General Molecular Biology / Biotechnology:
The DNA Learning Center - (DNALC) at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. This site includes a variety of information described below.
Tutorials in Molecular Biology - WOW! This site has some beautiful graphic animations of molecular biology processes (transcription, translation, RNA splicing), techniques (sequencing, PCR), and "model systems" (lac operon, lambda lifecycle). Requires the Shockwave plugin.
The Biology Project - Based at the University of Arizona, this website contains various teaching resources, including mainly problem sets and some tutorials.
Access Excellence - About Biotech - A GREAT resource for teachers. Includes current technology as well as bioethics and strategies for the classroom. Check out the About Biotech Graphics Gallery, where you can find graphics and text (some in pdf format) to use as class handouts.
Primer on Molecular Genetics - from the US Department of Energy
What Does "Genetic" Mean? - Although it has a strange title, this website from Athro Limited contains a neat interactive explanation of the molecular basis of genetics. Check out the Punnett square using different alleles for human eye color or sheepdog coat color.
BioInteractive -
This is a great website from the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute (HHMI), which contains animations and many other "goodies".
(We're not being biased, but the HHMI Foundation is the organization
that sponsors our Footlocker program!)
Laboratory Techniques in Biotechnology:
Genetic Science Learning Center - From the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics, University of Utah. This site has some nicely presented and well-written material on a variety of topics. Also includes hands-on activities, some animations, and questions at the end of units. This site also includes links for various molecular biology procedures. HINT: In each procedure, click on "why am I doing this" to learn more about the reagents, etc.
Molecular Biology Techniques - A collection from David Bowtell at the University of Melborne
Human
/ Medical Biotechnology:
Blazing a Genetic Trail: Families and
Scientist Join in Seeking the Flawed Genes that Cause Disease - An excellent web site developed
by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. This is a bit outdated,
but provides useful general information on human genetics and
contains great graphics that can be easily incorporated into
your classes. Also contains some bioethical topics, such as "Who
Should Be Tested".
Gene Therapy
Links - An abundant
listing of current information on gene therapy from Northern
Light.
National Center for Biotechnology Information
(NCBI) provides
updated links on current information and technology. This site
has super graphics illustrating each topic. Check out the great
unit on cancer, which is one of many topics under the heading
of "Genes
and Disease".
Human Chromosome Launchpad - from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Includes information and links for each human chromosome.
Genomics Education at Celera Biotech (major players in the Human Genome Project) - This site requires the Macromedia Flash Player, which can be downloaded free of charge. While you're there, check out their products and services (including genome and SNP databases).
Human Molecular Genetics Links from the international communication forum in human genetics. Includes up to date information on human genetic disorders and treatments.
Draft Human Genome Browser - by Jim Kent. Type a key word (such as "cystic fibrosis") in the search box, and discover the chromosomal region that contains that gene sequence.
Chromosome Cytogenetics Analysis - from the University of Washington School of Medicine. You can view the chromosomal maps (idiograms) for human, mouse, and horse.
Agricultural
Biotechnology:
Transgenic Crops - An Introduction and Resource Guide contains simple but thorough explanations of the genetic engineering of plants. The animated demo from the University of Nebraska, "How to Make Transgenic Plants", has a super explanation of using different promoter - gene combinations to produce different effects in transgenic plants.
Northern Light Special Edition - Genetically Modified Foods provides links for both pros and cons of GM foods from a variety of scientific and non-scientific sources, as well as links to many companies involved in producing GM crops. Also includes links on news sources, public policy, and ethics.
Genetic Engineering of Crop Plants from the Distributed Environments for Active Learning (DEAL) group at the University of Nebraska. Requires the Shockwave plugin.
The Biotechnology Information Resource - An updated collection of internet resources on plant biotechnology from the USDA-ARS. Many of the links have reference dates to help you choose the most current information.
Molecular
Diversity / Ecology:
Molecular Systematics and Conservation Genetics - This webpage, from the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), describes a few of the conservation studies that utilize molecular biology tools. The studies range from rock lizards to woody plants.
Molecular Ecology Links - information on the use of molecular biology techniques in ecological studies
Teaching Ideas and Classroom Activities:
Genetics Education Center at Kansas State University - This site has a super collection of links.
Human Genome Project Educational Resources - this site includes a well-organized listing of educational resources.
Classroom Activities - from the Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University. Activities include "Biotechnology and the Dirty Wars of Argentina", among others that aren't directly related to biotechnology.
Molecular Biology Notebook - This site contains "a comprehensive package for the hands-on teaching of Molecular Biology".
Making a Face - Converting Genotypes into Phenotypes by Simulating Gametogenesis, Fertilization and Embryogenesis In this simulation, students use paper chromosomes to make the connection between genotype and phenotype.
Publications
Online:
The Scientific American Website offers access to a variety of online articles. These articles are particularly great to view online because they offer links to additional background information. I've listed a few articles most pertinent to our class.
Genetics in Context a comparative timeline of genetic and other historical events. This site (Electronic Scholarly Publishing) contains electronic versions of many contemporary as well as some very EARLY scientific books and papers (including Darwin, Mendel, even Aristotle).
Genetic Engineering News This is a great resource to keep in touch with new developments in biotechnology.
I will continue to update this listing as I find more interesting sites. If you have a favorite site that isn't listed, please let me know (you can send it via email to: czanta@life.uiuc.edu).
last updated
11.09.01