Ever wondered what goes on within the iconic dome building at Berkeley Lab? Our particle accelerator supports research in a wide variety of fields. In this episode, we'll build a crystal together and learn how x-ray crystallography is used to examine structures. This is the first in series of sessions focusing on the Advanced Light Source.

Students are introduced to the concept of engineering biological organisms and studying their growth to be able to identify periods of fast and slow growth. They learn that bacteria are found everywhere, including on the surfaces of our hands. Student groups study three different conditions under which bacteria are found and compare the growth of the individual bacteria from each source. In addition to monitoring the quantity of bacteria from differ conditions, they record the growth of bacteria over time, which is an excellent tool to study binary fission and the reproduction of unicellular organisms.

This narrated animation allows the learner to understand how six feet of DNA can be tightly packed to fit inside the nucleus of every human cell. [1:43]

Biology 2e is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements of a typical two-semester biology course for science majors. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Biology includes rich features that engage students in scientific inquiry, highlight careers in the biological sciences, and offer everyday applications. The book also includes various types of practice and homework questions that help students understand—and apply—key concepts. The 2nd edition has been revised to incorporate clearer, more current, and more dynamic explanations, while maintaining the same organization as the first edition. Art and illustrations have been substantially improved, and the textbook features additional assessments and related resources.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

List the steps in eukaryotic transcription
Discuss the role of RNA polymerases in transcription
Compare and contrast the three RNA polymerases
Explain the significance of transcription factors

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

List the different steps in prokaryotic transcription
Discuss the role of promoters in prokaryotic transcription
Describe how and when transcription is terminated

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Describe the different steps in RNA processing
Understand the significance of exons, introns, and splicing for mRNAs
Explain how tRNAs and rRNAs are processed

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Describe the different steps in protein synthesis
Discuss the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Explain the “central dogma” of DNA-protein synthesis
Describe the genetic code and how the nucleotide sequence prescribes the amino acid and the protein sequence

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

List the components of the endomembrane system
Recognize the relationship between the endomembrane system and its functions

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Describe the functions proteins perform in the cell and in tissues
Discuss the relationship between amino acids and proteins
Explain the four levels of protein organization
Describe the ways in which protein shape and function are linked

A great site for understanding Amino Acids, the building blocks for protein. Besides a very complete summary, the site includes a complete list of amino acids, a link to basic amino acid structure, a list if atoms in amino acids, and links to test yourself. Very informative!

This pathway provides an overview of the four classes of biological molecules (lipids, carbohydrages, proteins and nucleotides) and how they are assembled.

Superior site for information on cell signaling. Information provided as a tutorial with multiple choice questions to guide the learner. The site has lots of images and diagrams.