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MBB provides more than 80 hours of teacher professional development that guides participants through a current, relevant scientific research project using biotechnology and bioinformatic techniques. The project is geared to teachers and their students in grades 6 - 12. To view the program in its entirety please step through the program pages in order and follow the directions. The components (presentations, exercises, documents, weblinks, and lesson plans) described and listed on each page can be presented as a shortened, stand-alone series and some of these options are described on each page. Components can also be presented individually although some modification may be required.
The overall scientific inquiry that guides this program is described in the “Using Biotechnology and Bioinformatics to Track a Marine Invader” presentation found near the top of the Marine Science page. The inquiry activities start on the Marine Science page and continue to the Biotechnology page and then the Bioinformatics page. The Molecular Biology and Genetics page provides background for a better understanding of the Biotechnology and the Bioinformatics pages. The STEM Careers page has resources for students that may be considering science careers after exposure to the MBB program activities. The Educational Technology page provides resources for using technology tools to teach the MBB program or for teaching in general.
The following subject areas were covered in the workshop:
Marine Science is the study of the biological, chemical, geological, and physical aspects of the ocean. For the MBB program, background information on the “system” and the “question” that pertain to a non-native marine mussel are described and listed here.
Navigate to the Marine Science for activities, lesson plans, and other resources that specifically pertain to the inquiry and fit under this heading and for more general lesson plans in area of Marine Science.
While most people are familiar with the science of inheritance which we know as genetics, just what constitutes the more recent science of “molecular biology” is a bit more fuzzy. Understanding the scientific question being asked during the MBB program, and the bioinformatic and biotechnological techniques being applied to answer the question, require a relatively strong background in molecular biology and genetics. Since not all participants could be expected to have the requisite background, under this heading the MBB program provides a crash course on the concepts relevant to our study.
Navigate to Molecular Biology & Genetics for activities, lesson plans, and other resources.
Biotechnology is the intersection of biology and technology. It is the application of biological techniques to research and product development. Most of current biotechnology refers to the use of recombinant DNA, cell culture and fusion, and bioprocessing techniques. The MBB program focuses on a subset of this field that allows for the manipulation and analysis of DNA information from individuals and populations of closely related species as part of a scientific study.
Navigate to Biotechnology for activities, lesson plans, and other resources that mostly focus on the manipulation and analysis of DNA for species identification.
Bioinformatics is a subdiscipline within Computational Biology (along with Systems Biology, Molecular Dynamics, and Ecological Modeling), and is focused on the storage, access, and analysis of the vast amount of biological data now available. For biologists, the ability to use bioinformatic tools for data retrieval and analysis has become an essential and routine activity, similar to the use of word processors or spreadsheet programs.
Navigate to Bioinformatics for activities, lesson plans, and online tools that were used to analyze the DNA data generated in the Biotechnology section.
The Marine Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (MBB) program is designed using educational technology practices and included specific session topic on educational technology tools. Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.
MBB is a problem-based learning context within the field of marine biotechnology and bioinformatics, where the teachers used current research methods for DNA extraction and analysis of mussels searching for an invasive species. The workshop is designed with instructional strategies for rapid integration of new knowledge and best practices for transforming high-level, new science knowledge into lesson plans for students.
Navigate to Educational Technology for activities, lesson plans, and other resources.
As a sponsored project of the National Science Foundation, ITEST program, MBB responds to current concerns and projections about the growing demand for professionals and information technology workers in the U.S. and seeks solutions to help ensure the breadth and depth of the STEM workforce.
Navigate to STEM Careers for activities, lesson plans, and other resources.
