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In this interrupted case study developed for use in a flipped classroom, students read about a picnic that takes place in autumn during the peak of fall color and along the way learn about light absorption by photosynthetic pigments, why leaves turn color in the fall, atmospheric CO2 concentrations and their effect on photosynthesis, and the C3, C4, and CAM photosynthetic pathways. The case is designed to provide introductory biology students with a basic understanding of photosynthetic pathways and how environmental factors affect plants using these pathways. The activity could also be used in an advanced high school biology course covering photosynthesis. The case includes several short videos that students watch as homework before coming to class so that they are prepared to work together in class in small groups to answer the case questions.

A zebrafish model of a rare genetic disease has revealed an unexpected regulatory pathway for cholesterol absorption and processing. The findings, reported in the Journal of Molecular Medicine, were "quite surprising and have the potential to teach us about the basic physiology of cholesterol management," said Ela Knapik, M.D., associate professor of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology.

This dilemma/decision case study is intended to demonstrate how knowledge of signal transduction pathways can be applied to the pharmaceutical industry and within a medical setting. The case scenario revolves around a physician scientist's analysis of a chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patient's resistance to the cancer drug Gleevec® (imatinib). Students explore the molecular targets of drugs that inhibit cell signaling, while considering the best course of treatment for the medical patient. Written for an undergraduate sophomore level cell biology course, the case is also suitable for general biology, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, and cancer biology.

Cold Spring Harbour cancer site, sections include: Hallmarks of Cancer Causes and Prevention Diagnosis and Treatment Pathways to Cancer

This case study was developed for an introductory biology course with the goal of integrating content (specifically, structure/function, signaling pathways, and homeostasis) while reinforcing general critical thinking skills and the scientific method (generating hypotheses, evaluating evidence, and making predictions). The case is suitable for a flipped classroom and there are several videos associated with it. The case revolves around an obese two-and-a-half-year-old boy who won't stop eating. Students become familiar with some basic concepts related to obesity and leptin signaling through the videos that they watch before class. They then use class time to work through the case (delivered as an interactive slide show, including several clicker questions) to determine the genetic basis for this child's obesity and possible therapies to manage his weight. The case could also be adapted and expanded to be used in a physiology course to explore the interaction of various hormones that regulate appetite and metabolic rate or in a cell biology class to explore JAK-STAT signaling.

Variety of free tutorials, data sets, and virtual labs

It took about 9,000 years and alterations in six genetic pathways to transform the inedible grass teosinte (left) into the corn we eat today (right). (Center: a first generation hybrid between teosinte and corn)

Through this method, the researchers were able to identify that the frizzled-6 gene was expressed around eight times more in tumor-forming cell lines. The specific cascade initiated by frizzled-6 and how it affects the development of cancerous cells has yet to be determined. The overexpression of frizzled-6 suggests that the protein either forms tumor cells directly or is an indirect result of other mutated pathways.

When you leave the house, does your dog or cat even remember you? Read More: A Rat's Tenacious Memory http://www.indiana.edu/~rcapub/v17n1/... "In the wild, rats scramble over the network of pathways they have created, combing their surroundings for food, water, mates, and shelter. Their movements may seem automatic to the untrained eye, simply a reflexive pattern. Decades ago, however, researchers established that rats know where they are going and remember where they have been."

Immune cells in mice with lupus symptoms have overactive metabolisms, so scientists inhibited two metabolic pathways and succeeded in reversing lupus symptoms in mice

The treatment used olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) - specialist cells that form part of the sense of smell. OECs act as pathway cells that enable nerve fibres in the olfactory system to be continually renewed. In the first of two operations, surgeons removed one of the patient's olfactory bulbs and grew the cells in culture. Two weeks later they transplanted the OECs into the spinal cord, which had been cut through in the knife attack apart from a thin strip of scar tissue on the right. They had just a drop of material to work with - about 500,000 cells.

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found that mutations that cause autism in children are connected to a pathway that regulates brain development.

NSDL is the nation's online portal for education and research on learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science. NSDL has constructed the following collections of "resource packs" for teaching to particular K12 subject areas, drawing resources from NSDL Pathways and other NSDL projects, and gathering these topical resource sets into a single location. (Author: Laura Moin) Atomic Structures Energy Evolution Mathematics Water Quality

Similar to humans who have obsessive compulsive disorder, dogs exhibit compulsive behaviors, in which they might repetitively spin around, chase their tail, bark, chew, or suck on a toy or a part of their body for an excessive amount of time. In the latest study from Tufts University, researchers identified genetic pathways that increase the severity of canine compulsive disorders in Doberman pinschers. This discovery may lead to the development of improved treatments and therapies for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in people. 

Stress is implicated in increased tumor progression risk and poor survival in cancer patients. A number of recent studies have linked these effects to the promotion of tumor cell dissemination through the bloodstream via stress-induced pathways. Now, a mouse study led by researchers in Australia has revealed the mechanisms by which stress modulates cancer's spread through another transport network open to tumor cells-the lymphatic system.

"This case study introduces students to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and its underlying genetics, cell biology, and some of the associated biochemical pathways.  DMD is an X-linked disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting due to the absence of a protein called dystrophin, which in turn causes degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscle. There is currently no established cure for this disease.  The case follows the progress of "Casey," an undergraduate student who has just declared her biology major and is interested in expanding her scientific understanding of the different fields of biology. The case is organized in three parts: genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry, each exploring DMD through its unique lens. Throughout the case, Casey is presented with multiple outlets of information, including class lectures, direct e-mail interaction with a professor, scientific journals and websites, from which she (and any student engaged with the case) gathers knowledge about DMD."

This case study describes a visit by "Naomi" to her physician, who upon seeing Naomi's bloodwork decides to prescribe her a cholesterol-lowering agent, a statin. The case discusses (1) the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as atherosclerosis, which can lead to strokes and heart disease; (2) circulating lipoprotein particles including LDL and HDL, differentiating between which is a risk factor for heart disease and which is protective;  (3) the pathway for cholesterol synthesis; (4) the evidence demonstrating that statins inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is the committed step for cholesterol synthesis; and (5) the kinetic mechanism by which statins inhibit the enzyme. Students examine and interpret data from radioactive tracer and enzyme kinetics studies. The case ends with another visit by Naomi to her physician, who reexamines her bloodwork after she has been taking a statin for six months. Students are asked to determine whether the drug was effective for Naomi and, if not, what changes could be made to her regimen. The case was originally written for use in a survey of biochemistry course for upper level undergraduates.

4 minute video - over half on fermentation

data sets for analysis

Explore DNA replication and the roles of various components in this process. You'll interact with this virtual lab to collect data, make observations, analyze findings, and draw conclusions.