Browsing Stepping Stones to Biology

A molecular approach to biology must develop in students an understanding of molecules, their interactions and the consequences of these interactions. Biological phenomenon now more than ever rely on chemical and physical principles for molecular explanations of the phenomenon. We have selected 10 physical-chemical principles that underlie many biological processes: we call them "Molecular Stepping Stones." Below are links to entry level model-based activities for the Stepping Stones.

Activities

• 0.1 Prerequisite - Atomic Structure (SAM) (9-page, 2-day activity)
  
  
• 0.2 Prerequisite - Solids, Liquids, and Gases (6-page activity)
  
  
• 1. Random Motion - Brownian Motion (a 4 pp activity)
  
  
• 2.0 Spatial Equilibrium - Spatial Equilibrium: Modeling a Gas (erratic)
  
  
• 2.1 Diffusion, Osmosis, and Equilibrium - Diffusion, Osmosis, and Dialysis (a 5pp activity)
  
  
• 3. Strong Chemical Bonds - Strong Chemical Bonds (SAM) (a 2-day, 10-page activity)
  
  
• 4. Compounds - The Tree of Life's Macromolecules (multi-page interlinked activity)
  
  
• 5.0 Intermolecular Forces - Intermolecular Forces (SAM) (a 2-class activity)
  
  
• 5.1 Intermolecular Forces - Dissolving (an early 9 pp activity)
  
  
• 6. Molecular Folding and Self-Assembly - Protein Folding (8-page activity; a "Stepping Stone" of MoLo project)
  
  
• 6.1 Molecular Folding and Self-Assembly - Self-Assembly with Nanomanufacturing (a 9-page activity)
  
  
• 7. Structure and Function in Proteins - Structure of Proteins: Insulin (a 7-page activity)
  
  
• 8. Chemical Reactions and Catalysis - Reaction Rates, Catalysis, and Pasteurization (8-page activity)
  
  
• 9.0 From Genetic Code to Protein Structure - DNA to Protein Synthesis (a 6 pp introduction)
  
  
• 10. From Genetic Code to Protein Structure - Mutations: Changing the Genetic Code (a 7-page activity)
  
  
• 11. Genotype to Phenotype - Introduction to BioLogica