Bioengineering Body Parts

In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, scientists discuss their attempts to grow human body parts in a jar.

Material Type: Lesson

Authors: HHMI, WGBH Educational Foundation

Plant Tissue Culture: Classroom Activities in Plant Biotechnology

In this activity related to plant biotechnology, learners use the tissue culture process to rapidly produce clones (genetic copies) of a particular plant (cauliflower, rose cuttings, African violet leaves, or carnation stems). This lab will help learners understand a procedure that is often used by scientists to propagate many plants of the same genetic background as well as to understand the importance of sterile techniques. Adult supervision recommended. Modifications for younger learners are included in a related PDF (see related resources). This resource also contains background information and questions with answers for learners.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Simulation

Authors: APSnet, Janice Stephens, Jan Leach

DNA Extraction

In this activity related to plant biotechnology, learners extract DNA from fruit to investigate how it looks and feels. The procedure is similar to what scientists have to do before they can use information contained in this DNA. This lesson guide includes procedure and discussion questions to help learners reflect on the process and purpose of DNA extraction. Modifications for younger learners are included in a related PDF (see related resources).

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Authors: APSnet, Janice Stephens, Jan Leach

Module 1: Basic Biotechnology

An introduction to traditional cross-breeding and genetic engineering of plants, and to biotechnology. 

Material Type: Lesson Plan

BITESIZE Biology

BITESIZE Biology -- õppematerjale bioloogias. Mitmesuguste bioloogiateemade käsitlusi: tekst, skeemid ja animatsioone, testid (The Biosphere, The World of Plants, Animal Survival, Investigating Cells, The Body in Action, Inheritance, Biotechnology…).

Material Type: Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Reading

Artificial Heart Design Challenge

Students are presented with a hypothetical scenario in which they are biomedical engineers asked to design artificial hearts. Using the engineering design process as a guide, the challenge is established and students brainstorm to list everything they might need to know about the heart in order to create a complete mechanical replacement (size, how it functions, path of blood etc.). They conduct research to learn the information and organize it through various activities. They research artificial heart models that have already been used and rate their performance in clinical trials. Finally, they analyze the data to identify the artificial heart features and properties they think work best and document their findings in essay form.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Angela D. Kolonich

Biomedical Engineering and the Human Body

Human beings are fascinating and complex living organisms a symphony of different functional systems working in concert. Through a 10-lesson series with hands-on activities students are introduced to seven systems of the human body skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, sensory, and reproductive as well as genetics. At every stage, they are also introduced to engineers' creative, real-world involvement in caring for the human body.

Material Type: Full Course

Building the Neuron

What does the brain look like? As engineers, how can we look at neural networks without invasive surgery? In this activity, students design and build neuron models based on observations made while viewing neurons through a microscope. The models are used to explain how each structure of the neuron contributes to the overall function. Students share their models with younger students and explain what a neuron is, its function, and how engineers use their understanding of the neuron to make devices to activate neurons.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Janelle Orange

ATP: The Fuel of Life

The goal of this lesson is to introduce students who are interested in human biology and biochemistry to the subtleties of energy metabolism (typically not presented in standard biology and biochemistry textbooks) through the lens of ATP as the primary energy currency of the cell. Avoiding the details of the major pathways of energy production (such as glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation), this lesson is focused exclusively on ATP, which is truly the fuel of life. Starting with the discovery and history of ATP, this lesson will walk the students through 8 segments (outlined below) interspersed by 7 in-class challenge questions and activities, to the final step of ATP production by the ATP synthase, an amazing molecular machine. A basic understanding of the components and subcellular organization (e.g. organelles, membranes, etc.) and chemical foundation (e.g. biomolecules, chemical equilibrium, biochemical energetics, etc.) of a eukaryotic cell is a desired prerequisite, but it is not a must. Through interactive in-class activities, this lesson is designed to spark the students’ interest in biochemistry and human biology as a whole, but could serve as an introductory lesson to teaching advanced concepts of metabolism and bioenergetics in high school depending on the local science curriculum. No supplies or materials are needed.

Material Type: Lecture

Author: Christian Schubert

Cellular Respiration and Bioremediation

In this lesson, students learn about the basics of cellular respiration. They also learn about the application of cellular respiration to engineering and bioremediation. And, students are introduced to the process of bioremediation and several examples of how bioremediation is used during the cleanup of environmental contaminants.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Authors: Janet Yowell, Kaelin Cawley, Malinda Schaefer Zarske

The Pompe Predicament - Lesson One

A first person story is presented to the students to hook their interest in the disease. Using a jigsaw approach, students will learn about the fundamentals of Pompe disease and share information during a whole class discussion. The Pompe Predicament was developed as a part of Biomedical Explorations: Bench to Bedside which was supported by the National Center for Research Resources and the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives of the National Institutes of Health through Grant Number R25RR023294. Additional support provided by the University of Florida (UF) and the UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Primary Source, Simulation, Teaching/Learning Strategy, Unit of Study

Author: Julie Bokor

Open Aut

Documentation on OER Common's Open Author publication tool.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Julie Bokor

Aging: Bench to Bedside

This collection focuses on a rapidly evolving field in which the study of both species-specific and ubiquitous aging mechanisms informs the biological process of aging. Yet the field is not without substantial controversy, differing views arise as we come to understand aging across model systems - from bacteria to humans.

Material Type: Data Set, Primary Source

The Amoeba Sisters YouTube Videos

The Amoeba Sisters strive to facilitate curiosity and engagement by making biology both humorous and meaningful. The videos use real world examples and silly cartoons to demystify difficult biology concepts, such as cell anatomy, homeostasis, enzymes, and biomolecules. A new video is released weekly. The creators are sisters who both work in education. One is a high school biology teacher who found these videos made biology more approachable and easier to comprehend.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: The Amoeba Sisters