Describes the first Biology Olympics for high school teams which took place at Slippery Rock State College, Pennsylvania. Individual events are described as well as the visitation day program for nonparticipants. (SA)

Explored were the effects on student attitudes of autotutorial laboratory instruction in a lower-division life sciences course designed for nonbiology majors at Skyline College, San Bruno, California. Positive results indicate the effectiveness of this mode of instruction in enhancing attitudes of students towards their learning and this…

Describes a course in which pollutant health impacts are discussed in the context of unifying concepts such as threshold v nonthreshold responses. (CS)

A modification of the Ames test for detecting carcinogens and mutagens using a strain of bacteria is described. A suggestion is given for checking the correctness of procedures by using particular hair dyes which have been shown to be mutogenic. (Author/SA)

A model is described for preparing graduate students to teach undergraduate biology courses. Features of the program include instruction in using innovative techniques, the use of pre- and in-service components, and the use of experienced biology teaching assistants. (Author/SA)

Discusses the impact of using laboratory exercises and queries on developing student sensitivity to bioethical issues. Examples of these questions and the responses of students of an introductory life science course at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts are presented. (HM)

Outlines techniques used in teaching a course in "life-line" ethics, in which the events of conception, birth and death are related to ethical issues of abortion, suicide, euthanasia, etc. Several modes of actively involving students are described. Lists seven reference for information on bioethical issues. (CS)

Presented is a hand model which can be used to compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis. Features and procedures of the technique are detailed. Limitations of the models are discussed. (CW)

Described are teaching methods used to teach measures of central tendency to middle and high school students. Discussed are quantitative and qualitative data, basic experimental terms, a general overview of data analysis, data charts for quantitative data, qualitative data analysis, and extensions for older students. (CW)

Presented is an activity designed to teach the use of the scientific method to non-science majors. Collecting, classification, and follow-up activities for a beach trip are discussed. Two simple dichotomous keys are included. (CW)

Discusses the importance of student questions as tools of instruction and as indicators of student misconceptions. Suggests different ways in which students may gain an understanding of biological concepts through discussion of popular movies and biological problems. (CW)

Examined is the extent to which teachers actually hold pseudoscientific beliefs. Described are the study design, sources of pseudoscientific belief, and correlates with various types of pseudoscientific beliefs. Results indicate that many high school biology and life science teachers endorse these beliefs. Implications of this study are discussed.…

Describes an apparatus that facilitates the quantitative study of fermentation in yeast by allowing simultaneous measurements of fermentation rates in several treatments and a control. Explains a laboratory procedure in which the apparatus is used. Several suggestions for further investigations are included. (Author/RT)

Describes the usefulness of glyphosate for a demonstration of its herbicidal properties. Includes a list of the materials, preparation of solutions, procedures, data collection and analysis for three activities involving this chemical. (CW)

An examination of high-school biology textbooks reveals that the majority of authors and publishers place concepts dealing with ecology and environmental principles in the final chapters of the book. Suggests it is time to move away from a phylogenetic approach and focus on ecological concepts throughout textbooks. (LZ)