Useful Websites
- Independent Research Project
- DThis Penn State University site explains the scientific investigation, provides example experimental procedures about Mendelian genetic experiments with plants, and writing procedures that include chi-squared test and graphing techniques. This site facilitates the writing of formal laboratory reports and assists in the mastering of chi-squared tests. The site includes a chi-squared distribution table that is very helpful for The Genetics of Organisms Laboratory, Advanced Placement Biology Laboratory 7.
- Explore Science: Mouse Genetics
- The highlight of this activity is genetic experiments with virtual mice in cyberspace. You set up the cross with virtual mice of various fur colors and you see offspring from generation to generation. Introductory genetics and statistics material is presented. You get to practice statistics with virtual coin-flipping activities. You can learn the basics of genetics in an interactive, fun, and exciting way.
- Genetics Education Center
- Developed by the University of Kansas Medical Center, the Genetics Education Center provides links to various sites of value for educators with an interest in human genetics and the human genome project. The content areas are (1) the Human Genome Project, with links to a description of the human genome project, the Department of Energy primer on molecular genetics, and ethics cases (Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis) from the San Francisco Exploratorium exhibit on genetics; (2) educational resources, with links to resource materials, genetics lesson plans, genetics careers, professional genetics societies, a glossary of genetics terms, GenLink (an advanced multimedia database resource for researchers in human genetics that provides linkage mapping information and software tools for facilitating the integration of physical and genetic linkage data to produce unified maps of the human genome), March of Dimes fact sheets (birth defects, genetic conditions, and genetic counseling), and Understanding Gene Testing (a brochure from NIH/NCI); and (3) Networking, with links to those in the human genome teacher network, members of the genetics and ethicists mentor network, genome educators, and genetics newsletters.
- Pea Soup: The Story of Mendel
- This is a well-written and simple account of Mendel's work and includes an interactive pea-breeding experiment.
- The Biology Project: Mendelian Genetics
- The faculty and staff at the University of Arizona have developed an "interactive online resource for learning biology" based on an entry-level biology course. This well-designed site can be used in combination with classroom or laboratory course work, or as a self-guided study program. The Mendelian Genetics section of the site contains problem sets, tutorials, and activities on the monohybrid cross, dihybrid cross, and sex-linked inheritance. The Human Biology section contains the same for DNA forensics, immunology, karyotyping, reproduction, genetics, and AIDS. See also the Molecular Biology section for nucleic acids, genetics of prokaryotes, genetics of eukaryotes, and recombinant DNA.
- Genetics Mendel's Law of Heredity
- This site will enable you to quiz yourself on basics of genetics by playing concentration of matching games.
- Prenatal Diagnosis: Amniocentesis and CVS
- A discussion of prenatal testing in a question-and-answer format.
- Mendelian Genetics
- Start with this explanation of the law of segregation and then work your way through the menu (on the left of the screen) to pedigree analysis, Mendel's second law, probability, epistasis, pleiotropy modifier genes, etc.
- Genes and Disease
- From the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Click on the number of the chromosome you want to look at and then click on the genetic disease you want to learn about.
- Independent Assortment Animation
- An animation of meiosis emphasizing an explanation of independent assortment.
- Blazing a Genetic Trail
- This report by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute looks at the progress made in finding the genetic causes of diseases. It also includes an introduction to basic genetics, a glossary, and information on how to conquer a genetic disease.
- Introduction to Genetics
- This section of an online biology text covers some of the basics of Mendelian genetics.
- Genetic Linkage and Genetic Maps
- This online text gives a concise, easy-to-understand explanation of linkage and gene mapping.
- Mendel's Monohybrid Cross
- This online text gives a concise, easy-to-understand explanation of monohybrid crosses.
