CourseSource: Resources

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Using Open-Source Bioinformatics and Visualization Tools to Explore the Structure and Function of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

The relationship between protein structure and function is a foundational concept in undergraduate biochemistry. We find this theme is best presented with assignments that encourage exploration and analysis. Here, we share a series of four...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Science Process Skills

bioinformaticsmolecular modelingCOVID19protein structure and functionUCSF ChimeraSARS-CoV-2 spike proteinACE2 receptor

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9407

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562

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Manuscript 101: A Data-Driven Writing Exercise for Beginning Scientists

Learning to write a scientific manuscript is one of the most important and rewarding scientific training experiences, yet most young scientists only embark on this experience relatively late in graduate school after gathering sufficient data in...

Courses: Bioinformatics Cell Biology Developmental Biology Genetics Microbiology Science Process Skills

geneticsanimaldevelopmentcompetitionbacterial

Teaching Tools and Strategies

3638

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1720

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A 360˚ View of COVID-19

In March 2020, institutions underwent a massive transition to distance learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With so little time to devise new materials to maximize learning in the new virtual environment, instructors devised a variety of...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Cell Biology Evolution Genetics Immunology Introductory Biology Microbiology Science Process Skills

geneticsImmunologyBiochemistrybioinformaticsmolecular evolutionpublic healthvirusCOVID19

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1998

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376

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Engaging Undergraduates in Mechanisms of Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion in the Mammalian Kidney

If students fail to see the connections among physiological systems, they can become overwhelmed with the amount of information they need to learn. Some students have particular difficulty with the renal system for this reason. This lesson was...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology Cell Biology

OsmosisActive transportMass flowRenal reabsorptionRenal secretionTransport across membranes

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2032

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358

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Interactive Video Vignettes (IVVs) to Help Students Learn Genetics Concepts

Many video resources exist to teach Mendelian genetics, but most consist of passive delivery of information rather than active construction of knowledge by users. We have created two interactive video vignettes (IVVs) that can be used together or...

Courses: Genetics Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

genotypephenotypeallelespedigreedominanceHardy-Weinberg equilibriumInheritance

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3621

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954

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Life Is Just a Game: An Active Learning Activity to Teach Life History Evolution

A novel activity was designed to introduce students to the concepts of natural selection and life history using an active-learning, constructivist format. It consisted of two parts: 1) a brief introduction to the basic mechanism of natural...

Courses: Ecology Ecology Evolution

Evolutionlife historytrade-offsdiversityNatural Selection

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Dilution and Pipetting Lesson Using Food Dyes

In this lesson students learn how to use micropipettors to accurately measure small volumes of liquids and perform dilutions using food dyes. Students dilute four food dyes at 10X concentration to 1X working stocks. Using the formula c1v1=c2v2...

Courses: Science Process Skills

dilutionCalculationLab SkillsMicropipetting

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Teaching Biodiversity with Museum Specimens in an Inquiry-Based Lab

In response to the growth of biology datasets and broad efforts to digitize data, an increasingly important skill for science students is the management and analysis of large datasets. We designed an inquiry-based lab module to introduce students...

Courses: Ecology Ecology Evolution Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

data analysisnatural historyphylogenyBiodiversitymammalsAllen's RuleBergmann's Ruleecogeographymuseum research

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2408

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498

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Translating Co-Translational Translocation

Understanding the process of proteins targeting to specific locations within a cell is a fundamental part of cell biology. Synthesis of proteins by co-translational translocation, which also determines the resulting protein topology, is a complex...

Courses: Cell Biology

Topologyco-translational translocationendoplasmic reticulumprotease protection assaysecretory proteinssignal sequencetransmembrane proteins

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1455

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156

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The Developmental Origins of Mythology: A Pandemic-Inspired Innovative Developmental Biology Laboratory Exercise

From an experiential, hands-on perspective, the Developmental Biology Laboratory is easily amenable to a wide range of undergraduate-friendly experiments. Thus, pivoting to a virtual laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic required significant...

Courses: Developmental Biology

gastrulationaxis formationlimb developmentchimeramidline

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3690

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201

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Three Research-Based Quantitative Reasoning Modules for Introductory Organismal Biology Laboratories

We have designed three laboratory modules for an introductory organismal biology course with an emphasis on quantitative reasoning and data analysis skills. Module 1 tests for dimorphism in crayfish chelae using a paired statistical design. Module...

Courses: Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

allometryplantsAnatomytranspirationdimorphisminvertebrate biologyarthropodsplatyhelminths

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1446

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393

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Data, Distributions, and Hypotheses: Exploring Diversity and Disturbance in the Tallgrass Prairie

Proper hypothesis generation, data handling, graphing, and communication are essential skills that undergraduate majors in biology are expected to master. However, students rarely get hands-on practice that helps them to effectively develop these...

Courses: Ecology Ecology Plant Biology

Quantitative reasoningRestoration EcologyScience process skillstall grass prairie ecosystem

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1797

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Authentic Ecological Inquiries Using BearCam Archives

Learning through authentic scientific inquiries is essential for understanding the nature and process of science and for developing critical thinking and communication skills. It is logistically challenging, however, to offer experiences of...

Courses: Ecology Ecology Science Process Skills

behaviorinterspecific interactionsPeer reviewauthentic inquiryintra-specific interactions

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BioVEDA Curriculum: An Approach to Link Conceptual and Quantitative Understanding of Variation During Experimental Design and Data Analysis

When performing a biological investigation, experts constantly cycle between conceptual and quantitative modes of thinking, integrating their understanding in both worlds to make decisions about their work. This cycling and mixing of conceptual...

Courses: Science Process Skills

statisticssample sizeBiological variation

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Investigating Cell Signaling with Gene Expression Datasets

Modern molecular biology is a data- and computationally-intensive field with few instructional resources for introducing undergraduate students to the requisite skills and techniques for analyzing large data sets. This Lesson helps students: (i)...

Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Cell Biology

genomicstranscriptionsignaling

Teaching Tools and Strategies

1102

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Wikipedia in the Science Classroom

Despite research suggesting that writing-to-learn exercises (WTL) in the classroom are associated with increased student learning, WTL is still not widely implemented in science courses. To provide our students with a meaningful WTL exercise that...

Courses: Introductory Biology Science Process Skills

scientific writingcritical evaluationWikipediawriting for general public

Lesson

2524

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Bad Science: Exploring the unethical research behind a putative memory supplement

As members of society, students must be able to evaluate scientific claims across a wide variety of media to make sound decisions about health and wellness. However, students - and most members of society - struggle to evaluate the quality of...

Courses: Science Process Skills

bioethicsevaluationPseudoscienceRecognizing bad scienceScience process skills

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Using Musical Instruments to Model Negative Feedback in the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Target Gland Axes

Homeostasis and negative feedback are crucial, yet difficult, concepts for undergraduates, particularly in the context of the hypothalamo-pituitary axes. This interactive activity was designed to (1) reveal how negative feedback can restore...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology

cell-cell communicationhomeostasisnegative feedback

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4270

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Discovering Prokaryotic Gene Regulation with Simulations of the trp Operon

The trp operon exemplifies important biological concepts, including the central dogma of molecular biology, feedback inhibition, and gene regulation. For this reason, regulation of the trp operon is a common theme in introductory biology,...

Courses: Genetics Introductory Biology Microbiology

prokaryotesgene regulationattenuationfeedback inhibitionrepressible operontrp operon

Science Behind the Lesson

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The Science Behind the ACTN3 Polymorphism

A common polymorphism in the alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3) gene results in the lack of ACTN3 protein expression in fast twitch muscle fibers in ~16% of the human population (1). This genetic change has been linked with muscle performance in humans (2)...

Courses: Anatomy-Physiology Genetics

protein structure and functionhuman genetic variationskeletal muscle physiology