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Free Biology Homework Assignments
Biology Homework Assignments
from Science Prof Online
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Instructor's Corner
SPO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS
METABOLISM
Aerobic Cellular Respiration
Helps students relate gas exchange to the steps of aerobic respiration.
Alcoholic Fermentation
Where do the bubbles in beer come from?
Catabolism of Proteins and Fats
Students describe how the breakdown of fats and proteins produced molecules that can "take cuts" into the steps of cellular respiration.
Metabolism Biology Paper [Assignment Instructions]
Students choose whether to track their own diet and calculate calories consumed, or read one of two books that do a good job of relating cell biology to human health - Ultrametabolism or Ultraprevention. Students love this assignment, and frequently comment on how much they learned.
TV show, from Animal Planet, presenting case studies of people with parasitic infections. So interesting, you'll learn about parasitism without even trying!
See our related homework pages:
GENERAL BIOLOGY / CELL BIOLOGY
Scientific Inquiry [Radiolab Homework]
Assignment based on the Radiolab podcast "Yellow Fluff and Other Curious Encounters" an episode based on the curious characters called scientists and their quest for knowledge. What's in Oliver Sacks' fine wooden box? What did Jerry Coyne feed his pet maggot? What the heck are scientists thinking, anyways? Teaching opportunities for this episode: scientific curiosity, periodic table, parabolas and parasites
Darwinvaganza! [Radiolab Homework]
In "Darwinvaganza", students learn about some of the experiments done and observations made by Charles Darwin during the 20+ years he spent 'shoring up' and struggling with the implications of his theory of natural selection. Teaching opportunities for this episode: Charles Darwin, natural selection, evolution, true love
Prokaryote Cell Structure
Students label and define parts of a prokaryotic cell.
This page provides links to many biology homework assignments, all currently used, continually tested and refined in live courses. New assignments are regularly added and updated. If you'd like to be notified of new materials on SPO, follow us on Facebook.
Science Prof Online (SPO) is a free science education website. The Instructor's Corner offers fully developed general biology, cell biology and microbiology courses; materials currently used in real, live high school and college introductory science classrooms.
"Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every conceived notion, follow humbly wherever and whatever abysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing."
- Thomas Huxley (1825-95)
The VBC offers homework assignments based on Radiolab
podcasts.
RADIOLAB PODCASTS:
Curious stories about what drives scientists!
The story of Henrietta Lack's and her immortal cells.
The Nature / nurture mashup of epigenetics.
What was Chuck Darwin doing during the 20+ years he noodled over his new theory before publishing?
Science will use it to fight cancer and maybe even bring extinct animals back from the dead!
"Shrink"
Viruses have been downsizing!
What's eating you is smarter than you think!
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
- Shrink HW doc
(coming soon!)
Students are crazy about Radiolab! See what they have to say about the podcast in:
You have FREE access to a large collection of materials used in a college-level introductory biology course. The Virtual Biology Classroom provides a wide range of free educational resources including PowerPoint Lectures, Study Guides, Review Questions & Practice Test Questions.
GENETICS
Cell Division - Meiosis
Diagram and describe steps of meiosis starting with six chromosomes.
Cell Division - Mitosis
Diagram and describe steps of mitosis starting with six chromosomes.
CRISPR [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
Episode explores CRISPR, a cutting-edge method of genetic engineering discovered with the help of E. coli. Scientists may someday use CRISPR to fight cancer and even resurrect extinct animals. But could tinkering with this biotechnology change the course of human evolution?
Teaching opportunities for this episode: genetic engineering, bioethics
DNA Replication
Prompts students to relate the antiparallel nature of DNA to how it must be copied.
Genetic Transcription & Translation
Students define these processes, transcribe a segment of DNA and translate proteins.
Inheritance [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
Exercise based on the Radiolab podcast "Inheritance,"
a genetics episode presenting "stories of nature and nurture slamming into each other and shaping our biological blueprint".
Genetics & Heredity
Students examine their phenotype and possible genotype for several traits of simple inheritance.
Page last updated: 10/2015
MICROBIOLOGY
Differential & Selective Bacterial Growth Media
Students identify and describe the selective and differential aspects of of two types of specialized growth media from photos.
Microbial Metabolism
Highlights the relationship between differential bacterial growth media and microbial metabolism. This same homework assignment is also listed below under Differential & Selective Bacterial Growth Media.
Microbial Genetics & Gene Transfer
Assignment helps students rehearse their understanding of the different types of microbial horizontal gene transfer.
Patient Zero [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
The "Patient Zero" podcast episode begins with the story of perhaps the most iconic Patient Zero of all time: Typhoid Mary, then unfolds a molecular detective story to pinpoint the true beginning of the AIDS epidemic.
Teaching opportunities for this episode: epidemiology, ethics, typhoid, history of HIV, tracing HIV lineages through genetics
Parasites [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
What's gotten into you? The "Parasites" Radiolab episode tells the fascinating story of several parasites including hookworms, parasitic wasps, flukes and protozoans, then asks listeners, “Are parasites degenerates or some of evolution’s craftiest forms of life?” Teaching opportunities for this episode: parasite ecology, microbiology, challenge student perception of parasites, hookworm, toxoplasmosis.
Rabies [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
Based on the Radiolab podcast "Rodney vs Death," this episode describes the disease, history of rabies treatment, and details Jenna Giese's amazing recovery following use of the Milwaukee Protocol.
Teaching opportunities for this episode: viruses, infectious disease, history of rabies, treatment of rabies, medical ethics
MORE > Microbiology Homework Assignments - FREE!
Based on Terri Gross' interview with Dr. Martin Blaser, author of "Missing Microbes", a book about the potential importance of the human microbiome, this assignment helps students rehearse their understanding of the different types of microbial horizontal gene transfer.
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You have FREE access to a large collection of materials used in a college-level introductory Cell Biology Course. The Virtual Cell Biology Classroom provides a wide range of FREE educational resources including Power Point Lectures, Study Guides, Review Questions and Practice Test Questions.
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Classroom-tested science PPT lectures
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ScienceProfOnline.com
Eukaryote Cell Structure
Students draw and label a eukaryotic cell, then relate how the endomembrane system would create a lipopeptide and either destroy or ship it out of the cell.
HeLa Cells [Radiolab Homework]
Assignment based on a Radiolab podcast episode called "Henrietta's Tumor". Although she died of cervical cancer in 1951, Henrietta's tumor cells gave rise to the first immortal cell line, HeLa. Learn more about this amazing story by watching the Good Morning America segment "The Gift of Life."
Teaching opportunities for this episode: HeLa cells, mitosis, cancer, medical ethics, cell biology research
Osmosis
Students describe what would happen, osmotically to a cell placed in honey. Assignment includes an illustration.