Mr. Louie's DNA Interactivities Page
I've customized some DNA learning resources for your Exploring Biotechnology class. Please refer to this page from time to time, especially when I request you do so in class.

Tour of the Basics
This comprehensive web tour provides a kid-friendly overview of the basic techniques of biotechnology (also known as molecular biology or molecular genetics).

DNA Extraction Virtual Lab
Flash animated extraction lab from the University of Utah. Includes animations of micropipettors and microcentrifuges, which may not be commonly available in most middle school labs.

Gel Electrophoresis
Another excellent Flash animation from the Dept. of Genetics Utah.

Geenomes
An advanced high school interactivity that requires DNA laboratory analysis of genetically modified plants and requires internet access to the National Library of Medicine.

Transcribe and Translate a Gene
Interactivity to transcribe and translate a gene. Challenge: The DNA depicted here is but a short segment of a much longer molecule. For example, human chromosome 1 is 246 million base pairs long. Most of the sequence is nonsense (over 99%) and doesn't code for proteins. Imagine you are a computer scientist scanning the sequence for a protein. What clue can you use to identify a coding sequence that does make sense? (I.E. What clue can you use to determine that the sequence codes for a protein?)

Build a DNA molecule
Flash animation that allows students to drop and drag complementary nucleotides into their proper position in a DNA sequence.

Exploring DNA
A tutorial on how to use control the jmol display to view different representations of DNA.

Construction of a Cell Membrane
Awesome. Cool site that allows you to construct your own cellular membrane.

3-D DNA Explorer
An interactivity is included as part of the learning materials accompanying a five part series on DNA broadcast by PBS.