Print This PageTechnical & Safety Info
Educational Websites
A wide range of information can be found on the websites listed below. In the area of science, one can find information on subject areas such as cell biology, genomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, transformation, plant biology and plant pathology. In addition to the science information, some of the websites include modules in other subject areas such as mathematics and history. Instructors can find lesson plans and designed experiments for students of all ages.
Curriculum/Lesson Plans/Laboratory Protocols
AgBiosafety—University of Nebraska-Lincoln
This site contains an education center with educational materials relevant to crop
biotechnology and the current debate on the genetic modification of food. This site
also contains lesson plans for educators, information on the regulatory system in
the United States, biotech crops, and answers to frequently asked questions. New to the
site is a section on Biofuels.
Biotech Basics
A Monsanto sponsored website which features information on plant biotechnology,
explains how biotechnology works, why it works, and the benefits of biotechnology.
Biotechnology Online-Teaching Resources - Biotechnology Australia
A website sponsored by Biotechnology Australia. The site provides balanced, factual
information on biotechnology and is to be incorporated into the science curriculum
of secondary schools in Australia. Biotechnology Online covers the areas of health
and medicine, human uses, environment, and food and agriculture. The information
on this website is arranged in the form of educational leaflets and covers areas
from 'what is biotech' to DNA fingerprinting to Australian governmental regulations
of biotechnology. The website also contains an extensive glossary of terms used
in the area of biotechnology Activities include text case studies, experiments,
interactive activities, student worksheets and teacher notes.
Boston University School of Medicine—City Lab
City Lab is a biotechnology learning laboratory at Boston University School of Medicine.
City Lab offers a list of modules and curriculum guides for teachers and students in middle
school and high school. Each module or investigation is defined in a mystery
context. The activities are thought provoking and encourage creativity and learning.
Dolan DNA Learning Center
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has developed an animated site entitled "DNA from
the Beginning". The site includes information in the subject areas of genes and
heredity and covers both plants and animals. In addition to printed information,
the site includes video interviews, biographies, and an image gallery for each subtopic.
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. Founded in
1991, EIBE has become an active European multidisciplinary network of experts in
biotechnology education drawn from 20 centers in 17 European countries. 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-plays, information and debates.
Eureka
Science
A National Science Teachers Association recommended website. The webpages contain
information about DNA, RNA, cells, proteins, and cloning. The webpages are also
animated to enhance the learning experience.
Genetic Science Learning Centre
This site contains multiple sections on genetics. Interested parties are provided
with on-line and hands-on activities and laboratory protocols.
Illinois
Corn Growers Association
Earth Friendly Facts & Information on the Environment and Agriculture. Provides
curriculum and activities on corn products including ethanol.
Iowa State University -Biotechnology
Select 'educational resources' and then 'research resources'. This site contains
online courses in Biotechnology Education, classroom lab activities, step by step
tutorials for lab activities, curriculum units, links to news stories, and publications
which can be downloaded. New to the site are curricula for grades 9-12 concerning molecular technologies
Library of Crop Technology
Lesson Modules-University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska has developed lesson modules in the areas of: Genetically
engineering a crop, herbicide mode of action, Plant biochemistry, Nutrition &
biotechnology, High school crop genetic engineering These lessons are composed of
text enhanced with images, animations, a hyper-linked glossary and quizzes.
New to the site is the Plant and Soil Sciences e-library.
Molecular Biology
Notebook
A comprehensive package for the hands-on teaching of Molecular Biology. Contained
on this site are numerous lesson plans for genetics in PDF format. The site also
provides links to other recommended sites, e.g. Biology hypertextbook. It has good
diagrams with notes on DNA structure, DNA to RNA, RNA structure, RNA to protein,
etc.
NCBE (National Centre for
Biotechnology Education, University of Reading in the United Kingdom)
Contains practical activities for all grade levels. Experiments have been designed
and presented in great detail. Explanations for experimental results and future
activities are also included in the teacher's packet.
National Health Museum
(program written and donated to the museum by Genentech)
A national educational program that provides information for high school biology
and life science teachers. This site covers information on a wide variety of subjects
including biotechnology, genetics, biochemistry, and the human genome. The resource
center contains a visual library, e.g., the living skeleton and good color transparencies
on biology and chemistry. It has a historical timeline for the development of biotechnology
from 6000 B.C. to the present.
Princeton University
Contains good laboratory manuals in Microsoft Word and PDF format and classroom
ready protocols.
San Diego State University
Contains Biology lessons for practicing teachers, teaching tips, exercises, alternative
ideas, a glossary and biolinks.
Teaching Science
A website sponsored by Monsanto that contains information on biotechnology. Teachers
can find backgrounders, lesson plans and links to other useful education websites.
The lesson plans can easily be downloaded. The site also contains classroom activities
and ask-a-scientist window. The newsletter "Biotech Advantage" contains good articles
on recent science developments.
UIUC-Hughes
Biotechnology Education and Outreach Program (BEOP)
The UIUC-Hughes Biotechnology Education and Outreach Program (formerly known as
the Footlocker Program) is devoted to training teachers and students in biotechnology
concepts and hands-on experiments. This program has two main components: (1) training
teachers in biotechnology concepts and applications; and (2) loaning biotechnology
equipment and supplies to high school classrooms. This website is a wonderful resource
for teachers and has links to other resource sites.
US Grains Council
This site contains an education center and includes videos which trains the public
on realities of the U.S. grain handling system and how this system interacts with
the widespread use of biotechnology and genetically modified production tools.
University of Nebraska at
Lincoln
This site presents unbiased, research-based information through lesson modules in
subjects such as "genetically engineering a crop", "herbicide mode of action", "high
school crop genetic engineering". The site also contains links to other sites containing
educational information.
USDA (United States Department
of Agriculture) Agriculture in the Classroom
Contains a variety of information for students and teachers, including sections
on animals, virtual field trips, cool science, agricultural science projects.
123 Genomics
A Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics Knowledge Base. Beginner and advanced
information is available (through live links) in these subject areas, as well as
information on careers, news, and journal articles. In addition, live links for
laboratory protocols and resource information are available. This site is recommended
for ‘advanced’ high school biology students and college students with a science focus.
Good Virtual Laboratories
Cells Alive
This website contains interactive animations of cell growth and division, descriptions
of plant, animal, and bacterial cells, and definitions of the cell organelles. It
shows the comparative sizes of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Also included is an
animation of the infection of T4 bacteriophage and HIV. The cell gallery contains
pictures and explanations on how bacteria divide and multiply.
Gamequarium
Gamquarium is a website which uses games to teach science. Areas of science include plants,
cells, electricity, space, energy, matter—just to name a few. The interactive games
make learning fun for the primary and middle school students.
Genetic Science Learning Centre
The labs on this site covers many basic concepts, including online building of DNA,
transription and translation. Other sections include genes and blood type; inside
a cell; match up chromosome pairs and what makes a firefly glow.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Biointeractive
This site has a very good virtual laboratory. It could be used by pupils from Secondary
school and Junior Colleges to practice and revise the skills that they have just
learned in recombinant DNA technology laboratories. The Bacterial ID laboratory
starts from isolating a bacterial colony, growth of bacteria, PCR and DNA sequencing.
Structure of DNA
Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial
Research Organization
This is an Australian website that has a link to "education" on its homepage. It
contains experiments for students in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics,
technology and the environment. New activities for students appear every two months.
University of Massachusetts
at Amherst
An interactive animated tutorial on DNA structure. This website is available in
multiple languages.
Good Clipart Site
Classroom Clip Art
This site contains numerous free clip art in a variety of subject areas. It also
has useful sites for teachers which include areas for learning as well as teacher
resources for the classroom.
Online Science Quiz Sites
High School Hub
A noncommercial learning portal to excellent free educational resources for high
school students. It features online learning activities in various subject areas
including biology and chemistry, a quiz hub, and teacher resources.
Homework Spot
A resource for elementary, middle and high school students in all subject areas.
This is also a good resource for teachers and parents involved in education.
The site contains links to ‘ask an expert’ for aiding students and teachers in
various subject areas, quizzes, research areas, and reference materials.
Quiz Hub
A free online learning site for elementary and middle school children. It features
daily quizzes, learning activities, quizzes in various subject areas, and teacher
resources.
Association for Science Education
The ASE website is dedicated to teachers, advisers, technicians, industrialists and
others contributing to science education in the UK. Its goal is to promote, support
and develop science education from primary through to tertiary levels by offering support,
advice and information to individual teachers, schools and local colleges.
Biotechnology Institute
The Biotechnology Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and
research about the present and future impact of biotechnology. It offers educational
and research programs for teachers, students, opinion leaders and general audiences
to raise awareness and understanding of biotechnology.
Council for Biotechnology Information
(CBI)
Contains information addressing 'what is biotechnology', the benefits of biotechnology,
food and environmental safety.
Discovery.com
Contains lesson plans for teachers in grades K-12 in all areas of science and mathematics.
Suggested teaching tools are listed and demonstrated. There is also a section for
students entitled "homework helper".
Education World
This is a site especially for educators. It offers lesson plans, curriculum resources,
online continuing education courses, site reviews, technology resources for the
classroom.
Energy Information Administration
- Kid's Page
The site contains information about the different sources of energy and includes
six sections: Energy Facts, Fun and Games, Energy History, Classroom Activities,
Related Links and Glossary.
Glossary of Biochemistry Terms
A good glossary of biochemistry terms.
Kansas State University
A source for short movies that can be watched on your computer. These movies include
subjects such as "What is biotechnology", "Risks and Benefits". In addition, the
site contains frequently asked questions, fact sheets on biotechnology, a glossary
of biotechnology terms, links to other biotech sites, and more.
Lapeer County Information
Depot
Contains numerous science worksheets and experiments which are downloadable. It
also has sections on teaching tips.
National
Biotechnology Information Center
This site contains activities, games, tutorials, courses which are intended to assist
educators and to provide a fun and challenging means for students to learn necessary
skills in basic scientific investigation and the biotech-related sciences.
National Institutes of Health
- National Human Genome Research Institute
The site provides info on the Institute, the ethical, legal and social implications
on genome research. Genetic education modules are available for teachers.
Plant Pathology Online
Publications within these sections include exercises for K-12 teachers, plant disease
lessons, laboratory exercises (introductory and advanced), topics in plant pathology
(introductory and advanced), an illustrated glossary, and additional resources.
PlantingScience
PlantingScience is a learning and research resource, bringing together students,
plant scientists, and teachers from across the nation. Students engage in hands-on
plant investigations, working with peers and scientist mentors to build collaborations
and to improve their understanding of science.
United States Department of Agriculture
This governmental website contains information on topics such as nutrition, plants,
insects, and soil. Activities have been designed for "Whiz Kids" to encourage interest
in science.
University of Arizona
Biotech Project
Contains designed laboratory experiments. Students would be able to complete molecular
biology experiments using inexpensive ordinary food stuffs. Both the teacher edition
and the student edition are included in MS Word , PDF and html format.
University of California-Berkeley,
Scientific Outreach
This site contains a series of informative presentations including topics on crops
(rice, alfalfa, fruits, vegetables), environmental issues, plants and medicine,
plant diseases, and more. Under the education section, there are teaching aids,
curricula, and student activities.
University of Kentucky -College of
Agriculture
Contains information on food biotechnology, molecular farming, agricultural biotechnology
and the environment. This site points educators to some of the most useful and scientifically
accurate biotechnology educational sites on the Web. All sites listed feature information
based on factual data and sound scientific principles.
University of Winsconsin
Biotechnology Centre
The University of Wisconsin has developed 'BioTrek', a biotechnology outreach program
for the public. The materials found on this site include protocols for experiments,
video tapes, posters, and a range of other teaching tools. The program also discusses
the social issues and news stories related to biotechnology.
Other Resources
Asian Food Information Center
Contains a downloadable presentation on Food Biotechnology, A communication Guide
to Improving Understanding.
Biotechnology Unit for Secondary Students - a program of study sponsored by the Monsanto Fund and the National Science Foundation. Three distinct units were designed for students from elementary through grade 12. This material includes lectures, designed experiments, exercises for learning reinforcement. These books can be purchased from Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company (ISBN 0-7872-1638-0).
