Modeling Molecular Evolution
Jodi Schwarz, Vassar College
Biology and Computer Science majors collaborate to model the process of mutation at the DNA level, and examine the consequences at the protein level.

Digging for Fossils: Studying Fossils as Evidence for Human Evolution
Kerry Giesen, Jordan High School, Jordan, MN, based on an original activity by Don Pollock, Woodrow Wilson Biology Institute, Access Excellence
This lab activity is a paper fossil dig where students discover skeletal characteristics of humans, primates and hominids and are asked to make a short oral presentation to the class.

Background Information for "Reconstruction the Evolution of Cauliflower and Broccoli"
Background Information for Instructors (Word) (Microsoft Word 37kB Apr28 07)Background Information for Instructors (Acrobat (PDF) 19kB Apr28 07) The domestication of crop plants over 10,000 years provides rich ...

"Reef Survivor" Board Game - University Edition
Rowan Martindale, The University of Texas at Austin
"Reef Survivor" is an educational board game that can be used as an active learning tool in a class or lab. The educational objective is to teach players about ecology, evolution, and environmental ...

Integrative activities to study the evolution of nervous system function
Ginger Withers, Whitman College; Christopher Wallace, Whitman College
The overall goal of this multi-week inquiry-based project is to have students combine levels of analysis, including behavioral, anatomical, cell biological, molecular and genomics tools to study how specialized functions of the nervous system evolved.

Genome Solver: Microbial Comparative Genomics
Gaurav Arora, Gallaudet University
Genome Solver began in 2011 as way to teach Bioinformatics tools to undergraduate faculty. As part of the Genome Solver project as a whole, we developed a Community Science Project (CSP) for faculty and students to join. The CSP explores horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between bacteria and the phages that infect them. Students get involved in this project and develop testable hypotheses about the role HGT between bacteria and phages play in microbial evolution. Our own work has demonstrated that undergraduates can produce publishable data using this approach. We invite faculty and their students to participate in the search for additional evidence of this type of HGT by investigating the vast wealth of phage and bacterial sequences currently in databases. All that is needed is a computer, an Internet connection, and enthusiasm for research. Faculty and students can work on an organism of interest or we can help them pick organisms to explore these phenomena. By pooling all of the information from a variety of small projects under the umbrella of the Genome Solver CSP, we will be able to better understand the role of HGT in bacterial evolution.

Searching Genbank
Jeff Bell, California State University-Chico
An active problem-based assignment that uses the Genbank database to teach the basics of molecular biology and molecular evolution

Supplies and Equipment Needed for "Reconstructing the Evolution of Cauliflower and Broccoli" Laboratory Activity
Return to Main Lab Page For "Plant Morphology: Vegetative Structures" Most of the vegetables are from the grocery store; depending on the time of year and your location, you may be able to find these at ...

MCC: Malate Dehydrogenase CUREs Community
Ellis Bell, University of San Diego
The Malate Dehydrogenase CUREs Community (MCC) project is designed to facilitate the adoption of effective, protein‐centric, Course Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) into teaching labs at a wide variety of undergraduate serving institutions. (Primarily Undergraduate Institutions, Research Intensive Universities and Community Colleges) MCC coordinates and conducts pedagogical research into two major features of CUREs:1) their duration (whole semester versus 5‐6 week modules incorporated into a lab class), and 2) the impact of scientific collaboration between institutions (a key aspect of much modern research). Using validated assessment tools we seek to establish their effects on student confidence, persistence in STEM, and ability to design research experiments and interprete data. To facilitate faculty adoption of CURE approaches the project provides a number of resources. These focus on a variety of research areas related to Malate Dehydrogenase including mechanisms of catalysis and regulation, adaptation and evolution, cofactor specificity, folding and stability and interactions in metabolons. Resources include biologics, experimental protocols and assessment tools. The project also coordinates interactions between courses at different institutions to allow incorporation of scientific collaboration into CUREs. These collaborations also facilitate the use of more sophisticated experimental approaches and broaden the experimental scope of the CUREs.

Timeline of the Early Earth
Selby Cull, Bryn Mawr College
Students assemble timelines of the early evolution of Earth's atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere by examining data from Archean rocks and minerals.