In this phenomenon-driven activity, students investigate how cells are signaled to make melanin and explain how mutations in melanin pathway proteins affect the coat color of various organisms.
Cell Biology
Genetics
Lessons
High School — General
High School — AP/IB
College
Does Nature Have Rights?
Release Date
Duration 00:27:51
Ecuador became the first country to enshrine the “rights of nature” in its constitution—granting wild species legal rights to exist. Today, conservationists are using it to save biodiversity hotspots.
In this inquiry-based activity, students engage in science practices to figure out why some people with a genetic condition that usually leads to sickle cell disease do not have disease symptoms.
This activity explores an image of tattoo ink particles inside cells, which serves as a phenomenon for learning about the structure and color of human skin.
This animation shows how mutations in an ion channel protein lead to the genetic disease cystic fibrosis. The animation also discusses how research on this protein has been used to develop treatments for the disease.
This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from a study that investigated how random mutations during cell division can contribute to cancer.
The added information provided at pause points within the animation How We Get Our Skin Color allows for a richer exploration of the topic of human skin structure and function.
A number of questions are embedded within the short film The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes, which illustrates how gene duplications and mutations have led to remarkable physiological adaptations in Antarctic fish.
This interactive module explores key human impacts on the environment and how they have affected Earth’s landscape, ocean, atmosphere, and biodiversity.