Biotechnology Discoveries and Applications (PDF)

2011 guidebook for teaching biotecnology at the high school level.

DNA Fingerprinting Simulation

On this site students gather DNA evidence to solve a mystery. They explore how DNA fingerprints are created and use a fingerprint to identify the culprit of a crime, There is also a link to the “DNA Workshop form Science Odyssey, a NOVA production (free Shockwave  plugin required).

Do Plants Know Math?: Plant Spirals: An Introduction to the Exhibit

For more than three centuries botanists and mathematicians have marveled at the complex and beautiful spiral patterns that form as plants develop. As they generate leaves around a stem, or seeds or flowers in a blossom, plants as diverse as broccoli, pinecones, artichokes and water lilies create intricate spirals that follow a well-known mathematical sequence of numbers. To highlight the mathematical underpinnings of phyllotaxis, which refers to the arrangement of leaves or other botanical elements around a stem, Smith College Botanic Garden produced an unusual exhibition. "Plant Spirals: Beauty You Can Count On", that depicts with rare beauty and clarity the geometry and biology of plant spiral formation.

The Biotechnology Online Secondary School Resource

The Biotechnology Online Secondary School Resource provides balanced factual information about biotechnology. It has been designed to fit with Australian State and Territory Science curriculums, with cross-over into Studies of Society and the Environment to allow for broader discussion of issues.

Science Controversies On-line: Partnerships in Education (SCOPE)

Science Controversies On-line: Partnerships in Education (SCOPE) is establishing on-line, intellectual communities focused on current controversies in science that involve leading research scientists and also connect to the interests of the general public. To enhance understanding within these "knowledge networking" communities, SCOPE is developing innovative technological tools, resources, and practices. Of the three forums developed to date, one focuses on GM Food. It contains information intended for the general public and additional information for educators (curriculums and background information), students, researchers, and policy makers.

The European Initiative for Biotechnology Education (EIBE)

The European Initiative for Biotechnology Education (EIBE) seeks to promote skills, enhance understanding and facilitate public debate throughout Europe. The main activity of the Group has been to generate teaching materials for 16 -19 year olds. EIBE Units are collections of activities including a variety of experimental protocols, practical activities, role-playing exercises, information and debates. Available in downloadable form, they are suitable for immediate classroom use.

Iowa State University Biotechnology Program

Extensive educational resources from Iowa State University include, among others, biotechnology curriculum units, lab activities with step-by-step tutorials, an outreach education center, bioethics case studies and links to current news in biotechnology. Lab activities include DNA in my Food, DNA Fingerprinting, Fruit Cup DNA Extraction and Transformation.

DNA Learning Center of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories

This website is a source of timely information about genes from the DNA Learning Center of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. The site has beautifully animated primers about the basics of DNA, genetics and heredity. The Genetics Origins site provides biochemical methods and computer tools to allow students to use their own DNA "fingerprints" as a starting point for human evolutionary studies.

The High School Human Genome Program

The High School Human Genome Program web resource provides professional development in the field of DNA sequencing and genomics for high school biology teachers. The site offers flash 3D animation on many molecular biology topics. As a resource for teachers participating in their sequencing program, the virtual DNA sequencing unit provides a means for classrooms that are not actively carrying out DNA sequencing to participate interactively in many aspects of the program.

Access Excellence

This site for health and science teachers was originally developed by Genentech Inc. It is a national educational program that provides high school biology and life science teachers access to their colleagues and scientists, and also shares critical sources of new scientific information via the World Wide Web. Teachers who are interested in participating in the program can immediately join in the discussions, sharing and collaborations. The site also has a Career Center. Under their Biotech Applied icon, they have two sections on biotechnology in agriculture: "From Farms to Your Table" and "Biotechnology: It’s in Your Food".

University of Wisconsin Biotechnology/Outreach Program

This site contains a number of activities related to food and biotechnology, like chymosin cheese-making experiment and electrophoresis. The site also includes a Biotechnology and Food Curriculum and Guide for use by Extension.

Monsanto Educational Outreach Program

This website was developed by Monsanto to facilitate teaching efforts aimed at biotechnology. The site contains suggested curricula for high school and junior high and has a number of activities and media clips demonstrating bioinformatics, PCR and sequencing and Southern blotting. The site also has an extensive glossary and news section with links to recent articles on biotechnology.