Students examine the structure and function of the human eye, learning some amazing features about our eyes, which provide us with sight and an understanding of our surroundings. Students also learn about some common eye problems and the biomedical devices and medical procedures that resolve or help to lessen the effects of these vision deficiencies, including vision correction surgery.

Human beings are fascinating and complex living organisms a symphony of different functional systems working in concert. Through a 10-lesson series with hands-on activities students are introduced to seven systems of the human body skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, sensory, and reproductive as well as genetics. At every stage, they are also introduced to engineers' creative, real-world involvement in caring for the human body.

This pathway introduces how DNA can be manipulated using different molecular tools and techniques. For a deeper look at this topic, we recommend the pathway Biotechnology and Genomics from the OpenStax textbook Biology for AP® Courses.

This learning video introduces high school students to a topic they would not ordinarily study in school, biotechnology, and to different applications of biotechnology that relate to the main theme of the module - making the desert greener. [21:18]

In this video, Daphnee, a high school student, takes after-school classes at a community college to learn more about this field and shows her job-shadowing experience at a biotechnology company.

Students are introduced to the circulatory system, the heart, and blood flow in the human body. Through guided pre-reading, during-reading and post-reading activities, students learn about the circulatory system's parts, functions and disorders, as well as engineering medical solutions. By cultivating literacy practices as presented in this lesson, students can improve their scientific and technological literacy.

Students are introduced to the respiratory system, the lungs and air. They learn about how the lungs and diaphragm work, how air pollution affects lungs and respiratory functions, some widespread respiratory problems, and how engineers help us stay healthy by designing machines and medicines that support respiratory health and function.

Part of the research and collections section of the Burke Museum, this site centers on genetics and studies tissue collected from both birds and mammals used for molecular research.

Take a peek into the Academy's Center for Comparative Genomics with the lab's director, Brian Simison. Learn how cutting-edge technology is changing the way our scientists work.

In this activity students examine and learn about the various jobs and skills within biotechnology careers.

Meet Andres Berrio, an associate scientist with the biotechnology company, Biogen, who talks about his career in the biotechnology field.

An in-depth look at cloning and the technology behind it. Students work through interactive learning material, understanding the ethics involved in all types of cloning. There is a suggested classroom activity and a self-checking quiz at the end of the lesson.

Paul Nurse describes his research that showed that humans share some genes with organisms as different from us as simple brewer's yeast. Footage from Secret of Life: "Immortal Thread."

Este interactivo desplegable demuestra el modo en que las enzimas de
restricción (también denominadas endonucleasas) funcionan y el motivo por el
cual se pueden utilizar como herramientas para analizar el ADN y crear
plásmidos recombinantes.

Students reinforce their knowledge that DNA is the genetic material for all living things by modeling it using toothpicks and gumdrops that represent the four biochemicals (adenine, thiamine, guanine, and cytosine) that pair with each other in a specific pattern, making a double helix. They investigate specific DNA sequences that code for certain physical characteristics such as eye and hair color. Student teams trade DNA "strands" and de-code the genetic sequences to determine the physical characteristics (phenotype) displayed by the strands (genotype) from other groups. Students extend their knowledge to learn about DNA fingerprinting and recognizing DNA alterations that may result in genetic disorders.

Use this tutorial as an introduction to DNA cloning and recombinant DNA. [11:08]

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

In this video, learn about genetic counselors and their role in helping people to interpret this newly available information.

As a class, students work through an example showing how DNA provides the "recipe" for making our body proteins. They see how the pattern of nucleotide bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) forms the double helix ladder shape of DNA, and serves as the code for the steps required to make genes. They also learn some ways that engineers and scientists are applying their understanding of DNA in our world.

The human genome project was established to determine the sequence of DNA bases that are found in each human cell. Understanding what the resulting proteins do is an entirely different project. This page is about how we are trying to understand what the human genome means, and includes animations, pictures, video, biographical information, and quiz questions that are accessed by clicking on buttons along the bottom.