The Complete 101 Collection
This package combines the contents of Cell Bio 101, Evolution 101 and Environmental Bio 101. The 10 labs and tutorials are all widely used in college introductory biology classes and cover a broad range of topics across the biology curriculum. This collection is steeply discounted for high schools and we highly recommend it for teachers of International Baccalaureate and AP* Biology!
Order The Complete 101 Collection
Complete 101 Collection Labs
OsmoBeaker: Diffusion
This lab confronts common misconceptions about diffusion using engaging simulated molecular-level experiments. The lab first focuses students' attention on how individual molecules move under different conditions. It then sets up a fun experiment that allows them to explore whether nerve cells could use diffusion to move materials from the cell body to the synapses at the tips of their axons. Students run races in axons of different lengths and record how long it takes for "peptide" molecules to diffuse down their length. They also run "races" between peptides that start among high concentrations of other peptides and peptides that start surrounded only by water. By the end of the lab, students not only uncover the need for cellular and organ level transport mechanisms, but also overcome some commonly held misconceptions (see our Publications page for details). |
OsmoBeaker: Osmosis
This popular lab puts students in the role of a doctor providing intravenous fluids to a patient. They must compose an intravenous fluid that does not cause the patient's red blood cells to expand or shrink. Using simulated cells, students explore osmosis with no, one, two, and many solutes. In the process of exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms of osmosis and osmotic pressure, students manipulate concentrations and conduct experiments to investigate what is meant by "dynamic equilibrium" and throughout the lab use quantitative reasoning to predict experimental outcomes. See our Publications page to read how this lab successfully conquers misconceptions! One caveat: students who have trouble with ratios may need assistance. |
Mitosis & Meiosis Demystified™
These two interactive tutorials, one on mitosis, the other on meiosis, were created by the University of Amsterdam. These are among the best interactive tutorials we've seen. Among our favorite features are a circular cell cycle diagram with a cell whose DNA contents change as you drag it, a series of microscope images of the mitotic stages arranged on an interactive time-line, with a rotating 3-D view of each, a beautiful movie of the full cell cycle in an animal cell with a synchronous animated key, self-tests that return you to the appropriate spot in the tutorial for wrong answers, and much more. |
EcoBeaker: Isle RoyaleThis popular laboratory explores basic population biology concepts including exponential and logistic growth and carrying capacity. It is based on the textbook example of a predator-prey system involving wolves and moose on an island in Lake Superior. Students start out by characterizing the growth of a colonizing population of moose in the absence of predators. Next they introduce wolves, and study the resulting predator-prey cycles. Do predators increase or decrease the health of their prey populations? Students investigate this question by sampling the energy stores of moose with and without wolves present. Finally, they try changing the plant growth rate to see how primary productivity influences population dynamics. |
EcoBeaker: Keystone PredatorThis laboratory recreates the famous experiments of Paine and colleagues in the Pacific Northwest with the sea star Pisaster (and 8 other marine intertidal species). Students do transplant experiments to figure out competitive relationships and sample gut contents to construct a food web. Next they use their data to predict what will happen when each predator is removed from the system. Finally, they do the removal experiments and compare their results with their predictions. This is a great lab in that it explores basic ecological concepts and although it is not difficult, it asks students to think critically, synthesizing experimental data to make predictions. It also provides a nice foundation for discussions of the important roles that different species can play in a community. |
EcoBeaker: Nutrient Pollution (formerly "Sewage")What will happen if your city starts dumping lots of extra sewage into your local lake? Will it become a slimy smelly mess? This laboratory provides students with tools to address these questions. Using a simulated lake containing phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish, they try varying phosphorus inputs, and record and graph the resulting algal and oxygen levels in the lake. They also sample species at each trophic level to determine what would happen if the sewage were to contain a biomagnifying toxin such as mercury. At the end of the lab they write a "letter-to-the-editor" about their findings and provide recommendations for the city regarding how much more sewage can be added to the lake before there will be a serious risk of toxic algal blooms. In colleges, this lab is used widely in non-majors and introductory biology classes as well as intro environmental science classes. |
EvoBeaker: Sickle-Cell AllelesAn interactive simulation of the classic malaria and sickle-cell anemia system is used to explore natural selection and genetic drift. Students examine African villages with different malaria death rates. First they use the Hardy-Weinberg equation to calculate the expected proportion of sickle-cell carriers from HbS and HbA allele frequencies. Then they examine how the allele frequencies change with changes in malaria risk and with different "founder" scenarios. Finally they explore genetic drift without selection by looking at different-sized villages where both diseases have been cured. An optional advanced section allows independent exploration of evolutionary forces using a basic population genetics model with adjustable parameters for selection strength, immigration rate, and population size. This is one of our most popular labs for introductory biology college courses. |
EvoBeaker: Darwinian SnailsThis popular lab examines the assumptions behind natural selection using an engaging interactive simulation of green crabs preying on periwinkle snails. Students are able to "violate" each assumption in turn to explore whether evolution by natural selection still occurs. Exercises are targeted to address common misconceptions among biology students. |
EvoBeaker: Evolutionary EvidenceEvolutionary Evidence offers a powerful and fun way for students to explore how “descent with modification” produces nested patterns of shared traits, which generates testable hypotheses about the fossil record. Importantly, students see how trait patterns differ between evolved species and those generated by “intelligent designers”. This lab is a great set-up for learning how to interpret and construct evolutionary trees. |
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