Teaching biological evolution can be difficult on a number of levels, be it student confusion arising from prior conceptions and the controversy surrounding evolution, or simply because the material is complex. Games and simulations can help to convey complex topics and also to increase variety in teaching methods. Here I describe a card game that…

Describes a project that enables students to emulate a scientist in the classroom setting through collaboration on research projects, use of research literature, and communication with scientific peers. Student groups focus on investigations of the cellular and molecular aspects of a disease. (DDR)

Describes two investigative labs that use live plants to illustrate important biological principles, include quantitative analysis, and require very little equipment. Each lab is adaptable to a variety of class sizes, course contents, and student backgrounds. Topics include the evolution of flower size in Mimulus and pollination of Brassicas. (DDR)

Major differences between plants and animals are presented. Discussed are autotrophs and heterotrophs, plant growth and development, gas exchange, the evolution of plants, ecosystem components, the alleged inferiority of plants, and fungi. (CW)

The carpel is a highly modified leaf enclosing the ovules. This article describes methods for teaching about the evolution of the carpel and the nature of carpel fusion. Presents an illustration of the evolution of the most common types of compound pistil arrangement from the ancestral single-carpel marginal type of placentation. (PR)

Discussed is the evolution of aerobic organisms from anaerobic organisms and the accompanying biochemistry that developed to motivate and enable this evolution. Uses of oxygen by aerobic organisms are described. (CW)

Describes a series of low-cost experiments to investigate the ability of seeds from different species to acquire tolerance of thermal stress. Suggests links to discussions on molecular biology, physiology, ecology, and evolution. (WRM)