Biotechnology Teaching Resources

Acera Biotechnology Blog-Michael Hirsch

https://acerascience.wordpress.com/

  Awesome teaching blog by Michael Hirsch,  Acera Biotechnology Teacher(2016-2022)

Other Biotechnology Curriculum Resources:

Amino Labs- Desktop Biotechnology

https://amino.bio/

Amino Labs’ mission is to empower the next generation by making learning biotechnology engaging and accessible. We believe this will help the next generation better navigate the future and become the innovators that help solve some of our most pressing global problems.

As implemented at  Acera: https://acerascience.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/amino-write-up/

Virtual Bioengineer Simulations
https://amino.bio/pages/vbioengineer

Beyond Benign Biotechnology Lessons

https://www.beyondbenign.org/curriculum_topic/ms-biotechnology/

Beyond Benign develops and disseminates green chemistry and sustainable science educational resources that empower educators, students and the community at large to practice sustainability through chemistry.

Beyond Benign Virtual Bioengineering

https://vbioekit2020.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Vbioengineer_2020_2.1.html

Bento Labs

https://www.bento.bio/

The DNA Lab that goes with you

We create powerful yet easy-to-use devices, affordable supplies, and knowledge guides,

to enable beginners and professionals to use the power of PCR anywhere.

BioBits Education Kits
https://www.mybiobits.org/

Inexpensive biology kits offer hands-on experience with DNA.  Using freeze-dried, shelf-stable cellular components, students can learn about key biological concepts.

http://news.mit.edu/2018/inexpensive-biology-kits-offer-hands-experience-dna-0801

In the BioBits Explorer kit, the researchers included DNA that encodes proteins with outputs other than fluorescence, helping to teach additional biological concepts such as reaction catalysis. One DNA sequence included in the kit codes for an enzyme that converts isoamyl alcohol into banana oil, producing a distinctive scent. Another DNA sequence produces an enzyme that can catalyze the formation of hydrogels. The kit also allows students to extract DNA from a fruit such as a banana or kiwi and then test it with a sensor that can distinguish between DNA sequences found in different types of fruit.

BioBits: Teaching synthetic biology to K-12 students

https://phys.org/news/2018-08-biobits-synthetic-biology-k-students.html

"...Now, a collaboration between the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, MIT, and Northwestern University has developed BioBits, new educational biology kits that use freeze-dried cell-free (FD-CF) reactions to enable students to perform a range of simple, hands-on biological experiments. The BioBits kits introduce molecular and synthetic biology concepts without the need for specialized lab equipment, at a fraction of the cost of current standard experimental designs. The kits are described in two papers published in Science Advances...."

BrilliantLabs.ca- Biomaking piloted at Acera by  Alisha Panjwani-Collins, former Acera SEEDs teacher

https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/biomaking

Our biomaking initiative aims to foster young people’s curiosity in exploring complex biological systems in nature. The aim is to design meaningful projects for a sustainable future. Biomaking is an emerging concept of makerspaces in which makers explore biological systems and design projects by collaborating with harmless microbes like fungi, bacteria, yeast, and algae

Broad Institute-Classroom Resources

• https://www.broadinstitute.org/educators/classroom-resources

• https://www.broadinstitute.org/community/classroom-discovery-guides

• https://www.broadinstitute.org/bio-coding-club-curriculum

CK-12 Biotechnology Lessons

https://www.ck12.org/biology/biotechnology/

      Free Interactive lessons- Discusses how scientists are able to manipulate DNA in the lab to study genes.

Edvotech

http://www.edvotek.com/

Edvotek was the world’s first company dedicated to demystifying biotechnology for young people. In 1987, we envisioned how the emerging area of biotechnology could inspire students to choose a career in science. Since then, Edvotek has expanded to become the world’s leading supplier of safe, affordable and easy-to-use biotechnology kits and equipment designed specifically for education.

Edvotek Biotechnology Skill Videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/EdvotekInc/videos

          EdvoTech Biotechnology Lesson Plans
          https://www.edvotek.com/guides-lesson-plans

HHMI Biointeractive
https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources

Labster Biotech Simulations
https://www.labster.com/simulations/

We feature over 300+ simulations covering a wide variety of science topics from biology, chemistry and physics through to more specialized sciences including STEM, microbiology and chemical sciences. Amplify the learning experience of your lessons and conduct your favorite experiments with Labster!

Lab Exchange
https://www.labxchange.org/explore

Welcome to LabXchange! Here, you’ll find videos, simulations, interactives and everything else you need to start your journey in science. Use the “Explore by” menu to see more interesting content

• Lab Exchange Teacher Resources
  https://about.labxchange.org/teacher-resources

Learn Genetics!
https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/

Teach Genetics!
https://teach.genetics.utah.edu/

MassBioEd Biotech Curriculum Resources

https://www.massbioed.org/educators/curriculum/

BioTeach’s curricula draw on the creativity, experience, and knowledge of scientists, higher education professionals, and a network of teachers. For each topic you will find student materials, teacher materials, student-centered investigations, and more.

Mini- PCR

http://www.minipcr.com/

·  Teaching Resources

Equipment

· Affordable PCR and electrophoresis

·Free apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and Chromebook. Learn

 Safe and classroom tested

Kits

· Classroom-ready reagents

·  Lesson plans for open and guided inquiry

·  Personalized support from PhD team

The Odin- Genetic Engineering Kits and Classes

https://www.the-odin.com/genet/

https://www.the-odin.com/beginner-kits-classes/

At The ODIN, we believe the future is going to be dominated by genetic engineering and consumer genetic design will be a big part of that. We are making that happen by creating kits and tools that allow anyone to make unique and usable organisms at home or in a lab or anywhere.

  http://www.the-odin.com/blog/middle-school-maker-faire-presidio-middle-school/

  http://www.the-odin.com/the-iliad-project-kit-find-new-antibiotics-at-home/

Odin Tutorials and Protocols:

·       16s rDNA Amplification

·       (Advanced) CRISPR Gene Editing in Bacteria

·       Bioluminescent Bacteria

·       CRISPR Bacterial Guide 

·       CRISPR Yeast Guide

·       DRD4 Genotyping

·       Engineer Bioluminescent Bacteria

·       Engineer Any Yeast To Fluoresce

·       Engineer Your Own Fluorescent Yeast

·       Homebrew Yeast Capture Kit

·       How to Pipette

·       How to Streak Bacteria on Agar Plates

·       Making Agar Plates for Bacterial Growth

·       Make Agarose Gels and Run Gel Electrophoresis

·       PCR Reactions

·       pDusk and pDawn

·       Primer Design

·       Protein Computational Science

·       PTC Genotyping

·       Reviving Strains From Filter Paper

·       Sequencing

·       Taq Polymerase Purification

·       The ILIAD Project

·       The Search For Mars Regolith Hardening Bacteria

·       Transforming Bacteria

·       Transforming Yeast

University of Arizona Biotech Activities

http://biotech.bio5.org/activities

The University of Arizona developed the BIOTECH Project to provide technical support for Arizona teachers to conduct molecular genetics experiments (DNA science) with their students

• Penicillium Antibiotic Effect

• Kiwi DNA Extraction

• Agarose Gel Electrophoresis with Dyes

• DNA Fingerprinting

• Huntington’s Disease Clinical Investigation and DNA Electrophoresis

• Restriction Enzyme Analysis

• Sickle Cell Anemia

• Bacterial Transformation-General - Teaches Genotype to Phenotype Concepts

• Bacterial Transformation-Regulation- Teaches Gene Regulation/Inducible Promoter

• Bacterial Transformation with GFP and

• PCR of GFP (staining with Methylene Blue)

• PCR of GFP (staining with Ethidium Bromide)
  
  

• Extra material for GFP PCR:

1. Sequencing the PCR Product

2. GFP sequence

3. Regulation of pBAD promoter

• ELISA assay

• Muscle Protein Electrophoresis

• Protein Evolution

• Microarray