HHMI Resources

AUGUST 2013 - VOLUME 16

Mosquito Life Cycle Activity It’s hot and muggy outside, and that’s when mosquitoes are most active! Understanding the mosquito life cycle is essential to controlling insect numbers and the diseases they spread. Raise mosquitoes and observe their life cycle in this  hands-on activity.

Learn About West Nile  West Nile virus infects mosquitoes, birds, and people—with very different consequences for each. In this engaging Click and Learn, Drs. Laura Kramer and Marm Kilpatrick discusses the West Nile virus life cycle and how factors like temperature and climate affect spread.

West Nile Virus Game Are you the mosquito vector or a host? If you are a host, what kind? Play this fun multiplayer game, where you simulate the spread of the West Nile virus among mosquitoes, birds, horses, and humans.

Intrepid Mosquito Hunter Meet high school student turned mosquito hunter Ben Vincent! During the summer months, Ben collects mosquitoes that West Nile virus expert Dr. Marm Kilpatrick then uses in his research.

Viral Diversity Poster We don’t know how many different viruses there are, but estimates run in the millions. This downloadable poster illustrates the wide variety of viral sizes, geometry, and genome types that exist.

Share Your BioInteractive Tips We’re collecting ideas and tips from teachers like you on how you’ve successfully implemented BioInteractive resources in the classroom. Send your ideas to:BioInteractive@hhmi.org. We’ll feature selected stories in an upcoming edition of BioInteractive News.

BioInteractive Resources!

New Click and Learn: Geological History of O2 Early Earth’s atmosphere lacked oxygen gas, yet the planet was teeming with microbes! Explore how changes in O2 levels throughout Earth history have impacted life on our planet with this new interactive Click and Learn,Geological History of O2.

Paleoclimate: A History of Change Learn about climate change past and present in this new Click and Learn, Paleoclimate: A History of Change. You will see firsthand how the history of Earth's climate over millions of years has shed light on the causes, implications, and severity of current climate change.

2012 Holiday Lectures Videos and Animations  Explore our 2012 Holiday Lectures! Learn about greenhouse gases, the geologic carbon cycle, and Earth history with our new animations. Investigate plate tectonic theory and enjoy extended interviews of our lecturers with our video clips.

Using Genetic Crosses to Analyze a Stickleback Trait In this hands-on activity, students apply the principles of Mendelian genetics to analyze the results of genetic crosses between stickleback fish with different traits. Students use photos of actual research specimens to obtain their data. They then analyze their results along with additional data from the scientific literature.

Teach Gene Regulation with a Hands-on Activity  The activity, Modeling Regulatory Switches, guides students through the steps of interpreting molecular diagrams and of building physical models of eukaryotic gene regulation. Use this activity in conjunction with the short film, The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies

EarthViewer Data Files Now Available Examine the raw data used to create the charts included in our popular EarthViewer app. Millions of years’ worth of data are available for carbon dioxide concentrations, temperature, biodiversity, and more. Have your students plot their own charts and graphs!

3D in Education

So I recently was highlighted in two cool blogs:

1. http://www.display-central.com/free-news/brain-research-and-3d-in-education/ Thanks Len!

2. http://www.indeptheducation.com/wp/indeptheducation-coms-3d-educator-of-the-month-kristin-donley/  Thanks Nancye!

What are your thoughts about 3D in education?  It seems American schools are behind other schools globally when it comes to the use of 3D in education.  I have some thoughts as to why... 1. American schools are stuck in "tradition" and it seems anything new is hard to move those who are in charge of making the decisions,  2. 3D is expensive and with tight budgets, it is seen as an extravagance, 3. People don't understand its value in education...it is still seen as a "hollywood" technology, and 4. American School reform is caught up in this idea of running schools as if they were a business...streamlining education and stamping out individual educator innovation. I have worked in the public school system for 20 years and frankly it is hard to get support for creating a 21st century classroom for all students.  We all agree it should happen, but when push comes to shove, nothing happens.  So, I and many other cutting-edge innovators plug along alone....  If you are an innovator, please respond to this blog and let me know how we can make our dreams a reality!

Science Daily

Find interesting science news at Science Daily! http://www.sciencedaily.com/

Evolution- Beyond Stones and Bones!

Please answer the following questions:

1. From Monday's discussion, the Cassiopeia Project video "Facts of Evolution," and notes from Google docs/textbook, describe the "evidences" that support evolution, change over time?

2. After reading the article: "Beyond Stones and Bones," what evidences did the researcher's (e.g., Dr. Mark Stoneking) find that support the theory of evolution, specifically the evolution of humans?

Genomics

Go to this website and read any article and post a response about what you found interesting.

http://actionbioscience.org/genomics/

Sickle Cell Anemia- Cure in Sight?

Why is understanding cell signaling and DNA expression so important?

http://www.hhmi.org/news/orkin20111013.html

Go to the above link to find an application to Sickle Cell Anemia!