Examines national data sets of cognitive scores for intellectual dysgenesis by considering race, socioeconomic status, and ability-related changes in test scores over time. The analysis did not support the dysgenic hypothesis; however, it indicates a convergence of the various segments of U.S. society. (MMU)

Describes British teenagers' (n=138) knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward biotechnology with particular reference to food production. Concludes that more than half the teenagers were familiar with the term "biotechnology," but most lacked detailed knowledge of the subject. Teens rated formal schooling in science as an important…

Emphasizes the unique advantages of computer-mediated communication (CMC) for teaching genetics. CMC allows students to collect larger sample sizes than other methods and from any part of the world in a very short time. Describes hardware and software requirements, useful tools and techniques, and a sample project on human genetics for a…

Notes that the microgenetic method has revealed new information about normally achieving children's cognition, and reviews data from three different microgenetic studies. Concludes that there are similar sequences of strategy change, similar rates of strategy change, and similar frequency of strategy discovery and use in children with and without…

This case study of a 5-year-old boy diagnosed with a specific expressive language impairment with verbal apraxia reports on chromosomal, neurological, speech/language, cognitive, and play evaluations. Evaluation found a chromosomal translocation and a severe expressive speech-language deficit but good nonverbal cognitive and communicative skills.…

Asserts that Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve" (1994) is an attempt to influence and control public discourse about public policy and inequality. It examines four of the book's flaws in classification, analyses, research, and its failure to recognize intelligence as having both genotypic and phenotypic manifestations. (GR)

Argues that the transfer of plasmid from a bacterium to a plant cell has received little attention. Presents an experiment for studying this type of genetic transformation using the causative agent of crown gall, a malignant plant tumor. (DDR)

A comparison of levels of emotional and behavioral disturbance in 599 children and adolescents with four genetically determined causes of intellectual disability and an epidemiologically derived control group found in a 4-year follow-up study that persons with Down syndrome had significantly less behavior disturbance than controls and those with…

Considers how biotechnology affects human-rights issues; in particular, the need for reexamining concerns about reproductive technology, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the rights of future generations. Maintains that the new areas for human-rights discussions, such as germ-line manipulation and genetic screening, are unprecedented concerns…

Identifies five key findings of brain research: complex inter-play between genes and environment; early experiences contribute to brain structure and capacities; early interactions affect wiring; brain development is non-linear; and a child's brain is more active than adults'. Discusses implications for early childhood environments, curriculum,…

In an attempt to generate student enthusiasm on the subject of genetics, the author developed a Punnett square activity centered on the genetics of corn snakes to teach students about Mendelism and genetic diversity. As they began the activity, however, some unexpected twists occurred that allowed for investigation into corn snake anatomy and…

We describe an eight-week summer Young Scientist in Training (YSIT) internship program involving middle and high school students. This program exposed students to current basic research in molecular genetics, while introducing or reinforcing principles of the scientific method and demonstrating the uses of mathematics and chemistry in biology. For…

For three biology professors, visualizing molecular processes is central to thinking in their discipline. This chapter reports their attempts at getting students to make this same cognitive move and the results of their assessments. (Contains 2 figures.)

This article describes and discusses, some of the 100 structural differences between the male and female brain identified by some researchers. Teachers need to be aware of these differences, and how they manifest themselves in male and female students. If teachers are not familiar with these differences, and how they affect learning styles,…

The goals of this study were to increase communication between student and teachers in the Biotechnology 385 course, especially between the different modules of the course by designing a WebCT site for all four professors in the course, and to determine if the use of Flash animations integrated into the WebCT environment would increase student…