You are here: Home / Resources / Browse Resources

Open. Adaptable. Free.

Resources created by our members and partners.

The QUBES platform hosts hundreds of teaching materials, reference materials, and cloud-based software free to use and adapt using open Creative Commons licenses.

Text Search:
Applied Filters
    The Science and Ethics of Gene Drives: An Active Learning Lesson in Genetics
    Coursework connecting biology to socially relevant issues and ethical questions can help students think about biology in interdisciplinary terms. Gene drives represent one topic involving both...

    Keywords: bioethicsCRISPR/Cas9Genetic modificationGene drives

    270

    views

    35

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    A Journal Club Project to Promote Interpreting and Presenting Information From the Primary Scientific Literature
    Many undergraduate students receive little guidance on how to critically read, interpret data within, or present information from the primary scientific literature before they begin senior...

    Keywords: primary literaturejournal clubScience CommunicationfeedbackPeer reviewgroup workOral presentationProcess skillsPeer evaluationDevelopmental neurobiology

    607

    views

    37

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Database Construction and Sampling
    Creating your own database is an excellent way for students to learn the trials and tribulations of data collection and management. Construction of three simple databases using a spreadsheet is...

    Keywords: databasesdata managementdata collectiondata ethicsdata integrity

    92

    views

    51

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    A Structured Inquiry-Based Module for the Undergraduate Cell Biology Laboratory That Teaches Fundamental Concepts of Cell Differentiation
    Pedagogical research in science education has shown that students effectively learn science by doing science. As a result, there is increased interest in bringing research-like experiences into the...

    Keywords: fluorescence microscopygene expressionpolymerase chain reactionCell Structurecell culturewestern blottingdifferentiationreverse transcription

    780

    views

    27

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    The Great Petunia Carnage of 2017: A Clicker Case Study Using Petunias to Describe the Effect of Genetic Modification on the Biochemistry of Flower Color and Phenotype in Plants
    In this single class period case study, students examine the difference between genotype and phenotype by studying the mechanisms by which commercially available petunias have been bred to have...

    Keywords: case studyGenetic ModificationsBiochemistry of Flower ColorGMO regulationsGenotype-Phenotype Connections

    2423

    views

    53

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Using Raw Sequence Data to Analyze Tumor Suppressor Mutations
    Learning to identify DNA sequence variants from raw sequencing data (electropherograms) is a basic molecular biology skill with applications to basic research and clinical practice. Yet learning to...

    Keywords: bioinformaticsmutationDNAgenomic visualizationparts of a geneclinical consequencesraw data

    409

    views

    54

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Downloading and Visualizing Project Data from the iNaturalist Database
    In this activity you will learn how to create a query, export, and download data from iNaturalist; load data into R; explore pollinator-plant interactions with R, and create heat map, bipartite,...

    Keywords: data visualizationplantsPlant EcologyPlant-insect interactionsnetwork#iNaturalistBLUEpollinators

    178

    views

    112

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Exploring the iNaturalist Database and Understanding Species Information
    This activity introduces a comprehensive guide aimed at enhancing users' proficiency in navigating the iNaturalist database to gain insights into biodiversity and species information. Divided into...

    Keywords: Biodiversityspecies descriptions#iNaturalistBLUEresearch skills

    143

    views

    86

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    What is a species? Using DNA barcodes to identify species and determine insect responses to global warming
    Combining ecology, molecular tools and physiology, students investigate insect adaptation to temperatures along tropical mountains. Students integrate species concepts, DNA barcoding and thermal...

    Keywords: global warmingbeetleBiological species conceptCephaloleiacrticial thermal maximumcryptic specieselevational gradientsthermal limitstropical insectsZingiberales

    271

    views

    50

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Student-Generated Analogies for Learning about Information Flow
    Using analogies is a standard practice for both teaching and communicating ideas in science. Here we upend the traditional lesson, where the instructor provides a fully constructed analogy and...

    Keywords: critical thinkingcentral dogmaanalogical reasoning

    845

    views

    115

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Understanding the Importance of Microtubules in Normal Cell Division: Chemotherapy Connection
    In introductory courses, students learn about microtubules as important structures but may not engage in a hands-on experience to localize microtubules themselves or to learn about their connection...

    Keywords: cancerCell DivisionimmunofluorescenceMicrotubulesAntibodies

    1088

    views

    103

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Observing the Birds of El Paso: Revisiting historical localities online and in the field
    In this set of activities, students are introduced to several features and use cases of museum databases to understand the importance of historical natural history specimens and their data. Using...

    Keywords: databaseBiodiversityOrnithologynatural history museumsspecies distributionsdistance learningField Experiences

    417

    views

    150

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Writing Microbiology Resource Announcements (MRA)
    This resources provides a framework for students to write a Microbiology Resource Announcement, collaboratively.

    Keywords: phageBioinformatics and GenomicsGenome announcementmanuscriptMRA

    667

    views

    457

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Genome Solver - A bioinformatics pipeline for community science
    The Genome Solver was an NSF-funded project developed as a way to train undergraduate life science faculty in basic web-based tools for bioinformatics. As part of the project we developed a one-day...

    Keywords: phylogeneticsbacteriophagebacteriaHorizontal Gene transferGenome Analysis

    286

    views

    59

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    SCIENCE/Fiction: Modular Template for Class Design
    We present a modular scaffold for designing an introductory seminar using speculative fiction and science papers to welcome university undergraduates to the biology major. A list of twelve possible...

    Keywords: geneticscell biologyneurosciencesystems biologyScience Fiction

    1605

    views

    314

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Where Does Elsie's Hair Color Come From? A "De-Simplified" Pedigree Lesson
    Pedigree analysis is part of most Genetics curricula, but the examples traditionally used in genetics courses present phenotypes as if they were entirely and inexorably defined by genotype. This...

    Keywords: pedigreeMultifactorialphenotypic variationpenetranceexpressivityquantitative variation

    1272

    views

    360

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Snail Races: An Inquiry-Based Approach to Learn Invasive Species Ecology
    Inquiry-based lessons allow learning that is hands-on and student-driven, fostering engagement and retention of knowledge in any discipline. Here, we use this learning framework to engage students...

    Keywords: ecologyenvironmentInvasive SpeciesScience CommunicationScientific InquiryDispersal

    1665

    views

    119

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    An Inquiry-Based Project Added to Traditional Labs: Hands-On Fish Awareness Research in Freshwater Systems Conducted by First-Year Biology Students
    This project involves students in an inquiry-based project added to the introductory biology laboratory course for majors in fall 2019. Research has shown that student engagement in authentic...

    Keywords: Evolutionbehaviorichthyology

    2669

    views

    76

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Outside the Norm: Using Public Ecology Database Information to Teach Biostatistics
    Biology students’ understanding of statistics is incomplete due to poor integration of these two disciplines. In some cases, students fail to learn statistics at the undergraduate level due...

    Keywords: biostatisticshypothesis testingexperimental design

    974

    views

    155

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: geneticsDNAbiochemical structure and function

    2075

    views

    197

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Close

    Home

    Search