Biomedical Mustangs
A.L. Mebane Middle School Magnet Program
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Mission Statement
At Mebane, our Biomedical Mustang students don't just read about science. They do it.
At Mebane Middle School, our Biomedical Mustang students spend three years in the lab. They match DNA evidence from a crime scene, build and test prosthetic limbs, and trace a disease outbreak back to patient zero. By eighth grade they're running real protocols, not simulations. Three years, three courses, one Triple Crown: that's what it means to race with the HERD.
Biomedical Science Sequence Overview
Biomedical Science Sequence Overview
Biomedicine is not a single discipline; it is the intersection of biology, engineering, and chemistry, all working together to solve real-world challenges.
In sixth grade, students explore the foundations of biology through the study of cells, DNA, microorganisms, and a six-week forensic investigation. Seventh grade shifts the focus to engineering, examining human movement and challenging students to design and develop prosthetic solutions. In eighth grade, students dive into chemistry, preparing their own reagents, conducting authentic antibody assays, and tracing disease outbreaks to identify patient zero.
Mebane is the only school in the county to participate in ExploraVision, the nation's largest K–12 science competition. Throughout all three grade levels, students compete at the national level through both ExploraVision and the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. By the end of eighth grade, each Mustang will have researched, designed, and defended six original technological innovations.
Scroll down if you would like to see more details on the curriculum for each grade level.
Sixth Grade: The Biology of Biotechnology
Focus: Forensics and DNA Profiling
Sixth grade establishes the biological foundation of biotechnology by exploring a fundamental question: What is life made of, and how can scientific understanding of living systems be applied to solve real-world problems?
Before entering the laboratory, students earn their lab license by demonstrating proficiency in laboratory safety, procedural accuracy, and the ability to distinguish objective observations from assumptions. These foundational skills prepare students for increasingly sophisticated, hands-on scientific investigations.
Throughout the year, students examine plant and animal cells under microscopes, identifying shared cellular structures and exploring the biological principles that make genetic engineering possible. They extract DNA from strawberries and construct physical models of the double helix to deepen their understanding of genetic material. Students also investigate microorganisms by collecting environmental samples, culturing bacteria, and analyzing colony growth. Through yogurt production, they explore the practical applications of beneficial bacteria and microbial processes.
During the spring semester, students undertake an intensive six-week forensic science investigation. Using techniques drawn from professional forensic laboratories, they analyze fingerprints, hair and fiber samples, ink evidence, blood types, and DNA profiles. Each investigation builds toward a culminating challenge in which students evaluate evidence, develop conclusions, and identify a suspect through scientific reasoning.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of sixth grade, students will be able to:
Design and conduct controlled scientific investigations using appropriate experimental methods.
Analyze data and substantiate conclusions through objective evidence and scientific reasoning.
Demonstrate proper laboratory safety, sterile technique, and procedural accuracy.
Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and the expression of inherited traits.
Seventh Grade: The Engineering of Biotechnology
Focus: Biomechanics, Physics and Prosthetics
Seventh grade shifts the focus from understanding the biological components of the human body to investigating how those systems function and how engineering can address challenges when they do not.
Students explore the physics of human movement through the study of force, leverage, biomechanics, and the distribution of loads across bones, muscles, and joints. They examine how these interconnected systems work together to produce movement, identify where mechanical limitations or failures occur, and consider how engineering solutions can restore or improve function.
Applying these principles, students take on the role of biomedical engineers. Working within authentic design constraints, they conceptualize, design, and prototype prosthetic and assistive devices. Students evaluate their designs against established performance criteria, conduct iterative testing, analyze results, and identify opportunities for improvement.
A central component of the engineering process is learning to recognize that initial designs rarely achieve optimal performance. Students discover that unsuccessful tests are not setbacks, but valuable sources of information. Through repeated cycles of testing, analysis, and refinement, they develop the resilience and critical thinking skills necessary to approach complex engineering challenges.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of seventh grade, students will be able to:
Analyze biomechanical challenges involving human movement and function.
Apply principles of physics and engineering to develop prosthetic and assistive technologies.
Design and construct functional prototypes within defined parameters and constraints.
Evaluate prototypes using measurable performance criteria and experimental data.
Apply iterative design principles to refine solutions and improve functionality.
Eighth Grade: The Chemistry of Biotechnology
Focus: Bioprocessing
Eighth grade takes students to the molecular level of biotechnology, introducing advanced scientific concepts and laboratory techniques that prepare them for the expectations of high school biotechnology programs.
Students begin with an in-depth study of the human immune system, examining how the body recognizes and responds to foreign pathogens, the role of antibodies in immune defense, and the scientific principles behind vaccination. They expand their understanding through the study of infectious and hereditary diseases, chromosomal mutations, and cloning, exploring how molecular processes influence human health and disease.
The laboratory experience emphasizes technical precision and independent preparation. Students develop proficiency in micropipetting, converting between microliters, milliliters, and liters, calculating solution concentrations, and preparing laboratory buffers to exact specifications. Rather than relying on pre-prepared materials, students formulate their own reagents, developing the technical skills and scientific independence expected in professional laboratory environments.
The year culminates in a comprehensive infectious disease outbreak investigation using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), an antibody-based diagnostic technique widely used in clinical and research laboratories. Working with antibodies, students perform serial dilutions, construct standard curves, and analyze quantitative assay results to investigate a simulated outbreak and identify patient zero. This culminating experience integrates molecular biology, immunology, quantitative analysis, and evidence-based scientific reasoning.
Eighth grade serves as a bridge to advanced high school biotechnology coursework. Students leave with practical laboratory experience and foundational technical competencies that directly align with the methods and procedures used in professional biotechnology settings.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of eighth grade, students will be able to:
Demonstrate accurate micropipetting and quantitative measurement techniques.
Calculate concentrations and independently prepare laboratory solutions and buffers to specified standards.
Perform serial dilutions and conduct quantitative ELISA testing.
Construct and interpret standard curves and analyze experimental data.
Apply immunological and molecular biology concepts to investigate infectious disease.
Interpret laboratory findings and develop evidence-based conclusions from diagnostic results.
National Science Competitions
National Science Competitions
Biomedical Mustangs: From Scientific Learning to Real-World Innovation
Biomedical Mustang students go beyond studying scientific concepts; they apply their knowledge, develop original ideas, and compete on a national stage.
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision
Every student in the program participates in ExploraVision throughout all three grade levels. Working in teams, students identify meaningful real-world challenges, research the scientific principles behind potential solutions, and envision innovative technologies that could become reality within the next 20 years.
Students must demonstrate that their proposed technology is original and does not already exist. They then develop a supporting website and prototype display board to communicate, substantiate, and defend their ideas.
Recognized as the nation's largest K–12 science competition, ExploraVision provides students with an opportunity to engage in authentic scientific research and technological innovation. Mebane is the only school in Alachua County participating in this prestigious national competition.
3M Young Scientist Challenge
Sixth-grade students also participate in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, identifying problems they encounter in their everyday lives and developing innovative solutions. Students submit a short video presentation explaining the problem, their proposed solution, and the science behind their idea. Students selected as national finalists receive the opportunity to work individually with a 3M scientist, gaining valuable mentorship and exposure to professional scientific research and innovation.
Innovation Is Part of the Curriculum
Participation in national science competitions is intentionally integrated into the academic program rather than treated as an extracurricular activity. Research, problem-solving, technological design, and the ability to communicate and defend original ideas are embedded throughout the three-year experience.
By the completion of eighth grade, every Biomedical Mustang will have researched, designed, and defended three original technology concepts through participation in national science competitions.
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