classroom resources

There's a wealth of information on the Web about the science of biotechnology. The following list of Web resources is meant to serve as guide for sites of interest in biotechnology. Inclusion on these lists does not indicate endorsement by the Biotechnology Institute. If you would like to submit your link for inclusion, please email . Requests for links are subject to evaluation for relevance and accuracy.

The following links will lead you to easy-to-use materials, brochures, and other biotechnology resources for use in the classroom or in your studies.

Action Bioscience
The web site provides articles by scientists, science educators, and science students on issues related to bioscience challenges. In addition, the web site provides educators with original lessons and resources to enhance bioscience teaching.

Agricultural Research Service
The ARS News Magazine has an article about "Brewing Better Enzyme." Redesigned barley enzymes thrive at hot temperatures, opening the way to higher productivity for brewing beer--and for making ethanol-based fuel.

The Crick Papers
Explore an online showcase of papers from Francis Crick's archive. Crick, who died in 2004, discovered the structure of DNA with James Watson.

The Cantankerous Pathogen
 The lesson guides high school and undergraduate students in how to grow bacteria in a lab, model the spread of a disease, research the resurgence of tuberculosis, design a hygiene campaign, consider two epidemic case studies and more!

EN ESPAÑOL
Nuevos traducciones al español de artículos seleccionados:
- Los Microbios: Cómo Funcionan y Cómo los Cambian los Antibióticos
- El Proyecto del Genoma Humano: Una Revisión Científica y Ética

Iowa State University: Biotech Resources for Grades 4-12
 The site features classroom lab activities and biotechnology curriculum units from the Extension office of Iowa State University.

Iowa State University: Bacillus Thuringiensis Curriculum
"Baccillus Thuringiensis: Sharing its Natural Talent with Crops" is a four-module curriculum prepared by the Office of Biotechnology at Iowa State University and published by ISU Extension for high school teachers or extension educators to use with grades 9-12 or adult audiences.

Medicines for You-Revised
A revision of Medicines for You, a lay-language flyer that describes the science of pharmacogenetics and answers questions about pharmacogenetics research is available.

Meeting of the Molecules

From crystallization to protein folding, basic biological and chemical processes depend on interactions among atoms and molecules. High school and beginning college students can study and manipulate these liasons at Molecular Logic from the Concord Consortium.

National Institute of General Medical Sciences: The Chemistry of Health
This online science education booklet offers a sampling of how basic chemistry and biochemistry research can spur a better understanding of human health.

National Institute of General Medical Sciences: Genetic Basics
The online brochure, Genetic Basics, was produced by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), which supports basic biomedical research that is not targeted to specific diseases.

National Institute of General Medical Sciences: The Structures of Life
The online brochure from NIGMS focuses on structural biology.

National Institutes of Health: Bioethics Resources on the Web
This Bioethics Website from the National Institute of Health (NIH) contains a broad assortment of annotated web links. The listed resources provide background information and various positions on issues in bioethics.

National Cancer Institute: Quantitative PCR Primer Database
Researchers use reverse transcription PCR to measure amounts of mRNA in a cell and gauge gene activity. Find the right primers for a particular mouse or human gene at this new database from the National Cancer Institute.

Northwest Association of Biomedical Research
Don't miss the opportunity to download a comprehensive ethics primer from Northwest Association of Biomedical Research (NAWBR). The primer contains major ethical perspective theories, lesson strategies, decision frameworks, and case studies.

University of Leeds, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Protein Purification: A Laboratory Simulation
 This protein-based laboratory simulation allows the user to experiment with different protein purification protocols under realistic laboratory conditions. Click here to download the protein purification simulation software.

Vanderbilt University Bioimages Database
 The Bioimages database, developed by the Department of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University, working in cooperation with a number of other participating institutions and agencies, has created this site that allows visitors to peruse a number of detailed image databases. The databases cover a wide range of topical and geographical areas, such as southeastern US plants and an area dedicated to providing information on plant features.

Washington Biotech Foundation: "To Catch a Thief" Curriculum
 "To Catch a Thief: DNA is the Key" is a hands-on teaching curricula
developed by the Washington Biotechnology Foundation and available for downloading by educators for use in the classroom.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Unit Of Study in Agricultural Biotechnology for Grade 6-8.
Take your students on a journey through the history of biotechnology from the past to the future. Start by allowing your students to see that humans have experimented with agriculture and food for centuries. In order to understand how biotechnology works, students must first examine cells and DNA. Then students can begin to discuss the implications of genetic engineering. This unit of study will help them uncover the products, possibilities, controversies and implications of this innovative science!