Biology Core Concepts
Chemistry of Life
Basic Chemistry
- Basic Chemistry Overview and Prequiz
- Tutorial 1: Atoms (Atomic Structure)
- Tutorial 2: Drawing Atoms (The Octet Rule, Electron Orbitals)
- Tutorial 3: Elements, Compounds, Molecules, and Formulas
- Tutorial 4: Ionic Bonds
- Tutorial 5: Covalent Bonds
- A Musical Review: The Octet Rule Music Video
- Basic Chemistry Conclusion and Final Quiz
Chemistry and Properties of Water
Carbon and Functional Groups
Biochemistry
- Introduction to Biological Molecules (Monomers and Polymers, Overview of Biomolecules)
- The Four Biomolecule Families (an optional, but highly recommended overview of what’s below)
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic Acids (overview)
- Cumulative Biochemistry Flashcards and Quizzes
Cell Structure and Function, Cell Membranes
Cell Structure and Function
Cell Structure and Function Main Menu
Link to Cell Structure and Function/Cell Membranes Student Learning Guide
Cell Membranes
Cell Membranes Structure and Function Main Menu
Cell Structure/Function and Cell Membranes Student Learning Guide
- Understanding Phospholipids (tutorial, flashcards, quizzes)
- Membrane Structure (tutorial, flashcards, quizzes)
- Transport across Cell Membranes (tutorial, flashcards, quizzes)
- Cell Membrane Model Demonstration Using Dialysis Tubing
- Osmosis 1: Key Concepts Tutorial, Flashcards
- Osmosis 2: Osmotic Pressure Tutorial, Interactive Diagrams, Quiz
- Osmosis with Thistle Tubes Virtual Lab
- Mr. W’s Diffusion and Osmosis Lab (handout for the actual lab)
Enzymes and Energy
Energy, Enzymes, and Enzyme Regulation
Enzymes and Enzyme Regulation Main Menu
Enzymes Student Learning Guide
- Understanding free energy (reading)
- Enzymes Tutorial 1 (Enzyme Structure and Function)
- Enzymes Tutorial 2 (Enzyme Inhibition and Regulation)
- Mr. W’s Enzymes Slideshow
- Enzymes! (Music Video)
Cellular Respiration
Cellular Respiration Main Menu
Cellular Respiration Student Learning Guide
- ATP (interactive tutorial)
- Cellular Respiration Overview Videos (video lectures)Watch these two videos for an overview of the whole process
- Cellular Respiration Overview (interactive tutorial)
- Glycolysis (interactive tutorial)
- The Krebs Cycle (interactive tutorial)
- The Electron Transport Chain (interactive tutorial)
- Anaerobic Respiration and Fermentation (interactive tutorial)
- Cellular Respiration: A Musical Review
- Mr. W’s Cellular Respiration Slideshow/Lecture
- Measuring Respiration with a Respirometer (Video)
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis Student Learning Guide
- Photosynthesis 1: An Introduction
- Photosynthesis 2: The Two Phases of Photosynthesis
- Photosynthesis 3: Light and Pigments
- The Light Reactions Video Lecture (Non-Cyclic Electron Flow)
- Photosynthesis 4: The Light Reactions
- Photosynthesis 5: The Calvin Cycle and Comparing Photosynthesis and Respiration
- The Light Reactions: A Musical Review (music videos and interactive lyrics)
Cell Communication
Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis
12. Mitosis and the Cell Cycle
Mitosis, the Cell Cycle, and Cell Cycle Regulation Main Menu
Mitosis and the Cell Cycle Student Learning Guide
- Mitosis and the Cell Cycle Quizzes (note: tutorial is coming soon)
- Cell Cycle Regulation Interactive Tutorial
- Mitosis! (Music Video)
13. Meiosis, Sex Determination, and Nondisjunction
Meiosis, Sex Determination, Nondisjunction and Chromosomal Variations Main Menu
Click here for a Meiosis Student Learning Guide
- Meiosis: Basic Concepts (Interactive Tutorial)
- Meiosis 1 v. Meiosis 2 (Interactive Tutorial)
- How Meiosis Creates Variation (Interactive Tutorial)
- Sex Determination, Nondisjunction, and Human Chromosomal Variation (Interactive Tutorial)
- Meiosis: Cumulative quiz
- Sordaria: A model organism for meiosis studies
Genetics
DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis
DNA Structure and Replication
DNA Structure and Replication Main Menu
Click the following link for a DNA Structure and Replication Student Learning Guide
1. DNA: An Overview (Tutorial)
2. DNA Structure (Tutorial)
3. DNA Replication (Tutorial)
Transcription and Translation
Protein Synthesis (transcription and translation) Main Menu
Use this Transcription and Translation Student Learning Guide
1. Transcription (tutorial)
2. The Genetic Code (tutorial)
3. Translation/Protein Synthesis (tutorial)
4. Protein Targeting to the Rough ER (Tutorial)
The Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses
Bacterial Genetics/Operons
Bacterial Gene Regulation/Operon Main Menu
Bacterial Genetic Diversity and Operons Student Learning Guide
Viruses
Eukaryotic Gene Regulation and Animal Development
Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes
Eukaryotic Gene Regulation and Expression Main Menu
Click here for the Eukaryotic Gene Regulation and Expression student learning guide
Animal Development
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Evolution and the Origin of Life
Darwinian Evolution and Population Genetics
Natural Selection and Population Genetics Main Menu
Adaptation, Artificial and Natural Selection, Population Genetics Student Learning Guide
- Thinking Like Darwin: Adaptation, Artificial Selection, and Natural Selection
- Alleles in Gene Pools
- Understanding Allele Frequencies in Gene Pools
- The Hardy-Weinberg Equation
- The Hardy Weinberg Principle
- Natural Selection in Gene Pools
- Why Harmful Recessive Alleles Don’t Disappear
- Mutation in Gene Pools, and Heterozygote Advantage
- Genetic drift (founder effect, bottleneck effect)
- Population Genetics Cumulative Quiz
Evidence for Evolution
Species, Speciation, Extinction, and Phylogeny
Species, Speciation, Extinction and Phylogeny Main Menu
Link to Species and Speciation Student Learning Guide handout.
Origin and Early Evolution of Life
Origin and Early History of Life Main Menu
Click the following for an Origin of Life Student Learning Guide Handout
Animal Behavior and Ecology
Animal Behavior
Ecosystems
Energy Flow through Ecosystems Main Menu
Click here for the student learning guide that accompanies this module.
Population Ecology
Community Ecology
Community Ecology and Biodiversity Main Menu
Community Ecology Student Learning guide (coming soon!)
Ecosystem Disruption and Restoration
Feedback and Homeostasis, Immune system, Nervous System
Feedback and Homeostasis
Feedback: (Thermoregulation, Blood Glucose, Osmoregulation) Main Menu
Get the Student learning guide for Feedback/Homeostasis
- Feedback/Homeostasis 1: Key Processes, Thermoregulation
- Feedback/Homeostasis 2: Blood Glucose Regulation
- Feedback/Homeostasis 3: Osmoregulation
- Feedback/Homeostasis 4: Biological Clocks (coming someday soon)
Immune System
Nervous System