Bibliography of Websites
1000 Genomes- A deep catalog of human genetic variation.
The ALlele FREquency Database (ALFRED) - “A resource of gene frequency data on human populations supported by the U. S. National Science Foundation.”
The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) has recently developed two new interactive, Web-based games to highlight concepts of population genetics and phylogenetic trees (direct link to games). These games join a suite of fun resources on the ASHG Education Site.
The Biology Project - Many wonderful on-line activities and explanations.
BiosciEdNet (BEN) - Links to a constantly-increasing number of biological science teaching resources, including images, animations, videos and entire lectures and lab exercises. Note K-12 Educators tab in upper-center part of window.
C. elegans Links - Leon Avery's site - More simple gateway to C. elegans research - includes simple introductions to C.elegans for non-expert.
Cold Spring Harbor Dolan DNA Learning Center- Check out the 'Websites' and 'Resources' links.
Dictyostelium central web server - The Dicty community has created a central site which offers information both general and technical about the cellular slime molds. The site links to still photos and movies of aggregating and developing cells, provides general culturing information, and offers links to the genome and individual research papers.
- A Dictyostelium Culture Kit is available from Carolina (ER-15-5824) for $43.
DNA from the Beginning- Yet another Cold Spring Harbor Lab website - an animated primer of the basics of DNA, genes, and heredity.
DNA Interactive - Another Cold Spring Harbor Lab website with great educator DNA links/activities.
DOE Joint Genome Institute - Education tab in upper menu bar has links to illustrated explanations of current genomics and sequencing technologies.
Encyclopedia of Life - Education subpage from 'a new project to create an online reference source and database for every one of the 1.8 million species that are named and known on this planet.'
Genome Sequencing Center Video Tour - A tour of the Washington University Genome Sequencing Center that follows the steps in the sequencing pipeline with animated explanations of the scientific procedures used at the facility. Lots of downloads possible!
Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Especially see the 'Cool Science' link int eh box to the right, which includes the ‘BioInteractive’ link to animations, Virtual labs, etc.
Human Genome Project Information - site maintained by the Oak Rigde National Laboratory. Education tab in upper menu bar takes you to a subpage with links to dozens of interesting sites, downloads, etc., including the primer Genomics and Its Impact on Science and Society: The Human Genome Project and Beyond. The 'Gene Gateway' tab is also one to check out.
The Inner Life of the Cell - Three minute Preview demo is set to music and very dramatic. Fun to see how many of the structures can be identified (possible homework project for end of AB Bio cell structure and function unit?). Full version with narration viewable by clicking on the right window; high-speed version on next page seems best.
Kimball’s Biology Pages - Links to all sorts of information. See for example the chart on Genome Sizes.
National Association for Biology Teachers (NABT) - This society is all about sharing pedagogical resources. The annual meetings are great, as is their journal, The American Biology Teacher.
National Center for Biotechnology Information - This site, at the National Library of Medicine on the NIH campus, offers a wealth of information: homology searching (BLAST); OMIM (genetics of inherited disease); human genome resources; a thousand other genomes; access to all of PubMed; and more!
National Human Genome Research Institute - Lots of information here, with another wonderful Education link in the menu bar.
National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education - All sorts of educational resources.
Nobel Prize - Check out press releases of annual prizes in Physiology or Medicine and Chemistry, as well as wonderfully fun virtual experiments/games, etc. in ‘Educational’ menu tab. Contact fysik@nobel.kva.se to request to be added to the mailing list and receive the annual set of posters for the science Nobel Prizes.
Nova - Links to Health and Nature programs and accompanying websites.
Tree of Life Web Project - All sorts of fascinating information here.
Understanding Evolution - Great site from the University of California at Berkeley with wonderful resources for all levels of educators.
WormAtlas - Beautiful images and explanations of all the worm cells, tissues, major anatomical descriptions, neuronal pathways, etc.
WormBase - Gateway to all C. elegans research tools; search by cell, by gene, by author, etc.
WormClassroom - Designed for teachers (high school - college) includes computer-based exercises, pictures, movies, and great introduction to C. elegans.
Other Websites with Curricular Materials:
Annotation for Amateurs - learn how to annotate DNA and then try to find genes in various plant genomes.
Boston University School of Medicine City Lab - Inquiry-based explorations for Middle and High School students. Go there or have the Mobile Lab come to you!
Center for BioMolecular Modeling Lending Library- Lending program of physical models out of Milwaukee. No fee for loan, but must pay for return shipping charges.
Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers- See Classroom Resources & Activities link.
Family Secrets- Problem-based learning curriculum module, which is focused on Huntington’s Disease.
Fold It - Solve Puzzles for Science- On-line protein folding game.
Genome Consortium for Active Teaching - Site where one can purchase DNA microarray chips to do research projects with students. Also has links to many other related sites.
Hands-on Activities for Teaching Biology to High School or Middle School Students - “These hands-on activities cover a broad range of biological topics, including genetics, natural selection, microorganisms, and human physiology.”
Learn.Genetics - a most excellent site, including many engaging virtual labs, from the Genetic Science Learning Center at The University of Utah (*see the new companion Teach.Genetics site below)
Lending Library for Physical Molecular Models- for teachers in Western Massachusetts who can get to UMass-Amherst. Models of amino acids, DNA, enzymes, antibodies, etc.
The Macaque Genome: Lessons form Comparative Genomics - “To help biology students, grades 9-12, understand the importance of the rhesus macaque monkey as a model organism and what comparing the macaque and human genomes can tell us about human biology and evolution." Worksheet-based phylogenetic activity.
Massachusetts Society for Medical Research (MSMR)- "MSMR is a member organization that focuses on the use of animals in biomedical research, teaching and testing – a critically important, and often controversial issue underlying medical progress." Here are three links that are are excellent resource for teachers:
1. What A Year! highlights a breakthrough each month and gives some information about the people behind it. You can learn what's going on in your scientific back yard, and to dig a lot deeper if you want. http://www.whatayear.org/
2. Competition and Award $ for grades 7-12- http://www.msmr.org/2011Competition.html
3. Information for elementary, middle and high school teachers, this one is for high school teachers-http://www.msmr.org/high_school.html
Molecular Science Student Workbench- “Consists of curricular materials centered around molecular biological investigations, links to educational, scientific, computational, and informational resources, and communication tools.” Includes introductory tutorials on bioinformatics.
Partnership for Biotechnology and Genomics Education at the University of California at Davis - Lots of curricular materials including free educational software for Windows and Macintosh systems: Germ Wars I and II, Virtual DNA Fingerprinting Laboratory and Virtual Plant Genomics Laboratory.
Teach.Genetics* - the new companion site for teachers to the Learn.Genetics Web site, which "offers additional tools and resources to support your curriculum, all free of charge!"
Virtual Fly Lab - Available for a cost at Biology Labs On-Line or free from WKU . HHMI has a new Virtual Transgenic Fly Lab.
Washington University in St. Louis Science Outreach Group Biology Curriculum - Many different topics, with the following three focused on genetics and genomics:
a. Building Food for the Future: Agricultural Biotechnology Activities for Urban Students
b. Significant Sequences: Genomics Activities for Advanced Biology Students
c. Modern Genetics for All Students
Teachers' Favorite Websites:
Access Excellence at the National Health Museum - The Site for Health & Bioscience Teachers and Learners.
Cells Alive Great images, movies, etc.
Clustal W2 - is a general purpose multiple sequence alignment program for DNA or proteins. It produces biologically meaningful multiple sequence alignments of divergent sequences. It calculates the best match for the selected sequences, and lines them up so that the identities, similarities and differences can be seen. Evolutionary relationships can be seen via viewing Cladograms or Phylograms. Download software at this site: Check out other links at the EMBL site.
Evolution: Sex and the Single Guppy - Learn how exhibitionism can have an evolutionary payoff.
Guppy Simulation Activity from Biology Corner - adapted from Evolution: Sex and the Single Guppy. The simulation will help you understand what pressures drive guppy evolution.
Museum of Paleontology at the University of California at Berkeley - Nice “Understanding Evolution” links.
The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science - This resource offers a collection of case studies for use in undergraduate science classrooms.
NPR’s Science Friday: Making Science Radioactive! - Target audience grades 6-8.
Plants In Motion - A way to bring plants to "life" in the classroom! Great time-lapse photos of plants moving, growing, germinating, tropisms (response to gravity, light, etc.), plus things you've never heard of like nutational movement "nodding" caused by uneven growth. Ellie used them all the time in teaching intro bio to get kids interested in plants! Makes them much more dynamic!
The Science Spot - Links to lessons, ideas for science club projects, games, etc.
Teachers’ Domain - Multimedia resources for the classroom and professional development.
The Whale Evolution Kiosk - A self-guided tutorial on the key elements of whale anatomy, fossils, DNA, and classification. These will all provide the mutually reinforcing evidence for whale evolution, all in delightful animations and interactions.