Suggests uses for and possible adaptations of a set of semiflexible molecular models. Includes price and supplier information. Also suggests rubbing oil from human face/hands along the pouring lip of a beaker, allowing one to pour uniformly from the beaker spout and making the process as dripless as possible. (Author/JN)

A nontraditional laboratory course for first-year medical students is described, consisting of two laboratory exercises adapted to the guided design strategy and a short research project. Student learning and attitudes were shown to improve, but curriculum preparation time was a major disadvantage. (MSE)

Outlines procedures demonstrating that the aperture of a microscope objective limits resolving power and then, by using ancillary measurements made with a calibrated graticule in the microscope eyepiece, that the experimentally determined value for the maximum resolving power of a given objective is close to the value predicted by theory. (JN)

Describes use of Tinker Toys in several moment of inertia laboratory experiments at the advanced high school or introductory college levels. Includes procedures to be followed, arrangements of the Tinker Toy parts during experiments, and typical student data obtained. (JM)

Describes an experiment simulating a real-life structure elucidation problem through isolation, characterization, and chemical transformation of an "unknown," naturally occurring monoterpene, with extensive use being made of spectroscopy and aided by biogenetic considerations. Information given to students, procedures, results, and discussion of…

Discusses experiments involving classical conditioning of planarians. Suitable for advanced high school students or college-level independent study, flatworms are trained to curl up under a bright light. Then the planarians to are subjected to controlled reproduction experiments to determine whether the learned behavior is inherited by their…

Describes principle imaging techniques, their applications, and their limitations in terms of diagnostic capability and possible adverse biological effects. Techniques include film radiography, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and digital radiography. PET has…

Describes the processes involved in clinical urinalysis and relates them to possible high school biology classroom uses. (CS)

An Osmette A model 5002 automatic osmometer is used to characterize different drugs, diluents, and adulterants commonly encountered in samples of forensic interest, permitting rapid determinations with good reproducibility and use by large numbers of students with little training. Includes background information, procedures, and typical students…

Discusses field collection, preservation and storage techniques, and identification of slime molds (with fruiting bodies). (DC)

Described are the advantages of using crayfish in an elementary or secondary biology class, crayfish activities, field collection, classroom care, and identification. (DC)

Discusses the problem of ellipticity in the motion of the ordinary Foucault pendulum and the error caused by it. Presents a simple method of slightly modifying the force-displacement relation in such a way that precession does not result from ellipticity. (Author/SK)

Described is a procedure for assessment of student performance in laboratory work (practical work) in Advanced Level Biology in England. Some historical background is included. (PB)

Discusses the nature of light-producing reactions and provides a procedure for demonstrating chemical luminescence using siloxene indicator. Indicates source of this chemical and safety precautions. (SK)

Describes an apparatus and procedure for conducting an undergraduate laboratory experiment to quantitatively study the Hall effect in a plasma. Includes background information on the Hall effect and rationale for conducting the experiment. (JN)