Biology Core Concepts
Chemistry of Life
Basic Chemistry
Link to the Basic Chemistry Student Learning Guide
- Basic Chemistry Overview and Pre-quiz
- 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
The Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding: Main Menu
Link to the Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding Student Learning Guide (SLG)
Carbon and Functional Groups
Link to the Carbon and Functional Groups Student Learning Guide
Carbon and Functional Groups: Main Menu
Link to the
Biochemistry
Link to the Biochemistry Student Learning Guide
- 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 Membranes
Cell Membranes Structure and Function Main Menu
Link to the 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
Link to the 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
Link to the 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
Link to the 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
Topics
Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis
Mitosis and the Cell Cycle
Mitosis, the Cell Cycle, and Cell Cycle Regulation Main Menu
Link to the Mitosis and the Cell Cycle Student Learning Guide
Meiosis, Sex Determination, and Nondisjunction
Meiosis, Sex Determination, Nondisjunction and Chromosomal Variations Main Menu
Link to the 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
Link to the 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
Link to the 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)
Understanding Mutation
Understanding Mutation (Tutorial)
Link to the Mutation Student Learning Guide.
The Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses
Bacterial Genetics/Operons
Bacterial Gene Regulation/Operon Main Menu
Link to the 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
Link to the Natural Selection and 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
Phylogeny and Classification
Origin and Early Evolution of Life
Animal Behavior and Ecology
Animal Behavior
Ecosystems
Population Ecology
Community Ecology
Ecosystem Disruption and Restoration
Feedback and Homeostasis, Immune system, Nervous System
Feedback and Homeostasis
Feedback: (Thermoregulation, Blood Glucose, Osmoregulation) Main Menu
Link to the Feedback and Homeostasis Student Learning Guide
- 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
Link to the Immune System Student Learning Guide
Nervous System