How to Use the OpenStax Community Hub

Tips and guidelines to help you create resources that align with OpenStax titles

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Sonya Bennett-Brandt

Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and Physiology is a dynamic textbook for the two-semester human anatomy and physiology course for life science and allied health majors. The book is organized by body system and covers standard scope and sequence requirements. Its lucid text, strategically constructed art, career features, and links to external learning tools address the critical teaching and learning challenges in the course. The web-based version of Anatomy and Physiology also features links to surgical videos, histology, and interactive diagrams.

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Eddie Johnson, James A. Wise, J. Gordon Betts, Jody E. Johnson, Kelly A. Young, Mark Womble, Oksana Korol, Peter DeSaix

Community Health Nursing

By the end of this course the students should be able to: Identify the root of Community Health Nursing; identify supportive organizations; differentiate between Public Health Nurse and Community Health Nurse; explain Community Health Nursing; describe the qualities of the Community Health Nurse; describe the different types of community; differentiate between urban and rural communities and outline community profile; explain community entry; describe the preparations made before a community is entered; identify critical actions in community entry; list the advantages of community entry; explain community study; list at least four reasons for community study; explain the various types community study; give two explanation to each data collected; define a community need; identify types of needs; identify the process community needs assessment and list the uses of needs assessment.

Material Type: Assessment, Full Course, Homework/Assignment, Lecture Notes, Reading

Cell BioCams

Welcome to the CELLS alive BioCams. In these BioCams, you will get to learn about cancer and bacteria cells. However, these are a bit different from "livecams" you might find elsewhere on the web - these repeat at daily or shorter intervals in order to convey information on biological rhythms.

Material Type: Simulation

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is the process by which our bodies convert glucose from food into energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Start by exploring the ATP molecule in 3D, then use molecular models to take a step-by-step tour of the chemical reactants and products in the complex biological processes of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, the Electron Transport Chain, and ATP synthesis. Follow atoms as they rearrange and become parts of other molecules and witness the production of high-energy ATP molecules.

Material Type: Lecture Notes, Simulation

Author: The Concord Consortium

Cytoplasmic Factors

Cytoplasmic factors play a significant part in determining how a cell develops. This segment discusses their importance in turning the appropriate genes on and off for proper development.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Lecture, Reading, Simulation

DNA: The Book of You

Your body is made of cells -- but how does a single cell know to become part of your nose, instead of your toes? The answer is in your body's instruction book: DNA. Joe Hanson compares DNA to detailed manual for building a person out of cells -- with 46 chapters (chromosomes) and hundreds of thousands of pages covering every part of you.

Material Type: Assessment, Lecture, Lecture Notes, Lesson Plan, Simulation

Authors: Joe Hanson, Nipun Sharma

DNA to Protein

This online interactive module of 10 pages or frames integrates textual information, 3D molecular models, interactive molecular simulations, and embedded assessment items to guide students in understanding the copying of DNA base sequences from translation to transcription into proteins within each cell. The module divides the exercises in to Day 1 and Day 2 time frames. Teachers can view student assessment responses by assigning the module within a class created within the Molecular Workbench application. This Java-based module must be downloaded to each computer.

Material Type: Simulation

Diffusion, Osmosis and Active Transport

Movement of ions in and out of cells is crucial to maintaining homeostasis within the body and ensuring that biological functions run properly. The natural movement of molecules due to collisions is called diffusion. Several factors affect diffusion rate: concentration, surface area, and molecular pumps. This activity demonstrates diffusion, osmosis, and active transport through 12 interactive models.

Material Type: Data Set, Lecture Notes, Simulation

Author: The Concord Consortium

Dragon Genetics -- Independent Assortment and Gene Linkage

Students learn the principles of independent assortment and gene linkage in activities which analyze inheritance of multiple genes on the same or different chromosomes in hypothetical dragons. Students learn how these principles derive from the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis and fertilization.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Simulation

Authors: Ingrid Waldron, Jennifer Doherty

Dragon Genetics -- Understanding Inheritance

In this simulation activity students mimic the processes of meiosis and fertilization to investigate the inheritance of multiple genes and then use their understanding of concepts such as dominant/recessive alleles, incomplete dominance, sex-linked inheritance, and epistasis to interpret the results of the simulation. This activity can be used as a culminating activity after you have introduced classical genetics, and it can serve as formative assessment to identify any areas of confusion that require additional clarification.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Simulation

Author: Bob Farber

Eating & Exercise

How many calories are in your favorite foods? How much exercise would you have to do to burn off these calories? What is the relationship between calories and weight? Explore these issues by choosing diet and exercise and keeping an eye on your weight.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive, Simulation

Authors: Franny Benay, Kate Semsar, Kathy Perkins, Noah, Noah Podolefsky, Sam Reid, Wendy Adams

Gene Expression - The Basics

Express yourself through your genes! See if you can generate and collect three types of protein, then move on to explore the factors that affect protein synthesis in a cell.

Material Type: Simulation

Authors: Ariel Paul, George Emanuel, John Blanco, Kathy Perkins, Mike Klymkowsky, Tom Perkins

Genetic Origins

The goal of the Genetic Origins Program is to allow students to use their own DNA variations (polymorphisms) as a means to explore our shared genetic heritage and its implications for human health and society. Genetic Origins focuses on two types of DNA variations: an Alu insertion polymorphism on chromosome 16 (PV92) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the control region of the mitochondrial (mt) chromosome. With two alleles and three genotypes, PV92 is a simple genetic system that illustrates Mendelian inheritance on a molecular level. PV92 data is readily analyzed using population statistics. The mt control region is one of the simplest regions of human DNA to sequence. With a high mutation rate, the mt control region is the "classical" system for studying human and primate evolution. The Genetic Origins site and linked Bioservers site have all the information needed for students to perform the Alu and mt DNA experiments and analyze the results - including online protocols, reagents, animations and videos explaining key concepts, and database tools.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Simulation

Genetics

This activity begins with sections that help students to understand basic principles of genetics, including (1) how genotype influences phenotype via the effects of genes on protein structure and function and (2) how genes are transmitted from parents to offspring through the processes of meiosis and fertilization. Then, a coin flip activity models the probabilistic nature of inheritance and Punnett square predictions; this helps students understand why the characteristics of children in many real families deviate from Punnett square predictions. Additional concepts covered include polygenic inheritance, incomplete dominance, and how a new mutation can result in a genetic condition that was not inherited. This activity helps students meet the Next Generation Science Standards.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Simulation

Authors: Ingrid Waldron, Jennifer Doherty, Scott Poethig

Genetics

This science resource covers a variety of topics; however, the specific URL is on Genetics. It has significant explanations on the basic Principles of Genetics, Co-dominance, Incomplete dominance, and Sex-Linked traits. The units have precise and manageable explanations, and there are numerous links and additional resources to support instructors and students to advance learning. The access to videos and online simulations enhances particular areas, and the diverse assessments support mastery of skills. This is a very purposeful resource on genetics; it is useful to make learning more effective either as an overall instructional method or as an individualized learning supplement.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Case Study, Diagram/Illustration, Game, Interactive, Lecture, Lecture Notes, Lesson Plan, Primary Source, Reading, Simulation, Teaching/Learning Strategy, Textbook, Unit of Study

Biology OER

Assorted biology-related OER including biomedical science, biology and forensic science. OER in multiple formats including video, animations and downloadable text.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Case Study, Diagram/Illustration, Lecture

Author: Vivien Rolfe and others

Pharmacogenetics: Using Genetics to Treat Disease

This case study investigates the applications of genetics to medicine by exploring one of the first examples of a pharmacogenetic test to enter mainstream clinical practice. Pharmacogenetics examines how genetic variations in an individual correlate with responses to a specific medication in order to develop tailored medical treatments. Through a scenario based on clinical observations, students learn about acute lymphocytic leukemia as well as the wide range of individual responses to the drug used to treat it. Then, students interpret data similar to those initially published in scientific journals in order to construct an understanding of how genetic variation can be used to "tailor" medical care. Lastly, students are asked to apply their understanding of what they have learned in the case by making the appropriate medical recommendation based on a particular individual's genotype.

Material Type: Case Study

Author: Jeanne Ting Chowning

Supplemental Activities to Accompany Open Stax Biology

These supplemental activities are intended to introduce students to classic and modern experiments in Cell Biology and Genetics. All of these activities are Open Educational Resources.

Material Type: Homework/Assignment, Lesson, Reading

Biology, The Chemistry of Life, The Chemical Foundation of Life, Atoms, Isotopes, Ions, and Molecules: The Building Blocks

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Define matter and elementsDescribe the interrelationship between protons, neutrons, and electronsCompare the ways in which electrons can be donated or shared between atomsExplain the ways in which naturally occurring elements combine to create molecules, cells, tissues, organ systems, and organisms

Material Type: Module