Inheritance and Variation of Traits

This computer simulation allows students to investigate the relationship between DNA sequences and protein structures.  Additionally, this interactive activity allows students to make sense of the relationship between DNA structure and types of ...

This resource is designed as a supporting resource for the HHMI 2013 Holiday Lecture on Science entitled, Medicine in the Genomic Era.  The interactive animation illustrates how two different cell lineages are formed during development and that ...

Cell Division and Cancer Risk is one of a series of Data Point resources from HHMI Biointeractive. Data Points engage students in analyzing and interpreting data from primary literature in the biological sciences. The resources are intended to provid ...

This two-minute video provides brief background on the use of zebrafish as a model in studying animal development, before showing a time-lapse sequence of a fertilized zebrafish egg developing into a larva.  The video includes some annotations t ...

This resource is an article from the January 2016 issue of The Science Teacher.  The unit focuses on an essential question:  How do Siamese cats develop their coloration?  Students develop explanations by making connections among ...

In this HHMI Biointeractive hands-on activity, students use photos of stickleback fish to analyze the results of genetic crosses between fish with different traits.  Students are introduced to the activity through a suggested video: "Studen ...

  In this activity, students apply their knowledge of  models  of inheritance (dominant-recessive, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, and sex-linked) to determine how fruit flies inherit a specific trait. The guid ...

This is one of 30 lessons from the NSTA Press book Scientific Argumentation in Biology. The lesson engages students in an argumentation cycle by posing a question on the influence of the environment (light) on the genotype or phenotype of the tobacco ...

 This is one of 25 assessment probes from the book,” Uncovering Student Ideas in Life Science, Volume 2: 25 New Formative Assessment Probes”, by Page Keeley. All assessment probes in this collection are aligned to a particular scienc ...

In this activity students analyze a family’s pedigrees to make a claim based on evidence about mode of inheritance of a lactose intolerance trait, determine the most likely inheritance pattern of a trait, and analyze variations in DNA to make a claim ...

This article describes a 90-minute real-world lesson in which students use online bioinformatics tools to compare gene sequences between one wild-type and one type of eight hypothetical mutant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains. Using bioinform ...

Extra! Extra! Hot off the presses! Presenting newly released and FREE classroom-ready resources and strategies for incorporating infectious diseases and viruses in your classroom. All of these HHMI BioInteractive resources are aligned with the NGSS, ...

These are the Slide for "Beyond Earlobes and Tongue Rolling"

In this activity, students calculate temperatures during a time in the geologic record when rapid warming occurred using a well known method called 'leaf-margin analysis.' Students determine the percentage of the species that have leaves with smooth ...

In this lab activity, students use a chemical indicator (bromothymol blue) to detect the presence of carbon dioxide in animal and plant respiration and in the burning of fossil fuels and its absence in the products of plant photosynthesis. After com...

In this interactive, students explore, at their own pace, how global climate change may affect health issues. Issues include airborne diseases, developmental disorders, mental health disorders, vector-borne diseases and waterborne diseases.

In this activity from NOAA's Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection, learners investigate how methane hydrates might have been involved with the Cambrian explosion.

This overview provides a sequence of learning activities to help students understand that proteins and DNA are not just abstract concepts in biology textbooks, but rather crucial components of our bodies that affect functions and characteristics that...

Students will apply the steps of mitosis and meiosis to learn about the production of both seeded and seedless watermelon. Students will learn about the discovery of colchicine, which made seedless watermelon possible and use modeling clay and beans ...

In this hands-on, minds-on activity students use model chromosomes and answer analysis and discussion questions to learn how the cell cycle produces genetically identical daughter cells. Students learn how DNA replication and mitosis ensure that each...

In this hands-on, minds-on activity, students use model chromosomes and answer analysis and discussion questions to learn about the processes of meiosis and fertilization. As they model meiosis and fertilization, students follow the alleles of a huma...

In this hands-on, minds-on activity students learn (1) how genes provide the instructions for making a protein via transcription and translation and (2) how genes influence characteristics such as albinism and sickle cell anemia. Students use simple ...

Students use simulations (https://www.biologysimulations.com/heredity) to test is two genes assort independently.

Students use a heredity simulation (https://www.biologysimulations.com/heredity-ii) to test predictions for an x-linked gene.

The Natural Selection virtual lab allows students the opportunity to investigate into how natural selection leads to the predominance of certain traits in a population, and the suppression of others. Therefore, through this virtual lab, students will...

The goal of the Diversity of Traits virtual lab is to allow students the opportunity to investigate how variations of traits can occur because of mutations. This virtual lab complements the Natural Selection virtual lab by addressing a common misconc...

The goal of the Animal Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

The goal of the Animal Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

The goal of the Plant Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

The goal of the Plant Cell virtual labs are to allow students to examine a cell at the microscopic level. Students conduct investigations to learn how organelles work together to sustain the cell’s functions.

The goal of this virtual lab is to allow students the opportunity to investigate into how the mother’s alleles affect the chance that the offspring will produce various traits.

The Stem Cell Channel takes you into the labs where cutting edge-research takes place, introduces you to the scientists leading the way, and breaks down how these amazing discoveries impact everyday life and health.

This free, four-part series includes videos, hands-on modeling activities and computer visualization tutorials that students can do in the classroom or at home.

Jim Allison: Breakthrough is an award-winning documentary that tells the moving, true story of one warm-hearted, stubborn scientist’s visionary quest to find a cure for cancer. Breakthrough highlights how courage, passion, determination, collaboratio...