Why use flat images from a textbook when you can explore cell structure in 3D? HudsonAlpha iCell, one of Apple's featured biology apps on the iTunes Education market, allows students to explore representative plant, animal and bacteria cells with vivid 3D models. iCell is available on multiple platforms and has been downloaded over 3 million times around the world. iCell is an interactive application that allows students to manipulate and learn about plant, animal and bacterial cells. Students can gain understanding of cell structures and functions. Annotations are available at three levels, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced, making iCell appropriate for students across multiple age ranges.

Teacher Tip:

Supports AL Biology COS Standard 2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to describe the function and diversity of organelles and structures in various types of cells (e.g., muscle cells having a large amount of mitochondria, plasmids in bacteria, chloroplasts in plant cells). Supports AL Grade 7 Life Science Standard 2. Gather and synthesize information to explain how prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in structure and function, including the methods of asexual and sexual reproduction.

With this engaging online interactive game, participants work together to ensure the health and safety of a deep space crew while learning about the genetics of common disease. Touching Triton teaches the complexity of common disease risk from family history, environment and individual genomic profiles. Players begin to understand how genetics and lifestyle choices affect their health. Visit triton.hudsonalpha.org to play.
Touching Triton supports distance education by providing a platform in which students work together discontinuously to analyze family history, genetic risk factors and medical records for 6 crew members. Students gain an understanding that risk for many common diseases, such as colon cancer, age-related macular degeneration and heart disease include both genetic and environmental factors. During collaborative packing, students work together to pack within a limited space the items needed for the voyage. Items include medical equipment and treatments to keep crew members healthy during the 20 year mission. Teachers can monitor student progress in real time with a free educator account.

Touching Triton was made possible through funding from NIH Grant Number 8R25 0D018981-02, Lockheed Martin and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

Teacher Tip:

Supports AL Biology COS Standard 11.c. Analyze and interpret data (e.g., pedigree charts, family and population studies) regarding Mendelian and complex genetic disorders (e.g., sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, type 2 diabetes) to determine patterns of genetic inheritance and disease risks from both genetic and environmental factors.

Timeline Challenge is a companion module for the Progress of Science Timeline. Students are assigned an agricultural challenge, then investigate key genetic tools on the timeline. Students select a tool to address their challenge and defend their selection using a modified CER. Teachers can create an account and monitor in real time or students can play as a guest and email responses to the teacher.

Teacher Tip:

Supports AL Biology COS Standard 10. Construct an explanation and design a real-world solution to address changing conditions and ecological succession caused by density-dependent and/or density- independent factors.

HudsonAlpha's Progress of Science interactive timeline allows students to journey through history from the ancient world to modern discoveries. Key historical and scientific discoveries are highlighted, helping anchor scientific progress in a historical context. Each stop on the timeline contains additional information and links out to primary source documents, digital activities, or lesson plans.

Teacher Tip:

Students can use the timeline for self-guided study or in combination with one of the guiding activities listed above.

Biotech 201 is an annual public series presented by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. Each four episode series, taught by Dr. Neil Lamb, brings makes science concepts understandable to any audience. Each 90 minute session digs into genomics content in a way that is approachable and relatable. The lecture series from 2015-2020 has been archived and is available for use in distance education. 2020 - Molecules of Life, 2019- Secrets of the Human Microbiome, 2018 - Can Biotechnology...?, 2017- Deciphering our Genomic Message, 2016 - Cancer, Genomics and Precision Medicine, 2015 - Agricultural Genomics.

Teacher Tip:

Each session includes a mid-point break. These make easily identifiable places for students to pause to respond to teacher developed questions or other activities.