Students will understand what a neuron is and what it does (focus on cellular communication), review the anatomy of a neuron by constructing a model neuron out of pipe cleaners, and understand the different functions of the parts of a neuron.

In this interactive students will learn chemistry concepts by discovering how "Croda" products transform the bathroom from a disarray to a fully functional clean bathroom. There are articles attached for students to review about various topics.

This resource describes the four parts all cells have in common. It includes diagrams, a video, practice questions, a study guide, flash cards, interactive assessments, and articles on real world applications.

This brief video clip discusses the production of specialized cells during human embryonic development.

This is a unit learning plan for Bio 1.1.1, 1.1.2, part of 1.1.3 and 1.2.3 including learning targets, linked lesson plans, and resources. The unit's essential question is how does form influence function in cells?

This lesson introduces students to the genetic information stored in DNA within the human cell nucleus.

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This module provides three different methods for learning about mitosis and includes hands-on, inquiry-based activities. Students will prepare and examine slides of their cheek cells and compare them to those of other students. This will demonstrate the relationship between the structure and function of cells and the similarity of the same types of cells within the same species. Using yarn and popsicle sticks, students will model and explain each of the stages of mitosis. The students will observe prepared slides of onion root tips and whitefish blastula to discover the differences in mitosis in plant and animal cells.

The goal of this chapter is to help students understand the science concepts involved in immune response and in new technologies for manufacturing vaccines, as well as the exciting career opportunities available in this field. This chapter also is intended to provide a snapshot of some of the leading vaccine research and manufacturing efforts in North Carolina.

This resource was designed to create a student handout for a Biology lesson that uses the Career Panel to learn more about cells. Educators should use the directions found at the Strategy from Better Lesson to design and implement the career panel. 

Students will work in groups (2-4 students per group) to translate the genetic code they receive in the form of a color coded message through various formats ending in their group finding the correct “puzzle piece.” If each group chooses the correct piece when they add together their pieces it will create the protein, Insulin.

In this lesson, students will learn how the components of a cell operate as a system. Students will discuss the meaning of the word "system" and then apply the definition to their observations of a paramecium, noting that the single-celled organism is only alive because all the components work together. They will also examine prepared slides of human body cells and compare to the paramecium.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, describes how biomedical engineers at Duke University have been able to grow living skeletal muscles in the lab that look and act like the real thing. Researchers use stem cells to grow muscle outside of a body and then transplant it into a mouse. Components of this resource include a video, a related blog article, and discussion questions. Links to these components are provided on the page under the heading "UNC-TV Media."

In this lesson, students investigate both sides of the stem-cell research controversy. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students will review the United States's policy options on embryonic stem-cell research, then choose one of the policy options and prepare a defense of it based on the information in the reading.

This article can be used with the activity "Chemistry in Your Bathroom" or independently. In this article students will learn about the skin, a skin moisturizer created by Croda, and hair forensics.

In this video lesson, the student will be reminded that genes in a cell/tissue are expressed when certain conditions in the nucleus are met. Interestingly, the system utilized by the cell to ensure tissue specific gene expression is rather simple.

This brief video lesson describes DNA and its role and importance in living organisms. This is a very comprehensive overview of how DNA determines form and function, manages protein synthesis within individuals, and ultimately drives evolution. Discussion/assessment questions and suggested supplemental resources are also included.

In this high school unit on genetics and heredity, students ask questions about a group of boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Students investigate the role of proteins, DNA, and inheritance in the disorder. Students figure out how heritable traits and disorders are related to the structure and function of proteins. Students then ask questions about how we can use genetic engineering technologies to cure genetic disorders and explore the ethical implications of need technologies such as, CRISPR-Cas9.

For this unit plan, see the old unit calendar (link on left sidebar, click ALT3 tab at the bottom).  Once we update this unit to the new Doc template, we will post it here. This is now unit 3, but it used to be unit 2 (we will update file and folder numbering as we continue to revise the units). Thanks for your patience as we work hard this year to update all of the materials to the new unit template and unit/standards arrangements.