CourseSource: Resources

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My Fish Tank: An Active Learning Activity for Bacterial Nitrogen Metabolism

This active learning activity introduces students to the second part of the nitrogen cycle, nitrification. In terrestrial and aquatic environments, bacteria from the Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter genera oxidize ammonia first to nitrite (via a...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ecology Ecology Microbiology

nitrogen cyclenitrificationnitrifying bacteria

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2990

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195

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The Three Sisters of Agriculture: An Active Learning Activity on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

This active learning exercise introduces students to the plant microbiome and the contributions that bacteria make to plant growth and food production. The Three Sisters are an ancient indigenous practice in which three plant crops and the...

Courses: Microbiology

SymbiosisPlant microbiomeNitrogen fixationNutritional content of foodElectron flowSociety impact of microorganisms

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737

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45

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Breaking It Down: What Factors Control Microbial Decomposition Rates?

Demonstrating and modeling changes in ecosystem processes in the laboratory classroom can be logistically difficult and expensive. This complexity often leaves little time for students to generate and test hypotheses. Yet, we must foster student...

Courses: Ecology Ecology Microbiology Science Process Skills

data analysishypothesis testingdata visualizationdata managementMicrobial RespirationDecompostionAbiotic ConditionsResults Communication

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6670

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241

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Exploring the City of Biofilms: An Engaging Analogy-Based Activity for Students to Learn Biofilms

Multicellular biofilms constructed by microbes are key aspects of microbiology with significant implications in various fields, including medicine, environmental science, and biotechnology. While bacteria spend nearly all their lives in biofilms,...

Courses: Microbiology

bacteriaBiofilmsquorum sensing

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1792

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617

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A Close-Up Look at PCR

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a fundamental laboratory technique that allows for the amplification of many copies of a desired DNA target sequence. Despite its prevalence, undergraduate students often have poor comprehension about the...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Genetics Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

PCRDNA replication

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2086

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398

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Metastatic Mastery: A Case and Game-Based Approach to Learning About Cancer Mechanisms

Mechanisms that contribute to the development of cancer are numerous and complicated, though most can be traced to a set of mutations in cell cycle regulatory genes that throw the process of cell division off balance. Communication of these...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Genetics Introductory Biology

mutationcancertranscriptioncell cycletranslationOncogenesTumor-suppressorp53Transcription factor

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5191

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2493

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Exploring the Lytic and Lysogenic Life Cycles of Bacteriophages

The goal of this lesson is to introduce students to the lytic and lysogenic cycles of T4 and lambda bacteriophages, respectively, using student-centered pedagogies. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are either virulent or...

Courses: Microbiology

bacteriophagesLysogenic cycleLysogenyLytic cycle

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2922

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501

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A Kinesthetic Modeling Activity to Teach PCR Fundamentals

Most molecular biology and biological sciences students understand that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to amplify DNA. However, we have found that some students experience conceptual misunderstandings, a lack of detailed comprehension...

Courses: Genetics Science Process Skills

PCR

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A simple way for students to visualize cellular respiration: adapting the board game MousetrapTM to model complexity

Lecture-based introductory biology courses are typically content-heavy as instructors strive to provide students with foundational knowledge in a broad range of topics. One topic traditionally covered is cellular respiration, the series of...

Courses: Introductory Biology

ATPGlycolysisCellular RespirationElectron Transport ChainKrebs Cycle

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2149

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443

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Antibiotic Resistance Genes Detection in Environmental Samples

Our aim is to provide an authentic research experience for undergraduate students in a variety of biology courses through collaboration between a four-year university and a community college. This lab series teaches transferable and universal...

Courses: Introductory Biology Microbiology Science Process Skills

geneticsenvironmentmicrobiologyUndergraduateantibiotic-resistancePCRgel electrophoresisauthentic inquiry

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2782

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727

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Electron Location, Location, Location: Understanding Biological Interactions

Introductory Biology courses typically introduce the structure and function of biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. To understand biomolecules fully, students require knowledge of fundamental chemistry concepts such as covalent...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Introductory Biology

hydrogen bondshydrophobicity/hydrophilicitypolar and non-polar covalent bonds

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4036

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819

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Exploring the Complexities of Photosynthesis Through a Comic Strip

Photosynthesis is a conceptually challenging topic. The small scale at which photosynthesis takes place makes it difficult for students to visualize what is occurring, and students are often overwhelmed by all of the details of the process. This...

Courses: Introductory Biology Plant Biology

photosynthesislight-dependent reactionsCalvin cyclechloroplast

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1661

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456

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Ain't No Mountain Pine Enough: A Case Study of How Mountain Pine Beetles are Affecting Ecosystem Processes

This case study engages students in generating hypotheses and predictions, analyzing and interpreting data, critically evaluating contrasting results in science, and thinking about feedbacks between biota and abiotic ecosystem dynamics. To address...

Courses: Ecology Ecology

population biologycarbon cyclingSpecies-habitat interactions

Teaching Tools and Strategies

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An Interactive Protocol for In-Classroom DNA Extraction

Using commonly available materials, this tool allows students to extract DNA, exploring DNA chemistry and the principles of experimental design and execution. We take a “Choose Your Own Adventure” approach encouraging students to...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Genetics Introductory Biology

geneticsDNAbiochemical structure and function

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2833

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521

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An Original-Design Board Game to Increase Student Comprehension of Cellular Respiration Pathways

Cellular respiration is a daunting topic for many students in introductory biology courses. Students are challenged at conceptual and factual levels, since instruction covers multiple metabolic pathways occurring across different cellular...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Cell Biology Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

GlycolysisCellular RespirationFermentationKrebs CycleOxidative phosphorylationpyruvate oxidation

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1486

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291

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Promoting Climate Change Literacy for Non-majors: Implementation of an atmospheric carbon dioxide modeling activity as an inquiry-based classroom activity

Students who are directly involved in scientific activities develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of both scientific knowledge and the scientific process. This understanding is critically important in scientific areas like climate change...

Courses: Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

modelingExcelquantitativeclimate changeEnvironmental Biologyatmospheric carbon dioxide

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2015

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510

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Using Immunocytochemistry and Fluorescence Microscopy Imaging to Explore the Mechanism of Action of Anti-Cancer Drugs on the Cell Cycle

Understanding and visualizing the cell cycle and mitosis is an essential concept of cell biology. This multi-week lab module has students investigate the mechanism of action of anti-cancer drugs that disrupt activities associated with mitosis and...

Courses: Cell Biology Science Process Skills

fluorescence microscopymitosisCell StructureCell ImagingImmunocytochemistryQuantitative microscopySTEM skills

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2818

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492

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GMC: Genes, Mutations and Cancer - Group Concept Map Development

It has been shown that active learning strategies used in the classroom can increase student learning and retention of information. We generated an active learning exercise that can be used in the classroom to explore the relationship between...

Courses: Cell Biology Genetics Introductory Biology

mutationcancerCell Division

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1482

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517

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Grow the Gradient: An interactive countercurrent multiplier game

The countercurrent multiplier of the loop of Henle in a mammalian kidney is a challenging concept for instructors to teach and for students to learn. We developed an interactive game to support student learning of this dynamic process with a team...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology Introductory Biology

countercurrent multiplierexcretory systemkidneyloop of Henlemembrane transport

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1543

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Investigating Gene Expression and Cell Specialization in Axolotl Embryos

The process of cell specialization is critical to the formation and function of tissues in animals and plants. Although gene expression, including the regulation of transcription, is taught in most introductory cell biology courses, the...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Cell Biology Developmental Biology Science Process Skills