accessed at http://sciencespot.net/Media/FrnsScience/DNABasicswkst.pdf.
The purpose of this problem set is to present an introduction to the use of the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method to characterize human DNA samples as applied in paternity analysis and sex crimes investigations. For each problem there is a tutorial feature that will explain the science behind the problem.
In this exercise, students will explore the structure of a DNA repair protein found in most species, including bacteria. DNA repair proteins move along DNA strands, checking for mistakes or damage. DNA glycosylases, a specific type of DNA repair protein, recognize DNA bases that have been chemically altered and remove them, leaving a site in the DNA without a base. Other proteins then come along to fill in the missing DNA base.
The task has two parts. Part 1 is answering questions about DNA replication to ensure that students can construct their own understanding of DNA replication, and the second part is to create a product modeling DNA replication. This task can be used as an introduction to DNA and protein synthesis or before the subject is taught so that the students can develop their own understanding and questions about the role and process of DNA replication. This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.
In this hands on activity, students construct beaded bracelets based on a DNA sequence of a specific organism. Students are given a DNA sequence for thier choosen organism. The given sequence is used to make one strand of the bracelet while the other strand is created using the rules for base pairing.
Before this lesson, students should have an understanding of how DNA fingerprinting is completed. During this lesson, students will use scaffolded questions to analyze text (2 weblinks) about DNA evidence exonerating wrongfully convicted people and the injustices involved in the original convictions. The text analysis and questions provide a basis for the seminar that follows.
This online tutorial explores these key questions: How does DNA encode the characteristics of an organism?; In what different ways can mutations affect an organism?; How can a simple mutation end up having a major effect on the phenotype of an organism?; What does it mean to say that mutations are random?
This brief video clip discusses how reactive molecules, such as free radicals, and solar radiation can lead to mutations in DNA.
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This brief video clip discusses the production of specialized cells during human embryonic development.
This activity demonstrates diffusion, osmosis, and active transport through 12 interactive models. Students will begin by following the path of a molecule of dye in water, create concentration gradients on either side of a cell membrane and watch the movement of substances in and out of a cell, and monitor the movement of oxygen into red blood cells with and without hemoglobin.