The authors of the research presented in this special collection used the ...
The authors of the research presented in this special collection used the first description of the B73 maize genome to probe some of the most intriguing questions in genetics and plant biology. Read about maize centromeres, new insights into transposon types and distribution, the abundance of very short FLcDNAs encoding predicted peptides, and many other "genetic jewels" contained herein.
Introduction: Genetic information contained in mRNA is in the form of codons, ...
Introduction: Genetic information contained in mRNA is in the form of codons, sequences of three nucleotides, which are translated into amino acids which then combine to form proteins. At certain sites in a protein's structure, amino acid composition is not critical. Yet certain amino acids occur at such sites up to six times more often than other amino acids. In the 1960's, molecular biologists sought to determine if amino acid composition was a reflection of the genetic code or if certain amino acids were naturally selected as optimal.
Question: Are frequencies of particular amino acids simply a consequence of random permutations of the genetic code or instead a product of natural selection?
Supplement to 'The Genetic Code': https://cnx.org/contents/jVCgr5SL@15.43:aXYynRWE@10/15-1-The-Genetic-Code
In this project, each student will be assigned to a group of ...
In this project, each student will be assigned to a group of three to four students. Each group will be given random character description cards. These characters will be treated as the first generation in a fictitious town. The cards will include specific genetic traits, skills, jobs, as well as reference if the character suffers from type 2 diabetes. Students will need to use the character cards to author and illustrate a short story about the fictitious town which follows at least three generations of the families in the cards. Students must also include pedigrees for a minimum of three traits as well as diabetes as evidence of inheritance.
This annotated slideshow adapted from KET's Electronic Field Trip to the Forest ...
This annotated slideshow adapted from KET's Electronic Field Trip to the Forest illustrates how blight decimated the American chestnut tree and the methods scientists use to identify and pollinate the remaining trees to create blight-resistant trees.
This fun Web site is part of OLogy, where kids can collect ...
This fun Web site is part of OLogy, where kids can collect virtual trading cards and create projects with them. Here, they take a look at genetics and DNA research with six AMNH scientists' journals. The Humpback Whale Journal takes kids to Madagascar to meet this endangered species. The Spotted Owl Journal takes kids to California for a look at these birds who are at risk because their forest homes are being cut down. The Sumatran Tiger Journal takes kids to Indonesia for a look at this genetically unique tiger. The Ruffed Lemur Journal also takes kids to Madagascar, but this time they venture inland to meet the endangered primate. The Pacu Journal takes kids to Brazil to meet this vegetarian relative of the meat-eating piranha. The St. Vincent Parrot Journal takes kids to the West Indies to meet the rare, colorful birds that are further at risk because of smuggling.
OER | Biology Overview: On this webpage you will find OER Biology ...
OER | Biology Overview:
On this webpage you will find OER Biology textbooks along with supplemental materials and a few lecture videos. The purpose of these discipline-specific webpages is to display content that might be of interest to faculty who are considering adopting open educational resources for use in their classes. This list of content is by no means exhaustive. The nature of open educational resources is very collaborative and it is in that spirit that we encourage any comments about the content featured on this page or recommendations of content that are not already listed here.
Students construct paper recombinant plasmids to simulate the methods genetic engineers use ...
Students construct paper recombinant plasmids to simulate the methods genetic engineers use to create modified bacteria. They learn what role enzymes, DNA and genes play in the modification of organisms. For the particular model they work on, they isolate a mammal insulin gene and combine it with a bacteria's gene sequence (plasmid DNA) for production of the protein insulin.
Students toss coins to determine what traits a set of mouse parents ...
Students toss coins to determine what traits a set of mouse parents possess, such as fur color, body size, heat tolerance, and running speed. Then they use coin tossing to determine the traits a mouse pup born to these parents possesses. Then they compare these physical features to features that would be most adaptive in several different environmental conditions. Finally, students consider what would happen to the mouse offspring if those environmental conditions were to change: which mice would be most likely to survive and produce the next generation?
This 17-minute video lesson provides an introduction to heredity and classical genetics. ...
This 17-minute video lesson provides an introduction to heredity and classical genetics. It looks at dominant and recessive traits as well as heterozygous and homozygous genotypes. [Biology playlist: Lesson 14 of 71].
This 25-minute video lesson looks at the Punnett square diagram in the ...
This 25-minute video lesson looks at the Punnett square diagram in the study of genetics. It covers dihybrid crosses, independent assortment, incomplete dominance, codominance and multiple alleles. [Biology playlist: Lesson 15 of 71].
This site contains user-friendly tools to launch DNA database searches, statistical analyses, ...
This site contains user-friendly tools to launch DNA database searches, statistical analyses, and population modeling from a centralized workspace. Educational databases support investigations of an Alu insertion polymorphism on human chromosome 16 and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human mitochondrial control region.
This learning video introduces high school students to a topic they would ...
This learning video introduces high school students to a topic they would not ordinarily study in school, biotechnology, and to different applications of biotechnology that relate to the main theme of the module - making the desert greener. After reviewing traditional methods used for manipulating plants to produce desired traits, students will learn about the methods of making transgenic plants. Dr. Ziad discusses a real world problem that is critical in his country, Jordan, where much of the land is desert. A prerequisite to this video lesson is some background in biology.
This learning video introduces high school students to a topic they would ...
This learning video introduces high school students to a topic they would not ordinarily study in school, biotechnology, and to different applications of biotechnology that relate to the main theme of the module - making the desert greener. After reviewing traditional methods used for manipulating plants to produce desired traits, students will learn about the methods of making transgenic plants. Dr. Ziad discusses a real world problem that is critical in his country, Jordan, where much of the land is desert. A prerequisite to this video lesson is some background in biology.
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students explore the relationship between a bird's ...
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students explore the relationship between a bird's beak and its ability to find food and survive in a given environment. Students learn about bird beaks through observation, both virtual and of local birds, and through a variety of games and activities.
Bug Hunt uses NetLogo software and simulates an insect population that is ...
Bug Hunt uses NetLogo software and simulates an insect population that is preyed on by birds. There are six speeds of bugs from slow to fast and the bird tries to catch as many insects as possible in a certain amount of time. Students are able to see the results graphed as the average insect speed over time, the current bug population and the number of insects caught. There are two variations to try for the predator, one where the predator pursues the prey and one where the predator stays still and captures insects that pass nearby. In the first case the bird catches the slow insects and the faster ones survive, reproduce and pass genes on. The average speed of bug should increase over time. In the second case the faster bugs come near to the bird more often than the slow ones. The slow ones survive more, reproduce and pass their genes on.
Introduction: The chi-square test is a statistical test that can be used ...
Introduction: The chi-square test is a statistical test that can be used to determine whether observed frequencies are significantly different from expected frequencies. For example, after we calculated expected frequencies for different allozymes in the HARDY-WEINBERG module we would use a chi-square test to compare the observed and expected frequencies and determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the two. As in other statistical tests, we begin by stating a null hypothesis (H0: there is no significant difference between observed and expected frequencies) and an alternative hypothesis (H1: there is a significant difference). Based on the outcome of the chi-square test we will either reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
Question: How is the chi-square test used to compare samples or populations? What does a comparison of observed and expected frequencies tell us about these samples?
Supplement to 'Laws of Inheritance': https://cnx.org/contents/jVCgr5SL@15.43:8Zft46As@11/12-3-Laws-of-Inheritance
Submitted as part of the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) Phase 3 ...
Submitted as part of the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) Phase 3 Digital Textbook Initiative (CA DTI3), CK-12 Foundation’s high school Biology FlexBook covers cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, botany, zoology, and physiology. This digital textbook was reviewed for its alignment with California content standards.
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