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Signaling at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a complex process that is required for many actions that sustain life within humans. Toxins that act upon the NMJ, both natural and synthetic, act in a variety of ways to inhibit this function. This case study examines how a variety of toxins can act to disrupt the normal mechanism of function of the NMJ  by placing a protagonist ("Unlucky Chucky") at an eco-spa in Colombia with his good friend Melody. Unfortunately, during their time at the eco-spa, things don't always turn out well for Chucky. A variety of neuromuscular toxins are discussed including curare (d-tubocurarine), Botox (botulinum toxin A), physostigmine and sarin gas (GB). This case was designed to be used in a variety of classrooms ranging from an undergraduate introduction to biology course in a module focused on neuromuscular functioning, to an introduction to physiology course as an introduction to the NMJ; it could also potentially be used in a nursing course that is examining NMJ physiology.

This interdisciplinary case study uses the format of a progressive disclosure to explore certain advances in biotechnology and evaluate them within the framework of societal needs, concerns and pressures.  When faced with a heart valve transplant, a high school student and her mother must decide between multiple approaches, some current and others emergent. Highlighted in this case study are the topics of xenotransplantation, 3D bioprinting and the mature minor rule. The case includes a role-playing, public hearing activity that can be used to explore many aspects at the interface of technology and culture: religious rights, parental rights, public health care policy and safety, animal rights, economic issues of organ marketing, and psychological issues of body image.  This case study was originally designed for first year collegiate classes (introduction to biology, introduction to psychology) but is also applicable to AP high school. The flexible nature of the case also allows for expansion of several aspects for advanced classes across multiple disciplines.

This is a 3.5 minute HD dramatic video choreographed to powerful music, which introduces the viewer to the Origins of LIFE on Earth. It is designed as a motivational "trailer" to be shown by Biology and Life Science teachers in middle and high school and college as a visual "Introduction" to the topic of how life began.

Buckle up for a prokaryote and eukaryote comparison before taking a ride into a cell to explore organelle structures and functions! This cell introduction also includes the modern cell theory.

4 min video game style introduction to enzymes

"A short 3.6 minute visually stunning introductory trailer choreographed to powerful music that introduces the viewer/student to the characteristics that all life on Earth shares. I made this for use by teachers of Biology and the Life Sciences as a motivational introduction to the wonders of life and the amazing characteristics that we all possess. As a High School Biology teacher myself, I have found these videos a great way to capture student interest immediately."

3:09 This HD dramatic video choreographed to powerful music introduces the viewer/student to the Biomes of Earth. It is designed as a motivational "trailer" to be shown by teachers in Biology and Ecology classrooms in middle school, high school and college as a visual Introduction to the many types of places that life calls home.

3:40 This visually stunning introductory trailer choreographed to powerful music introduces the viewer to the characteristics that all life on Earth shares. It is designed for use by teachers of Biology and the Life Sciences as a motivational introduction to the wonders of life and the amazing characteristics that we all possess. 

This HD dramatic video choreographed to powerful music introduces the viewer/student to the microscopic kingdom of the Protists. It is designed as a motivational "trailer" to be shown in Biology classrooms in middle school, high school and college as a visual Introduction to the amazing world of these tiny creatures.

In this case study students are provided with information for piecing together the story of how forest fragmentation and biodiversity loss can affect the risk of Lyme disease transmission to humans. The case introduces the dilution effect, a widely accepted theory-and one of the most important ideas in disease ecology-which suggests that disease risk for humans decreases as the diversity of species in an area increases. It also explains how landscape fragmentation, one of the most common threats to biodiversity, can influence the risk of Lyme disease for humans. Students interpret and discuss various figures to develop a concept map that connects all the individual results of the story. Students gain an appreciation for the complexity of species interactions in an ecosystem, the effects of forest fragmentation on these interactions and the possible consequences for human health. This activity was developed for an undergraduate introduction to environmental sciences course under the topic of biodiversity and conservation, but would also be suitable for interdisciplinary studies interested in examining the connections between conservation and public health.

This is the updated Amoeba Sisters human organ systems video, which provides a brief introduction to each of the 11 human organ systems including the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, excretory, integumentary, lymphatic/immune, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, and skeletal systems.

introductory 5:25 video shown at NC Student STEM Symposium as introduction.

1 page introduction to epigenetics

Take this course for free on edX: https://www.edx.org/course/introducti... Introduction to Bioethics explores some of the most difficult - and fascinating - moral challenges we face in health, medicine, and emerging technologies.

Session description: The session will provide an introduction to the ethics of research involving human participants. It will ad-dress the history of research ethics, present a contemporary eth-ical framework, and discuss its application to differing kinds of research studies. The ethical framework consists of four principles: respect for persons, beneficence, justice, and respect for communities. Each principle provides the foundation for ethical rules, including requirements for informed consent and confidentiality of health information. Taken together these ethical principles and rules provide a comprehensive framework for the analysis of ethical challenges in health research.

Before the discovery of insulin in 1921, being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes was a death sentence. Despite the successful management of diabetes with purified animal insulin, potentially severe side effects were abundant, and alternative ways to produce insulin were needed. This case study guides students through the history of using insulin to treat diabetes, focusing on the development of recombinant DNA technology and the world's first bioengineered drug, recombinant human insulin, which is now used worldwide to treat diabetes. Through the course of this case, students consider the central dogma of molecular biology, the development of recombinant DNA technology, drug design, the importance of recombinant proteins to our society, and the ethical analysis and debates that occur as a result of some scientific discoveries. This case was developed as an introduction to an upper-division biotechnology course focusing on recombinant protein design and production, but could also be used in molecular biology, biochemistry, or introductory biology courses to highlight recombinant DNA and biotechnology.

These 106 in-depth tutorials are designed to illustrate and explain some of the many complex topics in biology. Each tutorial has four elements: an introduction that describes the topic to be illustrated and puts it into a broader context, a detailed animation that clearly illustrates the topic (there are a few tutorials that include simulations or other types of content, rather than animations), a conclusion that summarizes what you should have learned from the animation, and a quiz on the topic covered.

The chart below gives some examples of how disease levels have declined since vaccinations began. Since the introduction of the measles, or MMR vaccine, annual cases of the illness have dropped by a jaw-dropping 99%.

The mouse is the leading organism for disease research. A rich resource of genetic variation occurs naturally in inbred and special strains owing to spontaneous mutations. However, one can also obtain desired gene mutations by using the following processes: targeted mutations that eliminate function in the whole organism or in a specific tissue; forward genetic screens using chemicals or transposons; or the introduction of exogenous transgenes as DNAs, bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) or reporter constructs. The mouse is the only mammal that provides such a rich resource of genetic diversity coupled with the potential for extensive genome manipulation, and is therefore a powerful application for modeling human disease.

Introduction to the major concepts related to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, and impact on society.