Biology Resources in the Electronic Age 9780313059018, 9781573563802

Citation preview

BIOLOGY RESOURCES IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE

Recent Titles in Science Resources in the Electronic Age Chemistry Resources in the Electronic Age Judith A. Bazler

BIOLOGY RESOURCES IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE _ J U D I T H A.

Science Resources in the Electronic Age

GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut London

BAZLER

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bazler, Judith. Biology resources in the electronic age / Judith A. Bazler. p. cm.—(Science resources in the electronic age) Includes bibliographical references (p.) ISBN 1-57356-380-3 (alk. paper) 1. Biology—Computer network resources. I. Title. II. Series. QH303.5.B39 2003

025.06'57—dc21

2002192820

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2003 by Judith A. Bazler All rights reserved. N o portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2002192820 ISBN: 1-57356-380-3 First published in 2003 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, C T 06881 A n imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www. greenwood. com Printed in the United States of America

T h e paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10987654321

CONTENTS Acknowledgments

ix

Introduction

xi

1.

The Basics

1

Information in the Electronic Age

1

Formats of Resources Library Electronic Services CD-ROM/Multimedia E-Mail Mailing Lists Usenet Newsgroups Chat Videoconferencing Full-Text Magazines and Newspapers Digital Librarie

3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6

Types of World Wide Web Resources Reference and Journals Web Sites Commercial and Government Web Sites Academic and Educational Web Sites Existing Programs Web Sites Practical Activities Web Sites

6 6 7 8 10

Web Basics Browsers

11 11

10

vi

2.

Contents URLs

12

Metasearch Engines

12

Search Engines

13

Other Tools

13

Searching

16

Evaluating Web Material

17

Beyond the Web

18

Copyright and Plagiarism in the Electronic Age

18

Resources in Biology

21

Types of General Science Resources

21

Reference

21

Commercial and Government Sites

24

Academic and Educational Sites

24

Demonstration Sites

25

General Sources of Biology Information

26

Safety

26

Glossaries and Dictionaries

26

Standard Tables, Charts, Formulas

26

Biology Topics Adaptation Amino Acids

27 27 33

Anatomy

39

Animal Behavior Animal Development

43 50

Bacteriology

55

Biotechnology

60

Cell Reproduction

65

Cell Structure and Function

69

Communication

76

Comparative Anatomy

83

Diffusion

89

Digestive System

96

Diversity of Species

102

DNA/RNA

109

Contents

vii

Embryology Endocrine System Evolution—Theories Genes Genetics, Human Genetics, Molecular Heredity History of Life on Earth Immunology and Immune System Mitosis/Meiosis Movement Natural Selection Nervous System Origin of Species Paleobiology Photosynthesis Protein Science Reproductive System Respiratory System Sexual Reproduction Taxonomy

115 121 131 140 150 157 165 171 176 181 187 194 200 206 212 218 226 231 234 240 245

Viruses

248

3.

Biology Supplies

255

4.

Museums, Science Centers, and Summer Programs

261

5.

Careers

269

Qlossary

275

Index

277

This page intentionally left blank

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I extend my appreciation to the graduate students at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey I acknowledge their assistance in researching and reviewing biology Web sites and their support and enthusiastic interest in this manual and in the larger process of infusing technology into their instruction and into their everyday lives. A number of students reviewed the first chapter for relevance and usability In addition, three graduate assistants formalized the review process and provided a number of the Web sites that were reviewed for addition in the manual. Specifically I wish to thank the following graduate students of Monmouth University: Mike Anderson, Nicole Barry, Fay Beale, Jason Bentley, Jessamyn Kish Bergin, Ruth Blouch, Patricia Caballero, Nakia Callands, Susan Cannon, Patricia Caufield, Maureen Collison, Heather Dahl, Renee Diallo, Michael DiClemente, James Dipalma, Katherine Dugan, Marc Dye, Aaron Edwards, Dorothy Farhy, Brian Farrell, Michelle Feldman, Elaine Feyereisen, Jami Fiasconaro, Rose Gordon, Dawn Graziano, Steve Graziano, Tammy Helmstetter, Amy Illiaria, Donna Jacobson, Allison Kellert, John Kelsey, Catherine Kornek, Carissa LaGuarina, Virginia Lynn, Michelle Magliaro, Angela Mangione-Borelli, Jennifer Margolies, Christine McClean, Colleen McGrath, Mary McMillan, Donna Mead, Tara Micciulla, Loren Miller, Michael Musumeci, Lisa Neel, James Nulle, John O'Shea, Deidre Phillips, Merry Reilly, John Rooney, Jeff Sabella, Nicole Sansone, Gwen Schneider-Johnsen, Cheryl Scuorzo, Judith Shapanka, Philip Silva, Andrew Simpson, Deborah N . Smith, Darren Spadavecchia, Leslie Sultan, Jill Tierney, Merita Tonuzi, Audra Trost, John Walby, Brenda S. Terrell Walker, Curtis Walker, Kim Wasserstein, Cheryl

x

Acknowledgments

Whinna, Tracy Whitt, Jennifer Willis, and, Mark Alfone for reviewing chapter 1, and graduate assistants Abdelghani Lakmini, Hasmukh A. Patel, and Jeff Portland. My respect and admiration goes to Dr. Eleanora Von Dehsen, whose vision and leadership led to the development of this manual and the series that follows. Finally, I dedicate this book to my mother and father, who encouraged me to "get an education," and to my son, Kirk Melnikoff, who has always been my greatest friend.

INTRODUCTION Biology Resources in the Electronic Age is designed as a one-stop source for cutting through the chaos of the Internet to find authoritative information on topics covered in the biology curriculum. The book is divided into five chapters. In the first, "The Basics," you'll find an invaluable introduction to the different kinds of electronic media. You might be surprised to learn that there's more than just the Web on the Internet. In addition to learning about the types of electronic resources, you'll also see how specific kinds of Web sites can be mined for your research projects. This chapter also provides basic information about the Web, search engines, and other search tools, evaluates Web material, and presents copyright and plagiarism issues that are unique to today's electronic resources. The heart of the book, chapter 2, "Resources in Biology," provides you with a treasure map to quality information on the Web, which will save you hours of research time. Here, we first point you to the Web's topnotch sites offering general information about science. Next, we have searched for and found the creme de la creme of Web sites providing specific information on key topics in biology. These topics are listed alphabetically rather than by name of Web site so that you can immediately go to the information you need without guessing if a site will be useful. For each topic, you'll find reviews of several Web sites, giving you all of the information you need to know: the name, URL, appropriate grade range, and a thorough discussion of how to use the site for research. W h e n you log on to the Web to find background information on genes or to gain a fuller understanding of comparative anatomy, you'll now have a number of handpicked sites as opposed to the thousands that might turn up with a keyword search. In case you choose to conduct your own on-

xii

Introduction

line search for a key topic, we let you know which search engine and keywords provide the best so-called hits. The following chapter, "Biology Supplies," reviews a number of excellent Web sites that offer materials and resources for parents and for science students, including Web sites for the premier science supply companies, such as Flinn Scientific and Sargeant Welch. Chapter 4, "Museums, Science Centers, and Summer Programs," surveys Web sites that offer unique on-line museum exhibits, interpretive centers, summer programs, and other interactive opportunities for students of science. The final chapter, "Careers," turns its attention to Web sites that provide students with career information in the field of science. Here, we've reviewed sites for professional associations, academic groups, conferences, workshops, programs, clubs, and other outlets for students interested in working or doing an internship in the subject. SCOPE A N D C O N T E N T We gathered the topics listed in chapter 2 from a detailed analysis of the science standards and leading biology texts. The index will lead you to topics not on the list in chapter 2 (see below). The number of Web sites reviewed in each entry is determined by the number of good sites that explore different aspects of the topic, not the importance of the topic. We reviewed as many of the Web sites on each topic as possible; most topics provided a number of excellent sites that are included in this book. Obviously, some topics had many Web sites to review and only a few are included in this book because of space limitations. We did not limit the number of Web sites per topic; they were chosen based on how closely they mirror what is covered in textbooks and the national science curriculum. H O W TO USE THIS BOOK There are three ways you can find information in Biology Resources in the Electronic Age. First, you can look at the detailed table of contents, which will quickly lead you to such topics as "copyright and plagiarism" or "existing programs Web sites." If you are researching a particular topic in biology, you can immediately go to the alphabetical listing of topics in chapter 2. Finally, you can use the index, which expands the coverage significantly. Because the number of topics in chapter 2 had to be limited, we added as much detail as possible to the site reviews. These include

Introduction

xiii

other topics covered in the Web site but not included in the topic list, all of which have been indexed. For example, "bones" is not in the topic list, but if you look in the index, you will find that a site on comparative anatomy discusses them. So, when you are desperate for a quick, reliable Web site for a report on genetics, need to know about Internet searching or citing electronic sources, or want to know what it's like to be a biologist, reach for Biology Resources in the Electronic Age. It will help you avoid the frustration of endless surfing and wasted time by taking you directly to the Web's best biology resources.

This page intentionally left blank

1 T H E BASICS INFORMATION IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE Today, you are just as likely to turn to a computer terminal as to a book to answer your science reference questions. In fact, the Internet is considered by most to be the preferred reference tool. Unfortunately, many budding researchers use a hit-or-miss approach to their research strategy, which uses a lot of time and even more patience. If you love the challenge, this approach may be exactly what you need to feel like an explorer. However, for the majority of researchers who find it time-consuming, this lack of a systematic process may lead to a high degree of frustration. The approach you choose to use is not the only barrier you must overcome in order to feel comfortable and confident in your searching. Even if you are successful using either a hit-or-miss search process or a more systematic process, the multitude of information gathered and the task of eliminating useless material without any standardization or guide may make the task of researching a topic on the Internet seem overwhelming and unachievable. It is at this point when more is not necessarily better. You may wonder how it is that we evolved from using only library card catalog indexes and typewriters to using electronic computers and the Internet in our searching strategies. The Internet initially provided information exchange among scientists. In the beginning, it was owned and managed by the U.S. government. This governmental ownership changed in 1995 to a predominantly privately controlled organization. The Internet originally connected university-based research centers with governmental contractors, specifically military and defense centers. Developed in 1969, this initial network was called the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network of the Depart-

2

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

ment of Defense (ARPANet). Early researchers concerned themselves with communication and information exchanges and resources. They were able to use different computers as long as each computer followed a set of rules for expressing the information. These rules are called protocols, and Telnet and Gopher are a few examples of early protocols of the electronic age. In these earlier protocols, graphics and illustrations were not easily transmitted. The Internet now commonly uses Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Where does the World Wide Web ( W W W ) fit into this picture? Is the Internet the same as the W W W ? The Internet provides tools for communication, inquiry, and construction. It is much larger than just the W W W and includes newsgroups, chat rooms, mailing lists, videoconferencing, and e-mail, to name a few. The Internet's versatility combined with its multimedia capabilities such as sound and graphics places it as one of your research tools of choice. You would think that a tool so heavily used by so many people would have minimal problems or deficiencies. Even though a wealth of information can be found on the Internet, the lack of evaluative standards, the confusion of researching a topic, inactive or so-called dead Web sites, and the ever-changing product upgrades will plague you when searching the Internet. Using electronic resources can be extremely exasperating to everyone. Remember, the Internet currently provides access to only a small percentage (10—15%) of all usable reference material. Therefore, you need to know about other formats of science reference material and the availability and the value of these references. A science researcher uses all formats of reference material when fully exploring a science topic. How and where do you find answers to questions on specific topics taught in science courses? Consult the Science Resources in the Electronic Age series as your first reference before you begin an in-depth research of any science subject or topic. Biology Resources in the Electronic Age is the second volume of an openended series that helps researchers quickly find reliable, age- or levelappropriate information on biology topics using the Internet. It is designed for students from junior high through the first years of college, as well as for the general reference audience, and it offers an expert guide to the vast electronic information resources available. The series combines searching strategies and annotated Web sites to help you use electronic resources effectively. Because Internet information is often incomplete, the series also shows how other electronic media and print materials can supplement the Web.

T h e Basics

3

In addition to Biology Resources in the Electronic Age, other volumes will include Chemistry Resources in the Electronic Age, Physics Resources in the Electronic Age, Earth Science Resources in the Electronic Age, and Space Science and Astronomy Resources in the Electronic Age. Each volume in the series is divided into seven distinct sections. The first chapter, "The Basics," contains a general overview of research in the electronic age and an introduction to electronic technologies. It also includes information on different formats, Web basics and search strategies, and evaluation tools. The focus is on research in the particular discipline covered in the volume. The second section is the heart of the book. It presents the resources available on key topics in the discipline. Each category begins with a quick-search feature, listing the most appropriate metasearch engine for researching the concept and suggesting the most useful keywords to find the appropriate questions generated by the science curriculum and for their scientific accuracy. Emphasis is on the Internet, although other electronic media and print materials are discussed. Each source citation includes the name and URL of the site, its appropriate grade or age range, and a brief review of its content. The remaining sections of each volume expand the scope of the book and offer information specifically for educators, resources for specialneeds children, places from which to order scientific supplies, a complete list of museum sites, and information on careers. FORMATS OF RESOURCES Science resources can be obtained in many different formats, including the Internet. In other words, science can be found in printed forms such as books, journals, and curricula, on CD-ROMs and videos, and in various professional organizations, science museums, and private corporations. The following discusses these formats and provides general resource addresses for further information. Library Electronic Services There are a number of academic and professional directories that offer a collection of Internet resources. In addition, specific commercial portals, namely, GoNetwork (http://www.go.com/) and open directory project (http://www.dmoz.org/), provide a reference directory that can be searched using author, subject, or title. To obtain a list of libraries that have

4

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Internet-accessible catalogs, use LIBWEB at http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/ Libweb. Another usable portal is the Library of Congress, which is accessible at http://www.loc.gov/library CD-ROM/Multimedia A limited number of CD-ROMs, videos, and cassette tapes specifically concern themselves with science and more particularly, biology. In addition, libraries use CD-ROMs in order to access large collections. Some CD-ROM indexes used by libraries are Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, Books in Print, InfoTrac, ProQuest's Periodical Abstracts, Academic Search, and Alternative Press Index. You can also purchase CDROM reference materials that contain videos, animations, pictures, and sound clips. World Book Encyclopedia is an example of a multimedia CD-ROM. E-Mail E-mail, which provides a quick method to exchange information with others, was the earliest function of the Internet. In order to use the Internet as an e-mail message tool, you simply need to have an e-mail account through a service provider. Once connected, you need to know the e-mail address of the person to whom you are trying to send a message. Yahoo! People Search at http://people.yahoo.com or at http://ussearch.com can help you search for someone's address. Various sites offer expert help and advice with regard to science subjects. The Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) provides links to ask-an-expert sites at http://njnie.dl.stevens-tech.edu/askanexpert.html. Mailing Lists Mailing lists are similar to e-mail; however, the contact in a mailing list is not a single individual but a group of individuals with similar interests. In order to participate in a mailing list, you must subscribe to it. [email protected] is a mailing list on educational technology, listserv® unm.edu is one regarding integrating technology in schools, and listserv® postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu is a list on middle-school topics. For a complete list of mailing lists, use http://www.topica.com. Once at the site, type in "science" at the search window. This leads you to a huge list of national and regional mailing lists in science.

T h e Basics

5

Usenet Newsgroups A newsgroup maintains its messages on a bulletin-board-like server. Messages can be posted to the bulletin board by anyone who has registered. To obtain a directory of usenet newsgroups, go to http://www.deja.com/usenet or http://www.cyberfiber.com/index.html and scroll to the "science" link. After accessing the science page, you will be given a list of groups that indicates the amount of activity occurring within them. You can read the messages, but in order to post one, you must simply register. Chat Chat rooms provide you with real-time ability to communicate directly with other people. They differ from newsgroups and e-mail in their ability to be synchronous and in real time, like face-to-face or telephone discussions. Science Live Chat from Western Canon University at http:// mobydicks.com/commons/Sciencehall/live/chat.cgi is a one-hour live chat every day where people discuss great books of science. This classroom is active from 9:00 P.M. to 3:00 A.M. EST. Other chat rooms can be found by searching using the phrase "science chat rooms." Videoconferencing This format allows participants to see and hear each other. Cornell University originally designed the CU-SeeMe software. N A S A uses this format to provide live feed during space shuttle missions. The Global SchoolNet Foundation maintains a list of CU-SeeMe schools at http://www.gsn.org/cu/index.html. Full-Text Magazines and Newspapers A number of resources are available to the public that can be purchased or utilized through the library Newspapers have become a wonderful resource for current science development. The Tuesday/Science Times section of the New York Times is my favorite resource for up-to-date science news. The Los Angeles Times also has an excellent science section. Television News and C N N Science and Technology are also excellent resources for science research. Magazines (a list can be found at Enews: the ultimate magazine site) including Discover, Popular Science, National Geographic World, Audubon, and Natural History provide current science writ-

6

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

ten in a usable, friendly manner. A more ambitious researcher might look into professional journals such as Science and Scientific American. A complete list of professional journals can be found in the electronic journal index at http://www.e-journals.org. Digital Libraries Libraries are busy storing whole collections on computers. The American Memory Learning Page provided by the Library of Congress at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu opens the door to collections, activities, and lessons and resources mostly in social studies, but also includes some inventions and technologies. Single-subject libraries exist, such as the Banting Digital Library found at http://newtecumseth.library.on. ca/banting. Other sites of interest are http://collections.ic.gc.ca (Canada's Digital Collections) and http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/dienst-data/cdi-mathbrowse.html (Cornell Digital Library Mathematics Collection). TYPES OF WORLD WIDE WEB RESOURCES The W W W contains numerous science sites that provide valuable information/tutorials, experiments/activities, science materials, and other reference materials. However, because there are so many, the following has been compiled to assist you in choosing the best general sites in science. Included are the names of reference materials in science, commercial and government resources, academic and educational resources, and existing science programs, as well as a brief discussion about practical activities and demonstration resources. Reference and Journals Web Sites The Web contains a number of wonderful reference sites that include not only resources that are found in dictionaries and encyclopedias, but also links to other great resources. These sites are usually well organized and updated regularly. Title: Study Web URL: http://www.studyweb.com/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: Study Web has officially become part of The Lightspan Network and is now available only by school subscription. This site has more than 162,000 URL sites listed. You search by selecting a topic from a

The Basics

7

specific list or by typing one in. If you click on the "biology" link, you are led to information on classroom resources, history of biology, branches of study, teaching resources, and educational and professional development. I clicked on the branches of the study topic "polymers," which led me to a list of URL sites that are rated by apples (four is excellent) for visual content. For each site, the approximate grade level, source, contributor name, and a brief review are included. Title: InfoPlease URL: http://www.infoplease.com/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: A wonderful reference tool. You can search the almanacs or the almanac index. The two categories that are directly appropriate to science are "Health and Science" and "Weather and Climate." You also can type in a topic at the search window. This site has a search window for topics and one for biographies. I typed in the word "Einstein" at the biography search window and was linked to encyclopedic, dictionary, and almanac links. The almanac link provided a picture, birth/death dates, and birthplace. The encyclopedic link provided information on Einstein's life, his contributions to science, his writings, and a bibliography. This site also has a pronunciation key link! Title: Britannica.com URL: http://www.britannica.com/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: A very easy site to navigate. You type in the topic at the beginning search window, alphabetically, by subject or by world atlas. I explored by typing in the term "acid rain," which led me to Web site links that are rated (four stars is excellent and recommended), current event and magazine links, as well as a great encyclopedic reference complete with video/animation. There also is an icon [-+-] throughout the site that enables you to provide feedback to the site's developer. At the main menu is a link to Britannica School, explaining that if you subscribe to this component of the Web site there are further curricular materials available. I found the free component to be a worthwhile resource. Commercial and Government Web Sites Do not avoid commercial sites because you think that these sites contain only science materials for sale. Carolina Biological, Pasco Scientific,

8

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Edmund Scientific, Educational Innovations, Inc., and Fisher Science Education On-line not only provide a source for purchasing a needed piece of equipment, but also offer practical information and activities. In addition, specific government programs from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) provide the researcher with grant possibilities, program information, and other science resources.

Academic and Educational Web Sites Professional organizations are a wonderful resource for information, science activities, and science connections. American Chemical Society (ACS), American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) are only a few of the academic/educational sites that are a must for the science researcher. Many professional organizations maintain a national and/or international presence through group conferences and professional journals. Science professionals use both the journal and conference forum in order to share research and build collaborative partnerships. In science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Academy of Science (NAS) are considered to be the most prestigious organizations. Both publish journals and information for those interested in science and as a forum for science professionals to share both information and research. Title: The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) URL: http://www.aaas.org Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This organization publishes the journal Science and provided the forum needed for the development of Project 2061. The A A A S Web site links you to the following: Meeting dates of national/international science conferences Science policy Science workshops and programs (national/international), including radio programs that focus on science topics An index of science resources (including books, videos, and CD-ROMs) and science products

The Basics

9

The latest research in science Science shows, including Kinetic City Super Crew A grant-searchable database Links for on-line resources, including Project 2061 books and CD-ROMs Title: The National Academy of Science (NAS) URL: http://www.nationalacademies.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: The NAS is one of the branches of the National Academies organization that provides information on advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine. Other branches of this organization are the National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council. The N A S Web site links you to their publication, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and to the following: Special science programs Science education International science policy Meeting dates of science conferences The latest science research In addition, a quick review of the National Research Council (NRC) link leads you to the National Academy Press with access to more than 1,350 books on-line, including a table of contents that is useful in making your selection and ordering information. The N R C link also gives you access to both the N R C and N A S archives, providing information and access to past research. Overall, both the N A S and A A A S sites provide the researcher with the latest science research and development. Title: National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) URL: http://www.nsta.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: Along with N A S and NRC, both the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) provide educators with the latest developments in biology education. A search of the NSTA Web site leads you to their journals (Science Scope, The Science Teacher, Journal of College Science Teaching, Quantum, Dragonfly, and Science and Children) and the following: Position statements and policy on science education National student competitions

10

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Science clubs and organizations Science resources U.S. registry of science teachers Science workshops for educators Science awards Scilink, a free service that connects a Scilink textbook to the Web A science video vault Science of energy A "building a presence for science education" discussion room Title: National Association of Biology Teachers URL: http://www.nabt.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) is "the leader in life science education." It empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students by providing expertise and opportunities for members to enhance their professional performance, advocating the teaching and learning of the biological sciences based on the nature and methods of science and the best practices of education, attracting and representing the full spectrum of educators in biology and the life sciences, and operating with benchmark levels of organizational effectiveness and efficiency. The home page has links to news and events, the N A B T store, services for members only, conferences and workshops, publications, resources, and sites for education and professional development. You can peruse the links or type in a topic in the search window. This is the premier Web site for biology teachers. Existing Programs Web Sites A number of Web sites for existing science programs are available to the researcher. Science programs funded by the government can be found in each government site. The Jason Project is just one of these federally funded programs. Also useful to the researcher are publicly funded programs like the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. Practical Activities Web Sites My favorite resource to find practical activities is the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education. Another

The Basics

11

useful tool is the Lesson Plan Search (ERIC) or Ask ERIC (educational resources).

WEB BASICS The W W W has enhanced the use of the Internet by using both multimedia and hypermedia. The multimedia capability allows communication by integrating text, video, audio, and still images into a single product. The hypermedia capability allows you to experience the multimedia in any order. The W W W utilizes and displays these capabilities as pages and links on a computer screen. The page has text, images, graphics, and video clips, and the links take you to other sources of information. The W W W uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) as its primary protocol. Other protocols are file transfer (FTP), network news transfer (NNTP), telnet, gopher, and simple mail transport (SMTP). The W W W utilizes a group of Internet servers. The Web browser is the forum that allows you to converse in these different protocols. Browsers A Web browser provides the forum that you need to access the W W W and other information resources. The two most popular browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer (Explorer) and Netscape Communicator, into which Netscape incorporated Netscape Navigator. Consider the Web browser to be like a workshop in which you use different tools to do different jobs. For instance, most browsers have a Forward button that allows you to return to a page you just visited. In addition, most browsers contain the following buttons: Back—allows you to go back to a page Home—returns you to your homepage or to your browser's homepage Reload or Refresh—reloads the Web page Search—takes you to a list of search engines or directories that are specific to the Web browser Bookmarks or Favorites—helps you to store a URL for future reference Print—allows you to print a document Under the tools, you will find a box labeled "Location," "Go To," or "Address." This is where you will type your specific Web site's address, called a URL.

12

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age URLs

You should think of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) as addresses of Web sites that contain information. For example, your home address usually includes your name, number of the building, street, city, state, and zip code. URLs are very similar to home addresses in that they also include name and location. Some of you may also have an e-mail address, which looks like the following: [email protected]. A typical Web site address will look like the following: a computer's name@somewhere. domain. A n example of a URL address of a Web site for cyberspace law is: http://www.cs.csubak.edu http://—hypertext transfer protocol, the beginning of a URL (in front of slashes), indicates either the resource or method of access. The most common research protocol for Web file transfers is http; however, others are Gopher—gopher search tool, Ftp—a file available for downloading, News—newsgroups, Telnet—another computer system, WAIS—Wide Area Information Search database, and File—your own file. www—World Wide Web, host computer name. cs.csubak—specific computer or server. edu—educational (domain designator); the last part (after the dot) of the URL contains the specific address or domain name system (DNS). The last letters after the period of a URL indicate the type of group that owns the server. In our example, the last three letters are "edu," which stands for a university. Other abbreviations are: com—business or commercial, org— organization, mil—military agency, net—network provider, aus—Australia, us—United States, ca—Canada, fr—France, uk—United Kingdom, K12.us—public schools, and gov—government. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) sets up domain names. Most research on the W W W requires that you learn how to find information through the process called a search. Metasearch Engines To find URL addresses that are specific to the topic you are researching, you need to use the appropriate computer tool. A searching tool that uses multiple search engines or directories is called a metasearch engine (also called multithreaded engines). Metasearch engines help speed up the process of a search. You can consider metasearch tools to be the Swiss army knife of search engines in that they provide many tools to do the job. Examples of metasearch engines are found in table 1.1. Metasearch engines are great to use when first researching a subject. You probably are now wondering which ones to use in your search. Cur-

The Basics

13

rently, metasearch engine reviewers have given high praise to Metacrawler, MetaFind, and Dogpile. My university students tend to use Askjeeves because they are able to search with no specific rules and the tool enables you to narrow your search by asking specific questions. I personally use Metacrawler because of its ease of use, its removal of duplicate sites, its ability to interpret Boolean search rules, and because it utilizes the best search engines. If you have searched a subject and find that you need more detail or information, you may want to refine your search by using an individual search engine. Search Engines Search engines help you research various subjects or words. If the browser is your workshop, consider both metasearch engines and search engines to be your tools to obtain information. Generally, there are different search tools available depending upon the method you choose to use. There are directory search engines that find information by using subjects. There are also keyword search engines that search using specific words. It is confusing that the majority of search engines will do both a search by keywords and by subject. In addition, you may find that your information specifies that there are subject directories and search services. Most search engines will have a menu of subjects to click on or a space in which you provide the subject or keyword. The problem should be which search engine to use and how to use it. There are more search engines on the W W W than are included in this book. Yahoo!, Alta Vista, Hotbot, Infoseek, LookSmart, and Excite are some of the more common. Table 1.2 contains a list of search engines, including their URL addresses, whether they use Boolean or limited logic, and the size of the search. Other Tools A great Web site that provides more current information on the Internet is Zen and the Art of the Internet Web site at http://www.es .indiana.edu/docproject/zen/zen-l.0_toc.html. If the Web site that you are researching contains video, images, or sound, it will direct you to a helper piece of software called a plug-in. The plug-in works with the browser, enabling you to use the multimedia required in the Web site. Files that require helper software are called multimedia Internet mail extension (MIME) files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a typical plug-in, which allows you to see PDF files; it is available for free at http://www.adobe.com/ products/acrobat/readstep.html. Most plug-ins are available at no charge. Real Audio 4.0, Real Video 4.0, and QuickTime, (WAV, MP3, and AVI

14

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Table I T Metasearch Tools

Metasearch Name

URL

Description

All-in-One

http://www.allonesearch.com/

Ask Jeeves

http://www.askjeeves.com/

A simple tool. Very limited.

Cyber411

http://www.cyber41 l.com/

Uses 16 search engines. Uses Boolean logic for searching and eliminates duplicates.

Debriefing

http://www.debriefing.com

Searches Alta Vista, Infoseek, Excite, Webcrawler, Lycos, and Hotbot. Uses Boolean logic, ranks the sites, and eliminates duplicates.

Dogpile

http://www.dogpile.com/

Searches 14 search engines, newsgroups, business news, and newswires. Uses Boolean logic for searching.

Highway 61

http://www.high.way61 .com

Searches Yahoo!, Lycos, Webcrawler, Infoseek, and Excite. Uses Boolean logic and tends to be slow.

Inference Find

http://www. infind.com

Searches Yahoo!, Alta Vista, Webcrawler, Infoseek, and Excite. Eliminates duplicates.

Internet Sleuth

http://www.thebighub.com/

You determine which search engines it uses.

Mamma

http://www.mamma.com/

Searches the Web, Usenet, news, stock symbols, company names, MP3 files, pictures, and sound; also Alta Vista, Excite, Infoseek, Lycos, Webcrawler, and Yahoo!. Uses implied Boolean logic ( + / - ) .

Metacrawler

http://www.metacrawler.com

Searches Lycos, Infoseek, Webcrawler, Excite, Alta Vista, and Yahoo!; also searches computer products, Usenet, files, and stock quotes. Uses implied Boolean logic (+/-) for searching.

(Continued)

The Basics

15

Table 1.1 (Continued)

Metasearch Name

URL

Description

Metafind

http://www.metafind.com/

Searches Alta Vista, Excite, Hotbot, Infoseek, Planetsearch, and Webcrawler. Uses Boolean logic.

Profusion

http://www.profusion.com/

Searches the Web or Usenet. Boolean logic used, tends to be slow.

Savvysearch

http://www.savvysearch.com/

Uses many search engines. Boolean logic used, tends to be slow.

Verio Metasearch http://search.verio.net/

Uses many search engines. Tends to be slow.

are extensions) are more examples of helper software. Real Player and Real Jukebox allow you to see action or hear sounds live on the Internet; these plug-ins are available at http://www.real.com. QuickTime (http://www. apple.com/) is the plug-in to use for viewing movies and videos. Where plug-ins have expanded your ability to use the Web, new programming languages such as Java, Java Applets, JavaScript, Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VDRML), and Extensible Markup Language (XML) have expanded the Web abilities. Java is a programming language that is being developed by Sun Microsystems in order to allow work on any PC. JavaScript consists of three intermingled languages. You may want to experiment with some of the current tricks that are becoming standard in the Internet world. Try typing the word "Finger" and a DNS, for example, [email protected] or just Finger at the location window. This will get you information about users. You can also talk to someone without going into e-mail by typing "Talk (the person)@DNS," for example, Talk [email protected]. If I were on the computer at the time, we could proceed to talk without accessing e-mail. Typing "Whois" at the location window will help you with a search if you know either the name of the person or the domain of the institution. For example, if you are looking for a person's name, type "[email protected]." This will provide you with the names of registered users at MIT University. Or, if you know the name of a registered user but not the domain, type "Whois(person's name)" and a Web site will be recognized.

16

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Table 1.2 Search Engine Researching Language

Web Site URL

Boolean Logic

Search Size

Google http://www.google.com

A N D assumed N o OR

Medium to large

Northern Light http://www.northern.com

A N D , OR, N O T

140-160 million

Alta Vista http://www.altavista.com

A N D , OR, A N D NOT, NEAR

140-160 million

Infoseek http://infoseek.go.com

NO+/-

30 million+

FastSearch http://alltheweb.com

NO+/-

200 million*

Librarians' Index http://www.lii.org

A N D implied, OR, NOT

5,000

Infomine http://infomine.ucr.edu

A N D implied, OR

16,000

Britannica Web's Best http://www.britannica.com

A N D , OR, N O T

150,000

Yahoo! http://www.yahoo.com

NO+/-

1 million

Galaxy http://galaxy.einet.net/

A N D , OR, N O T

300,000

These are just a few of the latest tools available for searching without a search engine. However, the process of researching a topic having chosen the appropriate tool (metasearch/search engine) is not over. The following suggested process provides the steps you need to communicate your topic to the search engine. SEARCHING One of the most difficult stages of a search occurs when you attempt to communicate your needs precisely to the search engine. Following is a suggested step-by-step process for refining your language before typing keywords into the search window:

The Basics

17

• Write one or two sentences stating what you want to research • Identify keywords—underline those in your sentence(s) • List synonyms of keywords • Combine synonyms, keywords, and so on with or/and/not or +/-, put parentheses around "or" phrases. • Check spelling For example, if you want to research the human heart, you can utilize the above steps as follows: 1. Write a sentence stating what you want to research. I want to find out the parts of the human heart and the function of the parts. 2. Identify keywords—underline those in your sentence. I want to find out the parts of the human heart and the function of the parts. 3. List synonyms of keywords. parts—components, members, subdivisions human heart—cardiac organ, vascular organ function—capacity 4. Combine synonyms and keywords with or/and/not or +/-. Put parentheses around "or" phrases. (parts or components or members or subdivisions) and (human heart or cardiac organ or vascular organ) and (function or capacity) 5. Check spelling. EVALUATING WEB MATERIAL In the past, the experts in their fields evaluated most reference materials. Written science materials found in journal articles, reference materials, and books are scrutinized by an editorial process that includes a review by science experts. Even films, CD-ROMs, and audiovisual materials are reviewed using a standardized process before being made available to the public. In addition, the librarians evaluated most materials found in academic libraries. However, there is currently no standard evaluation practice in place for review of Internet information. You, the Internet user, are the evaluator. Since there is no evaluative process and since the Internet is ac-

18

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

cessible to anyone for uploading information, evaluating each Web site for accuracy, content completeness, and timeliness is a critical part of the researcher s job. The following guidelines/questions will assist with this task: Who is the author? Is the author or organization one you or others recognize positively? Is the author's resume included? Can you contact the author? Who is the publisher? Has the document gone through peer review? What is the author's bias? Is the article based on logic or logically obtained data? Is the article referenced? Are the references and links current? Do the links work? Is the site updated? Does the site list the time of the last update? If educational, is the material truly at the accurate readability level stated? In addition, you should evaluate the site for ease of use and technical availability. In order to make this process easier, a checklist has been developed for your use (table 1.3). BEYOND THE WEB There are other sources of information that are not on the W W W that should be mentioned. These resources include Wide Area Information System (WAIS), Gopher (an older, menu-based information system), Telnet (on-line library services), FTP (a comprehensive listing of anonymous sites), Experimental Metamap, and Experimental Search Engine Meta-Index. Interesting sites for science are the Los Alamos Physics Papers (on the Web) and the White House Papers (WAIS). COPYRIGHT A N D PLAGIARISM IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE Information is now readily accessible and at your fingertips. However, after you have evaluated a Web site's credibility and usability, what are the rules governing the use of these materials? Information concerning the use of Internet materials varies from source to source. According to one Internet source, "ideas, facts, titles, names, short phrases, and blank forms cannot be protected by copyright." From a safe-user position (use also http://www.cs.csubak.edu, Cyberspace Law for Non-lawyers Web site), consider everything that is written to be eligible for copyright. Therefore, if it has a copyright (which conservatively we assume everything written has) and you have decided to make a copy, but you did not get permission from the author, you may have violated copyright law. As in life, there are exceptions to the rules called the Fair Use Doctrine. If

The Basics Table 1.3 Web Site Evaluation Form

Name of Web site URL Web site author Date of last update Web site contains:

Tutorial Laboratory activities Resources Professional information Teacher information General science information 1 (poor)

1. Article is referenced 2. References are current (within 5 years) 3. Author's resume or e-mail address included 4. Article is based on research and/or data analysis 5. Links are current and operational 6. Article is peer reviewed 7. Navigation is easy 8. Printability (easy to print, clear design) 9. Site is interactive 10. Updates are listed 11. Content information—site is easy to follow 12. Appropriate readability level

2

3 (average)

4

5 (excellent)

19

20

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

you can answer affirmatively to most of the following questions, you are allowed to copy legally as long as you cite the author: Is the piece for noncommercial use, in other words, you are not going to sell it? Is the piece for criticism, comment, parody, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research use? Is your use of the piece mostly factual? Are you using work that was published? Are you using only a small part of the work? Are you using only an insignificant part of the work? Are you adding significantly to the original work? Does your use affect any profits that the original owner makes? Remember: To not acknowledge the author and to use writings unchanged is called plagiarism. Use the following Web sites to clarify style and for additional guidance: Online! Citation Styles http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/citex.html MLA, APA, and the Chicago/Turabian style. Electronic Styles: A Handbook for Citing Electronic Information http://www.uvm.edu/~ncrane/estyles/apa.html http://www.uvm.edu/~ncrane/estyles/mla.html Style guide for electronic material. Library of Congress: Citing Electronic Sources http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/cite.html Provides examples of citations for MLA and Chicago/Turabian style. Trie Columbia Quide to Online Style http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cgos/idx_basic.html A guide for MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and APA style.

2

RESOURCES I N BIOLOGY

This chapter is devoted to the Internet and specific Web sites and is divided into three sections. The first section contains general science information including reference, commercial, and government sites; academic and educational sites; and existing programs and demonstration sites. The second section focuses on biology information; glossaries and dictionaries; tables, charts, and formulas. The third section alphabetically lists biology topics. TYPES OF GENERAL SCIENCE RESOURCES Following is an alphabetical list of general science resources. Each resource provides the URL, grade level, best search engine, key search word used, and a brief review of the site. Reference Title: CNN Science and Technology Page URL: http://www.cnn.com/tech/ Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology resources Review: This site contains the current and archived science news. It has links to videos and audio archives. After typing in the name of your topic or subject in the search window provided on the home page, you can further refine your search in another search window. The resulting article summaries can be sorted by date or relevance. If you

22

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

sort by relevance, the key search word will be highlighted in yellow in the summary, and the article summaries will be ranked according to relevance. Clicking on the article link leads you to the complete article as well as links to related stories and sites. Title: ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education URL: http://www.ericse.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Science resources Review: A component of the Educational Resources Information Center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, this resource was designed to provide information about learning science and the environment. It has links to science and environmental science resources for parents and children, a bookstore, on-line publications, conference calendar, and other science links. Title: Electronic Journal Index URL: http://www.coalliance.org/ejournal/ Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Educator's sites + science + journals Review: This Web site contains journals, magazines, newsletters, and other publications available over the Internet. It lists the electronic journals alphabetically by subject, by publisher, or by publisher in the state of Colorado. The site contains a search window to facilitate your search. When using the search window option, you are provided with a list of matches with a star indicator that ranks the listed Web sites as to appropriateness. For instance, a four-star ranking indicates a better match. When you click on the alphabetical or subject links, you reach a screen where you can click on a letter (a, b, c, etc.) or type into a search window. Once into a specific electronic journal, the complete address, peer review status, and subject list index are available. This is an excellent resource when beginning an information search. Title: Enews: The Ultimate Magazine Site URL: http://www.enews.com Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Science magazines

Resources in Biology

23

Review: This site provides information concerning more than 900 magazines. You can search by title, category, interest area, or alphabetical listing. A brief review of the magazine including subject area and grade appropriateness is included. Also provided is access to information about purchasing popular science magazines, including Discover, Popular Science, National Geographical World, Natural History, Audubon, Science News, Mother Earth News, Animals, and American Heritage of Invention and Technology. Title: L.A. Science Page URL: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/science Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Science resources Review: The home page of this site provides a link to the archive depository. Clicking on the archive link leads you to a search window and to other search tools. You can type a topic into the search window and further narrow your search to a specific period or a specific section of the paper. There are two additional search tools that help you narrow your search by relevance, publication date, and amount of stories retrieved. This service gives you access to all the articles on a specific topic published in the Los Angeles Times since 1990. Archive stories older than fourteen days cost $2.00/story or $6.00/month for up to ten stories. Title: Nature URL: http://www.nature.com Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology reference Review: This site provides access to Nature magazine, including a trial, on-line copy of the periodical. It has a search icon, but you must register and pay to access. Included is a link to new products advertised in Nature. Title: Science URL: http://www.sciencemag.org Grade Level: Upper grade levels Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Science reference Review: This site has an alphabetical science term listing, which you access through the browse link. Clicking on the browse link leads you

24

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

to a long listing of articles on specific subjects. Each article is briefly described, and links to the complete article or abstract are provided. Therefore, you can print directly off the Internet, or you can order an article or issue ($8.00 per article/issue). Title: The Philadelphia Inquirer Health & Science Magazine URL: http://sln.fi.edu/inquirer/inquirer.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Science magazines Review: The Franklin Institute Museum maintains this site, which contains articles on the most current science developments and offers resource materials for students and teachers. Tide: The Why Files URL: http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/oldstorylist.html Grade Level: Any grade level Review: The University of Wisconsin maintains this site, which can be navigated using a topic index (biology, physical science, etc.) or the provided subject search window. Basically, the Web site tries to answer the question, "Why?" Commercial and Government Sites Title: National Science Foundation (NSF) URL: http://www.nsf.gov/ Grade Level: College and above Review: Congress established the National Science Foundation on May 10, 1950, in order to "promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, to secure the national defense, and for other purposes." At the home page of this Web site, you can link into science programs, science highlights, or search by word, phrase, or area of specialization. Clicking on "biology" brings you to the biology program area. You can find information about special initiatives, funding opportunities, and news. There are also links to more specific biology disciplines such as biological infrastructure and environmental biology. Academic and Educational Sites Title: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) URL: http://www.aaas.org/

Resources in Biology

25

Grade Level: Any grade level Review: The American Association for the Advancement of Science was founded in 1848 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the largest science organization in the United States and publishes the peerreviewed journal Science. At the home page of this Web site, you are invited to explore more about A A A S , browse the on-line products, access the latest data of science and society, study the science educational programs for the future, or explore careers in science. "On-line products" is the link to exploring present and past research on various topics. There are three levels of data retrieval, two of which require you to pay a fee. However, after registering for free, you can retrieve (also at no charge) full-text articles published in the past year, staffwritten summaries of research, abstracts of current or new research, and the tables of contents for all back issues. You can also perform a science search by author and keyword. This site additionally contains other resources too numerous to mention. Title: NSTA URL: http://www.nsta.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: Link to NSTA journals (Science Scope, The Science Teacher, Journal of College Science Teaching, Quantum, Dragonfly, and Science and Children) and the following: position statements and policy, national student competitions, clubs and organizations, science resources, U.S. registry of teachers, workshops, awards, Scilink (a free service that connects a Scilink textbook to the W W W ) , video vault, science of energy, and information for building a science education discussion room. Demonstration Sites Title: Twinkies Project URL: http://www.twinkiesproject.com Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Science projects Review: This is a humorous yet well-researched and well-written site on scientific method and research. "Twinkies" stands for Tests with Inorganic Noxious Kakes in Extreme Situations. All of these "tests" were done at Rice University during finals week, obviously after much time was spent studying for the normal final exams. At the main

26

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

menu, you are led to a number of different "tests" that you can do with a Twinkie as your "chemical." GENERAL SOURCES OF BIOLOGY INFORMATION Safety Title: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) URL: http://www.osha.gov Grade Level: College and above Review: OSHAs mission is "to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect the health of America's workers." The O S H A home page presents you with both an alphabetical search tool and a search window to type in your keywords. Clicking on the "M" leads you to a list of services and materials including the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that is a must for all biologists. These sheets provide valuable information about every chemical. Unfortunately, more information is obtained directly from the O S H A site than is generally needed. It will take you time to download the MSDS guidelines and information for even one chemical. Glossaries and Dictionaries Title: YourDictionary.Com URL: http://www.yourdictionary.com/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This Web site is an on-line dictionary. At the home page you can type your word in either the dictionary or thesaurus search window. O n the left of the home page, you will find a list of specialty dictionaries; click on the "80 more!" and other specialty dictionaries will appear. Clicking on the "biology" link leads you to a number of specific biology dictionaries and glossaries, including links to an "on-line biology dictionary" and "on-line biology glossary." Standard Tables, Charts, Formulas Title: Wilton High School Conversion Formulas URL: http://www.chemistrycoach.com/conversi.htm Grade Level: High school and above Review: This Web page provides direct access to conversion formulas for length, area, mass, time, force, energy, momentum, power, number,

Resources in Biology

27

volume, density, velocity, pressure, acceleration, frequency, angles, action, charge, current, resistance, electromotive force, and mass to force. This would be a very usable conversion table. Title: Fundamental Physical Constants URL: http://www.chemie.fu-berlin.de/chemistry/general/ constants_en.html Grade Level: High school and above Review: This Web page was developed by the biology, chemistry, and pharmacy departments of Freie Universitat Berlin. It contains an alphabetical list of physical constants, their symbols, and their numeric values with appropriate units, including Avagadro's number, the Boltzmann constant, and Planck's constant, to name a few.

BIOLOGY TOPICS This section is designed for ease of use. The biology topics are listed alphabetically, and additional cross-listed topics are included in the appendix. Each resource contains the name of the Web site, URL address, appropriate grade level, search engine used, key search word(s) used, and a brief review.

Adaptation Title: Sensation and Perception: Adaptation of Temperature Receptors URL: http://student.biology.arizona.edu/sciconn/ neuroscience/sensation.html Grade Level: High school or an introductory college course Best Search Engine: http://about.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: This Web site is very beneficial for teachers who are trying to find a lab assignment for their class. In this lab, the goal of the experiment is to determine the sensitivity to cold and heat. There is an introduction informing the reader that the experiment introduces the concepts of temperature sensation, perceptions, and sensory adaptation, after which the materials for the lab and the procedure are given. In the procedure section, questions are asked to see what is happening during the lab experiment. This Web site is very easy to read and follow; students who are following the lab for an assignment would not have any problem.

28

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Natural Selection & Adaptation: Lesson URL: http://www2.nau.edu/~gaud/bio372/class/evolution/ lesson3-2-l.htm Grade Level: Advanced high school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: William Gaud at Northern Arizona University created this Web site to help guide his biology students through the material in his course, which focuses mainly on the evolution of Darwinism and crop circles. Some of the topics included in the evolution of Darwinism lesson are molecular evolution, gene duplication, neutral theory, and mosaic evolution. To help the students understand the material in his course more clearly, Gaud has a glossary of terms available for use. To find the definition of an unfamiliar word, the students can either click on the word in the glossary section of the Web site or click on the word throughout the outline of the lesson. Once a student clicks on a word, a clear, concise, and informative definition becomes available. In addition to the glossary, Gaud provides links from The Talk Origins Archive providing a great deal of information on certain topics in his course. Certain terms such as "evolution" and "crop circles" require a simple click on the word, and a very informative article on each term pops up. After the students are finished studying the material in the course, Gaud provides review questions that are used to help the students reconsider and understand the information. If the students have a query with regard to any of the review questions, Gaud is available for help through e-mail. All in all, this Web site is an excellent resource for students to help them understand biology adaptation. Title: Biology Lessons—Fish Heads: A Lesson on Adaptation URL: http://www.eecs.umich.edu/mathscience/funexperiments/ agesubject/biology.html Grade Level: Elementary school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: Once you reach the biology lesson site, scroll down to "Fish Heads: A Lesson on Adaptation" (this will be located under the section "early elementary"). Once you click on "Fish Heads," you will be led to a lesson on adaptation. You will notice several pictures of different species of fish, and you will also find the concepts and principals behind adaptation. Scrolling down further, you will see an

Resources in Biology

29

introduction to the lesson, the activities involved, and finally the evaluation and extension ideas. This is an excellent site for teachers who are looking for a fun and interesting way to explain adaptation. Children will benefit from this site as well, for they can learn key concepts and terms while looking at the pictures to see how fish adapt. Title: Introduction to Evolutionary Biology URL: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-intro-to-biology.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: This Web site begins with the question of what evolution is. The author then moves on to answer other questions such as misconceptions about evolution, genetic variation, and evolution within a lineage. In addition, the author begins to evaluate mechanisms that decrease genetic variation such as natural selection and genetic drift. This Web site is ideal for providing an overview of biology adaptation. Title: Biological Adaptation URL: http://virtuallaboratory.net/firstSeries/Adaptation/section_01.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biological adaptation Review: This is the first page of an eleven-page Web site that very comprehensively discusses many aspects of biological adaptation. Among the page titles are "Bacteria and Real Time Evolution," "Cell Suicide as a Defense Mechanism," and "Adaptation to a Heterogeneous Environment." Each page contains one or more interactive questions and an interactive demonstration of one or more of the page's main topics. (These are denoted by small green, red, or blue arrows containing bubbles.) A number of links (the terms written in blue) also provide further explanation and background on key supporting topics. Several links marked "More to Explore" lead to external Web sites containing articles relevant to the subject being discussed. The large arrows at the bottom of each page lead to the next, or previous, page. Overall, this is a very interesting and informative Web site. However, the language it employs occasionally tends to be a little too technical. Although it would probably take more than a few hours for the average high school student to read in its entirety, it would be well worth the effort.

30

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Biology Online Tutorial URL: http://www.biology-online-org/ Grade Level: Seven/eight through college (could possibly be used for grades five or six, with teacher and parental guidance) Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: Biology Online is an on-line tutorial designed to provide basic information and explanations about biology concepts. The site is easy to navigate and offers information about various biology topics. There are two ways to search within this site: either by using a specific keyword or biology term (terms are listed in alphabetical order) or by selecting a specific topic for additional information. Some of the topics included are adaptation, cell biology, genetics, and neurology. Upon selection of the adaptation topic, for example, the user is directed to two more additional subtopics: animal water regulation and plant water regulation. The animal topic discusses how water regulation in animal species occurs through evolution, habitat adaptation, and environmental factors. Some of these changes are biological, physiological, and behavioral. The home page for this site provides links to other biology Web sites. This site may be used to introduce or reinforce classroom curriculum, and as a study guide for basic concepts in biology. Younger students may require assistance, while older students can use this site independently. Title: Smile Program Biology Index URL: http://www.iit.edu/~smile/biolinde.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation lessons Review: Smile Program Biology Index is a link from the Smile Web site, which is a free site produced by the Illinois Institute of Technology. Smile is a product made up from multiple authors. All of the lessons are reproducible, but they remain the copyright property of the author. This Web site is divided into ten areas of biology. You can choose your area of interest from anatomy and physiology, zoology, botany, microbiology, genetics, environmental studies and ecology, biochemistry, general biology, and miscellaneous. You can click on any category to bring you directly to related links or you can scroll down the screen to explore all the areas of biology. Each category provides a diverse selection of informational listings to choose from. These Web sites are factual, entertaining, comprehensive, experi-

Resources in Biology

31

mental, and unique; they provide you with detailed lessons, including assessment strategies. This Web site is a sure way to heighten your creativity. Children will definitely benefit from the approaches this site has to offer if teachers are willing to apply it. The graphics promote positivism. Title: Adaptations and Classifications URL: http://www.katoh-net.acjp/ Grade Level: Junior high through college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptations Review: This Web site offers information about the adaptation and classification of several different species. The page I visited initially shows a list of requirements posted by a teacher for his students doing a research report. On the bottom of the page is a list of excellent links to go to for information on this subject. One takes you to Sea World to learn about marine animals, another to an animal page that is arranged by classification. The link I visited, http://www.perspective.con/nature, describes the five kingdoms into which living things are divided: Plantae, Fungi, Animalia, Protista, and Monera. Each kingdom has its own link. For example, the Fungi section explains how fungi provide a part of nature's rebirth by recycling dead organic matter into nutrients. The different types of fungi are described with simple definitions combined with clear, colorful graphics. This page offers cross-links on this topic, going into more detailed explanations. Aside from the kingdoms, a species index lists the common and scientific names of the species in each kingdom. The list is extremely long, and there seems to be information on just about any living organism. This site is set up in a simple, methodical way so that the extensive amount of information is easy to get to and not too overwhelming. This is a wonderful site for junior high, high school, and college students and teachers. Title: Marine Biology Webquest URL: http://www.ga.kl2.pa.us Grade Level: Kindergarten through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: Germantown Academy is an independent coeducational nondenominational day school geared toward prekindergarten through twelfth grade. The GAnet Web page is designed and maintained by

32

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

the students and faculty. Access to this Web site gives students the opportunity to help decipher important scientific information pertaining to life forms on the planet Tetramarina. A list of general resources ranging from bridge biology to killer whales is given to help students complete their quest. The manatee site contains information on myths and facts about the manatee, photographs, survey sheets, tracking information, protection tips for boaters, manatee links, manatee frequently asked questions, a manatee cam, and much, much more. This link is an excellent, authentic tool for helping students to become active learners in the classroom; however, I recommend the use of other links. Title: Enchanted Learning URL: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/label/biology.shtml Grade Level: Elementary school Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: This Web site has information about giraffe adaptations. When you click on the giraffe, it brings you to a diagram entitled "Label the Giraffe's Adaptations." W h e n you click on where the giraffe lives, it brings you to information on biomes and habitats. It then lists all the different habitats of other animals and provides information on adaptations. It is very easy to use and has a lot of information that a young user can follow. Title: Access Excellence, The National Health Museum Studying Living Organisms—Mimicry: A n Example of Adaptation URL: http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/WWC/1995/ mimicry.html Grade Level: Introductory high school biology Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation Review: This Web site consists of a lesson plan on adaptation for high school biology students and teachers. The lesson describes mimicry as one anti-predatory device found in nature, and defines its two forms: Batesian and Mullerian. Student objectives are included, such as comparing and contrasting adaptations, explaining the relationship between adaptation and ability for survival, and understanding the two types of mimicry adaptation. Also provided are vocabulary words, examples of mimicry, a student activity, follow-up discussion ideas, and reading selections. The lesson is well written and provides a

Resources in Biology

33

thorough learning experience for biology students who are studying adaptation. This Web site would be very helpful to high school biology teachers. Title: National Geographic for Kids URL: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngforkids/0201 Grade Level: Elementary school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology adaptation for kids Review: This Web site is written by National Geographic Magazine for Kids. W h e n you open the site, it gives you a list of terms that are used in the current issue of the magazine. You can either scroll through them or click on a letter to see the terms listed under that letter. This site also includes articles that appear in the current issue of the magazine, games, and pictures. Amino Acids Title: Reference Guide for Amino Acids URL: http://www.realtime.net/anr/aminoacd.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Amino acids Review: This site contains an overview as well as pertinent information about each and every essential and nonessential amino acid. If you scroll down to "overview," you will learn that amino acids are the "building blocks" of the body. This overview also explains what amino acids form and what they build. Scrolling down further, there is information provided for each amino acid. For example, if you look up "Tryptophan," you will find that it is a natural relaxant, as well as a list of its benefits and which amino acid it works best with. This site is a great help to those trying to get beyond the formula. It is much easier to understand the amino acids when you are presented with what they do before you proceed with learning the formula. Title: Bio Manual 1: Molecules & Cells; Section A: Biology Lesson URL: http://www.biologylessons.sdsu.edu/classes/lab7/lab7.html Grade Level: Kindergarten through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Amino acid lessons

34

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Review: Produced by numerous authors, this is a free Web site that offers exciting information about everything leading up to amino acids and beyond. It includes excellent visuals to explain the lessons and cells. As you scroll down the site, you will come to a detailed lesson that can be implemented and modified for kindergarteners to eighth graders. Details include time frame, questions to ponder, supplies (includes using food!), background information, and common ideas on animal and plant kingdoms (includes definitions that link to more information and colorful diagrams). This is followed by eight exercises: The first exercise involves questioning, directions, and pointers and includes detailed diagrams that help visualization. Exercise two provides a three-step instruction on how to understand dynamic cell simulation. Exercise three shows how to make a simulation, set up with distinctive directions, including table information and diagrams (which can be reproduced). The steps in this process are to learn the information through role playing. Exercise four is about harvesting energy from glucose in the mitochondrion and is similar to exercise three in its steps. Exercise five introduces you to reading the genetic code in the nucleus. Background information is given in five points, including links and tables. Directions are also given to instruct a game using this new information. Exercise six is preparing transfer RNAs (tRNAs) for synthesis. Again, background information is given that provides you with links on certain biology terms. Then directions and black-and-white illustrations are given to make models to play the game. Exercise seven details the final step with directions and questions, including labeled diagrams. Finally, exercise eight follows up with connections and review questions. Lists of supplementary resources are provided with links to their home pages. Related A A A S benchmarks are given. This is where it breaks down into grades: 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. In Section C: Cells, grades 9-12, benchmarks 3-8 involve the work of amino acid molecules. At the bottom of this Web site there are blue rectangles, on which you can click "search" to find information, "site map" to find concepts of this Web site, "about site" to find out about this site, and "evaluation" to see pop-up evaluations. This Web site is exciting and can involve any teacher's style. You can be as creative or bland as you desire. The activities have wonderful illustrations and experiments to give children the opportunity to learn. Title: Gondar Design Biology URL: http://www.purchon.net

Resources in Biology

35

Grade Level: Upper grade levels Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids Review: Nigel Purchon is the author and cyber teacher of this Web page created for students following the Edexcel Moducular As/A2 biology course. The content of this site offers a selection of information on cell biology index, chloroplasts, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum ribosomes, Golgi centrioles, amino acids, and much more. Clicking on amino acids gives the student access to a list of twenty biologically important amino acids, their structure, carboxylic acid group, general structural formula, and examples of different side chains. This Web site also gives the user other data, including information on ecology and biology links. Though this page is intended for specific students, it could be useful for anyone who is interested in some of the links offered; however, use of other links is strongly recommended. Title: Biochemistry Chem4Kids URL: http://www.chem4kids.com/files/bio_intro.html.enchantedlearning.com/label/biology.shtml Grade Level: Middle school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids Review: This is an excellent, very informative Web site that gives definitions and examples easily comprehended by children. It begins with a definition of biochemistry. Whether you click on "Next Tour Stop" or select from the list of words on the left, it goes through the list of words explaining each section. The first section is about carbohydrates, what they're used for, saccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, regular sugars, poly saccharides, cellulose, and glucose. Click again on "Next Tour Stop" and it discusses proteins and their structure. Click again and you get to the section on amino acids. You can keep clicking and it will continue through the list. If you go to the bottom of this Web page, you can click and branch off to other topics, such as geography for kids and basic chemistry. This site is very easy for children to use and I would recommend it to middle school teachers. Title: Kapili.com Amino Acid Structures URL: http://www.kapili.eom/a/aminoacidstruct.html Grade Level: High school

36

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Amino acids Review: This Web site provides a good introduction to amino acids. It starts off with a discussion of amino acid structures and the formation of proteins. The section on protein synthesis contains a link to a page that offers information on protein structures. The next discussion involves side groups and their role in determining the characteristics of the amino acid (ionic, polar, nonpolar). There are then lists of amino acids grouped according to characteristic. Clicking on the name of the amino acid will show its structure. Overall, this is a good Web site to get an idea of what amino acids are and how they are structured. It is colorful and the structures are very easy to read, but there is not much of an interactive nature to make it interesting. Title: Reference Guide for Amino Acids URL: http://www.realtime.net/anr/aminoacd.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids Review: When I typed in my key search words, this site wras recommended in its abstract as excellent for reference. The guide begins with an overview and information on the many essential and nonessential amino acids. A catalog of nutritional supplements is also included, along with instructions on how to reach the company who supplies this information. W h e n I clicked on the prompts for an essential amino acid, it simply gave a textbook definition. Title: Amino Acids URL: http://ntri.tamuk.edu/cell/chapter3/amino-acids.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids Review: This Web site is an excellent resource for high school students to use when they need information on amino acids. Created by the Natural Toxins Research Center at Texas A & M University, this site offers a lot of creative diagrams and an enormous amount of helpful information. A glossary of terms is also provided. While reviewing the information, the student can click on unfamiliar words and a definition pops up from the glossary. In addition, the Web site supplies a list of all the amino acids, which includes the name of the amino acid, its three-letter code, its one-letter code, and its linear structure

Resources in Biology

37

formula. Also, a colorful, detailed diagram of each amino acid is accessible with a simple click. This Web site includes another list of the amino acids in their subgroups: acidic, neutral—polar or neutral— and nonpolar. The general structure of an amino acid is also presented. This link offers a lot of information as well as an in-depth, colorful diagram of the general structure of an amino acid. All in all, this is a very helpful and educational Web site for high school students to use when looking for information on biology amino acids. Title: Amino Acids URL: http://www.purchon.net/cells/peptides.htm Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Amino acids Review: This Web site includes many of the existing amino acids and illustrates different formula makeups showing what each amino acid consists of. It explains that there are twenty biologically important amino acids, and provides their general structural formula. This Web site includes important facts, including that amino acids can be linked into chains called peptide bonds, that a molecule of two amino acids linked together are called dipeptides, and that a tripeptide is three amino acids linked together. This Web site provides a good review of amino acids at the high school level. Title: Kool Kid Stuff Science URL: http://www.koolkidstuff.com/frm_science.htm Grade Level: Elementary school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids for kids Review: This site is for elementary school students. It is easy to search through and has different pages for the various areas of science. It also has pages for experiments and the like. Title: Amino Acids URL: http://ntri.tamuk.edu/cell/chapter3/amino-acids.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.askjeeves.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids Review: Maintained by the Natural Toxins Research Center at Texas A & M University in Kingsville, Texas, this Web site provides a basic overview of the study of amino acids. Simple explanations and defini-

38

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

tions are furnished to acquaint the reader with knowledge of amino acids. Formulas and models are used to further illustrate these science concepts. The Web site also discusses how amino acids can be divided into subcategories and the specific characteristics needed for an amino acid to qualify for each category. A glossary of terms is included, as well as links to other Web sites. Biology teachers can use this site to review the basic terms or as an introduction to amino acids if it is supplemented with additional materials in class. Some prior knowledge of the topic may be useful in order to understand the information contained in this site. Title: Amino Acids URL: http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids Review: This Web site starts off by explaining the characteristics and structures of amino acids and describing them as elements that contain a carboxyl group and an amino group. It provides the general formula for an amino acid and lists the twenty amino acids derived from proteins. It also lists the various side chains: nonpolar, polar uncharged, and charged. As you scroll down, there is a table with the names of the amino acids, the standard abbreviations, and linear structures. When you click on one of these names—for example, lysine—it gives the formula for that particular amino acid and a brief description. Going back to the home page, there is a list of related topics on the right, some of which are: biochemistry, amino acid chirality, chemical structures, amino acid properties, and a beginner's guide to molecular biology. I clicked on the link entitled Amino Acid Properties and found a list of the properties of the R groups of the twenty amino acids in one-letter abbreviations, classified in one of the thirteen R groups. For more specific information, you can click on an abbreviation and you are told where you can view a protein structure or information on the biochemical functions of elements. This Web site is relatively easy to handle with links that are not too difficult to follow. I think this site is best for the high school or college chemistry student with some background on the subject; it doesn't seem appropriate for beginners. Title: Rothamsted Research URL: http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/aa.htm

Resources in Biology

39

Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology amino acids Review: This Web site is part of a larger program called the Molecular Biology Notebook, which, according to the Web site, is a "comprehensive package for the hands-on teaching of molecular biology." In addition to amino acids, there is information on the cell, mitosis, chromosomes, DNA, RNA, and translation. The section on amino acids includes a definition of amino acids and information and diagrams of amino acid side chains. There is also some information on peptide bonds. Links to other sites on amino acids are provided. Although the site claims to have been selected by science educators, it lacks depth and originality in the manner in which the information is provided. Anatomy Title: Thinkquest URL: http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside .html?tname=10348&url=10348 Grade Level: Ages eleven through sixteen Best Search Engine: http://www.askjeeves.com Key Search Words: Biology anatomy lessons Review: Body Quest is a free Web site that has won Internet awards from HMS Beagle Webpick and http://bonus.com. It opens with a warm welcome and a clear objective for the site's purpose. As you scroll down the vivid Web page, it is divided into six categories—Find, Experiment, Quiz, Tour, Interact, and Download—each of which offers multiple links. "Find" provides a list of information you can search by engine, alphabetically, by category, or by body map. The information entails a variety of anatomy designed listings of the human body. By clicking on one of these listings you will enter a link that provides an overview, content, and related sources. "Experiment" provides you with very simple activities that offer hands-on experience. Clicking into this link gives you the materials, procedure, and creative, further-thinking ideas to conduct the experiment. "Quiz" lets you take a simple multiple-choice quiz to test your knowledge on the human body. Furthermore, you are motivated to do well to have your name cited as a top scorer. "Tour" provides you a "straight to the point" link, which reviews the human body. "Interact" gives you a learning experience that is interactive; access to Java Body Viewer

40

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Applet is required to take a virtual tour through the human body. This is an exciting Web site that allows you be involved in the learning process about anatomy in multiple ways. "Download" enables you to copy all of the Body Quest content or even sustain a permanent copy. Furthermore, you can check out the credits, feedback, and get help by scrolling to the bottom of the screen and clicking on those subtitles. Title: Human Anatomy Online—InnerBody.com URL: http://innerbody.com/htm/body/html Grade Le^el:Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human anatomy Review: This is a very extensive Web site featuring many aspects of human anatomy. O n the right side of the screen, on the main page, is a very detailed description of how to use this Web site. O n the left side, there are ten icons that lead to information on the major body systems. Clicking one of these icons brings up a page containing a drawing of the selected system. Located across the drawing are a large number of red, blue, and yellow spots that, if clicked, produce a description of the item on the right side of the screen. Beneath the icons there are several more internal links, which lead to animations, images, and descriptions. Clicking one of these brings up an exhaustive list of topics to select from. There is also an internal search engine so that a specific subject can be located with ease. This Web site is very rich in information, while still being colorful, interesting, and easy to navigate. Title: Biology Help URL: http://www.indianchild.com/biology_help.htm Grade Le" and a colorful graphic representation of the molecules popped up on the screen. In the bottom left-hand corner, you can click on a written summary that explains the graphic. At the bottom of that page, you can click onto a syllabus of this now defunct course, as well as slides and other Web links. I decided to check out the links and discovered a page and a half of biology resources. The links listed are terrific and more current than this site—"The

110

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Visible Human Project" is phenomenal! It is worth your time to visit this site, if only to check out the other links available. Title: DNA, RNA, Protein Synthesis: The Revolution in Biology URL: http://www.blc.arizona.edu/INTERACTIVE/DNA3/genes2.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: DNA/RNA Review: This site gives explanations for D N A and RNA. It has a variety of experiments, visual illustrations, and even some animations. Even though this is a college site, it would be appropriate for high school students. From here you can access other related sites through the provided links. Title: DNA/RNA URL: http://www.teachersfirst.com/cnt-bio-e.htm Grade Level: Four through six Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Elementary DNA/RNA Review: This Web site is a resource for teachers and students of elementary school. It explains multiple science topics in a visual, accurate manner that teachers and students can utilize as a supplement and research resource. The main page is labeled "Elementary Biology," and there are multiple topics listed, from "Acid Rain in Your Back Yard?" (grades 1-4) to "Insects" (grades 5-8), and hundreds of others. Each category is a link to a student/teacher Web resource and each is given an approximate age-appropriate label. For example, the link "DNA— A n Instruction Manual—Grades 2-5" brings the reader to a page listing several topics concerning DNA, written in simple language and directed by color-coded sections, each having a navigation helix at the left. Titles include: "DNA: Life's Instruction Manual—Intro," "Zoom into DNA," "DNA is Information," and "How Does DNA Affect You?" When you click on each of these sections, simple visuals, movies, words, and illustrations guide the reader through an explanation of the topic. This is well done, and certainly is a resource that many teachers might want to have at their fingertips. Title: Biology DNA/RNA URL: http://www.mrcgene.com/ Grade Level: High school graduate Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com

Resources in Biology

111

Key Search Words: Biology, DNA, RNA Review: The home page of this Web site reads, "Welcome to Molecular Research Center, Inc. Explore our tools and techniques for the molecular biologist." Molecular Research Center, Inc., founded by P. Chomczynski, develops and manufactures innovative products for the isolation and analysis of RNA and DNA. In their words, it is a corporation "run by scientists for scientists," and they are continuously working on the development and improvement of molecular biology techniques. Beginning with the single-step method for RNA isolation, they have worked to simplify nucleic acid isolation protocols while providing improved recovery and sample purity. They have patented RNA and DNA extraction techniques that are recognized around the world for their performance, reliability, and costeffectiveness. The links available on this page are: RNA Isolation, DNA Isolation, Electrophoresis & Hybridization, Polypropylene Tubes, Product and Price List, To Place an Order, Information Request, Technical Help, MRC Technical Bulletins, MSDS, International Distributors, and Search This Site/Site Map. Title: Beginner's Guide to Molecular Biology URL: http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/ Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://hotbot.com Key Search Words: DNA/RNA, education Review: This Web site would be very helpful to a student who is new to the field of molecular biology. It begins with definitions, discusses various other topics like mitosis and meiosis, and then it goes on to DNA. To understand DNA/RNA, you must first understand the other parts of molecular biology. This site doesn't just discuss one component of molecular biology, but the entire field, which allows students to refer back to past topics so that they can understand new information. Title: The Central Dogma of Biology URL: http://esg-www.mit.edu:8001/esgbio/dogma/dogma.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: DNA/RNA Review: This Web site is for college-level students. The first page could be a little more colorful, but when you begin to move through the Web site, it gets better. Navigation is easy because it has hyperlinks in the

112

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

text. There are no icons, but the pictures are clear and to the point. It's easy to maneuver around the Web site because it has "next" and "previous" buttons on the bottom of the home page, along with a directory. Title: DNA/RNA URL: http://www.ultranet.com/~jkimball/BiologyPages Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: DNA/RNA Review: This Web site describes the Gene Expression Transcription. It has an electron micrograph showing transcription of ribosomal RNA gene clusters. There are approximately two pages of information on this Web site. Title: Molecular Biology Notebook URL: http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: DNA/RNA Review: This is a "comprehensive package of hands-on teaching of molecular biology," created in England. O n the left side, there are several links: Home, Courses, Products, MBN Zone, Forum, Web Resources, and URL. There are thirteen categories of biology in the center of the page. These range from "life" to molecular engineering. In the DNA and RNA areas, there is information accompanied by graphics. There are links to other related Web sites, and an area where you can add related URL Web pages. Visitors are provided the opportunity to chat with other people in the forum. This appears to be a helpful site for teachers of biology to use in conjunction with other curriculum materials on the subject. Title: D N A — R N A URL: http://pc65.frontier.osrhe.edu/hs/science/hbio.htm Grade Level: Primarily high school, also advanced placement middle school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: DNA/RNA Review: This is a wonderful site for classroom teachers and students. It is the entire course all done for you! When you enter, you can click on the course outline by week. It includes the lesson, vocabulary for that lesson

Resources in Biology

113

along with detailed definitions, reference links, computer assignments, and interactive labs that explain the procedure for the students and leave a spot for observations and conclusions. It is a master teacher's plan for teaching a unit on DNA/RNA. It is supported with diagrams and understandable explanations and examples. This is a teacher's dream. There are homework assignments, rubrics for grading . . . everything you need to effectively teach this unit or give yourself enough background on the subject to be able to teach it. This is a great site for the teacher who is trying to infuse technology into the classroom! Title: Nucleic Acid Structure and Function URL: http://www.biochem.uwo.ca/meds/medna/default.html Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: D N A and RNA Review: This Web site provides information about DNA chemistry, DNA structure, base pairing, RNA, tRNA, mRNA, and sRNA. By clicking on the corresponding button at the top of the page, you can get the description and drawings of the topics discussed. At the end of the page, you can send your comments or questions about the site by clicking on the e-mail address provided. Title: Biology DNA/RNA URL: http://www.mrcgene.com Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: DNA/RNA Review: This is a Web site called "Molecular Research Center, Inc." It has topics on DNA/RNA, message boards and bulletins, and you are also able to order products. This is a very good site for anyone researching or seeking information on DNA/RNA. Title: DNA, RNA, and Protein: Life at Its Simplest URL: http://www.postmodern.com/-jka/rnaworld/nfrna/nfrnadefed.html Grade Level: Advanced placement high school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: DNA and RNA Review: As the title of this Web site implies, these molecules do represent the simplest, yet most fundamental, building blocks of our lives and the "central dogma of molecular biology." The home page opens to a

114

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

brief series of basic definitions of DNA and RNA, with numerous link options arising from words included in the definitions. For example, when the word "nucleus" is selected, a large, detailed diagram of a cell appears, along with text and links to the following areas: RNA and DNA, Cells, RNA World, and Origins and Scientific Writing. These topics may also be selected using the icons displayed. The "RNA and DNA" link returns visitors to the home page. The "Cells" link transports to a detailed cell diagram and provides many links to relevant college preparatory topics and readings. The "RNA World" link, however, presents in time-line fashion, a summation of who (and what, when, and where) aided in the progressive discovery of RNA information. Two of the subheadings included here give a representative idea of the content within, namely: "The RNA World: History of an Idea, A n Idea of History," and "Origins of Life and the RNA World: Never Underestimate the Power of Soup." In the "Origins" link, one can find a description of RNA and DNA functions, noting their interdependence. The last link, "Scientific Writings," features three choices: Write, Draw, or Science. The first option routes visitors to recent writings published by University of California-Santa Cruz graduates, in the journal, Science Notes. The second option enables visitors to view information about a graduate-level certificate program designed for students who wish to pursue a career in science illustration or acquire the skills to illustrate their own scientific papers. From the home page, visitors may highlight a link entitled "Diagram of DNA," but instead will be redirected to its new site: http://outcast.gene.eom/ae//AB/GG/rna.html. Progressing down the home page, the student reaches a link with the intriguing title of "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about DNA, RNA, and Proteins!" Who could resist following up on this tempting offer? Once selected, this section is alternately fascinating and frustrating. The fascination emanates from the scope of the topics included: DNA Structure and the Genetic Code (which guides you through locating information on DNA, to transcription to messenger RNA, to the translation of mRNA to polypeptides, to posttranslational processing, to the transport of protein to the appropriate parts of the cell, to protein degradation), Cell Biology Background (which includes many wonderful practice problem scenarios), Transcription, Translation, Notes and Discussions in Protein Synthesis, Targeting and Transport of Proteins, and Protein Degradation (which was being updated but still worked well and included access to current literature and reviews on this topic). The frustrating part emerges when some of the links

Resources in Biology

115

and sublinks fail to materialize. These unattainable connections hail from prestigious locations including, but not limited to, the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland), Birkbeck College, and West Georgia College. Overall, this Web site offers a composite blend of basic knowledge, current literature review, and more advanced topic information. Although some of the links are maddeningly inaccessible, others provide a series of connections that can lead to more focused study of the topic and/or the exploration of closely related items. The amount of information this Web site has or can link to is truly noteworthy, though this is not surprising when dealing with such complex and newsworthy topics as RNA and DNA. Embryology Title: Amphibian Embryology URL: http://worms.zoology.wise.edu/frogs/welcome.html Grade Level: Undergraduate college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Embryology Review: A professor from the Department of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin, Jeff Hardin, has developed this Web resource, which is a tutorial to aid the study of morphogenetic events during early amphibian development. Professor Hardin clearly states that it is not a replacement for class, lab, or textbook, but is a supplement to those resources. This tutorial is divided into five sections: Why Study Amphibians? Oogenesis/Fertilization, Cleavage, Gastrulation, and Neurulation. It is apparent that the material presented in each section is designed for the college-level science major. The visuals are excellent and the material appears to be in-depth information that has been presented in the classroom setting and is reviewed on this Web site. This appears to be a resource that the biology student might want to bookmark. Title: University of Pennsylvania Health System URL: http://www.med.upenn.edu/meded/public/berp/ Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Embryology Review: This site is great! It is an extremely visual site devoted entirely to embryology. There is visual and factual information of each stage of embryonic development. It even offers movies, for which you must

116

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

have QuickTime plug-in installed (the link to download this is provided for you). Title: Carnegie Institute Department of Embryology URL: http://www.ciwemb.edu Grade Level: Graduate college Best Search Engine: http://overture.com Key Search Word: Embryology Review: This site opens to reveal the title, "Carnegie Institute Department of Embryology," at the top of the page. To the left is a photo of the founder of the institution, Dale Carnegie. Just below the photo is a list of general information about the Carnegie Institute, embryology, the staff, seminars, jobs, and other links. To the right of this list is today's date and an introduction to the Department of Embryology, which includes a notation that the Carnegie Institute of Washington is affiliated with the Department of Anatomy at Johns Hopkins University. Also included is an overview of the staff, graduate courses, and postgraduate training opportunities. I decided to return to the top of the page and to click on the Department of Embryology, where I discovered that this department is supposed to investigate the study of the human embryo and the specifics "in the expression of genes through development, in growth and regulation of cell membranes." When I decided to check out the topics listed on the left side of the page, I discovered an up-to-date schedule of upcoming weekly seminars, complete with titles, names of the presenter, and contact information regarding reservations. After checking this out, I decided to investigate Web Links, another item in the column on the left-hand site of the page. There were more than fifteen bio-related links listed on this page. Next, I clicked on the graduate and postdoctoral training opportunities. This gave an overview of the graduate program, a list of staff and associates, and information for postgraduate candidates. Overall, I was disappointed in this site. It is not very informative about embryology, although the institute originally set up that study in 1914. It now concentrates on molecular and cellular levels of biology. Title: Welcome to the Amphibian Embryology Tutorial URL: http://worms.zoology.wisc.edu/frogs/welcome.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://hotbot.com Key Search Words: Embryology, education

Resources in Biology

117

Review: This Web site was created as a supplemental resource for students in university undergraduate classes. It breaks down embryology into different levels, such as fertilization, cleavage, gastrulating, and inoculation. In the beginning of every topic it gives an introduction, shows pictures of the topic to be learned, and then provides links for more information. Then the site guides you to the next topic of embryology. Though this is a tutorial for students, I feel it might be too advanced for some students. Title: Embryology in the Classroom URL: http://ulisse.cas.psu.edu/4hembryo/index.html Grade Level: Two through high school (includes teacher/project leader information) Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Embryology Review: This Web site, supported by the Pennsylvania State College of Agricultural Sciences and the 4-H Club, is designed to "assist educators in becoming more familiar with the details of embryonic development." The opening page provides an overview of the options this Web site provides and an explanation of what the study of embryology includes. Two separate formats are offered: (a) for grades two and above, a hatching classroom project, and (b) for grades six and above, experiments in poultry science module. At the conclusion of the introduction are several links. The first link, "Embryology and the National Science Standards," lists five key National Science Standard objectives and then defines, in "bulleted" fashion, how these programs will address and meet each objective. The next link describes the experiential learning model, where "students do handson activities, then reflect on the meaning and apply what they learned." This technique incorporates active learning on the student's part and demonstrates how this learning relates to the world around them. According to the site, "It also helps students answer questions such as "Why should I learn this?" and "Now that I know this, what do I do next?" The key steps outlined are: experiencing, sharing, processing, generalizing, and applying. The third link, entitled "Life Skill Development," details how planning and organization, keeping records, and teamwork are valuable skills that can serve to guide students throughout many aspects of their lives. The fourth and final link from the introduction addresses the science skills, that "represent the scientific thinking and process skills that are essential to scientific inquiry," such as observing, comparing and

118

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

measuring, relating, and applying. Returning to the top of the home page, one notices a sidebar with more hands-on options to select from. The first category listed is "Teacher Resources: What You Need to Know to Have a Successful Project." This section was chock-full of practical hints and suggestions regarding important procedures, the eggs themselves, incubators, the incubation process, and brooding the hatched chicks. The "Going Further" option listed examples of other factors that might affect egg hatching and/or development, such as egg age, temperature of incubation, the effect of turning the eggs during incubation, egg position, egg size vs. chick weight, shell porosity and relative humidity, and how one might begin to investigate these variables. "Fun for Kids" included a kid's science page, a virtual 4-H farm in Virginia option (requires a Shockwave download, which is provided by the Web site), and an "All About Chickens" page, designed as a beginning guide for third and fourth graders. "After School for Kids" should appeal to a middle school clientele, as it features Web sites more suitable for that age group and uses graphics and colors effectively to spark their interest and curiosity. The remaining two sections are designed primarily for teachers and project leaders. The first, "4-H Cooperative Curriculum System" asks the visitor to choose a U.S. state and then provides an ordering catalogue for products relevant to many of the experiments or demonstrations inspired by the 4-H programs. "News and Resources" describes ongoing on-line projects. Information about the organization can be obtained by selecting the "About 4-HCCS" option. The final sidebar lists a variety of links one can pursue, in embryology or related topics, such as more teacher resources, a section for FAQs (frequently asked questions), animal rights, poultry information, etc. In summary, this Web site delivered a fairly comprehensive overview of embryology as it applies to poultry, in a format for a variety of age levels. It also provided numerous experimental strategies that students (with supervision) could conduct, observe, and draw conclusions from. The focus and intent of this Web site remained true to its opening statement regarding the intent of its design: to have students do hands-on learning, reflect on its meaning, and then apply what they have learned. Title: Welcome to Virtual Embryology URL: http://www.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp/multimed/VE/VE.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com

Resources in Biology

119

Key Search Word: Embryology Review: This is an interesting Web site with some fascinating photographs and moving videos of embryos at various stages of development. Though this site is currently under construction, you can maneuver your way around to an introduction, biographical information about its creators, and then links to videos or still photographs of a variety of embryos. The home page has six major links, including: "What is Virtual Embryology?" (leads to a definition of virtual embryology and some photographs), "Why Virtual Embryology?" "How the Images Come—Photographs of Equipment Used," "What Can You Touch and See?" "Definition of 3D Surface View and Dissected View," "Who Made It?" (links to the Web site's creators), and "Reference." High school and college students might find this Web site valuable. The graphics are very sophisticated and they will be able to see the growth of an actual embryo. Title: Human Fertilization and Embryology URL: http://www.hfea.gov.uk/ Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Human embryology Review: Originated in England, this site discusses many different causes of infertility. It explains the technical wording and tells of clinic locations. It also gives patient information, recent reports, and codes of practice. This is a very informative site. Title: The Visible Embryo URL: http://216.25.5.90/baby/ Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com Key Search Words: Human embryology development Review: This site was designed to provide information on human development. At the top of the page, you can go to "chalk talk" and share drawings relevant to understanding of early embryology and related topics. Next, you can click on the "links" icon and go to the best sites for basic science in embryology. If you click on the next button, it will take you to the glossary and bibliography. You can also enter a chat room and discuss topics related to embryology and human development. Moving to the next button, you can find games, information about the company responsible for the design of the Web page, and the "subscription site" button. O n the right side of the home page,

120

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

you can see the following buttons: Join, guest book, sponsorship information, and site user agreement. Right in the center of the page there is a picture of a spiral representing the twenty-three stages occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy and every two weeks of the second and third trimesters. You can use the spiral to navigate throughout the forty weeks of pregnancy and see the changes in each stage of human development. Title: Introduction to Animal Development URL: http://worms.zoology.wisc.edu/frogs/welcome.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Embryology Review: Jeff Hardin, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, designed this Web site for Zoology 470—Introduction to Animal Development. Although this is a university site, it is an excellent resource for upper-level high-school students. There are graphics, photos, and movies that make the site very interesting. There are three categories: fish, amphibians, and echinoderms, all which are embryology tutorials. A n extensive glossary of terms is also included. Hardin describes this Web site as a tool to implement computer-based learning for the undergraduate students on a university level. It is designed to supplement in-class instruction. Some areas are still under construction, but there is still plenty of information currently on the site to make it worth your while. Title: Human Embryology URL: http://www.med.uc.edu/embryology/ Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, DNA, RNA Review: This Web site contains information relevant to human development and genetics and its application to clinical practice. It was designed to support the current editions of Human Embryology and Essentials of Human Embryology (W. J. Larsen, Churchill Livingstone, Inc.), and to assist students and teachers of human embryology in keeping abreast of this new knowledge by providing links to: animations of developmental processes, self-testing exercises, updates and links, instructor's manual, and a link to send your comments and suggestions.

Resources in Biology

121

Endocrine System Title: Endocrine System URL: http://www.innerbody.com/image/endoov.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system for children Review: This Web site is a great way for kids of all ages to learn about the endocrine system. It opens with a shadow picture of the human body. Shown in color, on the body, are the different glands and organs of the endocrine system (pituitary gland, thyroid and parathyroid glands, thymus gland, adrenal gland, pancreas, ovary, and testes). By moving the cursor across the body and onto the colored glands and organs, the names of the items pop up. If you click on the gland or organ, you are taken to a new page with information on that particular item. It is a great site for children to review where the different parts of the endocrine system are located and what it is they do. The site is very easy to follow and also provides links to find out information on other body systems and biological topics. This is definitely a worthwhile site to use when teaching about the human body's systems. Title: Endocrine System URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/organ.html Grade Level: Three through six Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system & kids Review: This is an interesting site for kids that explains how the nervous system interacts with other body systems. The endocrine system is drawn, there is a description of the function, associated organs, and an explanation of how it interacts with the nervous system. This is a well-designed site that is geared for children under the heading, "Neuroscience Resources for Kids—Body System Interaction." There are not many Web sites that explain the subjects at an elementary level. This is definitely one that would work. Title: Endocrine System URL: http://www.syvum.com/quizzes/biology/ Grade Level: Seven through ten Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology and Endocrine System

122

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Review: This site contains a collection of biology quiz activities and games for several human organ systems. Activities are included for the sense organs, circulatory system, respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, excretory system, and the endocrine system. Click on the desired human organ system and you are linked directly to the endocrine system. The activity is available in four formats: (1) multiple choice with five questions per quiz, (2) fill-in-the-blanks format with five questions per quiz, (3) match-the-columns format with six questions per quiz, and (4) "thrillionaire" game (multiple-choice format). Suggestions are given to first study the preparation material through a series of multiple-choice questions, then play the "thrillionaire" game, and finally try to match the column formats. Further suggestions encourage visitors to test their recall of the material through the fill-in-the-blanks format. Clicking on one of the four format options links you to the designated quiz about the endocrine system in the desired format. Further options are available to score your test results, score and show the correct answers, try another set of questions, or try the activity in other formats. Clicking on another link allows you to create your own quizzes with images, hints, and explanations. A directory link has been included with each quiz to define any word in question on any of the available quizzes. It is a unique approach to learning about the endocrine system (as well as the other human organ systems offered). The questions asked are a representative sampling of facts and critical-thinking skills to learn about the endocrine system. I was suitably impressed with the thoroughness and level of complexity of the information presented. The number and variety of links available to the viewer allows multiple ways to learn about and reinforce an understanding of the endocrine system, as well as track your own knowledge of the subject matter. Title: Endocrine System URL: http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/body/pg000133.html Grade Level: Six Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Children, endocrine system Review: This Web site is part of the Discovery Channel Web site and is excellent for children. It contains animations, colorful graphics, and lots of information on a wide range of topics concerning the body systems and functions. The page about the endocrine system provides information in a manner that even fairly young children would be able to understand. The site also has quite a lot of activities and ex-

Resources in Biology

123

periments, as well as some on-line games and craft ideas. Overall, this site would assist children in the study of the body and parts therein by allowing them to learn the information in a fun and exciting way. Title: A Body Basics Article: Endocrine System URL: http://kidshealth.org/teen/health_problems/library/ endocrine_p5 .html Grade Level: Seven through nine Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system, kids Review: This Web site was immediately appealing to me because it is particularly geared towards teens who are interested in the endocrine system. At the top of the first page, it asks if there are any questions that the student may have. Keywords can be entered, and a quick search is done. I really liked that the endocrine system was broken down for the student so that each subject was addressed separately. All of the diseases, conditions, disorders, and dysfunctions are addressed on this Web site in a clear and concise manner (adrenal insufficiency, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus types 1 & 2, gigantism, growth hormone deficiency, hyperthyroidism, and precocious puberty). This site is user-friendly and has links to other areas of education about the endocrine system, including why the endocrine is essential for living and a glossary of words that are used throughout the site. Title: The Endocrine System URL: http://www.innerbody.com/image/endoov.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: I clicked on the link from Metacrawler and was prepared for complete disappointment, but as I waited for the page to load, I realized I'd hit the jackpot. This page is a diagram of the body in black, with certain illustrated body parts shown in color. As you navigate the cursor over the body parts, words that define a specific function in the endocrine system are illuminated, such as thyroid glands, pancreas, etc. This is just fun! After a while, I looked at the links listed below the diagram: endocrine system overview, stomach and gallbladder, and kidney/blood filtering. The endocrine system link gives a brief but excellent description of the system, its function (producing hormones), and its importance. The other two links bring you to pages

124

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

that are similar to the one with the diagram and illuminated body parts. They are really fun to explore, as well. Each page lists more links under the diagrams. There are a few more buttons under the list of links on the endocrine system page: systems, images, descriptions, animations, and search. The system link opens to a page with ten systems, including the endocrine system. Just click on the pictures and you can explore any system you'd like. The images link opens to an appendix which lists the following items: A Gutsy View, Appendix, Arm and Leg Muscles (cut views), Artery and Vein Tissues, Birth (8-10 centimeters dilated), Birth (delivery, normal vs. breech, and right after), Brain (cut and surface view), Brain/Motor Interaction, Brain/Sensory Interaction, Bronchial Alveolus, Cardiovascular System, Cell Stage to Fetus, Cochlea and Cortex, Coronary Bypass (heart/leg view), Corrective Lenses, Cross-Section of a Bone, Dental Bridges & Caps, Dental Cavities, Dental Fillings, Dental Plaque, Dermatomes, Diaphragm, Digestive System, Elbow (ligament, muscular, and skeletal views), Endocrine System, Eye Muscle Control, Eye's Rods and Cones (cut view), Facial Nerves, Female Breast (cut view), Female Midsagittal Section, Female Reproductive System, Fetus (first, second, and third trimesters, and inside the womb), Hand (bones, ligaments, muscles), Heart (surface view), Heart Pace Maker, Hip (ligament, muscular, and skeletal views), Hip Joint Replacement, Intestine (cut view), Joints and Mechanical Equivalents, Kidney Blood Filtering, Knee (cut view), Knee (ligament, muscular and skeletal views), Liver, Logical/Creative Brain Halves, Lymph Node, Lymphatic System, Male Midsagittal Section, Male Reproductive System, Motor/Sensory Brain Cortices, Mouth, Muscle Cell Types, Muscular System (back and front views), Nerve Cells, Nervous System, Pancreas Gland, Penis (cut view), Pituitary Gland, Pregnant Uterus (midsagittal view), Push/Pull Muscle Examples, Shoulder (ligament, muscular, and skeletal views), Skeletal System (back and front views), Skin (cut view), Skull (inside view), Skulls of Baby and Adult (above and side views), Spine (cut view), Spine, Vertebra and Disk, Spleen, Stomach and Gallbladder, Suprarenal (Adrenal) Gland, Teeth, Testicle, Sperm Production, Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands, Tongue (taste areas), Tooth (cut view), Types of Bone Fractures, Urinary System, Uterus, and Ovary and Egg Fertilization. There is a similar list accompanying the description link, which is actually about thirty pages long. W h e n you click on the links on this index, it takes you to a short blurb about the topic. Sometimes these descriptions are a sentence, sometimes a paragraph. They are all in-

Resources in Biology

125

teresting and the list covers pretty much everything you've ever wanted to know. The animation link consists of the following index: Mouth and Throat (cut view), Capillary, Cardiovascular System, Ear (cut view), Fields of Vision, Heart (cut view), Lungs (cut view), Nasal Passages (cut view), and Nerve/Muscle Connection. Finally, the search link allows you to search the entire inner-body Web site, which is fantastic. The endocrine system material is easy and fun to play around with. The rest of the information is also a lot of fun and equally as useful when discussing the human body. This site has great diagrams and interactive things for young students as well as informative descriptions for older students. This is an awesome Web site! Title: The Pathophysiology of the Endocrine System URL: http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/ Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: I was very impressed with this Web site. From the home page, "The Pathophysiology of the Endocrine System," one can see all the information it provides. Available are an introduction and guide, contributors, hypertext book menu, glossary, and index. Choices such as "Fundamental Concepts in Endocrinology," "A Tour of the Endocrine System," and "Endocrine Regulation of Physiologic Processes" are each bulleted with a various number of subtitles. Each subtitle leads to detailed information and descriptions with several links to pictures and charts. This Web site reaches out to all different types of learners through its written descriptions and identifiable illustrations. Title: The Endocrine System URL: http://www.innerbody.com/image/endoov.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.infoseek.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system for kids Review: I liked this site for its simplicity. W h e n kids look on the Web for information, many times they are overwhelmed by the mass amounts of jargon and text. This site consists of a silhouette of the human body with the components of the endocrine system clearly labeled. The simplicity in the presentation of the information made it very understandable and provided great clarity. The site also linked to a box that described the functions of the endocrine system and more of

126

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

an explanation to complement the picture. I would recommend this site for a student of any age. It would be a good anticipatory set used to introduce a lesson. Title: The Yuckiest Site on the Internet URL: http://www.yucky.kids.discovery.com Grade Level: Elementary through middle school Best Search Engine: http://www.yahooligans.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: This was the best site that I came across to teach kids about the endocrine system. It is very colorful and interesting from the first look. The Web site is entitled "The Yuckiest Site on the Internet," so it catches your attention immediately. It poses questions and then states the answer. There is a picture that helps you determine what the endocrine system is. You can also go to other parts of the site that show you yucky and fun games, and "gross and cool" body information. If you have any questions about a topic, there is a section called "Ask Wendell," where you can ask your own questions about science or view other previously asked questions. I had fun playing around with this site, so I am sure that any younger student would too. It is very appealing to the eye and an easy Web site to navigate to find information. Overall, I think this is the best one I have found yet. Title: A Body Basics Article: Endocrine System URL: http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/endocrine.html Grade Let>el: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: This was an article discussing the endocrine system for parents, but it could be used for high school or college students to learn about this topic. It starts out by answering why the endocrine system is important for living and the effects that it has on our bodies. It then discusses what glands and body parts make up this system. What I liked about this article is that it gave a picture of the body and showed where the glands are, so as you are reading about each gland, you can see exactly where it is in the body. It also went into detail about what each gland does. Another section of this article discusses diseases, conditions, disorders, and dysfunctions associated with the endocrine system, such as diabetes insipidus, gigantism, or hypothyroidism. These also include more details about them, what they are, and how they are caused. There was a glossary at the end of this article, which was helpful in pro-

Resources in Biology

127

viding definitions of various words that some might not know. This is a good article if you just want a brief overview of what the endocrine system is and some effects it might have on the body. Title: Brain Pop URL: http://www.brainpop.com/health/endocrine/endocrine/index.weml Grade Level: Five through eight Best Search Engine: http://ajkids.com Key Search Words: What is the endocrine system? Review: What an interesting site! Animation makes it an attention getter for middle school students. A movie on the topic is available for viewing, as well as an extensive animated section that answers all those questions a prepubescent teenager might avoid asking! A quiz is available to check your students for understanding. This site has plenty of information and animated movies on many health and science-related topics, so it is definitely worth a Web site bookmark. Title: Pathophysiology of the Endocrine System URL: http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/ Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: This page is basically the "Who's W h o of the Endocrine System," complete with a glossary and index of the terms used in the site. The first page is set up as follows: Fundamental Concepts in Endocrinology; Hormones, Receptors, and Control Systems; Mechanisms of Hormone Action: A Tour of the Endocrine System; Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland; Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands; Adrenal Glands; Endocrine Pancreas; Gastrointestinal Hormones; Other Endocrine Tissues and Hormones Endocrine Regulation of Physiologic Processes; Endocrine Regulation of Fuel Metabolism; Hormonal Control of Calcium Homeostasis; Food Intake, Body Weight and Obesity. Each of these separate links takes you to a page with sublinks. For example, the Hormones, Receptors, and Control Systems link takes you to a page that discusses the subject, but at the bottom is a section that states: "Core concepts related to hormones and receptors are presented in the following topics: Overview of Endocrinology; Hormones, Receptors and Target Cells; Hormone Chemistry, Synthesis, and Elimination; Control of Endocrine Activity Advanced and Supplemental Topics on Fundamental Endocrinology; Steroidogenesis." This is a very thorough and informational site

128

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

that should be viewed by anyone looking to know more about biology. This is an upper-level Web site, not one for younger students. Take some time and by the end of it all you'll be very fluent on the topic of the endocrine system. Title: Biology Endocrine System URL: http://encarta.msn.com Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: It took some time to find a site I thought was sufficient for this subject. Some were too complex and some were too brief. This one is clear, concise, and easily understood, but for older children. It is presented in outline format, can be easily explained, and includes some pictures. It also offers the student connections for further information or more pictures if required. It begins with an introduction and describes how endocrines are a group of specialized organs and tissues that produce, store, and secrete chemical substances known as hormones. Hormones transfer information from cell to cell; some of the things hormones control are body growth, development, tissues, pregnancy, and metabolism. They have no ducts and release secretions directly into the bloodstream, whereas their counterpart, the exocrine glands, control salivary and sweat glands released into target areas only. The next section begins with the history of the endocrine system and how the first anatomical descriptions began in ancient Greece. It also explains endocrinology as the study of the endocrine systems and how it is now a very important branch of modern medicine. The components of the endocrine system are: hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pineal body and reproductive organs, ovary and testis, and also the pancreas. This is a very basic overview of the subject that is presented in an extremely organized and easy-to-understand manner. Title: Endocrine Diseases URL: http://www.ohsu.edu/cliniweb/C19/C19.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Endocrine Review: CliniWeb International created this Web site, which deals with all the different endocrine diseases. It provides hundreds of links to sites that deal with the different diseases one could get relating to the

Resources in Biology

129

endocrine system. In clicking on these links, one could find out the different therapies and read about the diagnosis. For instance, clicking on "neoplastic endocrine-like syndromes" will take you to many other links, such as "difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of ectopic ACTH-producing tumors of the chest" and "an ectopic A C T H producing carcinoid tumor localized by the measurement of A C T H in the bronchial lavage." Although the layperson would have no idea what this means, this site does provide a sense of the different diseases one could get in their endocrine system. Title: The Endocrine System URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/ BiobookENDOCR.html Grade Level: Eight and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: This is part of an educational Web site for biology. It is an interactive mixture of chemical equations, definitions, and vivid diagrams of many cells. This site shows great illustrations of examples that are part of the chemical makeup of the endocrine system. In addition, the definitions provided are easy to read like a glossary, and you can do a keyword search in the glossary, even though it is a separate part of the Web site. The evolution of the endocrine system is also outlined in this helpful chapter. The reader is also provided with links while reading through each section. This site is outlined thoroughly and will provide any person with the information they are looking for. There is even a section on steroids, and illustrations that show the endocrine system in females and males. This site is wonderful and extremely educational. I learned more about the endocrine system just by visiting this Web site than from any health or anatomy class I've ever taken. I think any person who works out should visit this site; it is very helpful and can provide a gym-goer with important information. Title: Endocrine System: Table of Contents URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookENDOCR.html#tableofcontent Grade Level: Nine through eleven Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: This Web site is very user friendly and easy to navigate. It also appealed to me because it contains a very useful glossary for words that

130

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

students may have a problem with. They could access the glossary directly from the text. The Web site also contains detailed illustrations that would aid students who are visual learners. This concept is great. The illustrations are used in conjunction with the text to solidify the concepts of the subject. The topic is broken down into the primary components of the endocrine system. This will enable the student to focus on specific information whenever he or she needs it. The Web site also contains other vital information, such as the diseases and disorders associated with the endocrine system as well as links to other areas where information may be obtained. Title: Those Powerful Hormones URL: http://ericir.syr.edu/cgibin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/ Science/Anatomy/AN A0005 .html Grade Level: Ten Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Lesson Plans and Endocrine System Review: I absolutely love this Web site for high school kids learning about the endocrine system. I think it is so in-depth with such helpful information, without going overboard in the overwhelming sense to anyone who is not a science guru. It includes a three-day lesson plan on the beginnings of teaching the endocrine system to high school students. The description and goal written at the beginning of the lesson says: "Description: This unit plan is designed to introduce high school students to the Endocrine System of the human body and help them realize its powerful influence in their lives. Goal: Students will understand the importance of the endocrine system to the normal functioning of the human body." The first day's lesson begins with some background knowledge on the endocrine system to start students thinking in the right direction. This is followed by a fun activity for the kids to do in which they get to draw the human body placing different parts of the system inside their drawing. This really puts the endocrine system into perspective for them. Then there is a follow-up activity and a homework assignment for them to be working on over the next few days. The lesson on the second day begins with group work. That's always fun! The students are split into groups, each of which is assigned a specific part of the endocrine system. They must become experts and then teach the rest of the class all about what they have learned. This is followed up by a discussion with some ideas to push their thinking. Then the homework is assigned, which is just reading and keeping up with the previous day's

Resources in Biology

131

assignment. The lesson for the last day of this unit is mostly direct instruction. The teacher leads a discussion through very interesting questions and ideas about what the students learned the two previous days. They are asked to put together all of the knowledge they have learned and use it toward furthering their knowledge. Then, all of the students share their findings from their homework and they discuss it all together. I really liked this Web site when I read these lesson plans because I think it gives fun, in-depth ways of learning about the endocrine system for high school sophomores. I think high school science students have trouble learning because so much information is compacted into so little time. But with ideas like these, and having one unit spread throughout a three-day lesson, I think high school students can learn a lot more. Title: The Endocrine System URL: http://www.gened.emc.Maricopa.edu Grade Level: Six through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Endocrine system Review: This site has a table of contents that breaks down the endocrine system from hormones to biological cycles and anything related to this system. It provides both an illustration and a written description on each topic. The illustrations are animated with movement to help students understand easier. This Web site can be used as both a review and an introduction. It is also good for the teacher to use while explaining the lesson since it offers simple but explicit illustrations. This Web site also provides links to other endocrine Web sites. Evolution—Theories Title: Biology—Evolution—Theories URL: http://suhep.phy.syr.edu/courses/modules/ORIGINS/origins.html Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Evolution Review: This site, established and maintained by Syracuse University, is a comprehensive directory of sources related to the evolution vs. creationism debate. It is divided into nine subdirectories: Evolution Directory, Newsgroup (http://usenet-talk.origins.org), Archive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Files (http://usenet-talk.origins .org), Creationist Sites, Some Other Links on Evolution vs. Cre-

132

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

ationism, Other Evolution Links, Television Series on Evolution, Selected Books by Charles Darwin, and Selected Books on Evolution. Each of these subdirectories provides a list of bulleted items pertinent to its topic, additional links for further examination and study, additional references and/or bibliographies to support and critique these theories, and hyperlinks to further educate the reader on this controversial issue. This site is a good source of information for learning about the theories of both evolution and creationism. The directory seeks to offer an objective presentation of each theory and provides the reader with numerous resources and links to further his or her study. Title: Biology Evolution Theories URL: http://www.hoflink.eom/~house/evolution.html#anchor43566 Grade Level: Middle school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology evolution, theories Review: Created by Ken House and Carol O'Keefe House, this Web site is a great place to begin research on evolution. It is a "Biology Website of References for Students and Teachers: Evolution and Population Genetics." Provided is a table of contents that includes: Basics; Evidence of Evolution; Evolution, Theories, Concepts; Fossil Records; Geologic Eras, Ages; Populations, Genetics, Microevolution; and Origin of Life. Each of these categories, when clicked on, supplies a lengthy alphabetized list of Web sites to choose from and visit. This page is just a link to other Web sites pertaining to one's interest, which is why there is a range for grade level, because the Web sites can be geared to a variety of ages. Title: Evolution on the Web for Biology Students URL: http://www.iup.edu/~rgendron/bil 12-a.htmlx Grade Level: Seven through college Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Biology evolution Review: This Web site is a great interactive way to explain evolution to biology students. Of course, it takes the stand that "nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution." This site touches upon many different topics regarding biology and evolution, such as major themes in evolution, homologies, history of evolutionary thought (along with different evolutionary thinkers), the origin of new species, human evolution, and evidence of change. Within these top-

Resources in Biology

133

ics are a number of subtopics and issues regarding the broader topic. All of these important issues, topics, and words are hyperlinked so that just clicking on the hyperlink brings students to a more detailed Web page on that particular topic of interest. In addition to just being informative on different topics and issues, this site also gives other hyperlinks for a number of laboratory exercises that the students and their classmates can participate in. There are also hyperlinks to additional reading that students might want to access if interested in more information on this topic. I found this site to be very easy to understand and accessible to find out information on biology evolution and other related topics. Title: Evidence of Evolution URL: http://www.anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_3.htm Grade Level: Middle school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Word: Evolution Review: This is an informative site without being too complicated. It simply states what evolution is, how we know evolution occurred (based on fossil records), the chemical and structural similarities between species, the explanation of genetic changes over generations, and how and why similar species can be found thousands of miles apart from each other. This site has diagrams, photos, and clear examples that help students get a better understanding of what they are reading. Title: Ray Troll's Fin Art: Evolution URL: http://www.trollart.com/evolution.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Biology evolution and theories Review: This a great site for kids and adults that deals mainly with aquatic life but touches on land-roaming dinosaurs. The link "Are You a Fish?" is pretty neat—it is a Venn diagram about how life on land came from life in water. The site basically is set up with a series of thumbnails that you click. The links are as follows: Strange Creatures of the Deep, Planet Ocean, Fisheye Gallery, which is really fun— there are a lot of amazing pictures to click—but really has nothing to do with evolution. There are also a link page and a general art page. The setup or layout of the page leaves something to be desired. As mentioned before, the fisheye gallery is unrelated to the subject of biological evolution. However, there is plenty on the site that does deal

134

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

with evolution. All in all, this a fun site to surf. The information is presented in a straightforward way and the language is plain and easy to follow. The site doesn't use any words that are too technical. This is an enjoyable site to use in any classroom for any grade level. Title: A Science Odyssey: Human Evolution URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/evolution/ Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Children and evolution theory Review: This Web site provides a comprehensive look at human evolution. It offers basic information, but more importantly it has a handson activity that is a human evolution tree where you can click through a time line of the various stages of the development of man. At each stage, it shows you a visual depiction of what that particular stage may have looked like with a brief description. Also it has individual stories that you can click on that tell you about various fossil findings that have occurred through time to form our understanding of evolution. While this site does not offer a huge amount of information on the topic, it does provide the basics in a way that is easy to understand and interesting in the way it is presented. Title: Evolutionary Biology URL: http://www.talkorigins.org Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Words: Evolutionary biology Review: This site is perfect for anything and everything you ever wanted to know about evolution! It has it all. It is very precise and nicely laid out with a black background, bright yellow lettering, and Darwin quotes. This is not for younger children, but high school students and above who are interested in learning the basics. This site does allow you to get quite advanced if you dare. A n introduction essay leads you in gently with what evolutionary biology means and how the ideas and evidence are behind all of this. Other headers listed are: (1) What is evolution? (goes into information on humans and chimps), (2) Evolution is fact and theory; mechanisms of evolution, (3) Modern synthesis of genetics and evolution, (4) The origins of species (Darwin's book with overview), (5) Macroevolution, (6) Twenty-nine evidences of macroevolution, (7) Are mutations harmful? (8) Does evolution depend on mutations? (9) Darwin influences and Darwinism, (10) Genetic Drift,

Resources in Biology

135

and (11) Philosophy and evolution. I learned a lot from this site, although some parts were confusing and the flow of some of the information was interrupted by quotes that threw me off. Overall, this is a great site and I am sure if it has to do with evolution, you'll find it here! Title: Biology Evolution URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/ Grade Level: Seven through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Evolution Review: This Web site breaks down evolution to its simplest form. There are seven different categories, including Darwin, Change, Extinction, Survival, Humans, Sex, and Religion. Within each category there is a library and a section for both the teacher and student. Just click on each category for an explanation, which is then broken down into subcategories. For example, if you click on Darwin, you can read his diary or learn about the origin of species. I do not think previous experience is needed before attempting to use this Web site. Title: Evolution: Fact, Theory, and Rhetoric URL: http://www.anthro.com/evo/evolut 1 .html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com Key Search Words: Biology evolution theories Review: This site has some good information on the topic. Providing several different points of view, it says that evolution can be three different things—fact, theory, or rhetoric—and explains what is meant by each of these. Under facts, it gives a description of the artifacts of history. You can click on links throughout the paragraphs for more information and pictures, for example, to find out more about a panda's thumb or a snail's anatomy. Then it gives theories to help explain evolution, basically Darwin's theory, but it is very easy to understand. It gives a couple of examples of natural selection that can be understood by high school students. There are also quizzes at the end of each section to see if you understood what you just read. This is a pretty good site to find some of the basic facts about evolution and get you interested in learning more about the subject. Title: Science and Creationism URL: http://books.nap.edu/html/creationism/origin.html Grade Level: High school

136

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Best Search Engine: http://www.yahooligan.com Key Search Words: Biological evolution Review: I found this Web site to be very informative. It is about a book put out by the National Academy of Sciences. It gives you a long overview of each chapter in the book, which is very detailed and would be extremely relevant to high school, even college students. The two sections I found to be most beneficial were (1) the origin of the Earth, universe, and life; and (2) evidence supporting biological evolution. Within each of these sections there are also spots to view illustrations that would be found in the book, including Charles Darwin and what he has accomplished that we look at today. Overall, I would say this Web site is useful in understanding the concept of biological evolution, where it has come from, and the evidence supporting it. Title: Biology Web Site References for Students and Teachers: Evolution and Population Genetics URL: http://www.hoflink.com/~house/evolution.html Grade Level: High school through adult Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology evolution theories Review: This Web page provides a list of links to other sites related to the topic. Personally, this is the type of site I cross my fingers and hope to find when I'm researching a particular topic. There is a table of contents box at the beginning of the site, which links you to the lists within the different categories. The table includes: (1) Basics, (2) Evidence of Evolution, (3) Evolution, Theories and Concepts, (4) Fossil Records, (5) Geologic Eras, Ages, (6) Population Genetics, Microevolution, (7) Origin of Life, and (8) Taxonomy, Phylogenetics. Each category has a substantial list of links to related Web sites, which I am not going to include here because it is very long. Links to other science subjects that have the same type of format are: Animal Physiology, Animal Behavior, Cell Chemistry, Cell Structure/ Function, Ecology, Evolution, General Biology References, Mendelian Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Human Physiology, Microbiology, Plant Physiology, and Marine Aquatic Biology. Title: Evolution URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/html Grade Level: Five through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Evolution, elementary, lesson

Resources in Biology

137

Review: This site is a great one to use when explaining to your students how evolution began and where it leads. It has information on things such as the Neanderthal man, Peking, Java man, and so on. It includes very interesting lessons, especially appropriate for the older students. Also included are different categories you can click on for more specifics. Title: New Scientist—Evolution URL: http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-l2/evolution/index.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Evolution theories for kids Review: According to the Web page, "This site covers the basic angles on evolution, from the geology of fossils to the biology of homologous structures. It also describes how the biochemistry of blood proteins can be used to illustrate evolutionary relationships and how it is possible to date fossils. The Darwin/Lamarck theories are explained, as are natural selection, divergence and convergence. It is aimed at schoolchildren in U.S. grades 9 to 12, and although its pictures are poorly reproduced this site serves as a clear, broad introduction to evolution." This Web site is very comprehensive in its description of evolution theories. As mentioned, the site is for older students who do not need graphics to keep their attention. It is mostly text, but is written in a way that is easy to follow. Title: The Evolution Wing URL: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/evothought.html Grade Level: Five through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Word: Evolution Review: Different "exhibits" trace evolutionary thought as it has developed over time. Do you want to explore the theory of evolution? Access to a time line of evolutionary thought is available, including pre-Darwinians, Darwinians, non-Darwinians, and of course neoDarwinians. A journey into phylogenetic systematic is here for high school biology students. Dinosaur discoveries are available for younger grades. There is also a case study on vertebrate flight. More interested in the history of evolutionary thought? Need to do a report on Jean-Baptiste Lemarck or Carolus Linnaeus? Links are provided with mini (albeit rather thorough) biographies on many evolutionary

138

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

thinkers. This is a great site from University of California-Berkeley. Have fun exploring! Title: National Center for Science Education: Defending the Teaching of Evolution in the Public Schools URL: http://www.natcenscied.org Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Teaching evolution theories Review: Although this site is plain and seems uninviting, the amount of information contained within it is quite profound. Considering that this topic is probably one of the most controversial in science, the site handles it in a nonjudgmental way. This needs to be reinforced when introducing this topic to high school students. There are several links that are offered on this site that make great resources and I believe that no page is complete without a FAQs page. Overall, this site is well thought out and it gives both sides a chance to state their case. Title: Classroom Cladogram of Vertebrae/Human Evolution URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/cbigcla.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Teaching, Biology, and Evolution Review: I found this Web site to be a great lesson plan on teaching the general idea of evolution to high school students. It involves having the students make a Colossal Classroom Cladogram in just one classroom period, with a little prep time from the day before. The purpose of this Web site is to have the students grasp the concept that human evolution did not just happen overnight. By making a Colossal Cladogram, they can see the process and really understand that evolution occurs over a long period of time and that there are different traits providing proof of this theory of evolution. The Web site begins with a synopsis and then lists the principal concepts followed by associated concepts as well. Following that are the five assessable objectives that are really great ones, and very relevant to learning and understanding evolution. A list of materials needed for the lesson is provided, and in each one listed you can click on a keyword or phrase and find more information if necessary. I think that's so helpful. The amount of time that the lesson will take is provided, after which the designer of this Web site lists the specific student assignments. Next are the nine points to the teaching strategies and

Resources in Biology

139

preparation that will be used, after which the procedures are listed at great length followed by the assessment techniques. The last part of the Web site includes several extensions and variations to the lesson plan on making the Cladogram, and also some links to Web sites you can click on for more information. This Web site is very well organized and easy to follow. It is extremely helpful for teachers because it provides all of the necessary information, and then some, to carry through with the experiment. I particularly liked how there are so many extra easily accessible links, providing the teacher with even more information. Title: Introduction to Evolutionary Biology URL: http://www.talkorigins.org Grade Level: Nine through college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology evolution Review: Talk Origins is a collection of articles and essays that explores the creationism/evolution controversy from a mainstream scientific perspective. It has a post of the month, which is an extensive list of links to other Web sites dealing with evolution. This wonderful site was established to provide easy access to frequently asked questions about evolution. It offers all the information one could ever need about evolution. It starts off with a thorough definition of evolution, followed by an in-depth paragraph that includes important information for the reader/researcher. The second section informs the reader of the common misconceptions about evolution, followed by a section on genetic variation. This Web site offers continuous extensive information spanning almost forty pages on the topic of your choice in the area of evolutionary biology. Title: What Is Evolution? URL: http://necsi.org/projects/evolution/evolution/intro. /evolution_intro.html Grade Level: Four and above Best Search Engine: http://www.ajkids.com Key Search Word: Evolution Review: This is a free Web site that is excellent for teachers and students alike. All of the pages have beautiful photographs of animals and plants. W h e n you click on "How Does Evolution Occur," it breaks down Darwin's five parts of natural selection. The photographs here provide examples of each of the five parts. Everything is explained in

140

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

simple terms. Clicking on the page entitled "Change and Isolation," there are sample photographs and it is easily understood. There is also a hyperlink to the Galapagos Islands. Next, click on "Sexual Selection," and then on the last page, "Gradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium, which contains a link to fossils. This site can be used in the classroom for a lesson given by the teacher or as individual research for students. Genes Title: Biology—Genes URL: http://awesomelibrary.org/Classroom/Science/Biology/Biology.html Grade Level: Seven through ten Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: This site takes you to a directory of lesson plans, books, materials, papers, periodicals, projects, and additional search links related to the study of biology. Scrolling through the subheadings allows the reader to locate a specific link to the study of genes. By clicking on a title, one is immediately linked to the article entitled "Genes—What They Are." This site, established by the Genetic Science Learning Center, provides a brief introduction entitled: "Tell Me More about. . . ," on-line and handout activities, experiments/lab protocols, and an equipment construction link. The viewer is able to take an animated "Tour of the Basics," to learn or refresh his basic understanding of genetics. Additional links are provided along the left side of the document that are targeted for students and teens, teachers, parents, and families to learn more about genes, chromosomes, DNA, and individual genetic makeup. Additional links are colorfully displayed in the areas of: basic genetics, genetic disorders, genetics in society, and thematic units. Each of these explores an in-depth study of one of the basic aspects of genetics. Included in each of these sections is an information page, a collection of activities, additional research on the topic, and an interactive activity to actively apply the newly learned knowledge. Another link at the end of each section connects the reader to the next subtopic/activity in the directory. As I navigated through a series of links, I went from general information about genes to a specific subdirectory clearly explaining the processes of transcription and translation encoded in genes. A Universal Code Chart is included in the discussion, along with a set of instructions on how to read each code. A n interactive activity to copy the informa-

Resources in Biology

141

tion in a D N A strand into a form of mRNA is available for the viewer to complete. The activity ends by using the Universal Code Chart to translate the mRNA into an amino acid sequence. This is quite a well-developed site! It is an applicable source for all levels of knowledge about the study of genes. The numerous links, collections of activities, clearly explained material, additional research, and interactive activities certainly have my vote for being an excellent site to develop one's understanding of genes at any level of learning. Title: Gene School URL: http://www.library.thinkquest.org/28599/index.htm Grade Level: Upper elementary and middle school Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: This site is colorful and easy to browse. There are straightforward links that provide lots of information, for example, a time line, Mendelian basics, heredity, population genetics, and a glossary. All of the explanations are easy to understand without being too simplistic. There is a section called "Application," which provides the student with ways to apply everything we have learned so far about genetics, such as cloning, agriculture, disease research, and forensic DNA. There is an interactive section where the student can take quizzes, polls, chat, and talk with teachers. This is a very informative site that is not boring at all. Title: What Is a Gene? URL: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/what_is_gene.html Grade Level: Elementary: Two through five Best Search Engine: http://ajkids.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: This site is appropriate for elementary students. Difficult concepts, such as gene, trait, chromosomes, and nucleus are explained with anecdotes in an easy-to-understand manner. Further explanations include sections on "How do genes work?" "When there are problems with genes," and "What is gene therapy?" Title: Genetics URL: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/ Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Genetics, education

142

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Review: This site is great for students in grades five through twelve. It gives excellent information on genetics and has many examples of hands-on activities for students. The Web site overall is very easy to understand and follow, in terms of finding information. It even breaks up categories to choose from for specifics. Title: Life: A Study of Genetics and Molecular Biology URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/20465 Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: This Web site is definitely one of the best I have come across so far. It starts off with three main hyperlinks (all with explanations below them) for information, games, and a forum. The information hyperlink takes you to a new page (with more links) to topics such as basic genetics, people of genetics, DNA, and chromosomes. Clicking on any of these hyperlinks takes you to a new Web page with more information on your topic of choice. You can then choose another topic or decide to go to games and forum with a link that is on each new page (very easy access to move around). The games section comes with four different links to games that let you take part in learning more about and enjoying genetics. The games page includes the "DNA guy," who is a virtual tour guide to help you play the different games. Finally, the forum page allows you to have an open discussion on what you have read and learned through the Web site, as well as a place to have open discussions on other genetic issues, such as cloning. I thought that this was an excellent site for both teachers and students. It is extremely easy to follow, which makes trying to learn more about genetics very accessible! Title: Understanding the Power of Genes URL: http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/powerofgenes/ Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Teaching, human, genes Review: Normally, when I begin searching for a Web site pertaining to a particular topic I have trouble finding one that is actually helpful and appropriate at the same time. With this topic, human genes, I was pleased to find this Web site on the first try. It is very age appropriate and I just liked it overall. It begins with the objectives, materials, and procedures, including an adaptation of the procedures. The six proce-

Resources in Biology

143

dures are very different ways of having the kids learn about human genes. The students must enrich their background knowledge through research (preferably Internet), have a brief discussion together with the teacher, make a list, interview family members, examine differences and similarities among family members, and share findings with the class while comparing and contrasting. Then it moves into six discussion questions that really push the students to think and explore various concepts related to human genes. The Web site provides a way of evaluating the students through this lesson. Following this are two more ideas to extend the lesson even further. After those extensions, the Web site lists two suggested readings and supplies five links. The final part of this site includes a vocabulary list and the academic standards. Also, with the vocabulary list, you can click on the words to hear the correct pronunciation. Although this is just one two-day lesson plan, I still think it's a great Web site because the lesson plan seems so beneficial for the kids to understand the human body. I like the procedures and the fact that they are very different. Students do not all learn in the same way and need different types of projects and activities to participate in. I think this lesson plan pinpoints that idea. Title: Kid's Health—What Is a Gene? URL: http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/what_is_gene.html Grade Level: Five and six Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Genes and children Review: This site was designed especially for children's health questions, so when I found it, the most important attributes I noticed were that it is user friendly, easy to read, and informative. It breaks down the idea of a gene in simple terms so that a young student would understand. The site is inviting and well maintained. Several vocabulary words related to the word "genes" are also defined. Some other questions are answered, such as: "What is a gene?" "How do genes work?" and "When there are problems with genes, what is gene therapy?" Overall, this site is great for children who have already had a little bit of exposure to the idea of genetics. Title: Designer Genes URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/18258/index2.htm Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com

144

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Key Search Word: Genes Review: This is an excellent Web site for genetics and bioengineering. Students don't know what deoxyribonucleic acid is? This site will help. Hyperlinks are available for terms that a student is unsure of. For instance, if you are reading about what molecular structure is and are unsure about chromosomes, just click on the link and a definition will pop right up. Whether it is gene interactions, genetic analysis, or recombinant DNA, answers are available here in this easy-to-use, student-friendly Web site. Homework help allows you to ask a question and get a personal response from an expert in the biotech industry. Plenty of links are available, and also several quizzes that can prep a student for the Advanced Placement biology test. Have you ever wondered if your gene pool is made up of dominant or recessive traits? This site will help you answer this and many other questions. Good luck and have fun. Title: Brain Pop Genes URL: http://www.brainpop.com/health/growthanddevelopment/ genes/index.weml Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Children and genes Review: This Web site is an excellent resource for children that offers many different topics in addition to genes. It is presented in a colorful and eye-catching way. This site is fully interactive and offers various sections to click on, such as a time line of important discoveries in genetics, a quiz, an animated movie, and other areas of interest. The way they present the information is very geared toward children. There is a section with different comic strips that focus on whatever topic you chose from the menu. The whole site is full of little cartoons, animated people, and sound effects. I think this would be an excellent way to get kids interested in genetics as well as the other fields the site covers. It is one of those Web sites where children would think they are just playing around and having fun . . . but they are actually learning. Title: Genetic Science Learning Center: Helping People Understand How Genetics Affects Our Lives and Society URL: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu Grade Level: Middle school and above, parents, and teachers Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com

Resources in Biology

145

Key Search Word: Genes Review: This is a good Web site for various people. There is a teacher's menu with links for information on labs, on-line and hands-on activities, group activities, integrated genetics activities, reading authentic research, news, events, and downloads. The activities include finding a gene on the chromosome map and how genes determine your body plan. Another section is for students and teens, with information on careers in science, genetic disorders, genetics in the news, and science fair and research projects. These topics are also under the category of parents and families. Some other topics that you can click on are basic genetics, genetics in society, and genetic thematic units. This site has a lot of information and articles for researching or just to learn some facts. Title: Genes URL: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: I thought this Web site was great because it is nicely laid out and can be formatted for students and teens or teachers and parents. The categories immediately listed were inheritance, blood type, making a cell model, introduction to chromosomes, conservation genetics, body plan and genetic disorder, as well as a few others. You can click on any of these and get well-explained paragraphs of semiadvanced information. I thought the information would be excellent for a high school report or project because it is interesting enough to spark interest and creativity. I like how the site explains from the start that genes are passed from parent to child during conception. It further explains dominant traits, phenotype, genotypes, mutations or defects, blood types and what your blood type means, which blood types are most rare, and what ethnicity has what blood type, etc. I was especially fascinated by this topic. Title: Genes URL: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/ Grade Level: Middle school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Genes, education, elementary Review: This is a wonderful Web site by the University of Utah with information for teachers, students and teens, and parents and families.

146

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Within each category there are sections labeled "need more info about": hands-on lab protocols, various activities, and research project experiments. These all pertain to the particular person searching the Web site. All the information is clear and easy to find. There is also a section labeled topics, which provides a breakdown of basic genetic information, again with subcategories: basic genetics, genetic disorders, and genetics in society. The ideas that this Web site provides are thought out, current, and easy to follow. Title: The Power of Genes URL: http://www.discoveryschool.com Grade Level: For teachers Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Teaching genes Review: This is the best Web site I have found for teachers. To get to this specific entry, you must click on "grades 9-12" and look for the human body. But, if you just want to survey the Web site, every subject is outlined and subtitled according to topics. I read through this lesson, which is for students in grades nine through twelve who are learning about the human body. This plan gives detailed descriptions of how to run the lesson, what standards are covered, how to assess your students, and what vocabulary they will learn. This Web site is also useful for making up puzzles, tests, and quizzes. I thought it was a little different from the ones we usually review. I turned it around to a different point of view—for teachers, rather than students. Title: A New Gene Map of the Human Genome URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genemap99/ Grade Level: Ten through college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Gene map Review: This site is sponsored by NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) and is a great source of information if you are already familiar with genes and know what you are looking for. I would suggest this site to my students as a research tool for a follow-up lesson after I've already taught genes. According to the Web site, its purpose is this: "This new gene map represents such an index as it includes the locations, within this text, of more than 30,000 genes and provides an early glimpse of some of the most important pieces of the genome." This page is mostly an introduction of the gene map, but from here you can link to almost anything that is of interest and

Resources in Biology

147

related to genes. Across the top of the page there is a row of numbers, one through twenty-two, followed by the letters X and Y. Clicking on either of these letters brings you to a map of the chromosome. There is a space for searching the entire database, a "human genomes resources" link, and links to the following: Also of Interest: Genes and Disease, Gene Map '96; Genome Project: About the HGP, New HGP Goals, DNA 20 Questions; RH Servers: Sanger GB4 Server, Stanford G3 Server; and Other Databases: LocusLink, OMIM, UniGene, and PubMed. If you know what you are looking at, as far as chromosomes go, this a useful tool. However, if you require a basic chromosome introduction, look elsewhere before seeking this site. Title: Basic Genetics URL: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/basic/index.html Grade Level: Elementary and middle school Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: I am so glad I found this Web site because it includes many wonderful lessons on the basics of genetics. It starts with some excellent questions that anyone learning about genes will most likely have when beginning their lesson: What are genes made of? What are chromosomes made of? Is that the same thing? Can I see DNA? What do I get from my parents besides lectures? How do genes make me who I am? Are all people made of the same genes? If you want the answers to these questions immediately, instead of trying to answer them beforehand as predictions, you can find them by clicking on the phrase "Tour of the Basics." Following this are seven categories to click on for on-line and hands-on activities: (1) From DNA to Protein, with three subsections, (2) Genes and Blood Type, (3) Genes Determine Body Plan, (4) How Do Proteins Work? (5) Make a Cell Model, (6) Match up Chromosome Pairs, and (7) What Makes a Firefly Glow? These seven categories are listed as icons to click on to participate in the activities. Also, a short description is listed underneath the icon. This section is mainly about your gene cells and chromosomes. After this are four experiments/lab protocols. This part of the Web site is set up in the same manner as above. The four sections are: (1) How to Extract DNA from Anything Living, (2) DNA Extraction from Wheat Germ, (3) How Do Proteins Work? and (4) Kitchen Electrophoresis. Provided below each of these clickable icons are short descriptions of what the experiments/lab protocols will be like. This section is mainly for learning the important facts

148

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

about your DNA. The last part of the Web site provides a section entitled "Equipment Construction," which has one category, the Gel Electrophoresis Chamber, where you can construct your own Plexiglas Electrophoresis. Overall, I found this Web site to be very helpful and extremely inclusive. The experiments and activities provided are fun and easy for kids to do either on their own or with their parents. Not all of the parts to this Web site listed above are actual experiments or activities; some simply provide information to teach more about the particular topic. I like that there are just some factual parts to this Web site as well, because there is so much information to learn about this topic. Title: Genetic Science Learning Center—Genes and Blood Type URL: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/basic/blood/index.html Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Genes education for kids Review: This is a very comprehensive site containing extremely simple, easy to follow links. The Web unit describes the components of blood, the proteins that determine blood type, and how transfusion (sharing) of blood between people is possible. Along the left-hand side of the page are links specifically for: students and teens, teachers, parents and families, basic genetics, genetic disorders, genetics in society, and lastly, thematic units. This is an excellent, easy-tounderstand site. The descriptive text provides colorful pictures and charts that help to increase comprehension. I would recommend this site to anybody interested in finding out about genes or blood. Title: The Dolan DNA Learning Center: Genetic Education URL: http://www.dnalc.org Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: This educational Web site is the world's first science center devoted to public genetics education. The main reason it was formed was for public education, and to provide an interactive learning environment for students, teachers, and nonscientists. This wonderful site contains a wide variety of on-line DNA resources, as well as information on workshops, field trips, courses, and educational products for students, teachers, and other educators at the pre-college and college levels (middle schools, high schools, junior high schools, two-year

Resources in Biology

149

and community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities), as well as for professional development workshops. The Dolan DNA Learning Center is affiliated with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and offers programs and products to provide training and education. This Web site answers questions such as "What is . . . ?" and "Where can I find information on . . . ?" genetics; molecular biology; inheritance; population biology; bioinformatics; genotype; phenotype; human origin; human evolution; population genetics; pedigrees; genetic variation; human, animal, and plant genetics; cancer; pharmacogenomics; pharmacogenetics; Mendelian genetics and Mendel's laws; genomics; proteomics; DNA homology; gene comparison; DNA analysis; protein sequencing; the Human Genome Project; polymerase chain reaction (PCR); genetic engineering; genetic screening; extrachromosomal DNA; mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA); gene technology; disease genes; gene therapy; genetic testing; inherited diseases; and so much more. Title: Your Genes, Your Health URL: http://www.yourgenesyourhealth.org/ygyh/ Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: This Web site is a multimedia guide to genetic disorders operated by the Dolan DNA Learning Center's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It defines many gene disorders with an easy-to-use menu system. For instance, there is an area that reads: "Select a Disorder." The options are: Fragile X Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy, phenylketonuria (PKU), Huntington's Disease, neurofibromatosis (NF), Sickle Cell Disease, and hemochromatosis. There is a companion site entitled "DNA from the Beginning." Title: Genes URL: http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0820450.html Grade Level: Middle school Best Search Engine: http://www.ajkids.com Key Search Word: Genes Review: This is a free Web site that defines genes very basically, yet thoroughly. It discusses a gene's structure, chemistry, and chromosomes. The site provides links to Web pages on chromosomes, mutation, cancers, and genetics, all within the text. It also has links to gene

150

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

therapy and genetic engineering, as well as gender and genealogy. All of the hyperlinks are within the Fact Monster site, so all are good for children to use without worry. This site would be good for students to use independently in the classroom to explore genes further than the text will take them. Genetics, Human Title: Center for Human Genetics URL: http://www.bumc.bu.edu Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Human genetics Review: This is a good site if you need to do a research paper on human genetics. It has a few links, one of which is to recent books. It gives some books that would be useful if you wanted to learn more about this topic, for example, Your Genetic Destiny: Know Your Genes, Secure Your Health, & Save Your Life by Aubrey Milunsky. Another section of this site is for recent research papers and current research. It lists different types of articles and research information. One part is D N A diagnostics, where it gives a brief overview of what it is and allows you to see the different types of diagnostic tests and their requirements. A list of conferences and information for genetic counseling are offered. It includes a variety of reasons and concerns that a person might have and places that they can get counseling. This site will guide you to more information on this topic. Title: Human Genetics: A Worldwide Search for the Dominant Trait— Do You Have It? URL: http://kl2science.ati.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/genproj/ Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human genetics Review: This Web site starts off by asking a lot of people from around the world which traits they have. It's actually a study on human genetics. During this project, students will complete surveys, formulate hypotheses, and use the data compiled by fellow students around the globe to test their hypotheses. There are project instructions, project data, a discussion area, a student area, a teacher area, a link for reference material, and on-line experts. Some of the questions asked of the student in the study are: How often do certain easily observable

Resources in Biology

151

human traits occur in a population? Is there a relationship between the frequency of a trait in a population and whether the trait is dominant or recessive? Is red-green color blindness in humans an inherited trait? If so, do Mendel's Laws apply to its inheritance? This is a great Web site for students who are either taking a class in human genetics or who are just interested in it. Title: The American Journal of Human Genetics URL: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJHG/home.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human genetics Review: I spent more than a week looking for a human genetics site. There aren't any out there that would be appropriate for students who don't have a serious science major. This is the American Journal of Human Genetics. If you need to know something specific about human genetics, this would be as good a place as any to start. Following is the table of contents, so to speak, for the site: AJHG Electronic Edition, Journal Description Information about Electronic Subscriptions, List of Institutions Currently Registered, Letter to Institutional Subscribers, Registration Form, Institutional Site License Letter, Registration Form and Site License (PDF), Editorial Board Available Tables of Contents, Information for Contributors, Preparation of Word and WordPerfect Manuscripts, General Instructions, Special Instructions for Tables, Special Instructions for Math, Guidelines for Submission of Artwork, How to Subscribe to AJHG, Order Single Articles or Back Issues, How to Become a Member of AJHG, Permission to Reprint, Advertising Information and Rates, List Rental Information, Where to Send Books for Review, Of Related Interest from the University of Chicago Press, and Contact the Editorial Office. These are all links listed on the first page. In addition, the following links are listed for further assistance: Subscription Center, Related Interest from Chicago, Search Journals Division Again. Title: Program in Human Genetics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center URL: http://phg.mc.vanderbilt.edu Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human genetics

152

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Review: Taken directly from the home page of the Vanderbilt Medical Center: "The Vanderbilt Program in Human Genetics (VPHG) was initiated in July 1997 to bring a focus to human genetic research at Vanderbilt . . . The central theme of the VPHG is the understanding of how genes influence complex traits, traits that are influenced by the intricate interplay of multiple genes and environmental factors." Diseases studied at Vanderbilt include: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Autism, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Information on research conducted on the above diseases can be found at this site. Title: Biology Genetics, Human URL: http://www.athro.com/evo/gen/genefr2.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human genetics Review: This is part of the Athro Limited Web site, a source for high school and college-level biology, Earth science, and geology education on the Web. The inheritance of eye color is only one of the subsections included under Medelian genetics. This subcategory is explained rather simply, yet clearly by the author, who offers that it is a "pretend situation," having only two genes responsible for the inheritance of human eye color. This method is used for basic understanding of the concept. Further explanation reveals the fact that the "two-gene model" does not explain most human eye color inheritance, but rather it is a more complicated polygenic system. A n "eye color calculator" is provided for the viewer's use. This activity first asks the viewer to select each parent's eye color. As the viewer makes his selections from a preselected menu, a visual phototype colored eye becomes visible that represents the eye color of each parent. The viewer is then instructed to select the parents' eye color genes. Once again, he is able to make his selections from a preselected menu. Two word choices are given, representative of the two alleles involved in the inheritance process. By clicking on "Produce Child," a photolike, colored graphic displays the results of the combinations selected. Pressing again results in other possible combinations of other siblings. A n explanation of the interactive eye color genetics calculator follows the activity. The information is detailed, yet simply written and easily understood. Diagrams are included in the textual explanation pages, which helps the reader "see" how human eye color is inherited. Color-coded facts are included in the diagrams to help differentiate

Resources in Biology

153

between chromosomes, alleles, bey2 genes, and D N A base pair arrangements. I found this site informative, and a lot of fun! The eye color calculator activity was the best feature; it made the information "come alive." Providing practical application scenarios whereby the learner selected possible color options was an effective tool to develop a more thorough understanding of this concept. Title: Genetic Lesson Plan Ideas URL: http://www.kumc.edu/gec/lessons.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human genetics and kids Review: This is an excellent site for teaching human genetics. Usually, I like to find sites that can be used by students and teachers, but I thought this site was so great that I stuck with it (even though it is really only for teachers). This Web page gives many, different lessons that can be used in the classroom to teach and enhance the learning of human genetics. All of the lesson plans are listed on the original page. By clicking on the title/subject topic of the lesson plan (which is hyperlinked) you are brought to a new page with that specific lesson plan. Each lesson plan gives different information, as well as more hyperlinks to bring you to even more specific details. Some of the topics are: blood types, cell phases observation, designer genes, DNA (a number of lessons on this topic), genetic counseling game, genetics and diseases, heredity, and many more! The site also includes links to museums and curriculum development resources (all of which are hyperlinked, too). Overall, this is an incredibly helpful Web site for any teacher of human genetics. It supplies a number of informational and hands-on lesson plans for students of all ages. Title: 7.01 Hypertextbook Mendelian Genetics Chapter Directly URL: http://www.mit.edu:8001/esgbio/mg/mgdir.html Grade Level: Ten through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Genetics Review: This is presented in textbook format. It has a table of contents, and when you click on the topic it takes you right to that section. There are no illustrations and this is not a very interesting Web site. However, it does give you the facts about genetics. The terms are all defined, but it is tough reading. This Web site might be more helpful to a teacher than a student.

154

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Genetics URL: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Genetics/ GET0002.html Grade Level: Four through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Genetics for kids Review: I reviewed several sites on this topic and this is the one that would most appeal to a middle elementary student. It is actually an activity involving food tasting that investigates unusual traits. The activity is entitled "Taster or Non-Taster?" Students will be able to determine which category they fit in by tasting different tasting papers, which are papers soaked in various edible solutions, such as lemon, orange, sugar or salt; they will test family members and peers for the trait, and then they chart the results. This would be a fun science activity for the family and could be expanded into a large datagathering activity. It's a winner. Title: Human Genetics URL: http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/3696/intro/getStart.htm Grade Level: Four through six Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human genetics for kids Review: This site was designed by sixth-grade students and has appealing graphics, a list of contents, and explains genetics using terms kids understand. It is divided into several sections that offer explanations for the history of genetics, operation of DNA, the chromosomes, and current genetics. It concludes with a quiz, a game, and other Internet sites. This student-generated site offers a lot of information in terms middle school kids understand. I would use this in my classroom. Title: Human Genetics URL: http://www.genecrc.org Grade Level: Three through six Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Human genetics and kids Review: This site is great because the pictures (I wish there were more) and cartoon figures really catch kids' attention and obviously make genetics less boring. Once we click on genetics, we are introduced to Go-GoGene and Lucy and Pip, who will help explain genetics to us. There are twelve pages that we click on each time we are ready to continue. Younger kids may need an adult to guide them through the process and

Resources in Biology

155

explain in more detail because although the information is simple, it is a little sparse and the pictures could be a bit more helpful. It provokes kids to think about why we are all different and how it is that no one else in the world is exactly like us, not even our brother or sister. In my opinion, this is a good starter for a class discussion. Only identical twins have the same genes—all the rest of us have our own. We can learn about chromosomes and that they come from mom and dad, and how a cell splits over and over and that is why we look a bit like our mom and a bit like our dad. Sex cells make different children and make us male or female. Chromosomes are discussed, as well as DNA and how amazing it is because we start out with simply one cell! We learn about the double helix and the inventors and there is a nice picture showing that it looks like a spiral staircase. We also learn how hard scientists work on figuring out DNA because it is very confusing. We learn the helix is made up of bases that are named. The information provided is a good start without getting too complex. It will most certainly make some wheels turn and provoke discussion. Title: Genetic Research URL: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec99/ gene_therapy_splash.htm Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Human genetics Review: This Web site provides some accompanying information to a PBS series concerning the Human Genome Project and gene research in general. It covers various aspects of this field, such as gene sequencing and gene therapy. It also provides a number of audio files of different scientists in the field speaking about their research and findings. There is a time line of important events in human genetics research, as well. This site is really more for older students. It does not have exciting graphics or games like many of the other sites out there, but it does have some good information on research in human genetics. Title: BBC—Gene Stories URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk.genes/ Grade Level: Seven and eight Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Human genetics and children Review: I stumbled upon this site at the end of my search. W h e n I found it, I couldn't believe how great it would be for use in the classroom. It

156

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

is designed for students at around the seventh- to eighth-grade level because of some of the complex concepts that are explained. Included are cloning, genetic modification, and breeding. There is a discussion about DNA and keeping records of everyone's DNA. A chat room and message board are included. I liked the section entitled "Who Am I?" to start out with. There are games that link genes and history and another that asks why your eyes are the color they are. The best part is "future human," which speculates about the future of human genetics. One of the topics is designer babies from same-sex partners. I think it's about time that children be exposed to these real-world issues. Title: Human Genetics Education Center URL: http://www.kumc.edu/gec/ Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Human genetics Review: This site, put together by the University of Kansas Medical Center, actually has too much information. They provide so many links that as I was traveling through I realized we would be better served having the entire site at our disposal, not just one link that I found interesting. Lesson plans are available here, as well as the aforementioned list of links to all things genetic. Sections of links are broken into: The Genome Project, genetic education resources, genetics programs, resources, and activities. I ventured into the understanding of genetics, which is a link to the PBS Nova site. In this particular site, I had the opportunity to see the studies of human genetics and biographies of those most influential in the field (Pythagoras, Watson and Crick, Darwin, etc.). This is an invaluable site for all science educators—be sure to bookmark it. Title: Genetic Science Learning Center URL: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/ Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Human genetics education for kids Review: Similar to my last search for genes, I was again taken to the Genetic Science Learning Center for a site on human genetics. This particular Web site is inviting in its presentation. It consists of a feature that gives a glimpse of one aspect of genetics; the particular feature I saw was

Resources in Biology

157

about stem cells. There are links on the right that take you to more detailed information on basic genetics, genetic disorders, etc. There are links within the links that provide additional information. The site also includes several ideas for experiments and resource centers. I would refer to this site for further information on human genetics. Title: Designer Genes: All about Chromosomes URL: http://library.thinkquest.Org/l8258/chromosome.htm Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Words: What is human genetics? Review: This Web site is very colorful and easy to get around. The contents of the site are listed at the top. If there is an area that you would like to explore, you can click right on it, rather that searching the whole site. While reading through, the keywords are highlighted and you can click on them for a further description and definition. There are also pictures to emphasize points that are made. I think this site is very helpful with definitions. It is very thorough and full of information. Genetics, Molecular Title: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at University of Pittsburgh URL: http://www.mgb.pitt.edu/ Grade Level: High School and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Molecular genetics Review: This Web site would be good as an introduction to the field of molecular genetics. The information presented is an overview of what the program at the University of Pittsburgh offers. The program conducts research in molecular genetics and, according to the site, their facilities include "automated instrumentation for D N A synthesis, D N A sequencing, polymerase chain reactions, amino acid analysis, protein sequencing, peptide synthesis and purification, as well as computer analysis of nucleic acids and proteins." The head of the department, Dr. Joseph C. Giorioso III, describes molecular genetics as "beginning in the mid-1940s with the demonstration of DNA as the molecule of inheritance and advancing to the ongoing elucidation of the entire genetic makeup of human beings and numerous other organisms for comparison. Sophisticated techniques for cloning, chro-

158

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

mosome mapping, gene sequencing, in vitro synthesis of proteins and peptides, gene expression array analyses, new bio-imaging processes, computer-assisted analysis of complex structural and functional properties of macromolecules, transgenic animal engineering and animal cloning and the use of mass spectroscopy for sequencing of protein complex partners all have been developed within the last decade or so. These new technologies empower modern biologists to explore and shape nature to an extent that was not envisioned as recently as 20 years ago. Within the next several decades, the molecular basis of many of our most perplexing health problems will be characterized in fine detail; and the thorough use of complex genome data bases and expression studies will begin unraveling the molecular details of cell differentiation and tissue development. The tools of molecular genetics and biochemistry, which have already changed the face of medical science, will eventually lead us to a complete understanding of such complex processes as brain functioning and aging, and they promise to reveal definitively the biochemical underpinnings of stillenigmatic disease processes such as those that occur in mental illness and auto-immunity. Many of today's most demanding medical problems may soon be treatable and even curable using emerging gene transfer techniques and stem cell transplantation." Title: Genetics URL: http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wbol/wbPage/na/ar/lo Grade Level: Middle school Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Molecular genetics Review: This is a good site for middle school students, who need to have a basic understanding of what molecular genetics involves. It gives a definition of genetics and divides it into three groups: molecular, transmission, and population. It explains that molecular genetics examines the structure of genes and chemical processes associated with them. It also explains where genes are located and what they are made up of, and talks about replication and mutation. It explains how developmental genetics focus on genetic regulations and what that means. This site has a section on genetic engineering and links for extra information on that topic. This is a good site if you are starting to learn about molecular genetics. It gives a good overview of the topic. Title: I Can Do That! URL: http://www.eurekascience.com/ICanDoThat/dna_structure.htm

Resources in Biology

159

Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Molecular genetics Review: This Web site does a decent job of explaining the various aspects of molecular genetics. It talks about DNA, RNA, proteins, etc. Although the language itself is somewhat geared toward younger students, the information could be useful to anyone learning this topic. The site offers animations and easy explanations of terms. The information is presented through a story about "Gene" and "Poly the Protein." Further into the site, they talk about plants, animals, and even cloning. Overall, this site has some valuable information that is easy to understand for virtually any student. Title: Life: A Study of Genetics and Molecular Biology URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/20465/ Grade Level: Five through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com (after wasting a lot of time with Ask Jeeves for kids and Education World) Key Search Words: Molecular genetics Review: This site is informative and fun! Three sections include Information, Games, and Forum. The latter provides the opportunity to ask questions, give responses to topics, or just express your opinion. The information section provides facts on atoms, molecules and bonding, DNA, chromosomes and cell division, basic genetics, modern issues (such as cloning), and the people of genetics. In the games section, I played a game where I was an emergency room doctor and had to match donors with recipients of the same blood type. After you make the match, a transfusion is performed and either a happy face comes up, or a body bag! Three other games are available for you—I mean your students—to play. Title: How Designer Children Will Work URL: http://www.howstuffworks.com/designerchildren.htm Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Children and molecular genetics Review: This site is unique in that it lets the student explore moral issues as well as the right to choose. This site challenges readers to rethink their own identity and ask themselves whether they would stay the same, given the choice or opportunity to change. This site points out that it may be possible in about two decades for soon-to-be parents to

160

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

choose features of their children, such as eye color. I think that issues such as this can really get students interested in science in a way that is engaging, fun, and challenging. Title: Genetics Lesson Plans URL: http://www.askeric.org/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Science/Genetics Grade Level: Four through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Teaching, science, genetics Review: I had a really difficult time finding a Web site specifically devoted to molecular genetics. After searching a couple of hours, I finally decided to review a Web site I found that included six different genetics activities. These activities are: Design a Chromosome, Fundamentals of Genetics, How Cells Duplicate and Why and Where Something Can Go Wrong, Introduction to Genetics, Protein Synthesis, and Taster or Non-Taster. The Web site is set up so you can click on any of these six icons to find the lab experiment. Provided next to the name of the lab is the appropriate grade level, mostly middle and high school. The first activity, Design a Chromosome, will help students understand the link between genes and chromosomes and reinforce the concepts of dominant and recessive genes, incompletely dominant genes, and co-dominant genes. It will also stimulate discussion and thought about what are or are not genetic traits. In the second activity, Fundamentals of Genetics, the students will engage in activities on Mendelian genetics using an interactive Web-based tutorial. And in the third activity, How Cells Duplicate and Why and Where Something Can Go Wrong, the students need to understand the role of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and how and why it must replicate because it is essential for comprehending how our genetic patterns are transmitted to new cells. Constructing a three-dimensional model of the DNA molecule enhances the students' discernment. In the fourth activity, Introduction to Genetics, students learn about Mendel's work, genetic terms (homozygous, heterozygous, phenotype, genotype), the construction of Punnett Squares, and the construction of Pedigree Tests. In Protein Synthesis, students learn about the process of protein synthesis through the use of a fairy tale analogy. Prior to this lesson, students should already have knowledge about DNA structure, RNA structure, and complementary base pairs. In the last activity listed on the Web site, Taster or Non-Taster, the students will involve family members and selected peers in the process of determining whether an individual can be classified as a "taster" or a "non-

Resources in Biology

161

taster." Overall, I think this is a great Web site to find a variety of information on genetics, including molecular genetics. Through these six activities/experiments, you can find something that interests you and pertains to what you wish to teach. Title: Genomics and Its Impact on Medicine and Society: A 2001 Primer URL: http://www.healthwindows.org/body_genetics.asp Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Molecular genetics for kids Review: This very thorough and complete site on molecular genetics is part of an even better site about overall genes. Not only does it include the above link that has a lot of information in a clear, easy-tounderstand format, but it also provides several other links about genes ranging from cloning to DNA. The site also includes links on the left-hand side for the human body, nutrition and fitness, safety, education, music and wellness, what you should know, and just for fun. This site would be perfect for middle school and high school students. Title: Molecular Genetics and Metabolism URL: http://www.academicpress.com/mgm Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Molecular genetics Review: This Web site deals with the understanding of the metabolic basis of disease. Research areas include: Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Intercellular and Intracellular Metabolic Relationships, Cellular Catalysts, and Disease Pathogenesis. The database coverage includes: Biological Abstracts (BIOSIS), Chemical Abstracts, Current Contents/Life Sciences, Index Medicus (MEDLINE), Research Alert, and Science Citation Index. This Web site is all about the journal Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. What's cool about this Web site is that it gives you a look at one of their journals on the Web. To me, this is very boring, but to someone into molecular genetics, this might be heaven. Title: DNA and Molecular Genetics URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/ BioBook.toc.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com

162

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Key Search Words: Molecular genetics Review: This site is user friendly to a degree. I had less trouble finding a molecular genetics site than I did finding a human genetics site; however, it was still no walk in the park! The table of contents consists of the following: The Physical Carrier of Inheritance, The Structure of DNA, and Replication Links. This site has really cool graphics—lots of different pictures and examples with many colors and explanations. The illustrations are appealing and clarifying. The links portion includes "A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid," text of the original paper by Watson and Crick, published in 1953. This site has several excellent animations (Shockwave enhanced), as well as information about their favorite molecule, DNA: Access Excellence (Genentech)—a resource with graphics and other materials to augment molecular genetics; Primer on Molecular Genetics (Department of Energy); Tutorial on Eukaryotic DNA Transcription (UC Davis); Glossary (DOE)—terms peculiar to molecular genetics; Gene Zine—a very good beginning on how genes work; The Genome Database (Johns Hopkins University)—search databases for a specific gene; Genome Machine (University of Washington)—a clickable map connecting to the Genome Database (above). Again, I'm not all that familiar with molecular genetics, but the site appears to be as straightforward as possible. A high school student might be able to learn something from it, but a college student would definitely find the site useful. Title: DNA and Molecular Genetics URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: What is molecular genetics? Review: This Web site is extremely thorough in its various descriptions of D N A and molecular genetics. There are many vocabulary words related to this topic and all are highlighted in blue, enabling you to explore further. Once you click on the word, a dictionary definition comes up. You also encounter many diagrams that help to understand what you are reading. They are very colorful and everything is labeled accordingly. There are also various pictures with captions that show famous scientists and what they have invented or discovered. I think that this Web site is good for any high school student, while it may be too involved for younger students.

Resources in Biology

163

Title: Genes—Molecular URLs: http://www.nobel.se/medicine/laureates/1962/watson-bio.html and http://www.nobel.se/medicine/laureates/1962/crick-bio.html Grade Level: Five through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.yahooligans.com Key Search Words: Genes, molecular Review: These two sites contain biographies of Watson and Crick, Nobel Prize winners for medicine, who found the theory for the structure of DNA. This site also offers their Nobel lecture, a video, and their Swedish Nobel stamps. I enjoyed reading about Watson and Crick and think that middle school students would as well. Title: Biology and Life Sciences URL: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8480/rtbiology.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Molecular genetics for kids Review: This Web site is very informative on all different biological and genetic topics. Of course, I did find this page while searching for a site on molecular genetics (which shows how closely related the topics are). This site does contain information on molecular genetics along with other topics such as general biology, evolutionary biology, health and medicine, and the human body. All of these topics contain hyperlinks below their subject heading which, with a click, will take you to a new page with more specific information on the topic of your choice. By going to the genetics and molecular biology section you will find hyperlinks that will allow you to gain more information about genetics and other high-tech biological technology and an introduction to molecular biology, genetics, and the Human Genome Project. This is a very good Web site for all teachers and students who are covering the umbrella topic of biology. Title: Life: A Study of Genes and Molecular Biology URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/20465 Grade Level: Five through ten Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Genetics Review: This Web site is very user friendly; everything is broken down into titles and subtitles. It also gives a brief description on what you will find under each category. Category 1 is Information: This pro-

164

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

vides you with everything you need to know about molecular genetics such as atoms and basic genetics. Category 2 is Games: I found this interesting and fun. It provides different games related to molecular genetics such as pretending you are a doctor who has to give a blood transfusion and you have a certain amount of time to transfuse the proper blood type. Category 3 is a Forum: It allows for discussions on the topic. This Web site is easy to use and provides detailed discussion on the topic. Title: Genetics—Molecular (DNA and Molecular Genetics) URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ bioBookDNAMOLGEN.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Genetics Review: This site is targeted for high school and college-level students. It is most informative and contains much educational content suitable even for the nonbiology teacher. It is divided into three sections: The Physical Carrier of Inheritance, The Structure of DNA, and DNA Replication. A n extensive network of additional links is included for further study. Many colored photos, diagrams, models, and charts are included within the thirteen pages of this site. The Physical Carrier of Inheritance section discusses the history of DNA. Friedrich Meischer in 1869 isolated DNA from fish sperm and the pus of open wounds. Since it came from nuclei, Meischer named this new chemical, nucleon. Subsequently, the name was changed to nucleic acid and finally to deoxyribonucleic acid. Robert Feulgen discovered in 1914 that fuchsia dye stained DNA. D N A was then found in the nucleus of all eukaryotic cells. This section explains the discovery of the four nitrogenous bases, the deoxyribose sugar, and the phosphate group, and identifies the basic unit, a nucleotide. The chemical bonding of the phosphate groups, the deoxyribose sugar, and the individual nitrogenous bases—Adenine, Thiamine, Cytosine, and Guanine—are diagrammed in color for clarity and greater understanding. The Structure of DNA section continues to trace the history of DNA. It begins with a discussion of Erwin Charagaff's analysis of the nitrogenous bases in many different forms of life, concluding that the amount of purines does not always equal the amount of pyrimidines. The Hershey-Chase experiments led the way for many scientists to decipher the structure of DNA, among them Francis Crick and James Watson. A n X-ray diffraction photograph of the

Resources in Biology

165

DNA double helix is included in the text, as well as one of Watson and Crick and the model they built of the structure of the DNA. The text continues to trace the structure of DNA, providing a ball-andstick model of the DNA structure, and a color-coded diagram of the ribbon-shaped model of DNA. The final section, DNA Replication, discusses three possible models of replication: conservative, semiconservative, and dispersive. Each possible model is explained in detail and includes several colored, detailed diagrams to help the reader understand the content of study. At the end of the entire site is a link to "Protein Synthesis, A Glossary," as well as another list of related links for additional study. Included in this list is a link to the text of the original paper that Watson and Crick published in 1953, as well as animations and further information about the DNA molecule. Wow! With such a wealth of information, this site is a rare find! Despite the length of the information provided, it is clearly written. It provides diagrams and photographs to help the reader learn basic molecular genetics. The well-developed content and diagrams enable the reader to gain a level of understanding commensurate with his needs. Title: Molecular Genetics URL: http://hmg.oupjournals.org/ Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Molecular genetics Review: This Web site is a good starting place to find current articles on human molecular genetics. Oxford University Press publishes a magazine called Human Molecular Genetics. From the home page, one can view the current issue, search for articles, and e-mail notification of tables of contents (TOCs). In addition, there is also the possibility to learn more about the journal, subscribe, instructions to authors, editors, advertising rates, and related links. The Oxford University Press provides links to other journals that they publish. Overall, this is a Web site with up-to-date information and the availability of many resources. Heredity Title: Heredity and Genetics URL: http://student.biology.Arizona.edu/sciconn/heredity/ worksheet_heredity.html Grade Level: Seven and eight

166

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Heredity Review: This site, developed and maintained by the University of Arizona, is a basic introduction to the study of heredity. The text begins with a brief explanation of how genes determine physical traits and then discusses possible gene pair combinations, explaining that only one pair of genes determines a single trait. It is mentioned that "these traits are highly complex and involve the interaction of many genes," yet the examples that follow are traits determined by a single pair of genes. To the unobservant, or the uneducated in this field of study, this information could be misleading and cause one to assume that single gene pairs determine all traits. The remainder of the site explains eleven possible traits that are determined by single gene pair combinations: Tongue Rolling, Attached Earlobes, Interlocking Fingers, Dimples, Sex, Bent Little Finger, Double-Jointed Thumb, Freckles, PTC Taste, Sodium Benzoate Taste, and Widow's Peak. Each section explains gene combinations necessary for the trait to be present, a brief description of the dominant-recessive gene combinations pertinent for that trait, and a photograph to explain the trait being discussed. Additional links to teacher notes and lessons are provided. These links are helpful in understanding the content of the site. The lessons link contains some useful hints for presenting this material. Overall, it is a very basic site, suitable as a supplementary learning tool for a student or teacher to learn about introductory/basic heredity. Title: Heredity URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/28599/heredity.htm Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Heredity for kids Review: This wonderful site is a link off the Gene School Web site. It is great for all ages and for both teachers and students to learn about heredity. This easily accessible Web page is filled with paragraphs of information, graphs, pictures, and even comics. All of the information given is very detailed and easy for anyone to understand. One of my favorite topics is the Punnett Square, which teaches kids exactly how to figure out how they got the certain genes that they did. There is also a link at the bottom of the page that takes you to a new page with a long list of other heredity-related links (very helpful for teachers and students wanting to learn more). I found this to be an excellent reference for anyone wanting and needing to learn about heredity.

Resources in Biology

167

Title: DNA: Heredity and Beyond URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/20830/main.htm Grade Level: Six through ten Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Heredity Review: This Web site is similar to the one I posted on molecular genetics since the same company created it. It has categories such as textbook, which allows you to find anything you need to know about heredity and DNA. Within the textbook they also provide a glossary. A section on manipulating experiments includes any experiments done on DNA, such as cloning and DNA mapping. They also provide a forum, which is a discussion board. This Web site is very user friendly. A tour is provided, which helps you decide what category to enter, depending on the information you are looking to explore. The Web site guides you and provides detailed description on heredity. Title: Lettuce Be Different URL: http://explorer.scrtec.org/explorer/ explorer-db/rsrc/783 750640-447DED81.1 .htm Grade Level: Kindergarten through five Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Words: Science lesson plans Review: This Web site is a lesson plan on heredity that seems like such a fun one for the younger grades. Heredity can be a fun topic to learn about in general, but when the students are younger it is sometimes difficult to find age-appropriate lessons. But I would definitely try this one, particularly because it involves a lot of game playing before beginning the actual lesson. I believe this is such a great tactic to use in teaching, with students of any age. The author, Glenda Lazenby, begins the setup of her Web site by listing the grade level, subject, objectives, and purpose. Then she includes a description section that is simply a very brief summary of the lesson plan. One thing missing from this beginning section is the amount of time this lesson will take. Nothing is mentioned until the activity section, where you discover that it is a four-week lesson plan because the students will grow lettuce and that is the length of time it will take. I think it would be more helpful to have that listed in the beginning area of the Web site. Lazenby then lists the activities/procedures, starting with two games to play with the students to begin the initial learning of the concept of heredity. Both games involve the students focusing on the physical traits of themselves and others. They are making comparisons and are

168

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

also contrasting this information. I think this is an excellent way to get them going. After the completion of the games, the teacher will pose this question to the students: "If humans are alike in many ways but still have many differences, is the same true of plants?" This leads into the next part of the activities, which is to give students three different types of lettuce seeds to plant in separate pots. As the plants grow, students make and record regular observations in their plant journal. At the end of four weeks, the students complete a worksheet entitled "Lettuce Be Different." There are ways of tying this all together, such as conducting surveys, making graphs, or making collages. Overall, I was pleased with this particular Web site on heredity. I don't know if it is age appropriate for all of the grades Lazenby has suggested. I think it may be too challenging for kindergarten and too easy for fifth grade and maybe even fourth grade. But it has good information and ideas, and it could be modified to format your particular class and level. Title: Heredity URL: http://www.naturesj.com/hdy/ Grade Level: Older students and teachers Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Heredity Review: This site brings you to the Web page of the magazine called Heredity. It is helpful because you can view any article featured in the magazine by searching through the journal archives. They are current, comprehensive, printable articles. This magazine features one issue per month. You can also become a subscriber to this or any magazine published by Nature Publishing. Title: DNA: Heredity & Beyond URL: http://library.thinkquest.org/20830/main.htm Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com Key Search Word: Heredity Review: This site has several different levels. It is broken down into Textbook, Manipulating DNA, Site Info, Forum and Surveys. In the Textbook section, it gives you a lot of information on how D N A works and what it is about. In the Manipulating D N A section, it tells about experiments that have been conducted by scientists. This part is interesting because it talks about ethics and how they relate to this field. It discusses how this will relate to our future and what is in store

Resources in Biology

169

for our future. In the Site Info part, it gives links and names of books and articles that will be helpful if you still need to look for more information. In Forum, there is a discussion page to post your thoughts and ideas, and essays to read. The last part is Surveys, where you can vote on polls or see the results of various polls that have already been posted. This is a good site because it has a lot of different aspects to it. It doesn't just give you facts, but allows you to give your point of view on certain topics. Title: Heredity URL: http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS%20Genetics/ SAS%20Heridity/SAS%20Heredity.htm Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Heredity facts Review: This is a really awesome site. The URL leads you to a history and study of heredity. There are a lot of links on the left-hand side, including: Projects, Punnet Square I, Punnet Square II, Making Babies, Traits Lab, Mapping Traits, Vocabulary, and Protein Synthesis DNA Replication. Title: Heredity/Genetics and Bipolar Disorder URL: http://bipolar.about.com/cs/genetics/ Grade Level: Seven through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Heredity and children Review: This About.com site offers a broad amount of information about the question of whether or not manic depression is actually inherited. The site is packed with some useless information, like too many advertisements, and I was upset to see that it has not been updated since 1999. Nevertheless, this is a good site for research with plenty of articles available. There is also a support area, message boards, and a section focused on bipolar disorder and heredity. Title: Taryn's World—Understanding Heredity URL: http://www.tarynsworld.org/taryn/kidslinks.htm Grade Level: Middle to high school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Heredity for kids Review: The heredity section of this site is only a tidbit of the offered information. The site is overall very comprehensive and useful for kids.

170

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

The heredity section is also very informative and is set up in a clear, easy-to-understand format. The site offers a brief introduction and then includes links that explain the many different theories of heredity. The theorists include: Pythagoras, Empedocles, Aristotle, Harvey, Leeuwehoek, de Maupertuis, Darwin, Mendel, Morgan, Crick and Watson, McClintock, and the Genome Project. I would use this site to reference the different perspectives on heredity. Title: Heredity URL: http://members.tripod.com/dlgates/schedule.htm Grade Level: Kindergarten through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Heredity for kids Review: This Web site is geared for teachers; I was unsuccessful in finding a fun site for children. Different ways to present the subject of heredity and promote the scientific process are presented. It lists the six parts of the scientific process and plugs in activities about heredity. There is one activity that requires students to match children's pictures to the right parents. Teachers can use the Web site for many science lessons. I would recommend this Web site. Title: D N A from the Beginning URL: http://www.dnaftb.0rg/dnaftb/l/c0ncept/index.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Heredity and children Review: This site offers facts on heredity, DNA, and scientists who are associated with the topic. In addition to offering quite a bit of information, it has nice graphics and an easy-to-follow layout. There are buttons on the bottom of the page that will lead you to various sections, including a gallery, animation, concepts, audio/video, etc. The animation section uses the pollination of a flower to illustrate the concept. Overall, I think this site would add to a science lesson on heredity by supplying some visual aids, such as the animations, to provide more of an understanding. Title: The Gene School URL: http://www.thinkquest.org Grade Level: Middle school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Heredity and kids

Resources in Biology

171

Review: This is a pretty basic site that is reader friendly. Gregor Mendel is introduced, as well as the three parts of his principle of segregation. It explains a little about D N A and human genes and how parents pass them down to their kids. Scrolling down a little farther there are some graphs explaining dominant and recessive traits. The language that is used throughout this site is simple yet not idiotic. The students will have to be a little familiar with percentages and ratios to totally understand how dominant and recessive traits work. Another really great feature of this site is that there is a glossary. Title: Cracking the Code of Life URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genome/ Grade Level: Five through eight Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Word: Heredity Review: I noticed that I have been to another section of this Nova site for genetics. The information presented on heredity is just as good. Its introduction page shows a strand of D N A that at first glance looks like something you would find in the Museum of Modern Art! Links are provided for all the great thinkers on this topic: Darwin, Aristotle, and Morgan et al., as well as a link on the Genome Project. A teacher's guide and classroom resources are also available. If you didn't bookmark this site last time around, you may want to do it now. History of Life on Earth Title: History of Life URL: http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/bio65/lec01 Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: History of life on Earth Review: This Web site is very informative and goes into much detail about all levels of the history of life. If you want more information about a certain topic, simply click on the highlighted word. There are numerous charts that give you information about animals, how many exist, and what animals have become extinct. It also goes over the different periods of time, explaining when they were and what happened then. I think that this site would be most beneficial to high school students. Because of the many graphs and charts, they would be able to interpret it much better than younger students.

172

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Earth History Illustrations URL: http://gallery.in-tch.com/~earthhistory/ Grade Level: Two through six Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Words: History of life on Earth Review: What an interesting site! Douglas Henderson states, "Scientific illustration is one means of exploring the past." This site can clear up some misconceived imaginations of younger students. The geologic time line shows a representation of time on Earth via illustrations. The opportunity to view illustrations (not cartoons) from the Cenozoic era through upper and lower Paleozoic to the Archeozoic are here for viewing. Pictures are also accompanied by relevant information that will answer students' questions. Don't bother looking for Fred Flintstone, you won't find him here. Title: Time Machine URL: http://www.cybertown.com/timerod.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Earth history Review: This Web site offers different aspects of the history of Earth. It gives a full-length description of Earth history, including pictures of what the world looked like at various times. It also provides links to other Web sites. There is a link to a museum site that shows pictures of dinosaurs and their bones. This Web site is mostly good for showing illustrations and no previous knowledge is needed. Title: Life through Geologic Time URL: http://www.seaborg.nmu.edu/earth/Life/html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Life on Earth Review: This page is set up to look like a chart. There are columns labeled Era, Period, Epoch, and Millions of Years Ago. The periods and epochs listed are all links to a brief description of what life was doing during that time. There are some words that may be unfamiliar, but overall these descriptions are right to the point without a whole lot of extra useless information. Title: Investigating Our Past: Where Did Humans Come From? URL: http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/ humans/index.html

Resources in Biology

173

Grade Level: High School Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Teaching, science, evolution Review: This Web site is excellent. It is very clear and organized. It is easy to follow, colorful, and interesting to look at. It also offers a wide variety of links to several other science subjects that may be of interest to teachers or students. Right after the title, the author of this Web site has listed the appropriate grade levels, the subject this lesson correlates to, and also the length of time this lesson will take. I think that this is very important information to have placed right at the beginning of the lesson. Having the subject listed will save time for someone who is searching through a series of Web sites and just needs a quick glance. Also, many Web sites don't even have the length of time listed anywhere in their lesson and that is something that is hard to estimate until you're actually doing the experiment. One other great part of this Web site is that after each individual section, such as objectives, it provides a link "back to top" that allows you to immediately be brought back to the beginning without having to scroll up to it. The Web site begins with the objectives and a list of the materials needed to do the experiment. It then moves into the nine procedures. Listed under most of these procedures is extra helpful information such as Web sites that can be easily linked to and little notes to aid in the performance of the lesson. After the procedures, there are adaptations that are primarily geared toward adapting to the younger grades when teaching this lesson. This is another very helpful tool in accurately performing the suggested lesson. There are six discussion questions listed that are wonderful for checking the understanding of the students. Following the discussion section, there is an evaluation section that supplies a threepoint rubric. This is another helpful tool. For postwork on this lesson plan, there are extension ideas listed, as well as two suggested readings. There are also several links and a vocabulary section to reinforce what was learned during the lesson itself. The last part of this Web site is a listing of the academic standards. It is such a smart idea to include this; most Web sites I have seen do not have that information easily available. Overall, this is a great Web site providing a lesson plan on where humans came from. Title: Tools of Historical Science (Scientific History of the Earth) URL: http://www.athro.com/sci/smframe.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com

174

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Key Search Word: Evolution Review: This is another section of the Athro Limited Web site, a source for high school and college-level biology, Earth science, and geology education on the Web. The panda's thumb and the skull of the saber tooth cat, Smilodon, are the only two subsections included under "Tools of Historical Science." The article on the panda's thumb is interesting and informative. Colorful photographs enhance the written information, as well as an interactive activity involving the panda's paw demonstrating the opposable thumb. The picture of the skull of the saber tooth cat, Smilodon, is used to explain the basic tools of historical reasoning, and the fact that experimentation is only one part of science. The remaining section of this site instructs the reader in the vocabulary and key concepts of the basic tools of historical reasoning. Within the context of each term/concept, a link is provided for further study on that particular topic. Further navigation links the reader to several additional sites containing even more information on each idea. Still another link provides a short list of "highly recommended science books" pertinent to this topic. It is an interesting site with lots of information to offer the viewer at a variety of locations. It is quite extensive in its navigation process! Title: History of Life on Earth URL: http://www.teachnet.kl2.ca.us/ . . . Science/history_life_earth.htm Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: History of life on Earth Review: This Web site is a great reference tool for students and teachers who are seeking information on the history of life on Earth. The page is broken up into categories with links to different Web sites that have more specific information on your desired topic. The different categories listed are: history of life on Earth, thunder lizards (dinosaurs), ratio metric dating a Christian perspective (probably not appropriate for school), evolution, the tree of life, and walk thru time . . . from Stardust to us. All of these categories give a small blurb underneath the topic title so that you can see exactly what it is you are going to continue to look for. The Web site also gives additional hyperlinks to find out more biology information, more subject matter, and other search links. This is a good site, but I think teachers would benefit more from it than students because it is not very exciting.

Resources in Biology

175

Title: A Pictorial History of Life on Earth URL: http://seaborg.nmu.edu/earth/Life.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: History of life on Earth Review: This is just a clever idea. When I first thought about a Web site covering the history of life on Earth, I pictured a very boring and technical documentation of changes in life over time. But this "pictorial" guide to that history is really interesting. Don't get me wrong, it's very technical, but the pictures are really cool. There are four columns running along the top of the page: Era, Period, Epoch, and Millions of Years Ago. There are eighteen links to more detailed descriptions, including pictures of the time period on Earth. There is so much information, and all of the links lead to others. It's just the jumping-off point that students would need to be really familiar with to navigate effectively. Again, I like the timetable and its layout. There are so many great graphics that students could look at for days. Title: History of Life on Earth URL: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/triumphoflife/ Grade Level: Eight through twelve Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: History of life on Earth Review: This great PBS series that aired during January/February 2002 includes all aspects of life on Earth, from dinosaurs to bacteria. It has an evolutionary time line, and the introduction talks about how evolution has carried life from simple single-celled creatures billions of years ago to today's complex plants and animals. There are six different parts to the series that are discussed in detail on the site: (1) The Four-Billion-Year War—how conflict and cooperation helped shape species that today populate our world: from dinosaurs to bacteria that have survived for billions of years unchanged; (2) Eternal Arms Race—predator and prey; (3) The Mating Game—sex is the key to the immortality of genes: this is about the ingenious, complex, and dramatic methods that animals employ to ensure their genetic line; (4) Winning Teams—the struggle to survive: how animals team up to hunt, avoid predators and build homes; (5) Brain Power—the growing studies of animal intelligence; (6) The Survivors—Sixty-five million years ago dinosaurs were wiped o u t . . . who will triumph in the long run? This series would be a great learning tool for a middle or

176

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

high school class learning about evolution and the beginning of Earth. It might be too lengthy, of course, but shortening it would be a bad idea. The Web site is excellent because it gives great images and pictures and so much information. I was fascinated! Title: Public Broadcasting System URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/odyssey/debate.html Grade Level: Seven through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: History of life on Earth for kids Review: This took a long time to research because I like to gear these topics to middle school students. This was the best one I saw because it explained the topic in terms of a debate. A lesson on this debate might be to have students read the opinions and decide which one they agree with. This is a good way to show students that there is not one correct answer for everything they are taught. This topic has been explored for centuries and is still evolving. I would recommend this site. Title: History of Life on Earth URL: http://www.ultranet.eom/~jkimball/BiologyPages/G/GeoEras.html Grade Level: Middle school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: History of life on Earth Review: This Web site shows a chart of the history of life as revealed by the fossil record. The categories are broken into eras, periods, epochs, aquatic life, and terrestrial life. The graph is visually pleasing and is accompanied by a few pictures. At the bottom of the page is an icon that says "welcome to next search." This brings you to the opening Web page of John W. Kimball, where a wealth of information is provided. The topics of research that are available range from behavior and cancer to diversity of life and molecules, and many more in between. So, from one simple, clearly labeled chart, I was able to get much more information related to the history of life on Earth with one simple click. Immunology and Immune System Title: How Your Immune System Works URL: http://www.howstuffworks.com/immune-system9.htm Grade Level: Elementary and above

Resources in Biology

177

Best Search Engine: http://www.dogpile.com Key Search Words: Immunology and the immune system Review: This site is really good for elementary kids because it gives a lot of examples that they can relate to. First, it breaks the site into different parts. In the introduction, it tells you two good reasons why you should know about your immune system in order to better understand it. The next section is seeing your immune system, which relates it to cutting your arm, getting a bug bite, and even getting a splinter in your finger. These are concepts that most kids can relate to. The next section covers the basics of the immune system. It tells you what it means to get sick. Following that is a section on the components of the immune system, which goes into detail about the many components, breaking them down into many different sections. The last section is on how the immune system works, how antibiotics help you, and how your immune system helps. This site has so much information, but is presented in a way that isn't boring. This is a good site for younger kids who want to find out more about the immune system. Title: Understanding the Immune System URL: http://rex.nci.nih.gov/PATIENTS/INFO_TEACHER/ immune_sys/frame2.html Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Words: Science, biology, immune system Review: This Web site provides a fun way for kids to learn about the immune system. It supplies a slide show for the students to follow along with, including very detailed pictures to compliment the easily understandable descriptions. This is the "Learn at Your Desktop" icon that the students can click on for the slide show. There is also the icon "Print Out for Presentation" that allows the kids to print out and keep what they have learned from the Web site. In the "Learn at Your Desktop" section of this particular Web site, the students are immediately taken to the slide show. There are various pages of bright, colorful, organized pictures, as well as brief but direct descriptions. The pictures include bacteria and the like broken down into pieces, as well as drawings of the inside of the body. That part begins with one huge outline of the immune system and then breaks each section of the body into separate pages with pictures and descriptions. Following this, it breaks down the cells inside the immune system. Also, featured at the bottom of each page of the presentation is a chance to

178

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

start over, move ahead, or move back a page, which makes it very convenient for the student using this Web site. The "Print Out for Presentation" section allows the chance to print out individual frames as black-and-white line art on a laser printer. Students can use these to make overhead transparencies or slides. They can also print out a complete speaker's script that can be used to narrate the presentation. These are both very helpful parts of the Web site for any students who want to use this particular presentation for further use. Title: Immune System URL: http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/cell.html Grade Level: Three through six Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Explaining immune system to kids Review: This site reviews an eleven-minute film that gives students a scientific understanding of the immune system. It features a mock battle, with actors playing the attackers and defenders of cells. Videos are usually very appealing to elementary school students. Bullfrog Films sells and rents educational videos on a variety of topics. I have come across their movies before when researching my curriculum unit plan. This would be a good site to bookmark as a teacher. Title: The Immune System URL: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/final/immun/immun.htm Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Immune system Review: This is a site within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Web site. It's pretty straightforward and the illustrations are clear and helpful. The language is easy to understand, as well. I recommend it for high school students because the language is a little complicated, but if middle school students wanted use this site for research, it would be fine if they knew some of the things they were looking for. The site gives a great overview of the immune system. It touches on these basic ideas: The Body's First Line of Defense, How the Immune System Works, Antibodies, T-Cells, and the Immune System Process. Title: How Your Immune System Works URL: http://www.howstuffworks.com/immune-system.htm Grade Level: Three and above

Resources in Biology

179

Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Immune system Review: What a fantastic site! This section of how things work will answer many questions about the immune system. It provides an introduction, basics, and components of the immune system, as well as information on white blood cells and lymph nodes. Did you know that white blood cells are called leukocytes? These leukocytes are divided into three categories: granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. This information is presented in a manner suitable for younger students. Links for more information on topics and dictionary links for terminology make this a good site to bookmark. Title: Pick a Movie URL: http://brainpop.com Grade Level: Upper elementary Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Words: Immune system Review: This is an amazing site. The student has fun sections with dropdown menus of all sorts of categories. The pick-a-movie section is a one-minute animated show that is amusing and informative. This movie can be played again and a short quiz is available based on information from the movie. Kids can even e-mail the movies to their friends. This is a great site just for kids. Title: Youthealth.com URL: http://www.youthealth.com/home/healthBeats/ ImmuneSystemHB.asp Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Immune system Review: This site is very animated and has a lot of different information on the body for kids. The section on the immune system offers an animation, a slide show, and an activity. The audio/visual aspect of this site is wonderful for kids and would likely hold their interest. While the amount of information could stand to be increased, what it does provide is presented clearly and in a nice layout. I think this site would help kids learn about the different body systems, including the immune system, in a fun and exciting way. Title: Immunology—The Immune System URL: http://www.lupusnet.ucalgary.ca/lhnet/immune.htm

180

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Grade Level: High school, college, and adult school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Immune system Review: This site, developed by the Lupus Health Net, in conjunction with Calvary and Kasper Medical Labs, initially provides the reader with an explanation of the immune system. The textual information explains, in understandable yet concise terms, the function of the immune system and its complements. Vocabulary, pertinent to understanding this system, is underlined in the text. By clicking on any one of these terms, a link provides further information to help the reader understand the system. A series of ten subtopics, direct links to understanding the system more completely, are identified along the left side of the screen: Lupus Health Net, Project Structure and Staff, Current Programs, Health Net Background, Mission Statement, Lupus Info., Updates, Related Sites and Disclosure, Send E-Mail, and Home. By clicking on any one of these links, the reader is immediately immersed in the terminology and content of the system. Additional links are provided at the end of the introductory content material regarding current statistics—Epidemiology, Types of Lupus, Symptoms and Cause, and Management, Diagnosis and Treatment of Lupus. I clicked on the Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory to learn more about immunology, which took me to the laboratory and diagnostic services link, where a more detailed explanation of the system, as well as the work of the Health Net program is explained. The Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory specializes in the identification of autoantibodies in the patients with autoimmune diseases. This clinic has been collecting and cataloging more than 7,500 samples on computers for easy retrieval. A listing of programs and services, which the Lupus Health Net offers, are each linked to specific sites. By clicking on a designated box, the reader is able to retrieve an interpretation of lab tests. Still more links identify further information regarding other lupus organizations, health promotion and prevention, other medical conditions, medications, and further research being done in this area. The site is extremely informative and it is laid out quite well. The information is written for the average person to understand, and it is easy to navigate through the various links. Each link provides a brief, yet concisely written piece of information for the reader to learn and more fully appreciate the function of the immune system. It definitely helped me to better understand the extent and complexity of the immune system, what lupus is, the symptoms and prevention of it, and other medical conditions that are controlled by our immune system.

Resources in Biology

181

Mitosis/Meiosis Title: Mitosis URL: http://esg-www.mit.edu:8001/esgbio/cb/mitosis.html Grade Level: Four through six Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Word: Mitosis Review: This is a very good Web site for young children. It contains a definition of mitosis, followed by pictures to explain what mitosis is and how cells divide. I feel that pictures are very useful, and those shown on this site are very beneficial. There is a link that you can click on to see real pictures of amoebas going through mitosis. The Web site also contains a home link and a directory link, as well as links to the next and previous pages. I really liked this Web site and I feel that children would enjoy looking at it as well. Title: Cell-Biology.com URL: http://www.cell-biology.com/division.html Grade Level: High school and college; general public for links on health care Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Mitosis Review: This site, developed by health-care professionals, is actually part of a collection of informational Web sites focusing on health care and research. The disclaimer states that the site is intended for informational purposes only. The text begins with cell division and provides introductory material presented in a term-definition format. Cell division is explained and the processes of mitosis and meiosis are compared. The nuclear events occurring in both types of cell division are described in detail and the major events of each stage are summarized. The six phases of mitosis—prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis—are described. Meiosis is then explained and contrasted. The division process is explained in technical yet understandable terminology. Each phase is accompanied by illustrations. A series of links is also available on the left side, which includes: Products, e-Proteomics.net, Proteases.net, DNA-Arrays.com, Chemistry-Info.net, Molecular-Biologist.com, E-Histology.net, Pharmacology.net, Toxology.net, and Adverting. O n the lower left, it is also possible to click on PharmArray, the premier DNS microarray of pharmacology and toxicology research, according to the Altruis network. A link to their partner, IntegriDerm (skin-care

182

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

products), is also available. Fourteen links are provided at the top of the site. This is general health-care information and is suitable reading for the layman. The biomedical network includes information on women's health, men's health, skin and hair, fitness and nutrition, cardiology, medicine, infections, allergies, neurology, research, endocrinology, cancer, hygiene, and pulmonology. By clicking on the cardiology link, for example, one can learn about the heart, blood pressure, heart disease, vascular disease, and arteries. Symptoms, diseases, and appropriate medications are also described on additional side links. New medications based on current research are also presented. The site is extremely easy to navigate and very well organized. Everyone from health-care professionals to high school students can find useful information. It helped me to better understand some medical conditions, their causes, and possible treatments. I found it so interesting that I put it on my favorites as a good reference source, both for my family's personal use and for my children's research in high school. In all, it is a comprehensive "encyclopedia" which combines the study of biology to its applications in health care. Title: The Biology Project URL: http://www.biology.Arizona.edu/site.html Grade Level: Six through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, meiosis, mitosis Review: I found this site (University of Arizona) quite comprehensive and detailed, including major headings covering Cell, Human, Developmental, and Molecular Biology; Chemicals and Human Health; Biochemistry; and Immunology and Genetics. For example, on the site map under "Cell Biology," problem sets and tutorials are provided with marvelous graphics (including animation) where appropriate. Clicking on "Cell Cycle and Mitosis," for instance, provides a brief overview of the subheadings (e.g., Studying Cells, The Cell Cycle and Mitosis, Meiosis, Cytoskeleton, etc.). Clicking further on "The Cell Cycle & Mitosis Tutorial" brings the viewer to a self-guided tutorial that begins with DNA basics and continues through the cell cycle, what is and isn't mitosis, and delineates the individual phases of interphase and mitosis (e.g., from interphase, prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, etc.) with graphic illustrations provided for understanding of individual phases and a mitosis animation that coherently brings the entire process into focus from start to finish. Finally, quizzes are provided (multi-

Resources in Biology

183

pie choice) that allow the student to test their depth of knowledge. Spanish translations are provided, which shows a sensitivity of the site toward bilingualism and Spanish-reading users. A section of the site designed to explain vocabulary is still under construction. Still another wonderful feature are the numerous linked sites for each subheading. For example, "Cells Alive!" is described as a "highly visual site, where you'll find movies and animated illustrations on cell processes, parasites, penicillin and more." Access to these links alone may be worth the trouble of finding this site. Activities are provided for most headings. Under "Cell Biology," an activity on examining the cells of a onion root tip are explained (including an active, repeating animation of the cell cycle). The experiment asks the student to determine what percentage of time is spent in each cell cycle phase and to recall through illustrations which phase is being presented. All these instructional techniques allow the student to construct real meaning about the cell cycle, including reinforcement of learning about the phases in both an individually detailed and holistic fashion. Other major subheadings (e.g., "Biochemistry") act as tutorials in a similar manner. There is even an activity (under "Biochemistry") that allows the user to view and explore DNA activity in an animation/graphic form, twisting and turning the DNA helix to view it from many angles. Finally, an overview of the biology project is presented, including an explanation of instructional design, which is quite handy for teachers who wish to explore the instructional content and curricular design of the site, as well as to create tutorials and questions and answers for their own site. Guidelines are provided in the "Instructional Design" tutorial that help the instructor/teacher create problem sets of their own. Title: Mitosis and Meiosis URL: http://web.wtez.net/nZs/ns54007/gene/inheritl_ehtml Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Mitosis and meiosis Review: This site provides the reader with an explanation of mitosis and meiosis and how they relate to inheritance and explains the functions of genes and chromosomes. It uses dialogue between a doctor and his assistant. The doctor introduces the topics of mitosis and meiosis as it relates to DNA. The assistant is used to help clarify the difficult topics by asking the doctor questions. The questions are phrased in a manner that most middle school and high school students would use.

184

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

The site uses a variety of vocabulary words that are pertinent to understanding mitosis, meiosis, and inheritance. The new vocabulary, along with major concepts, is in bold print. A variety of color and graphics are used to show the stages of mitosis and meiosis. The diagrams used have both English and Japanese captions to go along with them. Also, there is an animation section on the page that shows the whole process. This site has links to other pages that deal with the topics of genes, replication, transcription, translation, and DNA. Also, there is an e-mail link to ask questions and to make requests. Title: Mitosis/Meiosis Directory Animation URL: http://id=1565&lc=en-us&providerid=112&realname= www.metacrawler.com&uid= 1041316%3A%2F%2F&UR1= www. metacrawler. com Grade Level: Six through nine Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Mitosis/meiosis Review: This Web site is very interesting. W h e n you click on mitosis or meiosis, it explains everything. W h e n you click on the buttons, it takes you through every stage of mitosis and meiosis, explaining each stage, and showing a picture (moving into that stage). I think this is very informative for everyone because if you do not know anything about this subject it teaches you and shows you what you need to know (straight to the point). Title: Mitosis URL: Very lengthy; for easiest access, go to http://www.askjeeves .com, type in meiosis and mitosis, and choose result #2 Grade Level: Eight and nine Best Search Engine: http://www.askjeeves.com or http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Meiosis and mitosis Review: This Web site is laid out in a very vertical format. It begins with a description of the cell cycle, and the changes a cell must go through to maintain homeostasis. Parts of the cell cycle are contrasted in bold print and a clear, basic description of each part of the cycle follows: interphase (resting phase) is subdivided into G l , S, and G2 phases. Mitosis is subdivided into prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. All subtopics are contrasted in bold print. Below the full textual explanation is a series of color pictures of each phase of mitosis, in varying dimensions. Below those pictures is the new topic of meiosis (bold

Resources in Biology

185

print). After a brief explanation of meiosis, there are pictures of its phases. In contrast to the layout of the mitosis portion, these are separated by an explanation of the phases. In the explanation paragraph, differences between mitosis and meiosis are noted. The phases, presented in order, are: interphase, prophase, metaphase I, anaphase I, telophase I, prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, and telophase II. Each of these is separated by bold print. Below the last picture is a "click here" option for related links. The link button will bring you to Science—The Human Gene Map through NCBI. This includes information on DNA mapping—much more complex than the original site. There is a note that the update has recently been released, which further links to "A New Map of the Human Genome," through the International RH Mapping Consortium. This link is at a much higher reading level than the original site. The very bottom of the site provides a link to a lab activity on mitosis/meiosis. The lab begins with two paragraphs again explaining mitosis and meiosis, and an introduction of some new vocabulary (key terms are in bold type). Scrolling down, you come to the first exercise in the lab: 3A.1, A n Observation of Mitosis in Plant/Animal Cells Using Onion Root Tip and Whitefish Blastula. Color pictures are provided for analysis. The procedure for the lab involves examining slides of each specimen under the microscope. Participants are provided space to "sketch" each phase of mitosis. Explanation of what to look for is included in a short paragraph for each phase. Scrolling further down you encounter two analysis questions based on what was learned in the lab. This is the end of the first part of the lab. Another activity: 3A.2, is presented through a procedure paragraph. The lab participant is presented with the task of estimating how long each phase of cell replication will last. Partners in the lab alternate between calling out times and recording times on an organizational table (3.1), which is provided. The table is white, contrasting with the yellow background of the site. Partners also count the number of cells in each stage, and through a mathematical formula provided, produce the percentage of cells in a given stage at that time. Finally, there are two more analytical questions to conclude the lab activity. Although I did not have much prior knowledge of the concepts of meiosis and mitosis, this site presented the basics in a clear, easy-toread format. All information was presented vertically and there were no links distracting you to the left. A large font was used, which made it easy to read, but the content was more appropriate for middle school to beginning high school. The lab activity appeared to be effective if you have the materials available.

186

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Biosphere: The Online AP Biology Resource URL: http://library.thinkquest.Org/28751/review/division/5.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Meiosis, mitosis Review: This site was developed to provide an on-line resource for students taking the advanced placement (AP) biology exam. The information on the Web site can be applied in almost any general biology class. It was created by students and teachers out of Laguna Valley, California and submitted to the Think Quest Internet Challenge. The main menu contains links that lead to information on studying for the exam, a comprehensive biology review, a bulletin board to share test-taking strategies, and a reference page that lists resources used in development of the Web site. It also contains a countdown of the days left until the AP biology exam and a field in which to search keywords or topics related to the site. Enter the words meiosis and mitosis in the search field and it leads to a multitude of information on cell division. The search will result in a menu listing six topics of interest related to meiosis and mitosis, which are: Biology Review, Heredity, Cell Division, Mitosis, Meiosis, and Mitosis vs. Meiosis. Click on any one of these items for further information. Each of the resulting Web pages has textual information, relevant graphics, and links within the text to define pertinent vocabulary. This site provides clear and extreme ease of navigation for the student. It contains only information that is relevant to the topic. The site's search engine was found to be effective in finding the desired information. This site would be a valuable asset to any students taking the AP exam, as well as to biology teachers. Title: Mitosis World Home URL: http://www.bio.unc.edu/faculty/salmon/lab/ mitosis/mitosislinks.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Words: Mitosis and meiosis Review: This informative Web site is managed by the Salmon Lab of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Department of Biology. O n the left-hand side of the site is a menu of five colorful links, entitled Mitosis World, Mitosis Labs, Movies of Mitosis, Mitosis Links, and Journals. The first of these, Mitosis World, offers a very concise explanation of mitosis with highlighted vocabulary words pertaining

Resources in Biology

187

to the topic. The other links—Mitosis Labs, Movies of Mitosis, and Journals—each contain well-developed lists of links pertaining to these topics. Under Mitosis Labs is a list of scientists and professors in the field. Most names are highlighted and serve as links, leading you to that particular person's home page. The one entitled Mitosis Links offers about thirty-seven highlighted links ranging from Nature: Focus on Cell Division (set up by Nature Journals Mitosis Review— nice pictures of mitotic plant cells during mitosis) to Cosmological Cell Division (how cell division relates to astronomy). Information for those who speak Spanish is also listed under Mitosis Links. Overall, this site is very thorough and its design facilitates easy navigating. It is chock-full of material, which is clearly presented and informative. I highly recommend it for both secondary and university-level students. Title: Cell Division: Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction URL: http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/bi/1998/presentations/johnson/ Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Meiosis Review: Developed by William C. Johnson at San Benito High School, this site clearly explains to the reader how cells are duplicated. The author provides a hands-on activity that allows visualization of the entire process. The site uses drawings and activities to help the student better understand the mitosis and meiosis processes. The language of this site is easy to understand and follow. There are no links to other sites. Movement Title: Human Movement Tracking Technology URL: http://www.cs.stu.ca/~amulder/personal/vmi/HMTT.pub.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Human movement Review: This Web site is very informational. O n the first page, there are different contents that you can click on to be linked to other pages. Some of the choices are: a summary, general system description, specifying human movement tracking systems, and tracking parts of the human body. If you were to click on these links, other pages would arise with different pertinent information. I personally liked the gen-

188

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

eral systems description because a picture of the human body is shown with bullets for movements. The arrowed bullets show how parts of the body move in different ways. I liked this Web site and feel that it would be beneficial to all who read it. Title: Your Digestive System and How It Works URL: http://ibscrohns.about.com/library/basics/bldigest.htm Grade Level: Seven and eight Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Digestive system Review: This site is produced with information from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse in Bethesda, Maryland. It is divided into four sections: (1) Overview, (2) Why is Digestion Important? (3) How is Food Digested? and (4) How is the Digestive Process Controlled? There is a link box to the right that enables you to click easily from one section to another. The overview section discusses the physical structure of the digestive system. It identifies mucosa as a substance that produces juices that move the food. Key vocabulary is N O T in bold print. This section is quite brief. The section about the importance of digestion is also brief. It articulates how food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the cells. The section on how food is digested is by far the most extensive section on the site. It is divided into several subtopics that are clearly explained. The first is the (bold) "Movement of Food through the System." This part touches upon the muscles that move/propel the food. Movement of the key organs is peristalsis (no bold for vocabulary). This process is carefully described. The next subtopic is the "Digestive System." In this section there is a large picture of the digestive system. Text to the right outlines the passage of food and the junction of organs that are part of the process. It also touches upon how digestion changes from a voluntary to an involuntary process as food is swallowed. The steps of digestion are easy to follow with the handy diagram. The next subsection is about the "Production of Digestive Juices." This part describes the production of saliva in the salivary glands and glands in the stomach. Once the stomach empties the food and juices into the small intestine, a description of how the juices of the pancreas take over ensues. The final subtopic is the "Absorption and Transport of Nutrients." This subtopic discusses how the digested molecules of food are carried across the mucosa into the blood. There is also a short explanation of how carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins,

Resources in Biology

189

water, and salt are digested. The final section deals with "How the Digestive Process is Controlled." It reviews the fact that the digestive system has its own regulators. Although inconsistent with the rest of the site, the key vocabulary: gastrin, secretin, and CCK are in bold print in this section. There is also a subsection to this part—"Nerve Regulators," which deals with how two types of nerves help to control the digestive system: intrinsic and extrinsic. There are links to the left that pop up, regardless of which part you are looking at. These include irritable bowel syndrome, inflamed bowel disease, green stool, FAQs, and an Irritable Bowel/Crohn's Disease glossary. Dropping down on the same side, there are further links to Crohn's, to irritable bowel, and to alternative remedies for colorectal cancer, diagnostic testing, and diet and recipes. Finally, there are links at the bottom to discussion sites on digestion topics. I thought this site had a lot of links and distracters, but on the whole it was effective in its outline of the process of digestion. I did not have much more than a basic understanding, and have come away with a more complete picture of the process. Title: Database of Macromolecular Movements URL: http://molmovdb.mbb.yale.edu/MolMovDB/ Grade Level: AP high school and college Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Word: Movement Review: This site was developed to explain motions as they occur in proteins and other macromolecules. It uses various movies and software programs to assist the learner in further knowledge of the macromolecular movements. The main menu contains links that lead the interested parties to movies, papers, software, browsers, editing, and help. As students navigate the site on movies, they are led to an excellent display of animated sketches of many different molecular movements of chemical reactions to viruses and like subject matter. Students may also download full and partial text documents regarding the molecular movement subject matter. Editing may be done by adding comments in a link reference at the top of each motion. There is a multitude of links that lead to some interesting papers on the topic. The software section provides links to "freeware" that calculates volumes, surfaces, and distances of molecules. The site does contain many pathways to find what you are looking for on the topic of molecular movement. It stays on track, is easy to navigate, and provides students with all the necessary information.

190

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: BBC Education URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/revision/biology/the_ body_in_action/movement_rev.shtml Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Words: Human movement Review: The BBC education Web site is provided by BBC television in Great Britain. This is an educational site for Any grade level and all subjects. It is fun to navigate, thanks to the bright colors and animated buttons. The only confusing part for U.S. users is the grade levels (ages are provided for another part of the site, but the pages I accessed were listed under "standard grade" in Scotland, and the content seemed to fit high school). There is an "ask a teacher" page, which was closed, but would usually allow students to literally ask a teacher a question (previously asked questions are provided for reference). By clicking "standard grade" from the home page, the user is given a choice of various subjects. Clicking "biology" gives a choice of topics in this discipline, one of which is "body in action." In this section, students are given information under three subheadings: joints, skeleton, and muscles. Important points are listed in bullet format under each subheading, and diagrams and vocabulary lists are also provided. Self-tests with true/false, short-answer, and multiplechoice questions are provided to check for understanding. This Web site would be a good tool for students to use as a capsulated review of information on human skeletal structure and movement. Title: The Hosford Muscle Tables: Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body URL: http://www.ptcentral.com/muscles/ Grade Level: High School and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Movements in the human body Review: This Web site is an index containing detailed information about the skeletal muscles of the human body. Included are each muscle's origin, insertion, action, blood supply, and innervations. A n organization called PTCentral (Physical Therapy Central) manages this Web site in addition to offering other health-related services. Beneath the site's title is a clickable human body muscle map. After clicking on the different regions of the body (head and neck, trunk, front and back, brachium, ante brachium and hand, thigh, leg, and foot) the site produces a highlighted listing of larger muscle groups involved. Each of these larger muscles serves as a link, providing de-

Resources in Biology

191

tailed explanations of function and descriptions. Beneath these is a separate listing of muscles within each of these groups. They are also highlighted links, providing further information. Beneath all of the information just mentioned exists an extensive alphabetical listing of all muscles in the human body. Each and every muscle listed serves as a link. Continue scrolling down to find a listing of related anatomy links: a printable Hosford Muscle Table (compact form), differential diagnosis tables for the musculoskeletal system, massage therapy, bone anatomy, and medical education links and resources. This was the best scientific site I've ever navigated! It is loaded with information on every muscle in the human body, which can be searched in either of two ways: (1) on the map of the human body, for those who know where it is but don't know the name, or (2) by name, alphabetically. The site appears in a simple vertical format, allowing for easy navigating. This outstanding site is recommended for secondary and university students. Title: Fetal Movement Counts—University of Iowa Health Care Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology URL: http://obgyn.uhic.uiowa.edu/Patinfo/prenatal/fmc.htm Grade Level: High school and college; general public for links on pregnancy; links for the consumer called "TV spots" Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Human movement Review: This site is presented in a question/answer format. Fetal movement is described in the first definition as an expression of an unborn baby's well-being. According to the information provided by the University of Iowa Health Care Center, a fetal movement count of ten or more indicates the wellness of the baby. The test to monitor the movement is simple, harmless, and painless. The simple procedure to count the fetal movement is described. If a baby has fewer than ten movements in twelve hours or if the mother notices a sudden decline in fetal movement followed by none at all, the patient is advised to contact a professional. Directions and telephone numbers for assistance are provided. Follow-up procedures that may be indicated are also described. A nonstress test may be done using an external fetal monitor, which counts and records the baby's heartbeat continuously on paper. This site is well organized and very easy to read. The left side provides further information about the University of Iowa as a health center. The twelve links on the left are: Department Home, Appointments, Clinical Services, Clinical Trials, Faculty and Staff, Medical Students, News, Outreach

192

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Services, Patient Education, Provider Education Information, and Research and Residencies. The links on the top of the site provide information specific to the hospital facility. Information is available for patients and visitors, health-care professionals, residents and fellows, students, media, and business partners. What I found particularly informative was the complete dictionary on health care A-Z. It is possible to click on a letter and find virtually anything about a particular health problem. The disease is described and ten to fifteen quick links are listed that direct the reader to other sites describing medications, possible treatments, and support groups. This is a fascinating site because of the wealth of information it provides. Title: Human Movement Tracking Technology URL: http://www.cs.sfu.cal~amulder/personal/umi/hmtt.pub.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Human movement Review: This Web page seemed to be a college project. The information provided on the Web site is about human movement tracking technology. The author can be contacted by a link at the top of the page. A contents section is provided like a table of contents in a book. A list of sections can be clicked on for advancement to that specified section, or you could simply scroll down the Web site. The information is provided in a textual manner, with a minimal amount of visuals. You can also find or add to the list of references, tracking products, or vendors. Title: Journey into the Cell: Cilia and Flagella URL: http://biology.about.com/library/weekly/aa052500a.htm Grade Level: Six through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology and movement Review: Unlike many biology sites that attempt to pack all their information about a subject into one or two Web pages, the "About" Web site provides precise, encyclopedic-like descriptions of subject matter (e.g., Cell Movement: Cilia and Flagella) from a vast range of biologic subjects ranging from anatomy/physiology to botany to cell biology, evolution, genetics, and other areas of biology too numerous to mention here. But the real value of the site is in the extensive hyperlinks that allow the user to examine pertinent terms (e.g., microtubules; cilia and flagella, 9 + 2 pattern) in more detail. When I

Resources in Biology

193

examined the hyperlink for "microtubules," for example, the site linked me to a useful, related entry on the cytoskeleton, describing microtubules as "hollow rods functioning primarily to help support and shape the cell and as 'routes' along which organelles can move. Microtubules are typically found in all eukaryotic cells." Throughout many entries, colorful two- and three-dimensional images bring the cellular structures alive, and a section called "distinguishing characteristics" lets the user know what makes that feature (in this case, of the cell) different and special. What I also appreciated about this site was the levels of information that could be accessed. O n the initial level, one can get a brief but useful description of the subject at large, but through the hyperlinks (in this case, on cilia and flagella) I was pleasantly surprised to find a level of detail, both through illustration and microphotographic slide and electron micrographic reproduction that rivals that of many university biology texts on the matter. Under the heading "AP Biology," the site caters to those seeking to pass the AP biology exam, providing Web links, resources, and information that would assist in that regard. There is also "Homework Help," a compendium of information and resources that helps students to answer their biology homework questions. Accessing the "Cell Biology" guide pick, I was presented with several pages of sites that covered a range of subjects, from cytology (cell structure and function) to the process involved in Adenine Triphosphate (ATP) energy production, to a cancer cell cam presenting human melanoma cells growing in culture. There are also links to resource sites for biology students (and teachers/educators) on innovative project ideas for all school-age students from kindergarten through twelve. Perhaps most exciting of all, there are sponsored links provided to connect the student or educator to virtual dissections and biology-based simulations. Accessing "Clip Art/Software" on the site menu provides links to a collection of biology-related clip art images and software. Similar links are also provided in the main menu to Forensics, General Biology, Health/ Medicine, Jobs/Internships, and Museums and Zoos, which gives it a depth and breadth often unmatched by other similar sites. Title: Biology and Movement URL: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/reflexes.html Grade Level: Four and five Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Movement of the body

194

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Review: This Web site is interesting. It discusses everything about movement. If you click on the highlighted words such as brain and muscles, it explains more about movement and how it works. This is a good site for fourth and fifth graders because it is easy to read and the information is not too long. Natural Selection Title: Muddy Water URL: http://www.answeringenesis.org/home/area/magazines/docs/ v23n3_muddy_waters2.asp Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Natural selection Review: This Web site helps to clarify information on natural selection. It discusses Darwin's beliefs. Links are provided, including one to where the article was first published. However, this link does not access the information. There are also links to a biography of the author and to references. Title: Nature.ac.uk URL: http://nature.ac.uk Grade Level: Elementary through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Natural selection Review: Nature.ac.uk contained a hot button to The Natural History Museum, which I immediately took advantage of. Once there, I was greeted with an interactive on-line exhibition. Visitors have their choice of: an ant colony, dinosaur directory, eclipses, seasons, and science casebooks, which contain cases of legendary beasts, meteorites, and amber. I elected to take the virtual reality tour of the legendary voyage led by Captain James Cook aboard The Endeavor. This trip around the world in 1798 proved to make tremendous contributions to a variety of disciplines. As an educator, it seems to border on neglect if the young minds of today are not exposed to such rich and meaningful educational experiences. Marie Montessori, I'm sure, would agree. Title: History of Evolution URL: http://www.library.thinkquest.org/1877/darwinstheory.htm. Grade Level: Seven and above

Resources in Biology

195

Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Darwin and "natural selection" Review: This site was student created in 1998 as an entry for the Think Quest, Inc., Internet challenge. It begins with a neon green menu for access to the following topics: History of Evolution, Voyage of the Beagle, Darwin's Theory, Heredity, Natural Selection, Evolutionary Theory, After Darwin, The Story of Time, and The Conclusion of Evolution. In the History of Evolution, there is a picture of a monkey that changes gradually to a man, while the text describes how ideas about evolution came about. At the bottom of the page, all links are briefly described. In the section Voyage of the Beagle, the text describes how Darwin did not believe in evolution based on the ideas of early scientists Lyell and Lamarck, but that as the voyage of the Beagle progressed, he altered his view. O n the left are links to a Java map of the Beagle's voyage, and a link to a more detailed account of the voyage. There are colorful graphics that connect to a user poll, with examples of adaptation. The section entitled Darwin's Theory is all text and describes what Darwin saw that shaped his views about evolution. This section first introduces "survival of the fittest," or natural selection, based on Darwin's observation and speculation about the evolution of the iguana. The next section focuses on heredity. All of the links on this page are to a site glossary. The words are highlighted green in the text. The text articulates the findings of Gregor Mendel. Hereditary traits, such as rolling of the tongue, are discussed in this text. The section on Natural Selection introduces the idea of natural selection more clearly, and explains different types of selection: sex, stabilizing, disruptive, directional, and frequency dependent. There are no additional links here. Next is Evolutionary Theory, which reviews how Darwin's theory has led to new scientific discoveries, such as Hardy/Weinbeg's mathematical equation to show the frequency of alleles (bright green link on Java). This page further discusses the modern application of Darwin's theories. The Story of Time (Primeval Soup) wraps up the main areas of the site. This part describes the formation of the earth and how organic substances formed, like amino acids, from which RNA/DNA can be formed. It also describes the origins of the first types of animals. The same pictures are present from page one, but they are one below the other, not morphing from one to the other. They are much more interesting on the first page! The Conclusion of Evolution sums up the topic and emphasizes that Darwin's ideas are based in theory, not fact. There is a red link to Creation Stories and a poll question for the visitor to an-

196

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

swer. This was a very easy-to-read, plain text site, but it is engaging and informative. Title: Evolution by Natural Selection URL: http://www.theunityofknowledge.org/evolution-by-naturalselection/title-pate.htm Grade Level: Overview for the general public; links for high school, college students, teachers of biology Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Natural selection Review: This site would be a good starting point for a beginner who needs to understand the theory of natural selection. The top of the site provides the following links: Introduction; Part T. The Basic Process; Part 2: Evolution in Action: The Human Eye; Part 3: The Tree of Life and Its Origins; and a Conclusion. Natural selection is defined and the theory of evolution is explained in the five preceding segments. The home page lists fifteen links that provide the reader with a virtual encyclopedia of biological terms. Any high school or college student could profit from these useful links. They are (1) Physical Anthropology Tutorials, (2) Open Directory Project—evolution section, (3) Yahoo! Directory—evolution section, (4) Harvard University—evolution links, (5) The Talk, Origins Archive, (6) Frank Potter's Science Gems—evolution section, (6) PBS—evolution, (7) BBC—evolution Web site, (8)About Darwin.com, (9) Evolution Update—useful links for students and teachers of biology, (10) University of Toronto—evolution links, (11) Darwin Day Home Page, (12) Evolution—an introduction, (13) Major Themes in Evolution—National Academy of Sciences, (14) Evolution on the Web for Biology Students, and (15) Evolution and Natural Selection—an introduction from the University of Michigan. Particularly impressive is the link from the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University. One may connect to scientific journals, software, and general evolution recourses. Evolution Update chronicles important events in the history of biology and is a news search site, which categorizes science articles in books, journals, periodicals, and newspapers. This site is a gold mine for teachers! The most comprehensive link is the first, the Physical Anthropology tutorial. The note next to it says that it is highly recommended. It could also be called, "Everything that you always wanted to know about genetics!" Topics include Mendel genetics, the probability of inheritance, and exceptions to simple genetics. Under additional links, one finds a glossary of terms that would help

Resources in Biology

197

any student of biology with research or preparation for an exam. Related Web sites and Web expeditions give the student ample opportunity for problem-solving activities. This site is easy to read and navigate. The material is well presented and the accompanying illustrations are not only helpful but also pleasing to the eye. I plan to pass this site on to the teachers in the Science Department, if they do not already know about it. Title: Early Theories of Evolution—Palomar College URL: http://www.anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/default.htm Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, natural selection Review: This Web page is one of sixteen tutorials produced by the Anthropology Department of Palomar College in San Marcos, California, and is part of the college Web site. This tutorial is entitled "Early Theories of Evolution: 17th—19th Century Discoveries that Led to the Acceptance of Biological Evolution." Students are given a history of the discoveries that established our currently held evolutionary theories. People such as Charles Darwin, Thomas Malthus, Alfred Wallace, and Gregor Mendel are discussed, and correct pronunciations of their names, as well as pronunciations of places, are given in sound. Maps, illustrations, and pictorial depictions of concepts are provided. A selftest is available at the end of each tutorial. This Web site was simple to navigate and full of useful information. The vocabulary used was high school level, although this Web site is electronically published by a college and intended for college students. There are not many interactive tools, other than the sound, but the information is comprehensive. Any other bells and whistles would have been a distraction. Title: Evolution and Natural Selection URL: http://www.sprl.umich.edu/GCL/paper_to_html/selection.html Grade Level: Six through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, natural selection Review: In what is simply described as a set of lecture notes (and which come across as such) from a course on global change at the University of Michigan, I found one of the most concise yet comprehensive explanations of evolution and natural selection presented on the Internet. As with many good lessons, the author (Allan, Course AOSS 171: Introduction to Global Change) first asks some questions de-

198

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

signed to get the reader to critically think: "How did observations in nature lead to the formulation of the theory of evolution? How does natural selection work? What evidence do we have for local adaptation? and How can natural selection affect the frequency of traits over successive generations?" The site begins with an examination of the theory of evolution, which is really seen as a (r)evolution of theory. The author or authors are quite clever in presenting their evidence, including a phylogenetic tree of life, which is not claimed as the sole model but more rightly as one of a number of possible models. The lecture assumes some prior knowledge in places (for example, on uniformitarianism), although brief explanations of the concepts are presented. The lecture notes initially proceed through a quick history of the intellectual evolution in thinking about patterns of change in nature from uniformitarianism to Cuvier and Lamarck, and finally to Darwin's Origin of Species and his voyage to the Galapagos Islands. Next, Darwin's theory of evolution and the process of natural selection (including the evidence thereof) are examined in excellent detail, including numerous illustrations, photos, and figures. Several of the best-known examples of natural selection are examined, including the studies on the English peppered moth, Biston betularia, and its light/dark patterns and populations, as well as the North American rat snake and the Galapagos finches and how they diverged into species based on beak size. Finally, the site examines frequency distribution of traits—in this case, beak size—and lastly, directional and diversifying (disruptive) selection and how these play into frequency distributions of succeeding generations. The site makes the final points that "the core of Darwin's theory is natural selection, a process that occurs over successive generations and is defined as the differential reproduction of genotypes," and that "Examples of natural selection are well-documented, both by observation and through the fossil record." Title: Evolution URL: http://geology.about.com/cs/evolution/index.htm?iam= metacrawl_l&terms=%2Bbiology+%2Bnatural+%2Bselection Grade Level: High school teachers and students Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Natural selection Review: There is a large amount of information in this site. The categories cover many different aspects of evolution, from the educator's standpoint in teaching it, to saving it from being discontinued as part of

Resources in Biology

199

the curriculum, to the actual explanation of Darwin's theories themselves. Your first topic choice as you navigate from the main menu is "Against Creationism." This section thrusts you into the awareness of education without evolution. Some creationists seem to think the subject matter borders on the line of religion and should be removed from the curriculum in order to avoid the overlapping of education and religion. The second branch of this site is an archive of talk, or debates on evolution from creation and a scientific standpoint. You are exposed to various subpages on this very dispute. There are additional links to biographies of people involved in teaching and writing about the topic of evolution, as well as a list of books written by Darwin himself. Further links lead you through Caltech's research discoveries and case studies of evolution theories observed and applied in society. Finally, you may actually preview portions of a television documentary on evolution, resources, and links to extinction. This site seems to be by far the most informative on the subject matter to date. The learner is immersed in content directly related to the topic and it is clearly presented. Title: Natural Selection URL: http ://www. tulane. edu/~ guill/demonstration_module .html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Natural selection Review: I considered this Web site to be appropriate for high school students. It was a tough site to follow because there was too much information, and the author covered different points at one time. Title: Darwin and Natural Selection URL: http://www.anthro.palomar.edu/evolve/evolve_2.htm Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Natural selection and Charles Darwin Review: This informative site contains a full biography on Charles Darwin and a complete history of his theories of evolution of plants and animals. The information is already part of the home page layout. There are black-and-white photographs, sound clips, and color maps that also serve as helpful features throughout the site. Key vocabulary terms used in the history report are underlined, though they do not act as links. This site offers an easy vertical maneuverability—simply scroll down to continue accessing parts of the site. At the bottom, four links appear:

200

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

previous topic, return to menu, practice quiz, and next topic. By hitting "previous topic," one can access pre-Darwinian theories. The "next topic" link leads to a site called "Evidence of Evolution." I would highly recommend this site to secondary and university-level students. Nervous System Title: Explore the Brain and Spinal Cord (In Neuroscience for Kids— Explore the Nervous System) URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/introb.html Grade Level: Six through high school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, nervous system Review: By far, this is the best biology site I have seen on the Internet and perhaps one of the top ten sites I have seen on the Web, period, which is no small thing to say. The list of possible headings (Brain Basics, Higher Functions, Peripheral Nervous System, The Neuron, Sensory Systems, etc.) are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, where this Web site is concerned. Every file is richly detailed, and logically organized with numerous illustrations in color (and even some that are animated). For example, in the file, "Adventures in Neuroanatomy: Divisions of the Nervous System" (under the major heading "Brain Basics"), beneath the top header, the contents of the page are bulleted, providing the user with a brief synopsis of what is to come. Where appropriate, major terms (e.g., neuroanatomy, central nervous system) are defined in the text, while underlined terms are linked to a glossary should instant definitions be desired. For example, the glossary terms "nerve cells" and "spinal cord" can be accessed in the subentry, "Central Nervous System," and brain facts and figures (a large compendium of brain facts comparing various animals, including human beings) can be accessed through a hyperlink. "Did You Know" features are regularly available on many of the subcategories on the neuroscience site. In the case presented on this page, the site describes the stegosaurus brain and links to a separate page whimsically called, "My brain is bigger than your brain," where brain weight and general anatomy of several animals are compared. The beauty of many subsites is that while their complexity is in the range of junior high through high school, much of the information is just as useful for those in college and universities. O n occasion, links connect to sites that are more useful for medical graduate students, although many are fascinating just to skim through for the trivia. I would not have known, for instance, that human brain wave

Resources in Biology

201

frequencies (EEG) range from 0.5 Hz to 30 Hz (half of 120-volt A C current frequency of 60 Hz!). Nor did I know that the record for sleep is 264 hours (in 1965). Of course, the fact that much of the information is quite helpful and collected in files makes them useful for presentations and saves much time researching on the subject in general. The subsite continues through an examination of the somatic and peripheral nervous system, then breaks down the divisions of the nervous system in hierarchical order and then examines ways to divide the brain (e.g., telencephalon, mesencephalon, etc.). As is the case with most all subfiles, a list of glossary terms is collected for easy access of definitions. As well, major structures of the brain are delineated in easy-to-read form with graphical icons provided to create ready associations with what their main purpose and function is. At the end of this file, a drawing of the brain and locations of the main structures are pointed out. At the end of every file, students can access services for e-mail, getting the "Neuroscience for Kids" newsletter, searching pages, and even a printable form to take notes by. In one of my favorite subsites, "Chocolate, Chocolate Everywhere" discusses why people love to eat chocolate and why it has the effect on the human body that it does. It should be noted that many subsites have interesting links to other general sites, which can save a great deal of time searching for additional information on the Internet. I would highly recommend at least taking a few minutes to see the depth and breadth of this site, as it is well worth the trip. Title: Nerve Cells & Astrocyte Images URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu Grade Level: Elementary through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Nervous system Review: The home page is comprised of a table of contents consisting of: the neuron, nerve message, nervous systems, peripheral nervous system, somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, the brain, the spinal cord, the brain drugs, senses, and other links. This site contains incredible depictions of actual neurons. One hundred billion neurons are contained in the brain alone. All terminologies were hyperlinked to an on-line biology glossary to facilitate comprehension of the vast terminology. All colored images are supplied and copyrighted by Dennis Kunkel. Mr. Kunkel (http://www.Denniskunkel.com) is an award-winning photomicrographer whose images appear worldwide in various medical publications, as well as art galleries and museums. I visited his Web site

202

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

where I was introduced to a breathtaking image gallery containing arachnids, invertebrates, protozoans, bacteria, plants, medical subjects, fungi and slime molds, algae, and viruses. Title: Caduceus MCAT Online Review URL: http://www.scientia.org/cadonline/home.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com Key Search Words: Biology, nervous system Review: This Web site, although intended as a review for the MCAT tests for entrance into medical school, provides comprehensive information in all areas of science. O n the home page, the visitor can choose to navigate by discipline (biology, chemistry, physics, or organic chemistry). Clicking on "biology" brings the user to a list of topics, one of which is "nervous system." Within the subtopic of "nervous system," one can navigate through sections on the sympathetic system, neurons, hearing, the eye, olfaction, the skin and touch, and the central nervous system (CNS) organization. Clicking on a section title brings the user to that section. It is simple to navigate forward and backward through the sections within the "nervous system," and each section has a self-test at the end. The information is written in a very straightforward manner that would be easily understood by high school students. The display is not cluttered or colorful, and this format makes the information even easier to follow. All keywords are shown in bold type, and drawings and diagrams are also provided when needed. A CD-ROM of the information on this Web site is also available, and a link is provided to order it. Title: Nervous System URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nsdivide.html Grade Level: Four through eight Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: The nervous system Review: This Web site is great; it breaks all the information down to make it easier to understand. It starts with neuroanatomy, which is the structure of the nervous system. It also focuses on how the nervous system is divided into two: central and peripheral, which it explains in detail. A graph of the division of the nervous system is included. Title: The Fetal and Young Child Nervous System—The Story of the Development and Maldevelopment of the Brain

Resources in Biology

203

URL: http://www.vh.org/Providers/Textbooks/FetalYoungCNS/ FetalYoungCNS.html Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Nervous system Review: This Web site is prepared by a medical doctor and a doctor of anatomy at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. It contains a table of contents, which leads the researcher to many different areas within the nervous system. Each of these areas is technical in nature. It follows the development of the nervous system and briefly explains typical development as well as malformations of the different areas of the brain. This Web site is very informative and concise in the information it provides. Title: Neuroscience for Kids—Explore the Nervous System URL: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/introb.html Grade Level: Four through six Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Nervous system Review: This site, developed at Washington University, provides the reader with an abundance of information. The page itself is broken down into nine different sections that range from brain basics to the spinal cord to the effects of drugs on the nervous system. These sections are again broken down into subtopic for the reader. The amount of subtopics in each section depends upon the topic. For example, in the Neurological and Mental Disorders section, there are nineteen subtopics, while in the Neuroscience Methods and Techniques section, there are only six subtopics. Each subtopic is a link that brings you to a new page where the information can be found on that topic. In the section about diseases, the links provide you with the symptoms of the disease, facts, and treatments. The Web page uses a variety of colors and graphics to make the subject more appealing and easier to read. Title: Nervous Systems URL: http://www.4nervous.com/home/home.htm Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Nervous systems Review: To enter this very interesting Web site, you must click on the "enter" button where the Web site URL is blinking and rotating. Then, you will see a mapping of our nervous system's nourishment

204

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

patterns. Under this is a brief description on how the nervous system takes in nourishment and what will happen if the nourishment is not taken. There were no other parts to this Web site and no other links to follow. Title: The Human Brain: Dissections of the Real Brain URL: http://www.vh.org/Providers/Textbooks/BrainAnatomy /BrainAnatomy.html Grade Level: AP high school and college Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Nervous system Review: This site is a collection of brain and spinal cord dissections. It is designed for anyone who is interested in obtaining knowledge of the organization and functions of the human nervous system. It is developed by the University of Iowa, College of Medicine. The title page states that the site was last updated in January 1999. It is very informative for someone who is searching for concepts relative to the nervous system, but based on the ever-changing medical profession, I am sure it is not the most up-to-date. The secondary menu contains links to areas such as "The Spinal Cord" and "Vessels of the Brain." The site predominately contains photos of various brain and spinal cord medical conditions. It is not for the fainthearted; some of the pictures are graphic and even distressing, like a photo of a young baby dissected for the sake of science studies. There are many vessels for studies and dissections from living and deceased subjects. I must admit, some of it was difficult to follow. You must ensue closely and look deep into the many directions this site gives you with regard to better understanding the brain and the nervous system. This site is great for someone who is a visual learner. It clearly provides the key to better understanding a concept presented in this manner. However, if you are more of a logical thinker, you may need more text to back up your learning needs. Overall, I think it is very good. Title: Neurology URL: http://www.neurology-info.net Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Nervous system Review: This Web site provides information about the nervous system. At the top of the page there are links to the various topics about the ner-

Resources in Biology

205

vous system: basic principles on nervous tissue, central nervous system, cranial nerves, peripheral nervous system, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood supply. The final link brings you to an additional Web page with textual information about diseases and disorders. There are advertisements on this Web site, as well. At the extreme top of the page there are many links to various health topics. Title: The Nervous System URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookNERV.html Grade Level: High school, suitable as introductory material on the nervous system Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Nervous system Review: This site is technical and quite complete. It provides an excellent source of information for a student beginning the study of the nervous system. The definitions, diagrams, and pictures are clear and easy to understand. The site begins with a table of contents. Links take the reader to information about (1) the neuron, (2) the nerve message, (3) the nervous system, (4) the peripheral nervous system, (5) the somatic nervous system, (6) the automatic system, (7) the central nervous system, (8) the brain, (9) the spinal cord, (10) the brain and drugs, (11) senses, and (12) light. Important terms are defined at the beginning of the site. The following is an example, "The neuron is the functional unit of the nervous system. Neurons transmit nerve messages. Glial cells are in direct contact with neurons and then surround them." Dendrites, the cell body, and axons are also defined in this section. Diagrams and pictures accompany all of the definitions. Using a textbook format, each section describes the parts of the nervous system. Especially interesting is the section that describes the deleterious effects of drugs on the brain. The four diagrams of the brain, noting the areas, parts, and lobes are also highlights of this site. Malfunctions and diseases are also explained. Links at the end offer further information on the endocrine system and an e-mail address if the reader has any questions. This site is a good reference for high school biology students. Title: The Nervous System URL: http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5777/index.htm (then click on Body, then Nervous System) Grade Level: Four and five

206

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Best Search Engine: http://yahooligans.com Key Search Words: Nervous system Review: There is a diagram of a human body with red lines passing through it to demonstrate its complexity. A short paragraph outlines the difference between the CNS (central nervous system—spinal cord, brain) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which contains the "wiring" that sends messages to the rest of the body. Below that paragraph are links to the CNS, PNS, and endocrine system. Clicking on the CNS link accesses information about the brain itself. There is a color picture with brain function information below it. Scrolling downward, a picture of the backbone and spinal nerves is followed by information about the spinal cord. Below that is a humorous cartoon about the stegosaurus that, at one and a half tons, had a brain the size of a wade. The PNS link describes the peripheral nervous system in an easy-to-read format. It is clearly designed for younger readers. Blackand-white pictures of axons and dendrites are included. Below the photos is a cartoon demonstrating how the axon of one neuron can't touch the dendrites of the next. Nerve signals have to get across the gap by changing electrical signals to chemical signals, and back to electric again. On the endocrine system link, there is an informational paragraph to the left about hormone (endocrine) systems. Organs and glands that make up the endocrine system are listed, with a link (in bright pink) specifically to the pancreas. There is a color picture to the right showing the action of a hormone. Again, there is a cartoon, below which is pointed out the most important endocrine gland—the pituitary—which produces the growth hormone, a hormone that is interestingly more active when you are sleeping. A link takes you to a tour of the human body, with further links to all of the body systems. Finally, a site map link at the bottom takes you to the central nervous system and the senses. There is a very colorful brain picture with lines connecting to the spot in the brain responsible for each of the senses. Below that is information about the senses and the cerebral cortex. This would be a good site for teachers of young children because of the pictures, the "easy read," and the layout, but it lacks the content that might be desired for older readers. Origin of Species Title: The Talk Origins Archive: Exploring the Creation/ Evolution Controversy URL: http://www.talkorigins.org

Resources in Biology

207

Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Review: Google did it once again! The reason I continue to use Google as a search engine is that it never ceases to amaze me. I happened to hear it recommended on CNBC as having an uncanny ability to find the most frequently visited sites for whatever topic one happens to plug in. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that the site is scholarly, but in every instance, I've found incredible information not too far into the search. The home page of Talk Origins starts with a wonderful quote: "When the views entertained in this volume . . . are generally admitted, we can dimly foresee that there will be a considerable revolution in natural history." Of course, that's Charles Darwin from The Origin of Species (1859). The home page has a plethora of hot buttons for various subjects pertaining to evolution, such as: introduction to evolutionary biology, what is evolution, evolution in fact and theory, the modern synthesis of genetics and evolution, twenty-nine evidences for macroevolution, as well as numerous others. There are a number of essays exploring the creation/evolution controversy. Additionally, there's a list of creationist and catastrophist Web sites that are hyperlinked, which could make for an enjoyable read. If you have the time to download, there are also many (pdf) files for your use. These could be used again, depending on the teacher assignment. Title: The Talk Origin Archives URL: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/origin.html Grade Level: Middle school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Origin of species Review: This is a very thorough Web site written and presented with topics based on Charles Darwin. At the top of the Web site is a square with colors and links that can take you to browse, search, and for feedback. This part also shows you links. This section also can take you to exploring the creation of the human. The main part of the Web site is a table of contents that links you to many different chapters. These sections include: Preface (to the third edition), Introduction, Chapter 1: Variation under Domestication, Chapter 2: Variation under Nature, Chapter 3: Struggle for Existence, Chapter 4: Natural Selection, Chapter 5: Laws of Variation, Chapter 6: Difficulties on Theory, Chapter 7: Instinct, Chapter 8: Hybridism, Chapter 9: O n the Imperfection of the Geological Record, Chapter 10: O n the Geological Succession of Organic Beings,1 Chapter 11: Geographical Distribution,

208

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Chapter 12: Geographical Distribution—continued, Chapter 13: Mutual Affinities of Organic Beings: Morphology: Embryology: Rudimentary Organs, Chapter 14: Recapitulation and Conclusion, and Glossary. Under this section is the same list that you can click on at the top of the Web site. Title: Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species—6th Edition URL: http://www.literature.org/authors/darwin-charles/ the-origin-of-species-6th-edition/ Grade Level: College Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Origin of species Review: This Web site is very technical in nature. It starts the reader at the preface, and leads them from the introduction right through the variation under domestication and through the recapitulation and conclusion. It contains a glossary of principal scientific terms. This is very extensive information on the origin of species. This sixth London edition with all additions and corrections is often considered the definitive edition. Title: The Origin of Species—Charles Darwin Entry Page to 6th Edition URL: http://www.btinternet.com Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Origin of the species Review: This Web site is on-line access to the 6th edition of The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. At the top of the page, there is a link to the home page of the Internal Evolutionary Mechanism. There is then a contents section that provides links to sections and the chapters of the book. They include: preface, introduction, chapters one to fifteen, glossary, index, and other archives. Title: Origin of Species URL: http://school.discover.com/fall98/programs/greatbooks-( Grade Level: Six through twelve Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Origin of species Review: This Web site was set up like a lesson plan. You can click on the overview, vocabulary, questions, links, activities and standards, and it will provide you with all the information on this subject by Charles Darwin.

Resources in Biology

209

Title: The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin (Sixth Edition) URL: http://literatureproject.com/originofspecies.index/htm Grade Level: High school and college, adults Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Origin of species Review: Rather than a scientific site, this is more of a commercial publishing center, which makes selected titles available. O n the upper right-hand side, the reader may click and go to the "eMall," which presents a virtual mall myriad of books. The reader may select from 25,000 e-books, which are books in digital format. It is possible to join the "eBook Club," convert standard books to e-books, and search their library. I found this very informative because I had not ever heard the term e-book. But, it is very easy to get lost in the eMall because there are so many general-interest titles available—as well as science/nature and natural history. The main page allows the reader to order the Origin of Species e-book in a variety of formats, including Adobe Reader, Palm, Microsoft Word, and Instant Book. The site also provides the text of the book. The table of contents begins with the note from the author and then gives access to the Darwinian work in its original form. The sixth edition is said to be the definitive version. One may then click onto the various chapters, beginning with "Variation under Domestication," "Variation under Nature," "The Struggle for Existence," and the most famous chapter, "Survival of the Fittest or Natural Selection," etc. The glossary and index are also included. The reader may also access other hypertexts on-line by clicking on the "Literature Project." There are approximately 120 links on the bottom of the site, which enable the reader to order any type of e-book on listed subjects and in four different formats. A n impressive number of literary works is available in this format. Title: The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection URL: http://literatureproject.com/origin-species/index.htm Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Origin of species Review: If you truly want to know Darwin's theories on evolution, this site is a must. There are fifteen chapters, a glossary, and an index that directly reflect the many varieties of species and how they have or have not survived. The print is small and there are no photos or diagrams to enhance the reading. You should have some background on Dar-

210

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

win and his theories before you begin to read this piece. The text is intense, immersing the reader in the depths of natural selection and its effect on society. It is an easy site to navigate, but you must read it in succession to get the entire grasp of its importance. As far as Web sites go, it does not contain the "bells and whistles" that other sites have and may not be the best draw for an average learner. Title: Human Evolution: A Look at Human Origins through Species Profiles and Hominid Imagery URL: http://www.archaeologyinfo.com/evolution.htm Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Review: This site, developed by Archaeology Info.com, provides the reader with a lot of information. The page is set up in a way that makes it easy to navigate and move from section to section. It provides the reader with a complete list of species in human ancestry. Along with the list, the page provides pictures of bones and what the species probably looked like in their day. To complement the pictures, there is also a time line that provides the reader with a sense of when each one of these species was on Earth. In the list of species, there are links that provide the reader with more information about them. The text provides a basic introduction to the topic, the physical features of the species, some general conclusions, and a bibliography. Overall, the page is very dynamic and interesting to the reader. It provides more then enough information and has the visual effects to make it appealing. Title: BBC Education: Evolution Web site/Charles Darwin URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/darwin/ Grade Level: Six and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, origin of species Review: Amongst quite a few Web sites on Darwin's Origin of Species that were mediocre at best or merely presented his book in HTML or text without illustrations, this site can be counted on as decidedly above average, and that may lie in the source: BBC television. At first glance, the site does not seem to offer much, but Web searching is a bit like treasure hunting—most times you find the mediocre, but sometimes you find diamonds in the rough. The initial site map offers the following: The Man and His Legacy, The Origin Online, Bibliography, Debate, A Life, Life on Earth, Extinction Files, Fossil Road-

Resources in Biology

211

show, and Natural Selections. It not only offers Darwin's text for The Origin of Species, but offers an illustrated (with colorful, artistic photos) essay based on the BBC TV program, "The Origin Of Species—An Illustrated Guide." The subheading, "The Man and His Legacy" offers a terse introduction into the site. "The Origin Online" offers the Origin of Species text, which is much easier to read than many Darwin text sites found on the Web, and is easily printable. The bibliography hyperlinks to Talk.origins, described as "a Usenet newsgroup devoted to the discussion and debate of biological and physical origins. Most discussions in the newsgroup center on the creation/evolution controversy, but other topics of discussion include the origin of life, geology, biology, catastrophism, cosmology and theology." Additionally, the site also contains an archive of essays and articles, which have appeared in talk.origins from time to time. There is also a transcript of an on-line debate, which took place amongst several acclaimed experts on Darwinism, genetics and, evolution. "A Life" offers "Biotopia," described as a game where "you can create your own creatures and set them free with an unlimited number of other such creatures in a virtual environment. Will they be able to eat enough? Will they reproduce? Will they live or die? It isn't up to you and it isn't up to us—you will just have to wait and see how they do." The singleuser version of the game was slightly addicting, as I tried to create a multifunctional creature with the editor and attempted to test it (and others that were premade) out against all comers. A n on-line building guide for the little "cyber-critters" is an excellent example of cyber-documentation, including subsections on creatures and behavior, mouths and food, fighting, pests, and mating. One word of warning: "Biotopia" literally sucks up a lot of active computer memory, so you may find yourself rebooting the computer after the game. A multiuser version of "Biotopia" is not yet functional, but I will be interested in trying it out when it is. A real plus for this section of the site is a set of links to other sites on artificial life and other games simulating life. "Life on Earth" is a small gem in itself, providing the wanna-be nature program scriptwriter with a script/transcript of the PBS TV series, Life on Earth, which also doubles as a series of colorful descriptions (e.g., of sea creatures). The "Extinction Files" describes in colorful detail in illustration and text about Earth's mass extinctions, how they may have come to be, and even speculates on whether there is a pattern to extinctions and whether we may be on the extinction target list as a species. "Fossil Roadshow" provides basic information, including a video introduction hosted by Michaela

212

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Strachan and Peter Snow, live from the Natural History Museum in London. It is described as a live, linked event where "amateur paleontologists from around the country bring their 'finds' in to be examined by world class experts." Other featured links from this page are: Fossil Roadshow (about the event); The Geology of Britain; Collecting in the Field, Amber, and links to fossil-related sites. "Natural Selections" is described as "a series of short films from the BBC Natural History Unit that ran across the Evolution Weekend, in which personalities including David Attenborough, Douglas Adams, Sharron Davies and the astronaut Helen Sharman discussed the animal that has most profoundly inspired them." Perhaps the best part of this section is that we get to see these personalities thinking through their writing in a conversational way. Of course, there is much more to explore and links to connect to from this site, but this should provide a basic synopsis in which to navigate the BBC Education Evolution Web site. Paleobiology Title: Mammuthus: The Migration Will Begin URL: http://www.mammuthus.com/ie4_mamm/mammoth.html Grade Level: Eight and above Best Search Engine: http://www/metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Paleobiology Review: There are some rather interesting moving pictures of mastodons on the first page, traveling to the left. O n a blue strip below the mobile pictures, the links within the site are listed: Overview—This gives statistics on the order/family/genus/species of varying mastodons. There is information about their food sources, size, breeding, lifestyle, "Artie (sic) Neighbors," and enemies for varying mastodons. Time line—This link presents a time line of the evolution of the elephant. Each time you place the cursor over a particular name on the time line, a picture for that period in history appears in a circle to the left, along with how long ago it lived. Extinction—There is an image of the skeletal remains of various mastodons. Two theories are presented for the mammoth's extinction: it lived during one of the Ice Ages, and when the ice melted and the Earth grew warmer, the mammoths were affected. The second is that man hunted the mammoth and moved into areas it had once inhabited. Fossil Finds (divided into Finds 1, 2, 3, and 4)—Finds 1: Finds are most often in the Midwest. Isolated teeth are often found. This section reviews

Resources in Biology

213

types of mammoths found in grasslands and tundra from the last Ice Age. Finds 2: Many finds are in northern areas. Mammoth finds tend to cluster in time periods during which sediments were moving in front of glaciers. Fossils found in British Columbia were found this way. Finds 3: In Siberia and Alaska, excavations revealed frozen and mummified mammoths as recently as 1988. Finds 4: Studies the issue of cloning. For example, one mastodon was found frozen in a tundra. A French explorer (Buigues) found a 23,000-year-old woolly mammoth and he is flying it 300 km to an ice cave in Khatanga, Siberia. He wants to try to clone it. That is the basic content of this Web site, with the exception of a link to Discovery on-line to learn more about the cloning story. When I clicked on it, the message "page is unavailable" came up. The last link credits Ariom Studio, Inc., in Philadelphia for the Web site. A n address and e-mail are included. Once I got over the initial intrigue of the moving home page with interesting graphics, the site was quite a letdown. The content was choppy and not especially informative. Title: Paleobiology Source Code and Software Archive URL: http://geosci.uchicago.edu/paleo/csource/ Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Paleobiology Review: This is an archive Web site for people who are interested in finding out about paleobiology. At the top is a description of what is found in the Web site and why it was written. Underneath are links that can be clicked to find different areas of paleobiology. These include: Information for Users and Contributors, Browse Code Archive, Search Code Archive, Links to Related Sites, and About this Site. I did not like this Web site since it wasn't very colorful or interesting to look at. Title: The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection URL: http://204.29.171.80/framer/navigation.asp?charset= utf-8&cc=US&frameid= 1287&lc=en-us&providerid= 262&realname=Lycos&uid=74592&url=http%3A%2F% 2Fwww.lycos.com%2F Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://lycos.com Review: This site was developed as an extension of the National Museum of Natural History's Paleobiology Department. There are many

214

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

branches of excitement and fun to interest even the most skeptical of researchers. It would take pages to inform you of all the great things that this site has to offer in reference to paleontology. A n overview reveals "What's New in Paleobiology?" Descriptions and photos from the latest digs take the visitor into a simultaneously new yet "old" world. The site also contains research collections, staff, training, and staff publications. Each one of these branches is more interesting than the previous. This Web site offers something for everyone. The ease of navigation allows you to observe the material while obtaining knowledge at the same time. Title: National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institute—Paleobiology Web site URL: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/ Grade Level: Advanced high school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.netscape.com Key Search Words: Paleobiology Review: This is the Web site of the Paleobiology Department of the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History. It contains very detailed and advanced information in this discipline. The home page contains information about the staff and the research they have done, as well as journals in which they have been published, as well as a summary of the collections and information about the department's public outreach projects that include hosting of pre- and postdoctoral fellows. From this page, users can navigate the Web site in two ways. The navigation bar across the top leads to "research" (an alphabetical list of researchers from the department and topics they have researched), "collections" (searchable databases of topics in paleobiology), "staff (names and e-mail addresses of staff members), and "staff publications" (a database of articles by the staff members). A navigation bar on the side of the home page leads the user to topics in the Department of Paleobiology such as dinosaur exhibits, forminofera, and brachiopods (eight topics in all), as well as opportunities for volunteering and links to other valuable paleobiology Web sites. This site also links to the Smithsonian and other departments in the national museum. The scarcity of images and animation as well as the level of the language used make this Web site appropriate for advanced high school biology students, or college and beyond. Title: Paleobiology—GEOL 479/BioEE479 "Get Perspective on the History of Life"

Resources in Biology

215

URL: http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/classes/geo479/paleobio.html Grade Level: College students and professors Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Paleobiology Review: This site is basically a course syllabus from Cornell University. The course objective states, "This course will cover the processes that are responsible for historical events, trends in the evolution and diversification of life, and the impact these have had upon earth history. These processes in most cases reflect interactions between large-scale earth and biological systems. We will also review the major taxonomic groups of fossil organisms over the course of the semester. The course thus covers both aspects of historical geology and organismic biology and is appropriate for students of both the geological and biological sciences." The course outlines that it will cover the nature of the fossil record, macroevolution, biodiversity, paleoecology, global climate change, co-evolution of the Earth, and life and all major fossil groups, from bacteria to dinosaurs. The required text is Bringing Fossils to Life, by D. R. Prothero (McGraw Hill, 1998). This site could be useful to a professor who is in the process of designing a course on paleobiology. The reader may click on "syllabus" to see the topics covered in the course. Sample topics are: Introduction to the Fossil Record, Introduction to Stratigraphy, Biostratigraphy I and II, Lab—Sedimentary Rocks, Paleoenvironments I and II, Lab—Prokaryotes and Protists, Paleoceanography I and II, Taphonomy I, II and III, Lab—Porifera, Paleobiogeography, Lab—Corals, Paleoecology I and II, Lab—Mollusks I, Systematics I, II and III, Lab—Mollusks, and Systematics, I, II and III. The course ends with Dinosaurs and Other Reptiles, I and II, Mammals, Phanerozoic Diversity, and Extinction I. No other links are available. Contact numbers and e-mails are available for anyone seeking information on paleontological research. This site provides an overview on the content of a university-level paleobiology course, its lab activities, and how the student would be assessed. Title: Paleobiology: The Early Paleozoic URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookPaleo3 .html Grade Level: Seven through college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology and paleobiology Review: Many of the paleobiology sites I previewed before coming to this one were either limited in scope or basically limited in information.

216

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

"Fossil Museum," (http://www.fossilmuseum.net/) for example, was clearly the best looking graphically, but had little in the way of extensive information. Conversely, the Web site http://www.dme.wa .gov.au/ancientfossils/index.html wasn't as flashy, but provided one of the best explanations of stromatolites (early Earth life forms of 3.45 billion years in age) that I've seen, although some of the site information is better meant for those with a geology background. The best overall site at present, including explanation, depth of coverage, and good use of photos and illustrations to make and enhance subject points is http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookTOC.html, basically described as the Online Biology Book. It contains more than fifty chapters (each separately accessible through the table of contents) covering a diverse range of salient topics such as chemistry, cells and cell function, genetics, plants, human biology (including digestive, endocrine, and respiratory systems), paleobiology, and ecology and ecosystem dynamics, as well as a significant portion of lessons on biological diversity. In the site, there are five chapters (39-43) exclusively devoted to paleobiology: (39) Paleobiology: Fossils and Time, (40) Paleobiology: The Precambrian: Life's Genesis and Spread, (41) Paleobiology: The Early Paleozoic, (42) Paleobiology: The Late Paleozoic, and (43) Paleobiology: The Mesozoic, Age of Cycads and Dinosaurs. Chapter 39, "Fossils and Time," makes a broad but comprehensive survey of fossils, including an examination of casts and molds, and petrifaction. Methods of age dating, including the significant pioneers in the field (e.g., Usher, da Vinci, Stensen, and Hutton, as well as the Curies) are presented. Next, the geologic time scale is covered with colorfully detailed diagrams, scales, and illustrations that complement the text. Chapter 40, "The Precambrian: Life's Genesis and Spread," covers a wide variety of subtopics, including: Origin of the Earth and Life (how life began on Earth and the Miller Experiment on organic chemicals to produce macromolecules); Is There Life on Mars, Venus, Anywhere Else?; The Origins of Multicellularity; and The Precambrian. As with many of the pages, the color photographs are outstanding and serve as excellent illustrations of fossils (including stromatolites and other ancient life) for even young students. Chapter 41, "The Early Paleozoic," covers the rise of life on Earth from the "Cambrian Explosion" through the Ordovician and Silurian geological eras. As is the case with other pages, it is profusely illustrated with high-quality photographs (including close-up detail), maps, diagrams, and drawings (particularly of fossils), which alone make the site worth visiting. Chapter 42, "The Late Paleozoic," is es-

Resources in Biology

217

sentially a second chapter to "The Early Paleozoic," covering the Devonian, Carboniferous (including a section on coal swamps and glaciers), and Permian eras, as well as the Great Permia Extinction, when 95 percent of marine species went extinct and 70 percent of land species underwent the same fate. If I had had access to a color printer, I would have been sorely tempted to print out this chapter, which possesses museum-quality images of paintings and photographs of dioramas (e.g., life on land and in the water), although the most interesting part of this and other Paleozoic pages are images of the earth continents as they existed in those eras. Looking at them made me feel as though I were looking at an alien planet in some far-off solar system. Certainly, they are food for thought on how the earth and life thereon has changed over the eons. Chapter 43, "The Mesozoic, Age of Cycads and Dinosaurs," is cited as a new chapter in the Online Biology Book. Covered are the rise and extinction of plants and animals, including most notably the dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous eras, and the Great Cretaceous Mass Extinction. Again, the range and scope of images is extravagant and well worth seeing, making the site useful to illustrate even for young students, although the writing would be well above their grade level and immediate understanding. Other Relevant Information: As with many chapters, hyperlinks are provided from each page's technical terminology to a glossary, which is quite handy, for even an amateur geologist like myself. Hyperlinks to other sites (under "Links") also make the pages worth visiting, even if only used as a way station in that regard. The section "Learning Objectives" provides a series of thought-provoking questions that can be used as a set of critical-thinking probes by a teacher, student, or even aficionado to think more deeply about the topic. "Terms" lists glossary terms, which relate to the site topic. Even if you aren't a fan of paleontology, browsing these pages and checking out others in the Online Biology Book is worthwhile. Title: Biology—Paleobiology URL: http://web.uvic.ca/biology/people/tunnicliffe.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metcrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, paleobiology Review: This is the university-based Web site of Dr. Verena Tunnicliffe, a professor jointly appointed to the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, where she teaches marine biology and paleobiology. The Web site opens with a picture of Dr.

218

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Tunnicliffe in the left-hand corner of the top of the home page. The professor holds the following credentials, which are listed at the top of the page under her name and photo: B.S. (McMaster University), M.S. Philosophy (Yale University), and Ph.D. (Yale University). In bold letters, her teaching areas and research are discussed. Her research information includes ecology and evolution of hot-vent animals and marine community history. Her general interest lies in historical and extrinsic controls on the development of marine communities. Following are the two major programs she states are in progress: (1) The primary area of research is the evolution of hydrothermal vent ecosystem in the deep area, and (2) Collaboration in an ocean-drilling program which examines development of fish communities in the context of climate change. The Web site provides a list of research projects and the professor's recent publications. Her research projects include: image of sea bottom, female majid crab incubating her eggs near a hot vent field, snails and a scale worm climbing a vestimentiferan worm tube, and a link to the program of hot vent work. Her ten recent publications are included on the home page and continued on page 2. Some of the publications in which she has published articles include: Marine Geology, Cahiers de Biologie Marine, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, and Deep Sea Research. Links are provided for more Tunnicliffe publications and also for publications from the lab. The last three links connect to Verena Tunnicliffe, Professor, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences and Department of Biology, University of Victoria, with an address of POB 3020, Victoria, B.C. V8W 3N5, phone: 250-721-7135 and fax: 250721-7120. Photosynthesis Title: Photosynthesis URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookPS.html Grade Level: Seven through college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology and photosynthesis Review: I spent considerable time searching other Web sites on photosynthesis, but none had the range or breadth the Online Biology Book offers, although two others are noteworthy for different reasons. The first site, from Arizona State University, is http://photoscience.la. asu.edu/photosyn/education/learn.html, where there are a number of links on photosynthesis. The second, offered by "Science Made Sim-

Resources in Biology

219

pie," http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/colorchange .html, offers a fourth- to fifth-grade level of complexity on photosynthesis, as well as a number of science projects to reinforce scientific concepts taught. Although a significant portion of this site on photosynthesis—which, again, hails from the Online Biology Book (primarily the beginning sections of chapter 13)—can be understood by middle school students, it rapidly increases in complexity toward the high school level and should be directed toward that population of students. The site's table of contents says it all about the range of related subject matter: What is Photosynthesis?, Leaves and Leaf Structure, The Nature of Light, Chlorophyll and Accessory Pigments, The Structure of the Chloroplast and Photosynthetic Membranes, Stages of Photosynthesis, The Light Reactions, Dark Reaction, C-4 Pathway, The Carbon Cycle, Learning Objectives, Terms, Review Questions, and Links. There is no denying that the chapter is up to the usual standards of the Online Biology series, although shorter than some of the other chapters. Most notable are four cross-sections: first, a leaf, showing as the illustration notes, "the anatomical features important to the study of photosynthesis: stoma, guard cell, mesophyll cells, and vein"; second, the structure of the chloroplast and photosynthetic membranes; the third, on photophosphorylation; and the fourth, on leaf anatomy, which is detailed in 3D. Additionally, a microphotograph of a Pea Leaf Stoma (SEM x 3,520) recreates nature as art. Of course, the requisite examination of light and wavelengths is made, which segues into three-dimensional representations of the chlorophyll and carotene molecules. Perhaps most interesting were charts gauging the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths of light on chlorophyll in generating growth of plants (absorption spectrum of several plant pigments). According to the site, many plants absorb more light in the red and violet portions of the visual spectrum, which might suggest that plants may thrive better under colored light in those ranges than under yellow light. This kind of information can spur deeper, more critical thinking in a construe tivist way on the part of students. It should be noted that the deeper one gets into this site (down the pages) the more complex it becomes, and some of the information presented in the latter sections may be even beyond the scope of high school students, although some may be sophisticated enough to handle such material. As is consistent with other chapters of the Online Biology Book, a series of learning objectives are presented for the benefit of student or teacher/professor, as well as vocabulary links to an on-line glossary and more than thirty

220

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

on-line, multiple-choice review questions. A set of links to additional photosynthesis sites are listed at the end of the site, which is quite helpful for further research on the subject. Although the chapter presented may not cover everything on photosynthesis, it is an excellent place to start and with some additional research on the part of capable students, most sections may eventually be understood. Title: ASU Photosynthesis Center URL: http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/ Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Photosynthesis Review: This Web site was developed by Arizona State University's center for the study of early events in photosynthesis. It leads the researcher to the photosynthesis center and environs and eventually to the photosynthesis faculty and research interests, to name a few. The Web site leads the reader to questions such as: What is Photosynthesis?, Why study photosynthesis?, and a host of other study areas. Junior high and high school students might find "science fair project suggestions" very helpful if they are planning to enter a science fair. There are several links to other areas of interest to photosynthesis researchers. Title: Arizona State University Center for the Study of Early Events in Photosynthesis URL: http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/learn.html Grade Level: Elementary through college Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com (comet cursor Web site) Key Search Word: Photosynthesis Review: This Web site is a valuable source for educators teaching about photosynthesis from elementary school through the undergraduate level. A list of links is provided with a synopsis of the Web site that the user will be taken to, as well as a grade level. For example, clicking on "Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?" which is suggested for middle school, brings the user to a lesson page from "Science Made Simple," with factual information that educators can use to plan direct instruction or that students can read on their own, as well as three projects for students, and word scrambles. This link is probably best used for planning by educators, because it is more informational than interactive and fun. Simple diagrams are also shown of

Resources in Biology

221

the process of photosynthesis. Similar links on this site for Any grade level make this page a great tool for science educators. By clicking on the logo for the center in the top left corner, users can research topics using the reference list or Web site list, perform virtual experiments, or get ideas for science fair projects on photosynthesis. Title: Autotrophism (or Life Is a Photochemical Phenomenon) URL: http://employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/biol 16/photo.htm Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metcrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology—photosynthesis Review: The home page of this Web site opens with a banner exhibiting a logo and a header that reads, "Concepts of Biology (Bioll6)—Dr. S. G. Saupe; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; [email protected]; http://www.employ ees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/bioll6/photo.htm. The title, "Autotrophism (or Life is a Photochemical Phenomenon)" is centered at the top of page beneath the banner. The Web site is eleven pages long, and topics are outlined in numerical (Roman) order. Additionally, the site uses humorous language in an effort to make the review of the rather complex matter a bit easier to remember and retain. Section I—Overview of Photosynthesis: A definition of photosynthesis and the scientific equation for its reaction is given. After the equation, the section concludes with a list of seven conclusions about photosynthesis. Section II—Chloroplasts: Specialized organelles that carry out the process of photosynthesis. This section starts at the bottom of page 1 and continues on page 2. It is broken up into two subsections: A—Structure and B—Chemistry. Subsection A provides the information needed to remind readers of the cell unit and a reread of the cell chapter. Subsection B is substantially larger and includes three electron transport complexes. Each of these provides specific information and definitions for the learner's benefit. The remainder of the Web page sections are listed in Steps of the Photosynthesis Process: Section III—Step 1: photons to electrons (four sections); Section IV—The Z Scheme: complete with formulas and two subsections; Section V— Photophosphorylation; and last, Section VI—The Final Frontier: a very comprehensive review of the entire photosynthesis process. In conclusion, this Web site appears to be an excellent and comprehensive resource for both high school and college students and their instructors.

222

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Photosynthesis URL: http://www.parentingteens.about.com/library/sp/blscprol8.htm Grade Level: Middle school, parents of adolescents, high school, and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Photosynthesis Review: This is part of a collection of informational Web sites focusing on parenting. The left side provides thirty-seven links that deal with parenting issues. The links that eventually take the reader to specific sites on photosynthesis are excellent. The home page begins with helpful hints for parents on science fair project ideas for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is defined as "the process by which plant, some bacteria, and some protistans use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar, which cellular respiration converts into ATP, the fuel used by all living things. The conversion of unusable sunlight energy into usable chemical energy is associated with the actions of the green pigment chlorophyll. Most of the time, the photosynthetic process uses water and releases the oxygen which we must have to stay alive." Ideas are then listed for possible science projects. Links take the student to: School Botany Projects: Photosynthesis, What is photosynthesis? The "What is Photosynthesis?" link describes in textbook detail the process—Leaves and Leaf Structure, What Is Light? Chlorophyll, Pigment and Accessories, The Structure of the Protoplast and Synthetic Membranes, Stages of Photosynthesis and the Light Reactions, Dark Reactions, the C-4 Pathway, The Carbon Cycle Learning Objectives, Terms, Review and Questions. Well-designed charts and pictures illustrate the information. Further links take the reader to detailed information on photosynthesis on a more advanced level, probably suited for the college student. They are: ASU Photosynthesis Center, MIT Hypertextbook (chapter on photosynthesis), Oceans and Carbon Cycle, Index to Climate Change Fact Sheet, The Chemistry of Photosynthesis, Photosynthesis (Witman College), Why Do Leaves Change Color? And Photosynthesis Sets I and II. These are well-organized links with on-line questionand-answer possibilities and tutorial features. As the links increase, so does the level of complexity. By researching this site, the reader is given a virtual encyclopedia of information on photosynthesis. Title: FT (Flying Turtle) Exploring Science and Technology URL: http://www.ftexploring.com/photosyn/photosynth.htm. Grade Level: Five and above

Resources in Biology

223

Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com (Kids Only) Key Search Word: Photosynthesis Review: This site is very "kid friendly." It was developed by The Flying Turtle Co., Inc., and it appeals directly to children by describing photosynthesis as a "recipe" of sunshine, carbon dioxide from air, and hydrogen from water, shuffled around in chloroplasts of green plant cells." To the left of the page are numerous links and pictures (some of people hugging trees!). However, those links are best visited after you examine the home page: (1) Photosynthesis (introduction page)—The first section is entitled "Photosynthesis Is for the Birds— and Everything Else." There are interesting cartoon images to enhance the appeal to the learner with comments like: "This is photosynthesis made interesting," and "You won't want to interrupt the grass by stepping on it." There is an excellent colored-pencil drawing of the process, as well as a description of the value of sunlight. The job of autotrophs is described, and is highlighted in red for a link to more information. There is a second, fabulous coloredpencil drawing on the process of photosynthesis, which is described as a cycle that repeats itself over and over. Kids are told they could be made of matter that was once a dinosaur or a woolly mammoth! To the left, below another picture of the tree huggers, there are icons describing nine awards this site has received. The page designers then encourage the visitor to use the left links to view the full process. Below that, still on the home page, is a detailed description of the difference between an autotroph (make their own food) and a heterotroph (can't make their own food). This category is further divided into omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores, each with a small amount of information. (2) Energy Flow in Living Organisms—The first link is "How Energy Travels Through Life." All links are again available from the left side of this page, but the page itself has extensive information. To the left is a picture of a sun and information about its importance. To the right is a section entitled "The Mysterious Everything," referring to energy, which flows through the food chain. Here, there is a link to numerous posters available through The Flying Turtle Company. Under the title "Picture of a Food Chain" is another colored-pencil drawing of a food chain, composed of four steps. The left column is utilized to describe the process. Below that picture is more detailed information about primary producers, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers. The column to the left is describing energy's "in and out" passage through the food chain, after which is the traditional arrow diagram of the food chain.

224

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Below a picture of a hamburger followed by an explanation of why it's great to be an omnivore is a section entitled "Thank a Plant Every Day," in which (under another colored-pencil drawing) the reader is just introduced to the process of photosynthesis. (3) Photosynthesis Basics—This page also has fabulous colored-pencil drawings with accompanying text that describes the "ingredients" of photosynthesis to the left. Below a separation line is a description of the construction of glucose molecules as part of the photosynthetic process. Another colored-pencil drawing shows all of the chemical bonds involved. Below and to the left of the glucose description is information about oxygen. Under a new heading at the center, "The Stuff We're Made Of," is a description of the six types of atoms present in our bodies. (4) Energy Pyramids—On this page, an ocean energy pyramid is presented with a shark on the top and phyto/photoplankton at the bottom. It creates an inverse order. The site's authors point out that this is only one of "countless" pyramids that could be drawn. The page goes on, through excellent drawings and text, to explain more about phytoplankton and zooplankton. Some dark but interesting ocean pictures and text demonstrate how diatoms absorb sunlight. Under "The Placid Cruisers" is a description of baleen whales and how they "skip a few levels of the energy pyramid" by dining on plankton. (5) Which Plants Use CO 2 ?—This page was created in response to a student question. With the effective text and diagrams, the authors point out that plants are classified differently by botanists. They divide plants that use carbon dioxide into: autotrophic, semiparasitic, and insectivorous, and plants that don't use carbon dioxide into: holoparasitic and saphrophytic. (6) This page provides numerous (about twenty) links to other photosynthesis sites. (7) This final link leads you into a wealth of information about energy changes and heat flow. I thought this site was an amazing, well developed, and an abundant resource about photosynthesis. I used to teach the concept to the fourth grade, and I believe the site could be used as an instructional resource for that grade level. Independently, however, students would need to be a little older, but I would highly recommend this site! Title: What is Photosynthesis? URL: http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/learn.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Word: Photosynthesis

Resources in Biology

225

Review: This Web site has been developed by the University of Arizona Center for the Early Events in the Study of Photosynthesis. It explains that the process of photosynthesis, although seemingly simple in concept, is very complicated. Visitors are instructed to follow links such as "Photosynthesis and the World Wide Web" and "Photosynthesis: Don't 'Leaf Out Fall's Most Valuable Lesson!" that discuss photosynthesis at varying degrees of complexity. There are lots of choices for the researcher and there are even links to areas that are closely related to photosynthesis, such as faux photosynthesis. This is a valuable Web site for teachers and other educators. Title: Photosynthesis URL: http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/photoi Grade Level: Six through eight Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Photosynthesis Review: This Web site is very interesting and includes pictures. It takes visitors through the whole process of photosynthesis and its meaning. Title: Photosynthesis Directory URL: http://www.mit.edu:8001/esbio/ps/intro.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Photosynthesis Review: Once again, Google initially takes the reader to a very reputable site in MIT. The home page gives visitors a precise definition of photosynthesis, complete with the basic reaction outlined as: CO 2 -fH 2 0 + light energy = ( C H 2 0 ) n + O 2 . A n overview of light and dark reactions follows complete with a basic diagram of the chloroplast. The site then follows with in-depth information concerning: the physics of photosynthesis (absorption spectra); light reactions (includes diagrams of: noncyclic photophosphorylation and cyclic photophosphorylation; dark reactions, and other approaches to energy production. This is an excellent site for someone who is in the process of doing research and needs to know the information is correct. Title: Photosynthesis and the Web URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookPS.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://lycos.com

226

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Key Search Word: Photosynthesis Review: As you first enter the site, it gives you an excellent description of photosynthesis before you actually begin to navigate. The opening menu shows many definitions and a clear opportunity to understand what the site offers and how much you will learn if you view it in its entirety. For those who find it difficult to understand what a chemical equation is, there is an example of one and a clear definition of how to interpret it. From the initial description of photosynthesis, you may click on a variety of terms that lead to detailed descriptions of each word. By doing this, it helps you to better understand the whole picture. For example, if you click on "cellular respiration," it is defined by a series of additional finely tuned pathways that clearly help you to understand what its purpose is in the process of photosynthesis. I have only touched the surface of this Web site, but it is absolutely worth your time in the search of this topic. It is perfect for the person in search of new and additional knowledge of photosynthesis. With its series of text and clear diagrams, I recommend it highly. Protein Science Title: Protein Science Forum URL: http://www.sbip.org Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Protein science Review: This is an extremely practical and useful site for those actually working on a day-to-day basis either in the biotechnological or pharmaceutical industries. It would most likely be essential to maintain existing accounts or add to one's client base by keeping up with the challenges of protein expression, purification, characterization, and scale-up process development. The home page clearly states its purpose as a site for those willing to share information. It is not a place for confidential or commercial information that may be private. The Web space is made available by the Structural Biology Industrial Platform (SBIP). Clear directions specifically map out how to navigate around the site. Various links include: Questions, Registration & Feedback, Expression Systems, Analysis, Purification, Meetings, Refolding, and the Life Science Directory. Title: Structural Classifications of Proteins URL: http://pdb.weizmann.ac.il/scop/

Resources in Biology

227

Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Protein science Review: This Web site was initially very confusing. However, as I proceeded through the site, I came to realize that it is very good. At the top of the page are the resources that the Web site came from. Under that section is an area where you can assess methods of protein science with related links. The next section includes notes, followed by a synopsis and on-line resources. Title: ProteinScience.com URL: http://www.proteinscience.com/ Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Protein science Review: This is a very technical Web site that leads the researcher to industry news and articles of different topics within the area of protein science. It lists current articles on different topics in protein science and it also has a section where the researcher can list a specific area that they can search within this Web site. It also contains older information that has been archived and can be recalled for the reader. I think that this Web site would be very difficult to use for the novice researcher. Title: Archive of Protein Science URL: http://www.prosci.uci.edu/ Grade Level: College and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Protein science Review: As you arrive at the home page of this Web site, there is no mistaking what you are going to find there. The study of protein science has a multitude of factions that branch into many different sections. You may be in this site for hours or maybe even days. You will never be at a loss for articles or text in this site. There is more text then charts, graphs, and photos, but it is informative just the same. It is predominantly a site full of archival articles that explain all the different facets of proteins. To fully understand the complexity of this site, you must have some background knowledge of protein science. It contains publications that are broken into years and then months. There are also keys at the bottom that lead you to Searches, Kinemages, Electronic Appendix, Protein Society, and Subscriber

228

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Services. These sections are a great resource for someone who has a serious need to find out more about proteins. This is a very complex site, which offers many different opportunities to learn about protein science. It is simple to navigate only if you know what you are looking for. I would only recommend it to true medical professionals, science professionals, or students who need complex information on this subject matter. Title: Protein Synthesis URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookPROTSYn.html Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, protein science Review: This Web site (again from the Online Biology Book, chapter 18) is far more complex than most in the series, although still presenting the most information. Even in high school, a great deal of the subject matter requires base knowledge and learning that may not occur for students until college. Further, a great deal of preparation reading may need to take place before being able to fully explore the chapter, which is outlined as follows: Chapter 18—"Protein Synthesis": Onegene one-protein, The structure of hemoglobin, Viruses contain DNA, RNA links the information in DNA to the sequence of amino acids in protein, Transcription: making an RNA copy of a D N A sequence, The genetic code, Protein synthesis, Mutations redefined, and Links. The page begins with a brief explanation of the "one gene one-protein theory," which was in favor with geneticists, especially in the first half of the twentieth century. The site briefly explores chromosome mapping studies performed in 1941 by Beadle and Tatum (also through illustration), then describes through text and useful illustration how the "one-gene one-protein theory" has since been transformed into the one-gene one-polypeptide" theory because many proteins (e.g., hemoglobin) are constructed of multiple peptides. Then the structure of hemoglobin, DNA, and RNA is briefly discussed, although I found this section too terse and far from fleshed out, as it should have been. What saves the Web site are the illustrations (e.g., RNA transcription, making an RNA copy of a DNA sequence) and translation of RNA code into protein. What I found most fascinating was the chart detailing how genetic code is put together (in sixty-one amino-acid coding codons and three termination codons). This chart, in essence, reveals the marvelous simplicity and

Resources in Biology

229

redundancy of the amino-acid building system. Finally, protein synthesis itself is examined (although the explanation is terribly technical). However, the drawn illustration of protein synthesis, including transcription and translation, seems to explain some of the process in a visual way. Overall, I found much of the site too technical for easy reading, although the illustrations are basic enough in many cases to enhance high school student reports on the matter. Again, the page, as many in the Online Biology Book, provides a set of sometimes-useful links, which may be more useful in their own right than much of this site. Still, this proves that not all Web sites can be winners. Title: National Center for Biotechnology Information Web Site URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/molecularmod.html Grade Level: AP high school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com (comet cursor) Key Search Words: Biology, protein Review: This Web site, by the National Center of Biotechology Information (a center established by the U.S. Senate in 1988 as a branch of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health), gives a description of the function of protein in our bodies. This page-long description is without illustrations, but has yellow information blocks to highlight important points of each section. Key terms are shown in bold type, and are defined in the text. The two general classes of proteins based on their tertiary structure are given in a large green block. Users have access to a Cn3d structural viewer through this Web page, which requires a software download. Much of the information on this site (after the section entitled "Some Basic Theory") seems to be only useful for researchers, but the information up to that point gives a concise description of the function of proteins in our bodies. The Web site is not easy to navigate—knowledge of terminology is needed to find the desired information. Title: The Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) URL: http://scop.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/scop/ Grade Level: Adult Best Search Engine: http://lycos.com Key Search Words: Protein science Review: A new release date of May 15, 2002, is indicated for this page. Authors for the site are listed below, with references and copyright information. Visitors encounter a variety of access methods from which to choose in order to use the SCOP (structural classification of

230

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

proteins) services. Below that are release notes and news from the SCOP organization. Links in the "News" section were to protein families, folds, family statistics, new superfamilies, and so on. The section entitled "Synopsis" discusses how "nearly all proteins have structural similarities with other proteins." The SCOP database provides "a detailed and comprehensive description of the structural and evolutionary relationships between all proteins whose structure is known." Below the synopsis is a list of on-line resources of potential interest to SCOP users. Scrolling back to the top, at "Access Methods," I clicked on "enter SCOP at the top of the hierarchy." Doing so, you obtain a list of the classes of proteins: (1) alpha proteins, (2) beta proteins, (3) alpha and beta proteins (a/b), (4) alpha and beta proteins (a + b), (5) multidomain proteins, (6) membrane and cell surface proteins and peptides, (7) small proteins, (8) coiled coil proteins, (9) lowresolution protein structures, (10) peptides, and (11) designed proteins. There is also a search box at the bottom of the page. I tried clicking on the first choice, which brought up a list of 151 protein folds. The category is further broken down into superfamilies, families, protein domains, and lineage. Next to each link is a further link to a colored picture of the protein. Quite honestly, I have no idea whether this site is an effective one or not. It appears to be organized hierarchically, and there are pictures and further links available for every category and subdivision of proteins. In terms of pure navigation, it was easy to follow because mostly everything was in list format, and pictures are only available by choice. Title: Protein Science URL: http://www.proteinscience.org/ Grade Level: High school and college researchers; professionals seeking journal information for advanced study of protein science Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Protein science Review: This site is the home page for "Protein Science," the publication of the Protein Society. Visitors may choose one of four links: Forthcoming Papers, Select an Issue from the Archive, Search for Articles, Online Supplements, and Announcements. Further links enable the reader to obtain information about Subscriptions, The Protein Society Advertising Info, Upcoming Meetings, Protein Science, and Instructions to Authors. Particularly interesting to the student would be the links on Genes & Development, Genome Research, and Learn-

Resources in Biology

231

ing and Memory. Protein Science Online is published with the assistance of Stanford University's High Wire Press. Here the reader may access publications from the Library of Sciences and Medicine. The following definition of protein science is given: "Protein science encompasses the structure, function, and biochemical significance of proteins, their role in molecular and cell biology, genetics, and evolution and their regulation and mechanisms of action." After the general information is provided, links take the reader to articles and research, which then become very technical and specific. The site is extremely well organized and is suited for use by a biologist who wishes to research scientific literature or to subscribe to specialized journals in genetic research. Reproductive System Title: Sexual Reproduction URL: http://www.ultranet.eom/~jkimball/biologypages/s/sexual Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Sexual reproduction Review: This Web site is appropriate for high school students because of the vocabulary and pictures. It went into great detail, which younger students probably wouldn't understand. Title: Women's Health Interactive URL: http://www.womenshealth.com/health_ center/infertility/inf_repro_male.html Grade Level: High school, college, adult learner Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology, reproductive system Review: This Web site is designed by the Women's Health Interactive, whose motto is "empowering women through knowledge and action." It starts with the male reproductive system and the next screen leads to the female reproductive system. This Web site uses pictures and is very easy to understand and follow. It leads the researcher to an area where they can participate in a discussion and even a survey. This is an excellent Web site that can answer many questions that a woman might have. The reader can find information on gynecologic centers, headaches, infertility centers, and midlife health centers, as well as reproductive health centers.

232

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Reproductive System URL: http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/biol05/reproduc.htm Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Reproductive system Review: This Web site goes into great detail. It discusses the male and female organs and shows pictures. It also highlights words in each system for visitors to click on if they need a definition. Title: The Reproductive System URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookREPROD.html Grade Level: Six and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, reproductive system Review: This Web site (again, from the Online Biology Book, chapter 33) is one of the better chapters in the series, essentially being a thoughtful synthesis of easily readable text and complementary illustrations that are both accessible in content and useful to students from grade six to the freshman year of college. The chapter surveys the reproduction system from topics such as asexual and sexual reproduction, transitioning to human reproduction and development from fertilization through birth. As is usual in this series, technical terms (e.g., gametes, mitosis, uterus) are highlighted links to an on-line glossary that relieves the worry about looking up the terms elsewhere. Hot links within the glossary also target technical terms mentioned within a definition, providing handy cross-referencing at a "click." The site begins with a brief but concise explanation of sexual and asexual reproduction that explains in none too difficult terms why sexual reproduction offers an advantage over asexual reproduction by enhancing the population's survival. Moving on to human reproduction and development, the male and female reproductive systems are highlighted over half of the site chapter. Noteworthy here are the textbook quality cutaway illustrations that reveal a good view of the internal plumbing of the female and male reproductive systems (including close-up details of the testes and ovaries). Oogenesis is then surveyed. Here is one of the better descriptions (with an accompanying drawing) of Oogenesis, described in the glossary as: "The production of ova. The development of a diploid cell into a haploid ovum or egg cell." (A link provides a quick look at meiosis and meiosis II of the production of ova.) The site continues with a survey of ovarian

Resources in Biology

233

cycles and external genitals, and then transitions into the interplay of hormones and female cycles and a visually interesting graph of hormonal changes and the female reproductive cycles. Before arriving at the section about human development, which considers the stages of fertilization through growth of the zygote, embryo, and fetus through birth, the site loses focus for a few pages on sexual responses, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and methods of contraception, including reproductive technologies. From an editor's point of view, I felt most of this could have been bundled at the end of the site, which would have improved clarity and continuity of thought and topics. Human development takes up the remainder of the Web chapter, with the illustrated text providing most of the best information from formation of the zygote through transplantation of the embryo into the womb. The growth of the embryo through fetus to birth is handled in much too terse a manner, so those who are looking for more than a brief outline on the subject should look elsewhere. Here, links are partially helpful in alleviating the lack of coverage this site offers on human embryonic growth during pregnancy. It should be noted that some links are meant for field professionals and thus may be too complex for the average student or even talented amateur in the arena of human reproduction and development. However, it may have been the author's intent that outside links make up for in content and detail what the site lacks. If so, one of the links, http://www.med.upenn .edu/meded/public/berp/index.html, provides a nice backup on basic human embryology with descriptions (in text and illustration of the following organs and parts of the growing embryo/fetus from the first day thru the thirty-eighth week of pregnancy: embryonic disc, nervous system, heart, eye, ear, brachial arches, face, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and limbs. Additionally, http://www.childbirth.org (another link from the reproduction Web chapter) provides a wide range of subheadings and topics from birth plans to birth complications to fertility, labor, newborns, and an interactive search feature and chat room for those disposed to use them (whether pregnant or not). One problem with the site is that some links are no longer active (as is the case with some chapters I have reviewed in the Online series). In this case, "Animated Embryogenesis Yale University, Animated GIF Images of Drosophila" could not be reached, nor could a few others I tried, which is frustrating, because I would like to have seen what they offered. Overall, however, this page provides a free, decently detailed offering on the basics of sexual and human reproduction up to implantation of the embryo in the uterus. Beyond that, the text is too

234

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

terse and spotty to provide a truly exemplary examination of the stages of growth of the human embryo through the fetal stage and birth. For that, the site user will have to go elsewhere. The additional sites I have mentioned above are a fair place to start. Title: None URL: http://www.innerbody.com/image/repmov.html Grade Level: Middle school and above Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Reproductive system Review: This Web site of the male reproductive system isn't very lengthy. Included is a picture of a male body with the reproductive system labeled at the bottom. The links are for a male reproductive system overview, a female reproductive system overview, and the reproductive system overview. I think this site would be beneficial for someone who needs more information about the male reproductive system. Respiratory System Title: Respiratory System URL: http://www.jeffersonhspital.org Grade Level: General public; high school to adults Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: Sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital system, this is a general informational site on the respiratory system. It begins with an anatomy of the respiratory system. Respiration is defined as the act of breathing. Inhaling is taking in oxygen while exhaling is giving off carbon dioxide. A diagram illustrates what makes up the respiratory system: the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, nasal cavity, ethmoidal air cells, frontal sinuses, maxillary sinus, and larynx. The lower respiratory tract includes the lungs, bronchi, and alveoli. The function of the lungs is then described in language that is not too technical and easy to understand. A glossary at the bottom features definitions of pulmonary terms and a site index is available for further reference. Particularly interesting are the left-hand links, which take the reader to: General Information on Respiratory Disorders, Upper Respiratory Infections, Lung Diseases and Disorders, Lung Cancer, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Sleep Problems. Nine additional links

Resources in Biology

235

provide information and services about the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital system. These side links are very interesting because not only do they explain the symptoms of the respiratory diseases, but also discuss the medications and treatments available for them. Further links take the reader to more specific and detailed information about the diseases. Available hospital services and procedures are also described. The site is interesting, well organized, and up to date. Title: Respiratory System URL: http://www.imcpl.lib.in.us/kidsresp.htm Grade Level: Four through six Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: This Web site is presented for kids to understand how they breathe. It shows a picture of the body and what it goes through when we breathe. The site is very short in providing information. Title: Oxygen Delivery System URL: http://www.sln.fi.edu/biosci/systems/respiration.html Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: This Web site provides a picture of a person breathing, with labels of oxygen going in and carbon dioxide coming out. There is also a picture of a person's organs, including lungs, heart, and blood vessels. A search for the Franklin Institute is provided at the top of the page. The Web page then has text information about the respiratory system. It discusses why we breathe in oxygen, how respiration is achieved, what and how we exhale, and the job of the diaphragm. A link at the bottom of the page is provided to a site that discusses the systems of the body. The Web site is easy to read and provides clear information. Title: Respiratory System: Structure and Function of Lung URL: http://edcenter.med.cornell.edu/CUMC_PathNotes/ Respiratory/Respiratory.html Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: This site was developed and maintained by Weill Medical College of Cornell University. It is written predominantly in text form

236

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

and focuses clearly on the operations of the lungs. It contains subpages with pictures that give the reader the opportunity to see what is being described. There are subtitles describing each of the various parts of the cells that pertain to the lungs. There are also sections pertaining to the muscles, cartilage, and general considerations. There is a list that explains the different illnesses that can attack the lungs. Some are familiar and some are not so familiar. A further description of the mechanisms that protect the lungs takes the reader deeper into the true understanding of the complexity of this organ. The text is small and it does not contain many diagrams or colors to create an interesting site. It is very informative, but is better for a rote learner than a visual learner. Information is plentiful, but not exciting. Title: Respiratory System URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu Grade Level: Six through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: This is becoming a familiar site and one that continually pops up during a search. It is excellent for initial information, particularly when first introducing a lesson. The home page consists of a table of contents composed of the following: The Respiratory System and Gas Exchange, Bodies and Respiration, Respiratory Surfaces, Methods of Respiration, The Body Surface, and Gills, just to name a few. Images from Purves et al., Life: The Science of Biology, 4th Edition, are attractive to the eye and easy to discern. Title: Respiratory System URL: http://www.people.virginia.edu/~smb4v/tutorials/asthma/ nlbreath.htm Grade Level: Five and above Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com (Kids Only) Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: This site is sponsored by the Children's Medical Center of the University of Virginia. It focuses on asthma, a common disease of the respiratory system. The home page describes the "what" of asthma. The parts of the body that make up the respiratory system are presented here. There is a color illustration including the nose, throat, trachea, bronchioles, bronchi, alveoli, and diaphragm, clearly labeled in black. At the bottom of the page are pictures of two young girls, Molly and Maggie, who tell what they feel like when they have an asthma attack

Resources in Biology

237

if you click on their pictures. The following links appear in a turquoise column to the left: "Why?" On this page, the process of breathing is described. There is an animation button that shows a diagram of what normal breathing looks like. As air is breathed in, red (oxygen rich) air is shown in the lungs. The red lungs then turn blue, as air with carbon dioxide is pushed out of the lungs. Clicking back, there is a colorful and interesting diagram of what lungs would look like before an asthma attack, with a cross-section of an airway passage. Below that is a link to what normal breathing sounds like, as heard through a stethoscope, and a description of what happens during an asthma attack, with another colorful illustration and cross-section mirroring the first picture. Then there are links to what asthmatic breathing sounds like, a repeat link of the normal breathing, and a short movie of what breathing looks like during an asthma attack. The last heading on the page is "What Causes Asthma Attacks" under which some common triggers of asthma are presented in list format. The next link from the home page is "Symptoms." This is a short page that describes how people might experience different symptoms during an asthma attack. The opportunity to hear Molly and Maggie talk about how it feels to have an asthma attack is again presented on this page. "How?" is the next link. This page describes how people who suffer from asthma can be helped. There is a link to medicines that can be inhaled, which describes the metered dose inhaler and the nebulizer. There are also links to bronchiodilators, anti-inflammatory agents (corticosteroids or steroids), and cromolyn sodium, which can prevent asthma attacks from starting. Finally, at the bottom of the page in list form, are ways to help someone who is having an asthma attack. This is a well laid out and interesting tutorial about asthma. I think it could be used as an excellent supplement to an elementary unit on the respiratory system. Title: The Respiratory System URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/biol81/BIOBK/ BioBookRESPSYS.html Grade Level: Five through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology, and respiratory system Review: This is a fairly solid chapter on the respiratory system that is accessible in content and coverage for a wide range of students from upper elementary school through high school (especially with the coverage of details of gas exchange in the latter part of the cyber chapter): Chapter 35—"The Respiratory System": The Respiratory

238

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

System and Gas Exchange, Bodies and Respiration, Respiratory Surfaces, Methods of Respiration, Respiratory System Principles, The Human Respiratory System, Diseases of the Respiratory System, The Alveoli and Gas Exchange, Control of Respiration, and Links. The chapter begins with a brief but cogent explanation of cellular respiration, respiratory surfaces, and methods of respiration, which again connects with the Online Biology glossary. In this case (as with many previous chapters I have reviewed in the Online series), it would be a big improvement if most technical terms were also illustrated in the glossary. Even exceptions to this (e.g., Adenine Triphosphate as presented in the glossary) are presented as a diagram with no accompanying explanation, which could be indecipherable to younger students, making it useless as an explanation, which runs contrary to the idea of what a glossary should be able to do for a student. As with many other chapters as well, a certain level of prerequisite knowledge is required. For example, if one hasn't read about cellular respiration before, one might not know what ATP or metabolism is and therefore might not be able to "connect the dots" between ideas and concepts (making all the cognitive associations necessary to get the most out of the chapter). However, the chapter does possess some wonderful illustrations (taken from other sources), including a comparative image of gas exchange systems (external gills, lungs, internal gills, and trachea) in several animals, including a newt-like amphibian, a rabbit, a lobster, and a praying mantis. This is the first time I have seen all four types in one illustration, which is certainly food for thought. Consequently, the four types are detailed in cutaway images of a fish, grasshopper, frog, and bird. One of the best images of the series can be seen in "Countercurrent flow in a fish," which reveals how the fish "strains" oxygen out of the water through its gills. I found this particularly revealing. Looking at the way grasshoppers and other insects "breathe" reinforced just how strange and bizarre these creatures truly are in comparison to us. Next, the chapter precedes through a five-part review of the respiratory system in general, then segues through a section on the human respiratory system, which, despite what seems to be a cursory opening, expands nicely into an examination through text and illustration of human lungs, alveoli, and their relationship to the diaphragm and capillaries, gas exchange across capillary and alveolus walls, and finally into a very basic example of exhalation and inhalation. "Diseases of the Respiratory System" could have been better left to the

Resources in Biology

239

end of the cyber chapter rather than where it was placed, because it breaks up the flow of ideas and concepts. From here, gas exchange is briefly covered at first, although a set of cutaways explains it better near the end of the chapter. The comparison of oxygen carrying molecules is fascinating if only to ask how hemoglobin developed as an oxygen-carrying mechanism in the blood. This chapter is lacking in links to other related sites (under "Links"), and there aren't any "Learning Objectives," as is the case with many of the more complete and comprehensive chapters in the series. However, of all the sources I investigated across the Internet, it is certainly one of the best to get you started. However, you may find yourself looking for more comprehensive explanations (including visuals) of particular terms that you find in this and other chapters of the series. Title: N205 Respiratory Lecture Outline URL: http://web.indstate.edu/nurs/mary/resp.htm Grade Level: College Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: This is a very thorough, easy-to-read Web site that discusses the respiratory system. All the subject areas were broken down into subtopics. Included in the Web site are about twenty different topics within the respiratory system. Each topic also has many different subtopics. The first topic was about "Physiology of Respiration" and this long Web site ends at "How to Analyze ABGs [Arterial Blood Gases]." There are also some related links at the bottom of the page. Title: The Air Bags: The Respiratory System URL: http://www.imcpl.lib.in.us/kids_resp.htm Grade Level: Four through eight Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Respiratory system Review: This is a very simple Web site designed by the Marion County Public Library in Indianapolis. It is designed for children and contains a very simple but accurate diagram of the human chest. It simply describes the air bags or lungs and how they function. This would be a good Web site if you were interested in very basic information and a diagram to go with it. The Web site leads you to other sites; however, they are not in the area of the respiratory system but rather how to access the library. It's a good Web site, but short and sweet.

240

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Sexual Reproduction Title: Sexual Reproduction URL: http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0841565.html Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Words: Sexual reproduction Review: This is a very basic, informational site through the Family Education Network. It begins with the general topic of reproduction. There is a brief introduction with links to cell meiosis and mitosis, as well as a link to nucleic acid, as the process of transmitting hereditary material is discussed. Below, the category is broken down into asexual and sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction is described as being advantageous, since it allows certain desirable characteristics to be passed on, unchanged. It is found in plants, bacteria, protists, and lower invertebrates, according to the authors of the site. There are links to mitosis and sporulation. Further asexual reproduction (regeneration) is described. There are links to cutting and grafting, with full pages and links of their own. The site indicates that among mammals, the lower forms of life have the capability of regeneration. Closely linked to the mention of regeneration is the process of vegetative reproduction, with links to rhizomes, bulbs, and tubers to provide more information on this topic. Sexual reproduction is described as "essentially cellular in nature." There are links to parthenogenesis (mentioned as the one exception to exclusively sexual reproduction in higher invertebrates and vertebrates). There is a link to the process of fertilization. Ovum and sperm also have links, as they are described in the process of heterogamy. A description of the process continues in paragraph form, with links to gametophytes, pollination, genetics, recombination, and sex. Again, this site is very text based and informative, but nothing special has been noted about it. All links are right within the text, so there is no navigational confusion. There is a "help" button on the top right side of the screen if you should need it. Title: Reproduction in Animals—Sexual Reproduction: A n Introduction to the Mechanisms of Reproduction in Animals URL: http://biology.about.com/libra Grade Level: Seven through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Sexual reproduction

Resources in Biology

241

Review: Visitors to this site are initially greeted by the friendly, smiling face of their guide, Regina Bailey. To keep abreast of breaking news in the world of biology you can quickly click into: Articles, Forums, Chat, Free Newsletter, or Classifieds. The home page is broken down into the various subdivisions of biology. A n area entitled "Essentials" is composed of: Science Fair Projects, Top Biology Programs, Biology How To's, Macromolecules, Brain Basics. There is another interesting section that includes: AP Biology, Homework Help, Students, Teachers & Educators, and Virtual Dissection. The site kicks off with a wonderful statement that I would like to share with you: "Reproduction is a marvelous culmination of individual transcendence. Individual organisms come and go, but, to a certain extent, organisms (transcend) time through reproducing offspring." There is also a "Related Resources" site, which includes: Asexual Reproduction, Reproduction II, Meiosis, and Zoology. Title: Reproductive System URL: http://menshealth.about.com/library/glossary Grade Level: General public; high school to adults Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Sexual reproduction Review: This is a general informational site on the male reproductive system. It is part of the "What you need to know about . . . " series. It begins with a glossary. The glossary defines the cowper's gland, ejaculation, epididymis, penis, prostate gland, scrotum, semen, seminal vesicle, sperm, testicles, urethra, and vas deferens. Twenty-six leftside links present information on birth control, cancer, cholesterol, circumcision, colon cancer, dental health, diet and nutrition, diseases, drug information, exercise, fatherhood, hair loss, headaches, heart health, hormones, hypertension, impotence, men's issues, mental health, penis health, prostate cancer, sexuality, STDs, skin, stress, stroke, and vasectomy. Warning signs to dangerous male diseases are prominent and invite the reader to learn more. Related resources include a link to "The Male Reproductive System," which has a detailed diagram and glossary. Anyone with men's health concerns should consult this site, as it provides not only useful medical information but also tips for a healthy and happy lifestyle. Title: Female Reproductive System URL: http://www.innnerbody.com/image/repfov.html

242

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Reproductive system Review: The Web site provides a visual picture of the female body. You can move the cursor and labels of the parts of the female reproductive system pop up. You can click on these pop-up labels and textual information is provided. Links to female, male, and an overview of the reproductive system are provided, which give a textual overview of the highlighted topic. A "Did you know?" link provides interesting information about female eggs. Additional links are provided on systems, images, and descriptions. The final link was for a search engine, although its specific use was unclear. Title: Hormones of the Reproductive System URL: http://www.ultranet.eom/~jkimball/BiologyPages/S/ SexHormones.html Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Sexual reproduction Review: The home page of this site contains a multitude of information that at first seems quite overwhelming. A great thing that this site offers, however, is an index. A simple click on a topic, like estrogen, will scroll you down to a brief section explaining that topic. The site also contains sections on progesterone, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, birth, and contraceptives. There are a few diagrams, but they are not very detailed. You may select a few terms embedded in the overall text that are links to more detailed descriptions of the selected word. The site is very short and gives a surface description of the reproductive system. I am sure there is much more to know than this site provides. It is not one of the more easily navigated sites that I have looked through to date. Title: The Reproductive System URL: http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu Grade Level: Five and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Biology & reproductive system Review: This site has everything you need to know at your fingertips. The table of contents consists of the following: Asexual; Sexual; Human Reproduction & Development; Sexual Responses; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Reproduction: New & Improved; Fertilization &

Resources in Biology

243

Cleavage; Gestrulation; Pattern Formation & Induction; Human Development; Birth; Landmarks; and Links. I decided to see what the link "Landmarks" was all about. It is hierarchical in nature, composed of more links regarding the "Embryo Development Overview" (University of Pennsylvania). The university has a disclaimer that states it is in the process of evaluating all of its Web resources. While they realize the site is heavily trafficked, they suggest the user go directly to a new site which they have hyperlinked. Additionally, Yale University, Penn State, Berkeley, and the University of Arizona are also connected. Actual imagery of sperm on the surface of a human egg captures the beginnings of life. This site proves to be informative and useful for the entire continuum of education. Title: Kids' Health Search URL: http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/changing_body/ reproductive_system.html Grade Level: Middle school and high school Best Search Engine: http://www.msn.com (comet cursor) Key Search Words: Reproductive system Review: The Guide to the Reproductive System provided by Kids' Health is informative and easy to navigate. The design is colorful (aqua and orange) and clearly labeled so teens can search easily. It is introduced with a section about the embarrassment many teens have when discussing the reproductive system, and the fact that this embarrassment leads to a lot of misinformation. Next, the "Guys" section discusses the parts and functions of the male reproductive system. Pronunciations for each part are given, and the language is clear without being above the user's level. Common questions are answered that relate to misconceptions, and links are provided to subtopics such as menstruation, puberty, and erections. Diagrams of the male and female reproductive systems are provided, and links to related articles and resources on the Web are found on the right side on file folder tabs. Overall, the layout, language, and graphics make this a good resource for teens to learn about their bodies in a way that is easy to understand. Users can also search this site as a whole or ask questions from this page at the top left corner. Other health topics of interest to teenagers are listed with buttons placed vertically on the left. Title: Body Basics: The Female Reproductive System URL: http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/about.com/health_ sexuality;svc=;site=sexuality;kw= + reproductive%

244

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

20H-system;chan=health;syn=about;pos=vmslotl;sz= 120x600;ord=10.1324071433064299 Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Reproductive system Review: This site begins with a frontal view of the female external reproductive organs, connected by a dark black line to the name of each female reproductive part. Below the diagram is a description of the mons pubis, the labia, and the clitoris, the anus and perineum, and the breasts. Within those descriptions are various links to other related information. The next major category is for internal structures. Again, there is a color diagram, with internal parts labeled in bold black print. Below the diagram, the following are described in a short paragraph: (1) The Ovaries (with links to estrogen and progesterone), (2) The Fallopian Tubes (with links to zygotes, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal ligation), (3) The Uterus (links to endometriosis, cervical cancer, and uterine cancer), (4) The Vagina (with links to menstruation and intercourse), (5) The G-Spot (with a link to numerous G-Spot sites), and (6) The Hymen (no links). The next major section is entitled, "Your Body, Your Self," in which breast and vulvar self-examinations are encouraged, as well as regular visits to an OB/GYN. Under a "Read More" column are links to numerous related topics such as kegel exercises, IUDs, STDs, contraception, etc. There are links to the left, as well, on more related topics. The author of this site is a person by the name of Tamar Love, who is a freelance writer from San Francisco. The site provides very basic information, and is more geared for people not pursuing the topic in an academic way. There is nothing striking or exceptional about this site, but it does provide some information in an easy-to-follow format. Title: Go Ask Alice URL: http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/Cat7.html Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Sexual reproduction Review: This entire Web site entails different questions that are used to help people. The main titles in the site are reproduction, pregnancy, contraception, STDs, men's sexual health, women's sexual health, and other questions. In each of these topics, there are questions that you can click on for a link to the answers. I like this Web site, since anything and everything you wanted to know about the reproductive

Resources in Biology

245

system is answered for you. I also like that if you have a question that hasn't already been asked, you can e-mail it to her. Title: Sexual Reproduction in Humans URL: http://www.ultranet.eom/~jkimball/BiologyPages/S/ Sexual_Reproduction.html Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Words: Sexual reproduction Review: This Web site is very thorough. It contains many colorful diagrams of the human reproduction system. It is clear and easy to understand. The researcher can find information on many areas within the domain of sexual reproduction simply by clicking on the following: Sex Organs of the Human Male; Spermatogenesis; Sperm; LH; FSH; Sex Organs of the Human Female; Oogenesis; Ovulation; Copulation and Fertilization; Pregnancy; The Placenta is an Allograft; Birth; and Lactation. The company or university that designed this Web site is not evident; however, it is well written and very thorough. Taxonomy Title: Taxonomy URL: http://www. 101science.com/Taxonomy.htm Grade Level: Five through high school Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com Key Search Words: Biology and Taxonomy Review: I reached this page through a Web site (www.101science.com/), which is advertised as "a science web directory, tutor, and research and learning center for everyone. Your gateway to more than 20,000 science links." The site covers a range of subjects including: Chemistry, Bacteria, Biology, Data Sheets, Electronics, Ham Radio, Mathematics, Microscopes, Photography, Physics, Robots, Space, Terminology, Transistors, Video, and Virus. The site map includes the following: Science Terminology, Calculations/Conversion Page, Biology 1, Biology 2, Taxonomy, Paramecium, DNA, Bacteria Links, Virus Links, Biology Dissection Links Page, Chemistry, Electronics, Transistor Information, and Science News. The Science Terminology is bursting to near overflowing with page after page of links to science sites, from biology to chemistry to biotechnology, computer technology, engineering, geology . . . the list goes on. Additionally, there are links to other search engines, as well as to nature and other images, which

246

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

could be used for reports or as clipart. Reaching the taxonomy page (http://www.101science.com/Taxonomy.htm), I found it the best of a long string of Web site searches that yielded fairly brief, although sometimes interesting blurbs on taxonomy. This site, however, was more useful than most on several accounts. Testing some glossary links (e.g., Carolus Linnaeus; Classification) I found the Linnaeus glossary term linked back to an Encarta Encyclopedia article where I was able to learn about the life of the botanist who created modern scientific taxonomy. Linking to "Classification," I found an extensive cyber entry (Encarta article) outlined as follows: Introduction, How Species Are Grouped, Classification Methods, and History of Classification Systems. (The same article is reproduced later in this Web site.) Although the site's organization initially appears somewhat chaotic in places, I found it nonetheless chock-full of connections and links to too many sites and places to mention. There are sites of photos, searchable databases, taxonomy browsing, taxonomy software (these looked interesting), as well as a pile of links that looked fascinating (e.g., Ideas in Bloom [taxonomy-based activities], Curiosities of Biological Taxonomy, and Tree of Life). Returning back to the main lOlscience site, I checked out the pages called "Biology 1" and "Biology 2." Examining the number of links described and planted on these two pages alone could keep any researcher busy for weeks, if not months! If nothing else, the lOlscience Web site is a great place to connect to other sites (research and otherwise). I highly recommend the listings on these two pages to any teacher or teacher-to-be. Finally, "Science News" (on the main lOlscience page) provides an index of the latest science news and links to other "Science News" sites such as CNN, Discovery Channel, and USA Today. One article discussed teleportation, and another, new worlds that have been discovered forty-one light years from Earth. Altogether, one has to say that lOlscience and its related pages and links are to the mind, what great cooking is for the palate: food for thought. Title: The "Nuts and Bolts" of Taxonomy and Classification URL: http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/lab/TaxonomyLab.html Grade Level: High school and above Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Taxonomy Review: This Web site is very technical and contains information that would appeal to a researcher looking for very detailed information. It categorizes many different species of animals such as the American

Resources in Biology

247

lobster, squid mussel, and different oysters. It classifies the phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species of each of these organisms. Many of the terms used in this Web site are scientific in nature and are defined, which helps readers to better understand the information. It is an excellent Web site that a student can use and learn from. This Web site was compiled by R. Hays Cummins, Interdisciplinary Studies, Miami University, and used references such as E. Mayr, Principles of Systematic Zoology, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969. Title: U C M P Taxonomy Lift URL: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/taxaform.ht Grade Level: High school and college Best Search Engine: http://www.aol.com Key Search Word: Taxonomy Review: The right side of the screen provides directions for how to use the Web lift. It describes the Web lift as an "index" to exhibits in the phylogeny wing. There is a diagram to the upper left showing the three domains of life. You can click on any of these to be taken in that direction. Below the diagram are some instructions on ways to get started navigating the phylogeny wing. At the bottom of the page is a navigation bar with several links, including: any time period, a glossary, any taxon, and a help page. If you click on the domain bacteria, for example, you access a short, general page on bacteria. There are numerous links, including four to learn more about bacteria. These same four categories appear on all of the other subject pages: (1) fossil record, (2) life history and ecology, (3) systematics, and (4) more on morphology. Clicking back and accessing archaea, there is a great deal of textual information with additional information links to the same four categories mentioned for bacteria. There are two realistic pictures from Yellowstone National Park, where archaea were first discovered. There are numerous links to other sites about archaea. Navigating back again, and accessing eukaryota, there are four color pictures, with a very short paragraph with links to plants, animals, protists, and fungi. Below, once again, are links to the same four additional information links: fossil records, life history & ecology, systematics, and morphology or eukaryotes. Clicking on the home page link at the bottom of eukaryotes brings you back to the split screen on the home page. The right screen stays the same, as described earlier. The left screen displays the subgroups of each of the major groups of life. Again, the major groups of life are located in the header of this page. The first major group is viruses, which has no subgroups. For archaea,

248

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

the site indicates that there are no subgroups yet. Bacteria has the following subgroups: bacteroides, cyanobacteria (links and photos set up like other pages), flavobacteria, gram-positive bacteria, green nonsulfur bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, spirochaetes (with link), and thematogales. By clicking on eukaryotes, you can access several kingdoms: chromista (kelp, diatoms, haplophytes), fungi metazoa (animals), plantae (plants), and protista (protists). When you click on each kingdom, you access further divisions within that particular kingdom. Clicking on each category within the divisions brings you to a descriptive page set up exactly like all of the others indicated before, with the text/picture/multiple-link format. This site was developed in 1996 by a graduate student by the name of Brian Speer. The most recent update was made in December 2000. This is a well-structured taxonomy site. It was easy to navigate and is laid out in a consistent and organized manner. It provides plenty of information about taxonomic groups. Title: Glossary of Taxonomy URL: http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/scalenet/glossary.htm Grade Level: High school Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Word: Taxonomy Review: If you ever had a question on the meaning of a word when you were learning about taxonomy, then this is the Web site for you. I was very impressed with the fact that so many words are defined in this Web site. The whole site is made up of different words that you may need to find for an assignment or just for yourself. Some of the words include classification, holotype, neotype, and syntypes, as well as many, many others. Viruses Title: Institute for Molecular Virology URL: http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/Welcome.html Grade Level: Middle school and above Best Search Engine: http://netscape.com Key Search Word: Virology Review: This Web site was developed by the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus, and is devoted to fundamental research in virology. The home page offers visitors the opportunity to select from the following: "What's New," "About Us," "Resources," "Multimedia Li-

Resources in Biology

249

brary," "Distance Learning," "In the News," "Events," and "Post Doctoral Openings." Upon entering the "About Us" area, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Biomed link by entering a virus of interest and clicking "search." This page also offers a link called "the kids rated search system," which inexplicably took me to Buydomains .com. The same page also offers access to a few published articles about virus structure. The "What's New" page is quite interesting. It initially lists many viruses that are of current interest (past two to three years). For example, I selected "Ebola outbreaks updates," which then led me to articles from 1995 to present. W h e n clicking the article of interest, visitors will then have access to the original news headlines. The "Resource" page gives information about upcoming conferences and events on viruses, access to university programs, research institutions, and classes available. This page also gives a phonebook of virologists. The "Multimedia" page gives the visitor access to computer visualizations, molecular dynamics, and digitalized electron micrographs. The "Distance Learning" page provides links to tutorials and course notes, how to develop a virology course, and quizzes and tests to help students study. "In the News" lists virology-related news and journal articles. For example, if the visitor clicked on "Hepatitis C," he or she would be given a list of Web sites that have information about the virus, along with phone contacts and addresses for further information. "Events" lists congresses, meetings, and seminars. However, some of this information is too old for anyone to care about; for instance, the page lists a symposium in the Cayman Islands that took place in December 1999. However, the same page also gives a link to http://www.symposia.com, which lists more recent meetings on biomedical and life sciences. Finally, the "Faculty Openings" page gives the address and phone number of the Institute for Molecular Virology (IMV) for persons interested in seeking employment, and postdoctoral openings are also listed. Overall, the Web site is easy to manipulate with few dead-end links. It is important to note that the home page informs the visitor that the IMV Web site will be "substantially renovated" within the coming months—so keep an eye out for more updated information. Title: All The Virology on the W W W URL: http://www.tulane.edu/~dmsander/garryfavweb.html Grade Level: Six and above Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Word: Virology

250

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Review: This is a master site with links to a myriad of other resources. The main body of the introductory page outlines what can be found through the links, including photos of viruses and class notes for microbiology students, all conveniently presented. The designers of the site seem to have gone out of their way to develop a Web site for ease of access and research for the professional as well as the nonmedical user. It is also set up with mirror sites for European and Chinese users to allow for greater usage and the dissemination of material. The further you scroll down the main page, the more specific the resources become. For those who know what they are looking for, there is a table of contents (underlined links in the main body, or on the list in the left column). The left column has a list of sites and topics that starts with the broad categories working down to the more specific areas of potential interest. You do not have to read the main introduction; all of the same resources and options are listed, along with many other alternatives. At the very bottom is a search function that allows for a more specific or targeted search. The site is determined to be as up-to-date as possible. There are news links for the latest information in the world of virology from various topical publications and organizations like the World Health Organization with material on the Ebola virus. There is an e-mail set up for those who want the latest news without checking the site frequently. Users are also invited to add links to other sites not covered. All in all, this is a really good resource site for the novice and professional. It is complete, user friendly, and written in plain language. Title: The Big Picture Book of Viruses URL: http://www.tulane.edu/~dmsander/Big_Virology/ BVHomePage.html Grade Level: Any grade level Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Virology pictures Review: The Big Picture Book of Viruses is intended to serve both as a catalog of virus pictures and an educational resource to those seeking more information about viruses. There are several ways to access the information. All viruses are listed according to the family to which they have been assigned by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The images and other data can be obtained by the routes listed on the left of the home page: either by name, structure/ genome, host, or disease. Viruses are shown either by electron microscopy or by computer-assisted imaging. Each image is presented in a

Resources in Biology

251

miniature format with the original, full-sized image available with a click. There are also links to other sites dealing with virology. For example, to see an image, you can click on "List of Virus Families" on the left of the home page, where viruses are listed alphabetically. I clicked on the first one and was given: the taxonomy, host, genome, morphology, and multiple images, and each one was made larger simply by clicking on it. This is a perfect site for seeing what different viruses look like. Title: Virology URL: http://www.vin.com/petcare/Cats.htm Grade Level: Eight and above Best Search Engine: http://yahoo.com Key Search Words: Virology and education Review: This page focuses on viruses found in all animals. On the left-hand side of the site, there are buttons that are connected to dogs, cats, birds, horses, small mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. When you click on any of these buttons, it brings you to very interesting sites. There are personal stories and pictures of animals that have a variety of viruses. You can also chat and place a message on a giant message board. In order to receive e-mail, you have to go through a free registration process. You can contact veterinarians or other members of the Pet Care Forum. O n the right side of the main screen, there are a wide variety of animal virus issues. Overall, this is a very well organized and informative Web site. There are many inspiring true stories and facts about viruses found in animals. It took me about one hour to scan through the entire site. This would be excellent for students who are interested in learning about animals. Teachers could reach these science students by blending virology and animal care. Title: Welcome to Wong's Virology URL: http://virology-online.com/index.htm Grade Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Best Search Engine: http://www.google.com Key Search Word: Virology Review: This site was developed by Derek Wong, a medical virologist in Hong Kong, as a study aid for undergraduate and postgraduate students in virology. It is by far the user-friendliest site on the topic that I found. It provides the reader with four main links, entitled General Information, Individual Viruses, Exam Questions and Answers, and Ready-toUse Slide Sets. Within the "General Information" link, there are ten

252

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

links that provide detailed textual information and graphics on the following topics: Viral Replication, Viral Pathogenesis, Viral Immunology, Viral Vaccines, Diagnostic Methods in Virology, Antiviral Chemotherapy, Infection Control Measures against Viral Infections, Management of Outbreaks of Virus Infection, Quality Control in a Clinical Virology Laboratory, and Safety in a Clinical Virology Laboratory. The page is also linked to Derek Wong's e-mail, All the Virology on the World Wide Web, and The Big Picture Book of Viruses, should the viewer want further information on the topic. The "Individual Viruses" link lists thirty-one specific viruses and provides links for each virus with detailed textual information, such as general properties and clinical features. This information is listed in outline form, making it very easy to navigate. These links also incorporate pictures both of people or animals infected with the virus and of the virus under a microscope. Other graphics, including models of virus behaviors, are included. These models aid the reader in understanding the material. This link is also connected to the slide sets of each virus, if more examples of the specific virus are desired. The "Exam Questions and Answers" link provides three sample exams with about thirty standard questions on each and possible answers. It also includes twenty-five sample essay questions and answers. The "Ready-to-Use Slide Sets" has twelve slide sets on various topics in virology, such as specific viruses or laboratory conditions that can be downloaded as PowerPoint presentations and used by the reader to study from, or in the classroom to teach the material. Each slide set has both textual information about the topic discussed and graphic information. Each link shows the number of slides in that set for the user to easily determine what sets they would like to use. This site is extremely useful for students or teachers at the undergraduate or postgraduate levels. For students, it provides very detailed information and visual information to study various topics in virology. For teachers, it provides resources like exam questions and PowerPoint presentations that can be used for instruction. While the language is rather advanced for a layperson, it provides interesting information on viruses and how they operate. The Web site is very easy to navigate and the general layout is not overwhelming for viewers. Title: All the Virology on the World Wide Web URL: http://www.virology.net Grade Level: Six and above Best Search Engine: http://www.metacrawler.com

Resources in Biology

253

Key Search Words: Virology and education Review: This Web site could be used as a great learning tool for a sixthgrade student or for an expert in the field of virology. It is a collection of all the virology-related Web sites that may be of interest to expert virologists, as well as others who are interested in learning more about viruses. The site is sponsored by Micro Test Inc., which is a multipurpose transport media company. The thing I enjoyed most about this Web site is its organization. There are an enormous amount of resources on this site, like "Big Picture Book," "On-Line Virology Notes," and "Life Science Products." They are all easy to find on the table-of-contents page, which appears as soon as you visit this site's home page. Then, you can scroll down through the collections of virology sites and choose the one that sounds most appealing to your interests. Some of the collections include AIDS and HIV, emerging viruses, plant viruses, organizations and groups, and graduate programs in the field of virology. Title: Introduction to Molecular Virology URL: http://www.uct.ac.za/microbiology/tutorial/virtutl .html Grade Level: Eight and above Best Search Engine: http://www.excite.com Key Search Word: Virology Review: This Web site gives a very thorough look at virology. Its main menu offers the following options: What Is a Virus? Emerging Viruses, Virions, Virology Essays, Classification of Viruses, Response and Evaluation Form, Genome Diversity, A Mirrored Virology Course from University of Leicester, A n Essay on Virus Ultrastructure, Other Teaching Material Links, a section on virus entry into cells and replication of viruses, and finally, Origin of Viruses. Navigation through the site is also quite easy. Starting with the first page on the definition of a virus, we slowly learn quite a bit about virology until we are familiar enough with the material to actually read some interesting essays on viruses. For those obsessed with viruses and such, you'll find the section on emerging viruses to be helpful, and there are many links given where you can keep yourself up-to-date on the latest and greatest viruses, including the West Nile Virus. Because this is a universitysponsored site, there is some material that is only useful for the University of Cape Town student. However, I'd say overall that this site did a good job explaining virology and offered some interesting discussion and essays, as well.

This page intentionally left blank

3

BIOLOGY SUPPLIES

Whether you are looking for a microscope to use in your research, or a specific slide necessary to help your child with a science activity at home, biology supplies and information on the best places to order them is a must. Title: Carolina Biological URL: http://www.carolina.com/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: Carolina Biological has an on-line catalog that allows you to browse at your leisure. Scroll down the left menu to "biology" and click on the link that will take you to the biology section of the catalog. The menu also has supplies for science teachers from kindergarten through middle school. Each item is accompanied by a picture, and a click provides you more information, including the cost and a link to order. This is a very user-friendly way to order supplies from a reputable business. Title: Science Stuff URL: http://www.sciencestuff.com Grade Level: Elementary school and middle school Review: At the home page, you will find four links on the left-hand side: Chemistry, Toys, Environment, and Laboratory. When you click on each link, new subtitles appear. For instance, clicking on "Chemistry" provides access to "Models and Charts." There also is a sale link on the left of the home page, which highlights the items that are reduced in price. This supply house is very limited, but worth a look at the sales link.

256

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: Fisher Science Education URL: http://www.fisheredu.com Grade Level: Any grade level Review: Fisher Science Education is more than a supply catalog. At the home page, the site highlights science news from all the worldwide news sources, including C N N and the New York Times, and also includes a science fact of the day and "from my classroom to yours." In addition, there are products on sale and product highlights. At the top of the home page are links to the catalog, teacher resources, Fisher worldwide, and many more. When you place your cursor on each of the links, a new sublist appears. Teacher resources have teacher tips, science calendar, science-ed directory, and FAQs. The on-line catalog is extremely easy to use. There is a browse button as well as a search window in which you can type your needs, either specifically or generally. For instance, if you type the word "biology," you will be provided with a long list of items that are biology related. A shorter list will appear if you type the more specific term "thermometer." Clicking on one of the items in the list brings you to the specific page of the item with a picture and other information. You can order by clicking on the "add to my cart" button. The science calendar link is worth a look. It is organized by month and gives you information on either science inventions or scientists birth dates each day. Clicking on "teacher tips" leads you to a menu listed by discipline, such as biology or chemistry. The tips contain demonstration and laboratory activities. The science-ed directory provides the addresses and phone numbers of science-related programs, museums, and agencies listed by state. This Web site is extremely well maintained and provides more than information on supplies. Title: Chemical Online URL: http://www.chemicalonline.com/ Grade Level: College Review: This Web site provides good reviews of the chemistry books they sell. Clicking on "Buy On-line" leads you to a number of different links. The most interesting is the link to http://www.LabEx.com, which sells used laboratory equipment. Back at the home page, clicking on the "news and community" link leads you to free software to download, discussion forums, and an events calendar. Even though this Web site focuses on industrial chemistry, the books and news community are worth a look.

Biology Supplies

257

Title: Sargentwelch.com URL: http://www.sargentwelch.com/ Grade Level: High school and above Review: Sargent Welch and VWR, both biology supply houses, can be found on this Web site. This is the site to use to obtain MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) information concerning specific chemicals, which is required by O S H A (Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration). The home page provides links to their complete catalog, safety, grants, correlations, Web partners, MSDS, and science references. The correlations link provides lists of supplies needed for various curriculums. For instance, there is a high school planning list that contains the name of the material, the catalog number, and price per unit. This spreadsheet list would come in handy when ordering year to year. There are correlations for high school, middle school, AP Biology, ChemCom, AP Environmental listing, Biology: A Community Context Materials List, EZ Prep, Science Fair, and Harcourt Brace elementary science books grades one through five. Science references is a great resource, linking you to general resources, resources by discipline and subject, program and organizational resources, general science educational resources, and newsgroups related to science education. The Web partners lead you directly to partners in various specific areas, such as science links and Ohaus microscopes, to mention a few. Title: Science Kit and Boreal Labs URL: http://www.sciencekit.com Grade Level: Middle school and high school Review: This company claims to be "the leading supplier of science materials and equipment to science teachers throughout the United States." At the home page are links to classroom activities provided in all disciplines, a recommended materials link that allows you to type in the title of a textbook you are using to receive a list of materials that are recommended for use in the activities, and a mark book download containing seating plans and other organizational tools. You can request a catalog or place an order through their order assistant; however, there is not a catalog available on-line, which is a definite disadvantage of this Web site. Title: Ward's Natural Science Establishment URL: http://www.wardsci.com

258

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Grade Level: Six through adult Review: Ward specializes in biology, geology, and life/environmental earth/physics subjects. The company's catalog is not on-line, but a complete list of subtopics is available by clicking on the subjects at the home page. You can, however, view their new products on the Web by clicking on the new product link and then on the specific product. Title: Daigger Laboratory Equipment and Supplies URL: http://www.daigger.com Grade Level: High school through college and above Review: Daigger offers the easiest and most user-friendly supply house catalog on-line. You can search the catalog by clicking on the alphabetical keys, by typing in the name or catalog number in a search window, or by browsing the catalog virtually. They have more than 75,000 products in their easy-to-use catalog. If you click on "c" for chemicals, you will be led to a list of science materials starting with calculators and ending with chemicals (after cylinders). If you know the name of the chemical that you are searching for, you can click on the first letter of the name or scroll down an alphabetical list of chemicals until you reach your product. Clicking on the product provides you information and ordering prices as well as MSDS sheets. Title: Edmund Scientific Company URL: http://www.scientificsonline.com Grade Level: Any grade level Review: Edmund's Scientific is to a scientist what a candy store is to a candy lover. There is the usual "catalog by topic" list of links on the left of the home page. Unique to this site is the gift search link, which allows you to search for a science gift by topic or by price. This is a great idea! At "ten dollars or less," you can buy a drinking bird for only $7.95. For those looking for "deals," there is a clearance link. "Tech tips" is invaluable for hints on using technology equipment. Topics like "how to read a binocular's power" provides the novice with expert advice and information. Title: Educational Innovations, Inc. URL: http://www.teachersource.com/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: "The Master Teacher Source for Science Workshop Supplies" is the goal of Educational Innovations, Inc. The company was started to

Biology Supplies

259

provide science workshop professionals with one-source shopping for their science supplies. At the home page are links to their extensive catalog, as well as a schedule of shows, conferences, and workshops that they will be holding. Their catalog is divided into subjects and topics. A click on the "life science/biology" link leads you to a more specific subtopic index. Because this site was designed for people who conduct workshops, the prices of the items decrease with quantity. Usually, items are ordered in quantities of one to ten, eleven to twenty-nine, and over thirty. Title: Flinn Scientific URL: http://www.flinnsci.com/ Grade Level: High school Review: This is a great resource site that includes links to chemistry, biology, and safety, with proven solutions to problems, Flinn freebies, laboratory design for designing a current laboratory, computer interface technology, and Flinn scientific order maker. I did not find their catalog on-line. I think that you have to download it after clicking on the order-maker link. This is a definite problem. However, all the other links provide wonderful resources. The safety link even has an e-mail conference to use with your science department at departmental meetings. The information provided with the laboratory design link is wonderful and could be useful in upgrading a laboratory. Flinn freebies appear to be wonderful resources, but are only for certified high school science teachers. Title: Pasco Scientific URL: http://www.pasco.com/ Grade Level: Middle school to high school Review: Pasco Scientific has the goal to design, manufacture, and service the highest quality products for science teachers worldwide. Clicking on "products" leads you to their on-line catalog, which is indexed according to subject and topic. You can browse the complete index or type in a topic at the search window. Unique to Pasco is the experiment central link. By clicking on either the Data Studio Library or the Science Workshop Library, you can download more than 400 experiments. A click on "biology experiments grades 9-12" allows you to download thirty-three biology experiments. In order to do so, however, a WinZip utility drive is required.

This page intentionally left blank

4

MUSEUMS, SCIENCE CENTERS, AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

Science can be found in general museums and science centers, or in specific organizations like nature centers and parks, zoos and aquariums, and planetariums and observatories. This chapter provides links to Web sites that offer directories of these resources with direct links to the site. In addition, the best sites will be reviewed. Science summer programs are usually either locally or nationally supported. Science museums/centers no longer are drab storage areas of objects that are labeled "do not touch." Currently, they are "fun" resources for informal learning. They are places to touch, discover, and explore. There are more than 400 science centers and museums around the world. These can be found on the Association of Science and Technology Centers Web site at http://www.astc.org (a review of this site is provided below). In addition, a directory of all-formal science museums/centers, nature centers/parks, zoos/aquariums/aviaries, and planetariums/observatories can be found on the Science Adventures Web site at http://www.scienceadventures.org. Title: Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) URL: http://www.astc.org Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This is a Web site for science museum professionals. It provides information about the A S T C organization, as well as resources for developing exhibits and resource materials for the science museum worker. Even if this part of the Web site is focused on the museum professional, there also is a link to "find a science center" that provides a search page where you can look for a science center, first by

262

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

country then by state. You are then connected to another direct link to the science center, which includes its address, phone, and fax numbers. If you don't want to find a science center but wish to explore, click on the "click here to explore" link, then on "try science," "parent," or "site map" links, or type in a subject in the search window. The "try science" link leads you to live interactive sites that allow you to explore specific topics in real time. For instance, you can watch the penguins at Montreal Biodome or observe the panoramic view from Mount Washington. Very cool! Title: Earthcam URL: http://www.earthcam.com/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This is the reference to use to search for live, real-time science and exploration. The main menu gives you a number of choices for science, including Education Cams, Weather Cams, and Space and Science Cams. When you click on Weather Cam, you are able to access 797 real-time cam sites. You can narrow that number at the search window by typing in your interest/topic or clicking on the ten subject links, which include: forecast, outdoor, ski and surf reports, kids, streaming, weather, indoor, remote control, news, and seismograph. The 797 referenced Web sites contain a linking URL and a description of the site. For example, the 150-foot solar tower cam gives you a view from Mount Wilson, California, high atop the tower. The image is captured every four minutes from the Mount Wilson Observatory. It is a spectacular view! The link provides accurate weather conditions; for instance, the weather today is recorded at clear, calm; 78° F The live Web cam has links for you to learn more about research done through the observatory home page at UCLA Department of Astronomy. Title: Science Adventures URL: http://www.scienceadventures.org Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This site has a vast reference base for more than 1,798 links to museums/science centers, nature centers/parks and gardens, zoos, aquariums and aviaries, and planetariums and observatories. It was developed by the Eisenhower Regional Consortia for Mathematics and Science Education. Clicking on any of the above five topics or typing in your own topic at the search window leads you to a list of Web sites alphabetized by state. Clicking on the title of the organization, for instance, "California Science Center," provides you with ad-

Museums, Science Centers, and Summer Programs

263

ditional information, including a direct link into the center's Web page, a description of the center, contact information including phone number, and information regarding reservation availability and procedures. Title: Exploratorium URL: http://www.exploratorium.edu Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This museum was founded in 1969 by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer. The mission of the museum is to "create a culture of learning through innovative environments, programs, and tools that help people to nurture their curiosity about the world around them." It is housed within the walls of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts in California. The home page of the Exploratorium offers a myriad of live Web cams, including watching a total solar eclipse from Zambia! You can even visit their movable live roof cam or exhibit cam. The Exploratorium is an interesting site to visit for viewing and understanding the latest innovative technology. Its extensive exploration into live Web cams makes this museum unique and worthy of visiting, either on-line or in person. Title: Educational Outreach at Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) URL: http://eis.jpl.nasa.gov/eao/students.html Grade Level: Middle school through high school Review: This program site of N A S A at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories in California offers a list of programs for kids mostly provided via the Internet. "Cassini's Kids' Corner" is written by kids for kids. Information about the Cassini spacecraft and Saturn is provided, including both easy and advanced model plans of the spacecraft for kids to build. Other links include KidSat, the Space Place, and TOPEX/ Poseidon Educational Outreach. Title: Wonderama "Explorations in Science Education" URL: http://www.wonderama.org/ Grade Level: Kindergarten through middle school Review: Wonderama is an East Lansing, Michigan, corporation that provides hands-on summer science programs at low cost to local community education centers. Even though the programs are limited to the Michigan area, you can use their Web site, which provides hands-on experiments, "gidgets" and gadgets (cheap materials), and links to student works.

264

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Title: SHARP (Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program) URL: http://mtsibase.com/sharp/ Grade Level: High school (at least sixteen years old) Review: Every year, N A S A operates an eight-week summer program for high school students at their field installations. Students are selected for their aptitude and interest in science and engineering careers. Eligibility in SHARP includes being at least sixteen years old by the start of the program in June; a U.S. citizen; completion of two college preparatory mathematics and science courses; a strong aptitude and interest in a career in science, engineering, or technology; a permanent resident of the state of the field installation; willingness to participate in a formal interview; and full-time availability, Monday through Friday, forty hours weekly throughout the entire eight weeks. Field installations are in California, Texas, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia. N A S A also has a program called SHARP Plus (QEM) Quality Education for Minorities Network, http://www.qemnetwork.qem.org/sharpplus.html. This program's goal is to increase the success and participation of minorities in science and is held on participating college campuses; eligibility is based on aptitude and interest in a science career. Title: Project Seed URL: http://208.209.231.10:8080/portal/Chemistry?PID= acsdisplay.html&DOC=education%5Cstudent%5Cprojectseed.html Grade Level: High school Review: This project, supported by the American Chemical Society, is designed to encourage economically disadvantaged high school students to pursue careers in chemistry. Students apply, and those who are chosen work in research at a participating college. Application form and specifics about eligibility are available at this URL. This Web page can also be reached by accessing the American Chemical Society's home page at http://www.acs.org and then typing "Project Seed" in the search window. This will lead you to the Project Seed link. This path seemed easier than typing in the long URL for Project Seed. Title: Boston Museum of Science URL: http://www.mos.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This museum site has the typical links: What's Happening, General Information, Store, and Support the Museum. However, it also

Museums, Science Centers, and Summer Programs

265

has an on-line virtual exhibit link that is worth visiting. Currently, the exhibits are: the Virtual Fish-Tank, Secrets of Aging, Secrets of the Ice, Messages, Everest, Leonardo, Oceans Alive, Scanning Electron Microscope, Theatre of Electricity, WeatherNet, Dance of Chance, Science Learning Network, and Big Dig Archeology. Most of these are noninteractive, but provide great resources on specific topics. Some are local. The WeatherNet link provides current local weather information, including an interactive map. Title: Science Learning Network URL: http://www.sln.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: This is an on-line network of people interested in demonstrating a new model of inquiry education. Founded by the Exploratorium, Boston Museum of Science, the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, Miami Museum of Science, Science Museum of Minnesota, and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and each museum's supporting school. Funded by NSF (National Science Foundation) and Unisys Corporation, the group expanded to include international museums such as Heureka, the Finnish Science Center, Science Museum of London, New Metropolis Science & Technology Center Netherlands, Science Museum, Japan Science Foundation, Singapore Science Center, and Exploradome in France. You can directly link to these museums; each one has developed resources that are shared online. To access, click on the "explore our resources" link. Many of these resources are available in different languages; the Exploradome in France seems to be only in French. Title: Franklin Institute Science Museum URL: http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/ Grade Level: Middle school Review: The Franklin Institute's mission is to promote the public understanding of science. It opened its doors to the public in 1934. It includes the Fels Planetarium, the Mandell Center, the Tuttlemann IMAX Theatre, and the Musser Theatre. In addition to the usual links to the programs, store, and resources, the Franklin Institute has a link to "Welcome to my World! Careers in Science and Technology." Accessing this link brings you to a menu of career choices to explore, including: science teacher, geologist, meteorologist, chemist, and computer administrator. For example, you can click on the "chemist" link and spend a day with a chemist. This is a nice career

266

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

exhibit for younger middle school students. It also includes links to further explorations in the field of chemistry. Title: The Field Museum in Chicago URL: http://www.fieldmuseum.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: The Field Museum's strength is in its research and collections. Objects in anthropology, botany, environmental and conservation, geology, and zoology are only a few of the available major links. W h e n you access any one of these, you are provided with a brief yet informative description of the major research that is currently being done. Usually, there is another link for more information. At the home page, you can access some wonderful resources through the education link. Currently, programs on environmental rescue and a virtual underwater expedition are being highlighted. Title: Smithsonian Museum of Natural History URL: http://www.mnh.si.edu/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: Like the Field Museum in Chicago, the strength of this museum lies in its research and collections. There are more than 124 million objects and specimens held at this national museum. To search for an object, click on the "Research & Collections" link at the home page. This leads you to a menu on the left; click on site map. You can then click on the "databases" link, which brings you to Informatics, Collections Databases, Reference Databases, and Bibliographies. "Collections Databases" narrows your search to an easier, searchable list. If you were interested in fish, you might click on "Fish Collection— Online Images." Clicking on an individual fish image leads you to a classification and identification key for that particular fish. For instance, USNM 00336651 is Genus—Pervagor, Species—Melanocephalus found in the Pacific Ocean off the Island of Tonga in a 1993 expedition. It has the date collected, by whom, on which vessel, and any ecological information. The research and collection component of the national museum is invaluable for the researcher. They also offer a number of educational programs, some of which are free. Expedition to the Galapagos is a free program that is connected to the IMAX film. It includes Photo Journals, Video Footage, and Field Notes.

Museums, Science Centers, and Summer Programs

267

Title: National Geographic URL: http://www.nationalgeographic.com Grade Level: Any grade level Review: National Geographic offers the same quality material on their Web site that they do in their magazine. There are maps, kids, education, forum, and live events links on the home page. Clicking on the "education" link brings you to a list of resources for teachers. The "Online Adventures" link leads you to searchable windows where you type in subject area, type of resource, and grade level. This research tool will help you to locate information, videos, and live programs.

This page intentionally left blank

5

CAREERS

This chapter concerns itself with careers in science and lifelong learning, and professional organizations are great resources to begin your research. Depending upon your age, educational background, and career interest, you will have a vast amount of Web sites to choose from. Included below are the best resources for both upper-level high school students and college students. These Web sites not only focus on professional organizations, but also include societies, federal and state agencies, private companies, and nonprofit groups. Title: Science, Math, and Engineering Career Resources URL: http://www.phds.org Grade Level: Advanced college Review: This site contains information for would-be scientists, from high school students to people with advanced college degrees. It ranks graduate schools, posts jobs, and allows you to upload your resume. It also has links to finding employment, graduate school, and career information. The recommended links are impressive sites designed by professionals in the field of science, most of whom work at professional organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Academy of Science (NAS). This is a new Web site and worth a look. Title: American Association for the Advancement of Science URL: http://www.aaas.org Grade Level: College and beyond

270

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

Review: From the main menu, choose "science careers" at the search window. This takes you to the main career Web site, where you can job search, post your resume, join a job alert e-mail group, find out about career fairs, get employer profiles, employer links, and obtain advice and perspectives. If you click on the "advice and perspectives" link, you can get help with your resume and cover letter, or you can access the past articles on science career advice. Title: American Society of Limnology and Oceanography URL: http://aslo.org/ Grade Level: High school and above Review: Scroll down to the "student information" link on the left side of this Web site and click on it. This will send you career information, including advice on presentations, aquatic science careers, and career links programs. If you go down to the "educational resources" link and click on it, you will be given a list of resources. Some are at the college level, however, there are a few at the high school level, such as the link on strategies for pursuing a career in marine mammal science. Title: Science Career Information for College and High School Students URL: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/hangar/ 4707/hs-career.html Grade Level: High school and college Review: At the main menu are general topics in biology, biotechnology, genetics, health, physiology, and virology. Also included are topics in undergraduate teaching, technology transfer, science writing, law, bioinformatics, public policy, science education, and a scientist's guide to traditional and alternative careers. There is a wealth of information for the serious person who is looking for a career move in science, or for the high school student to find financial resources and career information on science-related careers. Title: Careers in Science and Engineering URL: http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/careers/ Grade Level: Focuses on college, but also can be used by high school Review: This Web site is produced by the National Academy of Sciences. The main menu links to notices, staff and guidance groups, acknowledgments, notes on how to use the guide, request for comments, and contents. Clicking on "contents" shifts you to a career-guidance index, including "what are your career goals," "how can you meet

Careers

271

your career goals," "what survival skills and personal attributes do you need to succeed," "what education do you need to reach your career goals," "how do you get the job that is right for you," "action points," a bibliography, and a discussion of scenarios. At first glance, this seems to be an excellent career-development site for the advanced student. However, at the end of the contents list, there is a list of profiles that indeed would be of benefit to the novice high school student. Profiles include "How Does a Geneticist/Molecular Biologist Get to Be a Patent Lawyer?" and "How Does a Research Biologist Get to be a High School Teacher?" These are personal stories that will appeal to all students of science. This site is personal, interesting, informative, and very well written—a must for anyone interested in a science career. Title: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) URL: http://www.asbmb.org Grade Level: Twelve and above Review: According to the Web site, "The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with over 10,000 members. Most members teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Others conduct research in various government laboratories, nonprofit research institutions and industry." The society's purpose is "to advance the science of biochemistry and molecular biology through publication of scientific and educational journals (Journal of Biological Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education), organization of scientific meetings, advocacy for funding of basic research and education, support of science education at all levels, and promoting the diversity of individuals entering the scientific workforce." At the home page, scroll down until you see "education" on the left menu. Click on the "education" link and then scroll to the "career brochure" link to access the pdf file on careers in biology. Title: Chemsoc.org URL: http://www.chemsoc.org Grade Level: College and beyond Review: This Web site provides a database of career development training opportunities in chemistry and links to and reviews other Web sites for chemistry careers. It provides information from England, America,

272

Biology Resources in the Electronic Age

and Canada. The home page is rather confusing, but click on "careers and job center," "Web links," or "learning resources." From the "learning resources" link, click directly on "careers." You then can choose from an A to Z career resource list, which includes items such as "brilliant careers" and "choosing a chemistry degree." At the home page again, click on "careers and job center" to obtain the latest list of jobs, help with a resume or application letter, interview techniques, or other opportunities. "Web links" leads you to more than 3,000 tried, tested, and reviewed Web sites. This is an excellent resource for college students and beyond. Title: American Chemical Society URL: http://www.acs.org Grade Level: High school and above Review: Type in the word "careers" at the opening search window. This leads you to another list where you can click on "careers and jobs." You may now either choose JobSpectrum.org or C & EN Classifieds. JobSpectrum.org is the chemistry careers connection and will provide a service of posting your resume for a fee. It also provides free information on careers in chemistry and on salaries. A click on the C & EN classifieds provides you access to the newsmagazine of the chemical world on-line. Scroll to the career and employment link on the left of the page, and you will have access to the latest articles on careers in chemistry. This is very informative and current. For careers specifically in biology, type in "biology careers" in the home page search window, and you will be led to twenty links on careers in biology, such as C & EN Employment—Careers in Bioinformatics, VC2: Careers: Environmental Chemistry, and VC2: Careers: Biotechnology. Title: College and Career Preparation Tips for NYC High School Students URL: http://www.fordham.edu/step/dugan/timeline.htm Grade Level: High school Review: Even though this is specifically for New York City high school students written by a Fordham career counselor, it is applicable to all high school students. It is general and not focused on science; however, it includes all the materials that students need for their career development. It includes advice for grades nine and ten, summer between grades ten and eleven, grade eleven, summer between grades eleven and twelve, and fall and spring of grade twelve. It is comprehensive, including standardized test taking, financial aid and scholar-

Careers

273

ship advice, and links. I praise this site highly and recommend it to any high school student in need of career advice. Title: Usnews.com: Education URL: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/home.htm Grade Level: High school Review: A searchable database reviewing more than 1,400 colleges. Includes reports on campuses, financial-aid guides, and scholarship information. Title: College Recruiter.com URL: http://www.adguide.com/highschool/ Grade Level: High school Review: You can search for a job by choosing a category, location, job level, or type of job. You can post your resume or go to the career center and ask the experts a question for free. Title: 0 * n e t On-line URL: http://online.onetcenter.org/ Grade Level: Any grade level Review: 0 * n e t on-line includes a database for the public in order to find information on skills, abilities, knowledges, work activities, and interests connected to careers and jobs. It is available for more than 950 job occupations, according to the Standard Occupational Classification system. This Web site helps job seekers find which jobs fit their skills, knowledge and interests, explore different careers, research the steps necessary to secure their dream job, maximize their earning potential, and finally know what it takes to be successful in their chosen field. The site has a low-vision version and a text-only version. The home page allows you to explore "find occupations," "skills search," "related occupations," "snapshot," "details," and "crosswalk." The first three of these links connect you to occupations and related occupations that you identify. "Snapshot" helps you explore a specific occupation through a worker. "Details" and "crosswalk" link you to more information on careers. If you click on "find occupations," you will be led to a search window where you can type in the title of the job. For instance, type in the word "chemist" and click on the Life, Physical Science, and Social Science link and four job titles appear for you to explore. If you clicked on the "Chemists" link, you could either find similar job titles or explore the job in-depth, including skills and education needed. This is an invaluable Web site for any student exploring careers.

This page intentionally left blank

GLOSSARY Bookmark: A tool of a Web browser used to store URL addresses for the user. Boolean Operations (and, not, or): Used to define a search. Browser Software: Used as an aid in surfing the Internet. Most common are Netscape Navigator (Communicator), and Microsoft Internet Explorer (Explorer). Domain or D N S (Domain Name System): The last part of the URL that provides the type of organization and its name. A n example is: http://www.cs.csubak.edu, where cs.csubak.edu is the DNS—cs.csubak is the name of the organization and edu (educational) is the type of organization. Finger: A n Internet tool used to access names of people on other Internet sites. FTP: File Transfer Protocol—a common method used to move files between Internet sites. Gopher: A program that was developed in 1991 and recently initiated; it has become second to the World Wide Web. Home Page: Indicates the main Web page for a business, organization, or person.

276

Glossary

HTML: Hypertext Markup Language—language used to create hypertext documents that are then used on the World Wide Web. HTTP, Hypertext Transfer Protocol: A protocol used on the World Wide Web. Internet: The computer network system linked worldwide. Keyword: A word used in a search. Link: A n association between two Web sites. Usually, the information of one is "linked" to the information of the other. Metasearch Engine: Or multiengine search—a search tool that utilizes multiple search engines. Mosaic: A web browser. Precursor to Netscape Navigator. Netscape Navigator: A web browser. The main author is Mark Andreessen. He and Jim Clark founded Mosaic Communications, which became Netscape Communications Corporation. Newsgroup: Name for discussion groups on Usenet. Search Engine: A tool for searching the World Wide Web. Server: Refers either to a software package or to the machine it is operating on. URL: Uniform Resource Locator—the address of a Web site. Usenet: A worldwide system used for discussion. Web Site: The name of a specific URL's site. World Wide Web (WWW): A worldwide computer information system of the Internet.

INDEX Academic institutions: and careers in science, 269, 273; and scientific illustration, 114; and study of biology, 78; and study of embryology, 116. See also Summer programs Acid rain, 7, 110 Activities: on animal movement, 49; on cell structure, 70, 145, 147; on cells, 69, 74, 183, 185; on chromosomes, 160; on diffusion, 9 0 - 9 2 ; on evolution, 133, 138-39, 208; fun, 99; on genetics, 1 4 2 - 4 3 , 145-46, 147, 150-54, 1 6 0 - 6 1 ; on heredity, 167-70; on history of life, 174; on immune system, 177-79; on life forms, 32; on photosynthesis, 2 2 0 - 2 2 ; sources for, 1 0 - 1 1 , 193, 241, 2 5 6 - 5 7 ; on taxonomy, 246. See also Dissection; Experiments Adaptation, 2 7 - 3 2 , 50, 195 Advanced Placement biology exam, 9 1 - 9 3 , 144, 186, 193,241 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 8, 24-25, 269-70 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 271

Amino acids: analysis of, 157; digestion of, 97; formation of, 195; and genetics, 2 2 8 - 2 9 ; information on, 3 3 - 3 5 , 39; and mRNA, 141; structure of, 3 6 - 3 8 . See also Proteins Amphibians: anatomy of, 8 3 - 8 4 ; embryology of, 115; information on, 4 0 - 4 1 , 4 6 , 51,54, 103; viruses found in, 251 Anatomy and physiology: activities on, 99; of brain, 81; and communication, 80; comparative, 8 3 - 8 9 , 97; of crabs, 4 2 - 4 3 ; of digestive system, 9 6 - 9 8 , 100; of endocrine system, 1 2 1 , 1 2 3 - 2 4 , 128, 130; of frogs, 4 0 - 4 1 ; history of study of, 89, 128; of human body, 3 9 - 4 2 , 110, 124-26, 136, 206; information on, 30, 53, 192; lesson plans on, 41; of plants, 219. See also Cardiovascular system; Digestive system; Endocrine system; Excretory system; Movement; Muscular system; Reproduction; Skeletal system Animals: activities on, 174; behavior of, 4 3 - 4 5 , 48, 136; cells of, 69, 72, 74; characteristics of, 44; classifica-

278

Index

Animals (continued) tion of, 46, 49, 51, 53, 2 4 0 - 4 7 ; communication by, 7 9 - 8 0 ; digestive systems of, 100; domestication of, 2 0 7 - 9 ; endangered species of, 1 0 2 - 3 ; evolution of, 175, 195; extinction of, 109, 171; feral, 105; ideas about, 34, 5 1 - 5 2 , 212; information on, 31, 4 7 - 4 8 , 50, 241; physiology of, 136; pictures of, 108; viruses found in, 2 5 1 - 5 2 ; water regulation by, 30. See also Amphibians; Invertebrates; Mammals; Vertebrates; Zoology Anthropology, physical, 196 Antibiotics: diffusion of, 9 1 - 9 2 ; and immune system, 177; production of, 60 Aquariums, 2 6 1 - 6 2 . See also Fish; Marine Life Aristotle, 170-71 Astronomy, 187, 211, 2 6 2 - 6 3 . See also Observatories; Planetariums Atoms, 164, 159, 224 Aviaries, 2 6 1 - 6 2 . See also Birds Bacteria: and cells, 73; development of, 247; and diffusion, 9 0 - 9 2 ; and evolution, 29; and food contamination, 5 6 - 5 7 , 59; fossils of, 215; images of, 202; and immune system, 177; information on, 60, 63, 175, 245; reproduction of, 240; types of, 5 5 - 5 6 , 59, 248; videos on, 72; and viruses, 58 Biochemistry: careers in, 271; and cells, 71; and evolution, 137; and genetics, 158; information on, 30, 35, 38, 41, 63, 182; learning materials for, 73; and proteins, 231; tutorials on, 183 Biodiversity, 1 0 3 - 7 , 176, 2 1 5 - 1 6 . See also Species

Bioengineering, 144 Bioinformatics, 149, 272 Biomedicine, 182, 249 Biotechnology: careers in, 6 0 - 6 3 , 272; courses on, 80; and genetics, 6 3 - 6 4 , 146; information on, 6 4 - 6 5 , 229, 270; and plants, 62; and proteins, 226; terminology of, 245 Birds: embryology of, 117-18; information on, 4 6 - 4 7 , 51, 54, 103; mating habits of, 48; migratory, 105; viruses found in, 251 Birth, 233, 2 4 2 - 4 3 , 245. See also Reproduction Blood types, 145, 147-48, 153, 159, 164 Bones, 41, 8 3 - 8 8 , 124, 190, 210 Books: on biodiversity, 106; on cell function, 82; on chemistry, 256; on evolution, 132, 134, 136, 196; on heredity, 169; on history of life, 174; on human genetics, 150; on science, 257; sources for, 8 - 9 , 22, 57, 68, 140, 209 Botany, 30, 41, 57, 82, 192, 266. See also Plants Brain: anatomy and physiology of, 81, 2 0 0 - 2 ; communication in, 206; development of, 203; information on, 241; of mammals, 8 4 - 8 5 ; and movement, 194; views of, 124. See also Nervous system Breathing. See Respiratory system Bridge Biology, 32 Browsers, web, 11 Cam web sites, 32, 44, 2 6 2 - 6 3 Cancer: cells, 72, 193; information on, 149, 182, 241; therapies for, 64 Carbohydrates, 35, 188. See also Food; Nutrition Cardiovascular system, 4 0 - 4 2 , 84, 8 6 - 8 8 , 122, 1 2 4 - 2 5 , 182

Index Careers: in aquatic science, 270; in biology, 76, 193, 2 7 0 - 7 2 ; in biotechnology, 6 0 - 6 3 , 272; in chemistry, 264, 2 7 1 - 7 3 ; in genetics, 271; in science, 25, 145, 201, 269, 273; in science illustration, 114; at science museums, 261; in technology, 2 6 5 - 6 6 ; in virology, 249 Catastrophism, 207, 211 CD-ROMs, 4, 8 - 9 , 202 Cells: activities on, 74, 145-47, 160, 183, 185; chemistry of, 136; communication in, 7 6 - 7 7 , 79; defense mechanisms of, 29; diagrams of, 129; diffusion in, 90, 92; division of, 159, 181-87; of embryos, 116; function of, 70, 76, 82, 216; information on, 3 3 - 3 5 , 39, 58, 79; of lungs, 236; making models of, 145, 147; movement of, 1 9 2 - 9 3 ; of plants, 9, 35, 72, 74; and proteins, 231; reproduction of, 52, 6 5 - 6 9 , 72, 187, 240; respiration of, 226, 238; structure of, 6 9 - 7 6 , 90, 93, 114, 136; tissue culture of, 64; tutorials on, 30; types of, 65, 69; viruses in, 253. See also Mitochondria; Nucleus; Organelles; Ribosomes Charagaff, Erwin, 164 Chat rooms, and study of science, 5, 112,156 Chemicals: and biological communication, 81; and health, 182; information on, 26; sources for, 258 Chemistry: and biology, 216; careers in, 2 6 5 - 6 6 , 2 7 1 - 7 3 ; information on, 35, 63, 92, 181, 202, 245; learning materials for, 73; of photosynthesis, 2 2 1 - 2 2 , 224, 226; supplies for, 2 5 5 - 5 6 , 259 Chromosomes: activities on, 160; explanation of, 141; function of, 183; and genetics, 109, 140, 142; and

279

heredity, 153; information on, 39, 1 4 4 - 4 5 , 149, 1 5 4 - 5 5 , 159; mapping of, 147, 158, 228. See also DNA; Reproduction; R N A Circulatory system. See Cardiovascular system Classification. See Taxonomy Climate, 7, 215, 222. See also Weather Cloning: and DNA, 167; information on, 6 3 - 6 4 , 141, 156, 161; and molecular genetics, 157-59; and paleobiology, 213. See also Ethics Conferences, 8 - 1 0 , 22, 150, 249, 259 Conservation biology, 46 Conversion formulas, 2 6 - 2 7 Cook, Captain James, 194 Creationism, 131-32, 138-39, 199, 207, 211. See also Evolution Crick, Francis H. C , 156, 162-65, 170 Crustaceans, 4 2 - 4 3 Cuvier, Georges, 198 Darwin, Charles: information on, 156, 1 7 0 - 7 1 ; and Origin of Species, 1 3 4 - 3 5 , 2 0 7 - 1 2 ; theories of, 28, 48, 136-37, 194-99. See also Evolution; Natural Selection Demonstrations, 34, 256. See also Activities; Experiments Developmental biology, 5 0 - 5 5 , 243 Dictionaries and glossaries: on amino acids, 36, 38; on cell reproduction, 6 8 - 6 9 ; on comparative anatomy, 87; on endocrine system, 130; on evolution, 28; on genetics, 141, 162; on geology, 217; on health care, 192; on heredity, 171; on-line, 26, 45; on taxonomy, 248 Diffusion, 9 0 - 9 5 Digestive system: anatomy of, 9 6 - 9 7 ; and enzymes, 101; and hormones, 127; of humans, 4 1 - 4 2 , 233; infor-

280

Index

Digestive system (continued) mation on, 8 6 - 8 8 , 124, 216; operation of, 9 7 - 9 8 , 1 0 0 - 1 0 1 , 188-89; organs of, 9 7 - 9 8 ; tests and quizzes on, 96, 122 Dinosaurs: brains of, 200, 206; and evolution, 137; extinction of, 217; and history of life, 172, 1 7 4 - 7 5 ; information on, 194; and paleobiology, 2 1 4 - 1 5 Discussion groups: on chemistry, 256; on evolution, 131, 211; on genetics, 142, 164; on heredity, 167, 169; and study of science, 5 Diseases and disorders: causes of, 5 9 - 6 0 , 249-50, 252; and cell communication, 77; of digestive system, 100-101, 189; and endocrine system, 123, 125-26, 128-30, 182; genetic, 1 4 5 - 4 6 , 1 4 8 - 4 9 , 1 5 2 - 5 3 , 157, 169; and immune system, 178, 180; and metabolism, 161; neurological, 2 0 3 - 5 ; of reproductive system, 241-42, 244; of respiratory system, 2 3 4 - 3 8 . See also Immunology Dissection, 4 0 - 4 1 , 84, 204, 241, 245. See also Activities; Experiments Diversity. See Biodiversity DNA: activities on, 71, 110; analysis of, 111, 157; and cell reproduction, 160, 181-84; definition of, 144; and forensics, 64, 141; and genetics, 140,142,154-56,159,161-62; and heredity, 153, 167-68, 1 7 0 - 7 1 ; information on, 39, 58, 66, 147-49, 245; lesson plans on, 1 1 2 - 1 3 , 153; mapping of, 185; structure of, 113-14, 162, 1 6 4 - 6 5 , 195; translation of, 141; and viruses, 228. See also Genome; RNA Drugs, effect on nervous system, 203, 205. See also Pharmacology

Ears. See Sensory system Echinoderms, 54, 103, 120 Ecology: and animals, 50; and bacteria, 247; courses on, 8; and evolution, 63; information on, 30, 35, 136, 215; and microbes, 77. See also Environment Ecosystems, 102, 1 0 4 - 5 , 107, 216 Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), 11,22 Einstein, Albert, 7 Electronics, 245 E-mail, 4, 12 Embryology: of amphibians, 115, 120; and developmental biology, 5 2 - 5 3 ; and evolution, 208; of humans, 116, 119-20, 191, 2 3 2 - 3 4 , 243; information on, 124; of poultry, 1 1 7 - 1 8 . See also Reproduction Empedocles, 170 Employment. See Careers Endangered Species Act, 102. See also Animals; Species Endocrine system: disorders of, 123, 125-26, 128-30, 182; and hormones, 127-28, 1 3 0 - 3 1 , 206; of human body, 121, 123-26, 130; information on, 8 6 - 8 7 , 1 2 1 - 3 1 , 216; and nervous system, 121, 206; tests and quizzes on, 122, 127 Energy, 10, 34, 223 Engineering, 245. See also Bioengineering Environment, 30, 1 0 2 - 7 , 255, 258, 266. See also Ecology Enzymes, 101. See also Proteins Epidemiology, 180. See also Diseases and disorders Equations, 2 6 - 2 7 , 95, 129 Equipment, 111-12, 118, 148, 245. See also Supplies Ethics, 63, 159-60, 168. See also Bioengineering; Cloning

Index Eukaryotes, 193, 2 4 7 - 4 8 . See also Nucleus; Organelles Evolution: of animals, 50; of brains, 85; controversy over, 139, 207, 211; courses on, 80; and ecology, 63; of elephants, 212; eras of, 108; evidence for, 200; and extinction, 135; and genetics, 29; history of ideas about, 48, 132, 1 3 6 - 3 8 , 195, 197-200; of humans, 1 3 4 - 3 5 , 1 3 7 - 3 8 , 149, 173, 210; information on, 28, 8 1 - 8 2 , 192, 196; of life, 1 7 4 - 7 5 ; and proteins, 231; theories of, 81, 131-40; trends in, 215. See also Creationism; Darwin, Charles Excretory system, 41, 8 6 - 8 8 , 93, 122, 124 Exercise, 129. See also Fitness; Health Experiments: on anatomy, 3 9 - 4 0 ; about animals, 44; on bacteria and viruses, 55, 58; on cell reproduction, 65; on diffusion, 9 1 - 9 2 , 94; on digestive system, 96; on D N A and RNA, 110, 113; in embryology, 1 1 7 - 1 8 ; with food, 100; fun, 99; on genetics, 1 4 0 - 4 1 , 146-47; on heredity, 167-68; on human evolution, 173; sources for, 37, 259, 263; on temperature sensitivity, 27. See also Activities; Dissection Extinction: of animals, 109, 171, 215; eras of, 211, 217; and evolution, 135; information on, 105, 199; reasons for, 108; timelines of, 212 Eyes. See Heredity; Sensory system Fetuses. See Embryology Feulgen, Robert, 164 Fish: adaptation of, 2 8 - 2 9 ; behavior of, 265; and evolution, 133-34; information on, 4 6 - 4 7 , 51, 103; and mangrove forests, 107; migratory, 105; respiration of, 238; taxonomy

281

of, 266; viruses found in, 251. See also Marine life Fitness, 161, 182. See also Exercise; Health Food: contamination of by bacteria, 5 6 - 5 7 , 59; digestion of, 9 7 - 9 8 , 1 0 0 - 1 0 1 , 188; sources of, 2 2 3 - 2 4 ; and weight, 127. See also Carbohydrates; Digestive system; Nutrition; Photosynthesis Forensics, 64, 141, 193 Forests, 44, 1 0 6 - 7 Fossils: of bacteria, 247; and evidence of evolution, 132, 134, 136-37, 140; and history of life, 176; of mammoths, 2 1 2 - 1 3 ; study of, 211-12,214-16 Funding. See Grants Fungi: and biodiversity, 107; images of, 202; information on, 31, 63, 105, 108, 247; study of, 57 Games: about animals, 43, 49; on digestive system, 96, 9 8 - 9 9 ; on endocrine system, 1 2 2 - 2 3 ; on genetics, 34, 142, 154, 156, 159, 164; on heredity, 167-68; simulating life, 211, 265; sources for, 102. See also Activities Gardens, 262 Gas exchange, 2 3 6 - 3 9 . See also Respiratory system Gastrointestinal system. See Digestive system Genes: and blood type, 147-48; and cells, 73; and development, 230; disorders of, 145-46, 148-49, 1 5 2 - 5 3 , 157; and DNA, 71,109, 171; duplication of, 28; and embryonic development, 116; function of, 183-84; and heredity, 166; human, 185; information on, 145, 162, 228; lesson plans on, 153; map of, 146;

282

Index

Genes (continued) structure of, 149, 158; transcription of, 112; variation in, 29 Genetic engineering, 63, 149, 1 5 8 - 6 0 Genetics: and animals, 50; and bioengineering, 144; and biotechnology, 6 3 - 6 4 , 146; careers in, 2 7 0 - 7 1 ; and cell reproduction, 68; courses on, 80; ethical issues with, 159-60, 168; and evolution, 29, 132-34, 136, 139, 207, 211; and health, 150, 158, 163; history of, 63, 109, 114, 154, 156; human, 1 4 2 - 4 3 , 150-57, 165; information on, 57, 64, 149, 192, 216; learning materials for, 34, 73, 1 4 0 - 4 3 , 146-47, 153; Mendelian, 141, 149, 152, 160, 196; molecular, 1 5 7 - 6 5 ; principles of, 81; and proteins, 159, 228, 231; reading code of, 34, 140; and reproduction, 145, 155, 240; study of, 140, 148, 228; tutorials on, 30, 160, 196. See also Biotechnology; Heredity Genitals. See Reproduction Genome: databases on, 158, 162; human, 6 4 - 6 5 , 149, 155-56, 163, 1 7 0 - 7 1 , 185; research on, 63, 147, 230; of viruses, 251, 253 Geography, 35, 104 Geology: careers in, 265; eras of, 132, 136, 2 1 6 - 1 7 ; of fossils, 137; historic, 215; information on, 92, 152, 174, 2 1 1 - 1 2 ; record of, 207; supplies for, 258; terminology of, 245; timelines of, 172, 175 Glands, 121, 123, 124, 1 2 6 - 2 8 . See also Endocrine system Glossaries. See Dictionaries and glossaries Glucose, 3 4 - 3 5 , 224. See also Energy; Food Grants, 9, 24, 257

Habitat, 32, 5 0 - 5 1 , 54 Harvey, William, 170 Health: and chemicals, 182; and genetics, 150, 158, 163; information on, 7, 143, 1 9 2 - 9 3 , 270; and nervous system, 2 0 3 - 5 ; and reproduction, 191, 231, 241, 244; and respiratory system, 2 3 4 - 3 7 ; and viruses, 2 4 9 - 5 0 , 252. See also Diseases and disorders Heart. See Cardiovascular system Heredity: activities on, 167-68; and cell division, 183-84, 186, 240; and DNA, 167; and evolution, 175, 195; and genetics, 166, 196; history of study of, 169-70; information on 141,145, 153; in plants, 17, 168. See also Genetics; Reproduction Histology, 52, 181. See also Anatomy and physiology Homework, 113, 1 3 0 - 3 1 . See also Activities Hormones: and endocrine system, 1 2 7 - 2 8 , 1 3 0 - 3 1 , 206; and human reproductive system, 233, 2 4 1 - 4 2 ; and nervous system, 206 Human Genome Project, 147, 155-56, 163, 1 7 0 - 7 1 Humans: anatomy of, 3 9 - 4 2 , 81, 8 4 - 8 8 , 136, 206; endocrine system of, 121, 123-26, 130; evolution of, 1 3 4 - 3 5 , 137-38, 149, 173; genetics of, 1 4 2 - 4 3 , 150-57; information on, 161, 163, 216, 229; movement of, 190; reproductive systems of, 2 3 1 - 3 4 , 2 4 1 - 4 5 ; respiration of, 2 3 4 - 3 7 , 239 Immunology, 7 2 - 7 3 , 177-80, 182 Infection, 252. See also Bacteria; Diseases and disorders; Viruses Insects: development of, 5 3 - 5 4 ; information on, 44, 47, 51, 9 9 - 1 0 0 ,

Index

283

110; invasive, 105; respiration of, 238 Instinct, 207 Internet: history of, 1-2; as research tool, 1-2, 11, 18; and scientific study, 57 Invertebrates, 4 7 - 4 8 , 99, 103, 108, 202. See also Crustaceans; Echinoderms; Mollusks

Life: catalog of, 108; characteristics of, 67, 69; diversity of, 1 0 3 - 7 , 176, 2 1 5 - 1 6 ; groups of, 247; history of, 171-76, 215; information on, 112, 247; in marine environments, 218; origins of, 114, 132, 136, 211,216 Linnaeus, Carolus, 137, 246 Lyell, Charles, 195 Lymphatic system, 41, 8 6 - 8 8 , 124

Job listings. See Careers Journals: on cell biology, 7 1 - 7 2 ; on DNA/RNA, 114; on evolution, 196; on genetics, 151, 161; on-line, 7 1 - 7 2 ; on protein science, 230; sources for, 6, 8 - 9 , 22, 25, 57, 76, 271. See also Magazines

Magazines: on cell biology, 7 1 - 7 2 ; on heredity, 168; on human genetics, 165; on-line, 33, 7 1 - 7 2 ; on science, 5 - 6 , 267; sources for, 2 2 - 2 4 , 57, 140. See also Journals Mailing lists, as scientific resource, 4 Malthus, Thomas, 197 Mammals: anatomy of, 8 3 - 8 4 , 86; careers studying, 270; communication by, 7 9 - 8 0 , 82; extinction of, 215; information on, 32, 4 6 - 4 8 , 51, 5 3 - 5 4 , 103; migratory, 105; regeneration of, 240; viruses found in, 251 Marine life, 32, 7 9 - 8 0 , 136, 218, 224. See also Crustaceans; Fish Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), 26, 2 5 7 - 5 8 Mathematics, 49, 245 Maupertuis, Pierre de, 170 McClintock, Barbara, 170 Meiosis, 65, 6 7 - 6 8 , 181-87, 2 4 0 - 4 1 , 232. See also Cells; Reproduction Meischer, Friedrich, 164 Mendel, Gregor: information on, 63, 160, 1 7 0 - 7 1 , 195, 197; theories of, 141,149, 152, 160, 196. See also Genetics Metabolism, 1 2 7 - 2 8 , 161. See also Endocrine system; Hormones Metasearch engines, 1 2 - 1 3 , 1 4 - 1 5 table 1.1, 17. See also Search engines; World Wide Web

Kingdoms, living things divided into, 31,46 Laboratories, design of, 259 Laboratory activities. See Activities; Demonstrations; Experiments; Games Laboratory equipment. See Equipment; Supplies Lamarck, Jean-Baptiste, 137, 195, 198 Lecture notes: on comparative anatomy, 84; on evolution, 197-98; on neuroscience, 81 Leeuwehoek, A n t o n van, 170 Lesson plans: on adaptation, 2 8 - 2 9 , 3 2 - 3 3 ; on amino acids, 34; about animals, 4 3 - 4 4 , 49, 55; on biotechnology, 63; on cells, 7 4 - 7 5 ; on diffusion, 90; on DNA/RNA, 1 1 2 - 1 3 ; on endocrine system, 1 3 0 - 3 1 ; on evolution, 1 3 8 - 3 9 , 173, 208; on genetics, 1 4 2 - 4 3 , 146, 153, 156; on heredity, 166-67; sources for, 11, 31,41,140 Libraries, 3 - 4 , 6, 57

284

Index

Microbes: and environment, 77; information on, 7 2 - 7 3 , 9 2 - 9 3 , 108; study of, 30, 58, 63, 136. See also Bacteria Microscopes, 59, 245 Mimicry, as anti-predatory device, 32 Mitochondria, 3 4 - 3 5 , 66, 7 5 - 7 6 . See also Cells Mitosis: and cell reproduction, 240; definition of, 232; information on, 39, 65, 6 7 - 6 8 , 72, 1 8 1 - 8 7 . See also Cells; Reproduction Molecular biology: and animals, 50; careers in, 271; and DNA/RNA, 111, 113; and genetics, 63, 1 5 7 - 6 5 ; information on, 38, 57, 64, 116, 149, 181-82; learning materials for, 39, 73, 112; and proteins, 231 Molecules: bonding of, 159; and cells, 77; and diffusion, 9 0 - 9 1 , 93; diversity of, 176; movement of, 189, 249; and oxygen, 239; and photosynthesis, 224; structure of, 144 Mollusks, 54, 103, 215 Morgan, Thomas Hunt, 1 7 0 - 7 1 Movement, 187-94 Muscular system: of animals, 8 6 - 8 7 ; of human body, 88, 124, 1 9 0 - 9 1 ; and movement, 194; of vertebrates, 83 Museums, 193-94, 2 1 3 - 1 4 , 256, 2 6 1 - 6 6 . See also Science centers Nanotechnology, 63 National Academy of Science (NAS), 9 National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), 9 - 1 0 National Science Foundation (NSF), 8,24 National Science Teacher s Association (NSTA), 9, 25 Natural history, 46, 194, 2 1 3 - 1 4 . See also Paleobiology

Natural selection, 29, 48, 194-200, 207, 209. See also Adaptation; Evolution; Genetics; Origin of Species Nature centers, 2 6 1 - 6 2 Nervous system: and digestive system, 189; and endocrine system, 121, 206; in human fetus, 233; information on, 41, 84, 8 6 - 8 8 , 124-25, 200-206; study of, 30, 81, 182. See also Brain Newsletters, 22, 49, 62, 67, 201 Newspapers, and study of science, 5 - 6 Nucleic acid. See DNA; R N A Nucleus, 34, 7 0 - 7 1 , 76, 114, 141. See also Cells Nutrition: and animals, 50; and digestive system, 9 7 - 9 8 , 100; and fitness, 182; information on, 54, 161, 241. See also Digestive system; Food Observatories, 2 6 1 - 6 2 . See also Astronomy Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 26, 257 Oceans, 103, 222, 265. See also Cmstaceans; Fish; Marine life; Mollusks O'Keeffe, Georgia, 84 Organelles, 6 9 - 7 2 , 7 5 - 7 6 , 79, 193, 221. See also Cells Organisms, 3 1 , 63, 65, 215, 247. See also Animals; Bacteria; Life; Viruses Origin of Species (Darwin), 1 3 4 - 3 5 , 2 0 6 - 1 2 . See also Adaptation; Evolution; Natural Selection Osmosis, 91, 95 Paleobiology, 2 1 2 - 1 8 . See also Fossils; Life Paleontology, 214, 217. See also Dinosaurs Parasites, 55. See also Bacteria Parks, 2 6 1 - 6 2 Pathogens, 59. See also Bacteria; Diseases and disorders; Viruses

Index Pavlov, Ivan, 79 Permeability. See Diffusion Pharmacology, 181, 226 Photography, 245 Photosynthesis, 35, 2 1 8 - 2 6 Physics, 92, 202, 225, 245, 258 Physiology. See Anatomy and physiology Planetariums, 2 6 1 - 6 2 , 265. See also Astronomy Plants: and biotechnology, 62; cells of, 69, 72, 74; diversity of, 1 0 4 - 6 ; evolution of, 175; as food, 2 2 3 - 2 4 ; heredity in, 17, 168; images of, 202; information on, 34, 108, 216, 247; kingdom of, 31, 46; nourishment of, 2 1 8 - 2 6 ; pathology of, 57; physiology of, 136; reproduction of, 240; viruses found in, 253; water regulation by, 30. See also Botany Plug-ins, 13, 16 Poisons, 67. See also Toxins Projects. See Activities Proteins: and amino acids, 38; and cells, 58, 73; classes of, 230; digestion of, 188; and evolution, 231; formation of, 36; and genetics, 109, 114, 147, 159, 228, 231; information on, 63; motion of, 189; science of, 2 2 6 - 2 7 ; sequencing of, 157; structure of, 35, 2 2 9 - 3 0 ; synthesis of, 36, 160, 165, 2 2 8 - 2 9 Pythagoras, 156, 170 Quizzes. See Tests and quizzes Rainforest, 44 Regeneration, 52, 240 Reproduction: of amphibians, 115; asexual, 232, 2 4 0 - 4 2 ; of cells, 52, 6 5 - 6 9 , 72, 187, 240; and endocrine system, 121, 128; and evolution, 175; experiments on, 117-18; and fetal movement, 191; and genetics,

285

145, 155; human, 41, 69, 2 3 1 - 3 4 , 2 4 1 - 4 5 ; and infertility, 119; information on, 5 2 - 5 5 , 124; and mitosis/meiosis, 181-87; of plants, 240; sexual, 48, 135, 140, 2 3 2 - 3 3 , 2 4 0 - 4 5 ; of viruses, 2 5 2 - 5 3 Reptiles: communication of, 7 7 - 7 8 ; information on, 4 6 - 4 7 , 51, 54, 103; migratory, 105; viruses found in, 251 Respiratory system, 41, 86, 122, 216, 2 3 4 - 3 9 . See also Cardiovascular system Ribosomes, 35, 66, 76. See also Cells RNA: formation of, 195; information on, 39, 109-15; and molecular genetics, 159; and proteins, 228; synthesis of, 34; translation of, 39, 66; types of, 113, 141. See also DNA; Genetics; Proteins Safety, 161,252, 257, 259 Science centers, 2 6 1 - 6 3 . See also Museums Science fair projects. See Activities Scientific illustration, 114, 172 Scientists: biographical information on, 162, 252; contacting, 4, 82, 144, 249. See also specific scientists Search engines, 13, 16 table 1.2, 17. See also Metasearch engines; World Wide Web Selection. See Natural selection Sensory system: and hearing, 84; information on, 1 2 4 - 2 5 , 200, 206, 233; and sight, 84, 1 5 2 - 5 3 , 156, 202; and taste, 154, 160 Skeletal system, 41, 8 3 - 8 8 , 124, 190, 210 Software, 189, 246, 256 Species, 31, 133, 137, 1 0 2 - 9 , 247. See also Animals Study guides, 45 Sugars. See Carbohydrates; Glucose

286

Index

Summer programs, 261, 2 6 3 - 6 4 Supplies, 8, 61, 2 5 5 - 5 9 , 263. See also Equipment Taste. See Sensory system Taxonomy: of animals, 46, 49, 51, 53; information on, 136, 2 4 5 - 5 8 ; of species, 31; of viruses, 2 5 0 - 5 1 , 253 Technology, 94, 261 Teeth, 124 Temperature, 27, 91 Tests and quizzes: on animal development, 5 2 - 5 3 ; on biotechnology, 64; on cells, 6 8 - 6 9 , 74, 1 8 2 - 8 3 ; on diffusion, 91, 95; on digestive system, 96, 122; on endocrine system, 127; on evolution, 135; on genetics, 141, 144, 146, 154; on human body, 39, 84, 122; on immune system, 179; on viruses, 249, 252 Toxins, 3 6 - 3 7 , 39, 55, 59, 181 Tutorials: on amphibians, 115; on asthma, 2 3 6 - 3 7 ; on biotechnology, 64; on cells, 30, 182; on comparative anatomy, 84; on embryology, 1 1 7 - 1 8 , 120; on evolution, 30, 197; on genetics, 160, 196; on viruses, 249 Twinkies Project, 2 5 - 2 6 URLs, definition of, 12 Urogenital system. See Excretory system; Reproduction Usenet. See Discussion groups Vaccines, 60. See also Diseases and disorders; Health Variation. See Origin of Species (Darwin) Vertebrates: anatomy of, 8 3 - 8 4 ; evolution of, 108; flight of, 137; infor-

mation on, 4 5 - 4 6 , 51, 55. See also Animals; Birds Veterinary medicine, 86, 251 Videoconferencing, and study of science, 5 Videos: on biodiversity, 106; of embryonic development, 119; on immune system, 178-79; sources for, 8, 72, 78, 267 Viruses: and bacteria, 58; and biodiversity, 107; and cell reproduction, 65; and DNA, 228; and human illness, 59, 2 4 9 - 5 0 , 252; images of, 202, 250, 252; information on, 63, 67, 245, 247, 270; movement of, 189; research on, 2 4 8 - 4 9 ; taxonomy of, 2 5 0 - 5 1 , 253 Wallace, Alfred, 197 Watson, James Dewey, 156, 1 6 2 - 6 5 , 170 Weather, 103, 262, 265. See also Climate Wildlife, 4 9 - 5 0 . See also Animals; Birds Workshops: on animals, 43; on genetics, 148-49; information on, 259; for science teachers, 10, 25 World Wide Web: and copyright, 18, 20; and Internet, 2; reliability of information on, 1 7 - 1 8 , 19 table 1.3; searching, 1 2 - 1 7 ; and study of science, 6 - 1 0 ; use of, 1 1 - 1 2 Worms, 99. See also Invertebrates Zoology, 30, 4 1 , 46, 82, 241, 266. See also Animals Zoos, 4 3 - 4 4 , 4 7 , 1 9 3 , 2 6 1 - 6 2

About the Author JUDITH A. BAZLER is Associate Professor of Science Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Monmouth University.