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
    Debating Conservation: Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Introductory Biology Classes
    Role-playing activities in the classroom promote students’ critical thinking, research, and communication skills. We present an activity where students debate a current controversy in...

    Keywords: Restorationtrophic cascadeecosystem function

    1871

    views

    258

    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

    590

    views

    5

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    2016-Langtangen-Pedersen - Scaling of Differential Equations
    Nowadays, the greatest practical benefit of scaling is related to running numerical simulations, since scaling greatly simplifies the choice of values for the input data and makes the simulations...

    Keywords: scalingdimensionlesscontinuum mechanics

    122

    views

    43

    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

    254

    views

    18

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    The Case of the Missing Strawberries: RFLP analysis
    While solving the fictional mystery of the missing strawberries, students are engaged in a guided-inquiry lesson featuring small-group and class discussions, hands-on activities, and laboratory...

    Keywords: process of scienceDNAforensicsgel electrophoresisMolecular genotypingRestriction endonucleaseRestriction enzymeRestriction fragment length polymorphismRFLP

    2537

    views

    616

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    The Impact of Diet and Antibiotics on the Gut Microbiome: Distance Education Variant
    The goal of this article is to describe a variation of an active learning exercise that was previously published by the same author under a similar title. The variation describes modifications...

    Keywords: microbiomenutritionbacterial metabolitesgut bacteriahost response

    1364

    views

    163

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    CURE-all: Large Scale Implementation of Authentic DNA Barcoding Research into First-Year Biology Curriculum
    Growing calls in science education reform have emphasized wide-scale engagement of first-year undergraduate students in authentic research experiences; however, large course enrollments, inadequate...

    Keywords: phylogeneticsbioinformaticsBiodiversityprocess of sciencetaxonomyPCRDNADNA sequencegel electrophoresis

    5818

    views

    3820

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: PCR

    2729

    views

    466

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: GlycolysisCellular RespirationFermentationKrebs CycleOxidative phosphorylationpyruvate oxidation

    2570

    views

    444

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: photosynthesislight-dependent reactionsCalvin cyclechloroplast

    3771

    views

    771

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Squirreling Around for Science: Observing Sciurid Rodents to Investigate Animal Behavior
    Hands-on research experiences are important opportunities for students to learn about the nature of inquiry and gain confidence in solving problems. Here, we present an inquiry-based lesson plan...

    Keywords: foragingbehaviorbehavioral ecologySciuridSquirrelSquirrel-NetTrade-offVigilance

    2683

    views

    960

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    How to Find a Gene: Retrieving Information From Gene Databases
    A strong understanding of distinct gene components and the ability to retrieve relevant information from gene databases are necessary to answer a diverse set of biological questions. However, often...

    Keywords: NCBItranscriptiontranslationGene StructureGene databasesEnsembl

    1430

    views

    337

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

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

    3543

    views

    380

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: PCRDNA replication

    1613

    views

    556

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    SEAS CURE: Exploring Coral Biology Across Scales
    Complex biological concepts (like symbiosis and coral biology) that span multiple scales and cross disciplinary boundaries are often difficult for students to understand. This complexity is...

    Keywords: microscopyAnatomySymbiosisMetabolismbleachinginvertebratedinoflagellate

    3349

    views

    243

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Predicting and classifying effects of insertion and deletion mutations on protein coding regions
    Mutations in genes can affect the encoded proteins in multiple ways, and some of these effects are counterintuitive. As for any other knowledge, students must create their own deep understanding of...

    Keywords: mutationcentral dogmatranslationframeshift

    3065

    views

    567

    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

    1027

    views

    9

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Bacteria to Brains in Backyard Coyotes: An Interdisciplinary Pedagogical Case Study
    Our interdisciplinary pedagogical case study explores the differences between rural and urban coyotes at the levels of organismal and community ecology. The focus is on how coyotes’ gut...

    Keywords: dietanimal behaviorimmune systemmicrobiomeNervous systemgut-brain axisImmunoReachdysbiosisCoyoteCytokines

    2596

    views

    300

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: nitrogen cyclenitrificationnitrifying bacteria

    865

    views

    90

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    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...

    Keywords: hydrogen bondshydrophobicity/hydrophilicitypolar and non-polar covalent bonds

    2613

    views

    643

    downloads

    0

    comments

    0

    adaptations

    Close

    Home

    Search