Category Archives: IBDP Biology
Skinner’s Rats – rats with wings.
Here are a couple of clips from YouTube about Skinner’s experiments on operant conditioning.
A shorter clip of the pigeon turning in a circle to gain food is after the jump.
Pavlov’s Dog – The Office style
One of Jim’s pranks on Dwight:
After the jump there’s a clip from an Eddie Izzard about Pavlov’s cats:
Recombinant DNA Technology
Here are some animations about rDNA technology. More direct links below the video.
University of Delaware (thanks to biology_sparkly at the TES Boards) Basic animation but lots of relevant info. Can be saved.
rDNA and plasmid and phage vectors from the Royal Veterinary College (more animations on the left of their page)
The New Scientists playing with food
Two experiments from the New Scientist book ‘How to Fossilise Your Hamster‘.
In the first, we find out how to extract iron from breakfast cereal (perhaps we could use it to make a hammer to deal with the presenter):
In the second, we see how to extract casein (as an example of a polymer) from milk, using just vinegar and a stove. They keep saying ‘plastic’ here, but I’m pretty sure it’s not a plastic. Plastics are polymers, but casein is a protein (though still a polymer). Correct me if I’m wrong. Either way, it might be a good trick to introduce the proteins topics in DP Bio.
John Kyrk – Cell Biology Animation
This guy has spent a lot of time and effort on these animations, and they are brilliant.
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Visit his main page at www.johnkyrk.com and you’ll find all you need for IB Bio HL Cells and Chemistry of Life.
Protein Synthesis: Transcription and Translation linklist
There are many decent Flash animations and the like on the internet, but the majority cannot be embedded. Below this YouTube video, there are some direct links to resources, some of which can be easily saved.
Learn.Genetics @ Utah
Transcribe and Translate (good, basic, interactive)
How do fireflies glow? (puts it in context)
University of Nebraska:
Protein Synthesis overview (Good enough for SL)
Transcription Details (fits DP Bio HL very well)
Translation Details (fits DP Bio HL very well)
John Kyrk: (visit the parent site at www.johnkyrk.com – excellent)
Transcription (fits DP Bio HL very well)
Translation (fits DP Bio HL very well)
St. Olaf College
Transcription (clear and simple)
Translation (clear and simple)
WH Freeman
RNA Splicing tutorial (HL only)
Bio3400
Translation with a genetic code dictionary (shows position in the ribosome)
Some more in-depth animations (newly added):
Translation from Wiley Interscience
Translation from LSU Medschool
Translation from The Chinese University in Hong Kong
Protein targeting from Rockefeller University
Learn.Genetics @ Utah
Easily the best Genetics resource out there. Loads of Flash animations, Shockwave virtual labs and up-to-date information. Well worth spending some time there and seeing what could be used in class. Teachers can register for news and teaching ideas.
Virtual labs include DNA Extraction, Gel Electrophoresis and a DNA Microarray. Perfect for the DP Genetics unit.
DNA Extraction: a simple method and a music video
A simple DNA extraction worksheet is posted in the BOX on the right.
Alternatively, go here.
This video shows a guy extracting pea DNA and using it to draw a portrait of Darwin.
(Music Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Tick)
HHMI Biointeractive: teach ahead of the textbook
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has produced some great, interactive resources for medicine and genetics, including a virtual ELISA test and a transgenic fly virtual lab. Go and have a look – there’re also plenty of animations, though even Flashcatcher can’t save them.
Download a worksheet for the ELISA here.
For a simple mock HIV test (using potassium iodide, lead nitrate and a bit of imaginitive labeling), visit the IB Biology Lab Bank
i-Biology 