The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics
http://www.rcsb.org/index.html
The Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RCSB) is a non-profit group "dedicated to improving our understanding of the function of biological systems through the study of the 3-D structure of biological macromolecules." The goal of RCSB is to provide free public resources and publications to further the fields of bioinformatics and biology. RCSB members include the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the Biotechnology Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The Web site provides links to nine protein and nucleic acid databases, dozens of downloadable software packages for use in molecular structure determination and analysis, four online courses, and a community service link that includes Internet resources not maintained by the RCSB. [JAB]
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SelectScience.net
http://www.selectscience.net/
SelectScience bills itself as an independent information service for all laboratory scientists to help make informed decisions on equipment purchases. After the free registration, users can access company and product profiles, read product opinions submitted by visitors, or post their own comments. Any researcher seeking new equipment will find the information provided invaluable in making informed purchasing decisions. The Web site is updated continually and includes other useful items such as news, jobs, conferences, articles, and other relevant links. [JAB]
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Hematology [.pdf]
http://www.asheducationbook.org/
The American Society of Hematology's (ASH) 2001 journal Hematology is currently available online. A product of the 43rd annual ASH meeting held in early December 2001, the journal is committed to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. Users interested can view and search the full text of each article or downloaded a .pdf file. [JAB]
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The Biometric Consortium
http://www.biometrics.org/
Biometrics, or an identification system to automatically recognize a person using distinguishing traits, is the focus of the Web site by the Biometric Consortium. This US governmental organization serves as the focal point for research, development, and applications regarding biometrics. The site contains links to work groups, publications, research, databases, and other related information in the public and private sector. More than anything, this site serves as a well-organized metasite for all biometrics issues and will give researchers, academics, and professionals a good starting point for locating additional material. [JAB]
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Salmonella.org
http://www.salmonella.org/
From the University of Illinois, Professor Stanley Maloy and Assistant Professor Rob Edwards' Web site Salmonella.org is dedicated to the study of the Salmonella bacteria genome. The site offers news and information on the bacteria's various strains, including everything from tips on preventing the infection to links to genomic sequencing data. Any Salmonella researcher or enthusiast will find this uncluttered and straightforward compilation useful. [JAB]
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TreeBase
http://herbaria.harvard.edu/treebase/
TreeBase (last mentioned in the October 30, 1998 Scout Report) is a database of phylogenetic information sponsored by Harvard University Herbaria, Leiden University EEW, and the University of California, Davis. The site stores phylogenetic trees and the data matrices used to generate them from published research papers and currently includes 1098 authors, 614 studies, 1704 trees, and 21456 taxa (roughly three times more data than the Scout Report first review in 1998). The searchable database takes a little time getting used to, but the resulting information is valuable. [JAB]
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Food Safety Research Information Office at the National Agricultural Library
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fsrio/
Users interested in food safety will find The Food Safety Research Information Office Web site a useful resource. Citations and abstracts of food safety research projects are available through the online database. Search by keyword, or choose from articles arranged by category and agency. An online form also allows scientists to submit an abstract of their own research to be considered for addition to the database. Links are provided to scientific publications and funding sources. Be sure to take a look at the What's New section for up-to-date information on conferences and newly released food safety research documents. [AL]
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Special Forests Products: Species Information Guide for the Pacific Northwest [.pdf]
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr513
This recently released report by the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station can be downloaded in .pdf format. The report covers more than 60 species of economically important non-timber plants and fungi. A biological and ecological description of each species is accompanied by a hand drawing, along with information about wild harvest methods, alternatives to wild harvest, and uses for the species. The report is well organized, including helpful items such as a table of contents that lists every included species, an explanation of the terms and categories used, and a list of species found in the range but not described in this report. Users with low bandwidth should be wary though; the file is 3.0 MB. [AL]
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Chemical Acronyms Database
http://129.79.137.107/cfdocs/libchem/searchu.html
The Chemical Acronyms Database is a project of the Indiana University Science Libraries that offers students a useful tool for dealing with the often overwhelming abundance of chemical terms and acronyms. Simply type part or all of an acronym or keyword, and a list of terms that match appears. Easy to use and uncomplicated, this site also allows visitors to add to the growing database through an online form. [JAB]
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Recycle City [Shockwave]
http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
Recycling made fun. The Environmental Protection Agency's Recycle City Web site offers students an interactive way to learn how recycling can affect their environment. Users can click any part of the cartoon drawing of the city to learn about that particular building or site and what can be done to decrease waste. The site also contains a more involved exercise called the Dumptown game, where visitors click on City Hall to view various recycling programs and choose the program(s) the city will implement. Once implemented, that activity can be seen taking place in Dumptown. Although the Dumptown exercise may require the help of a teacher to navigate for younger students, both exercises are excellent for K-12 teachers and students. [JAB]
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The Code Unravelled [Flash]
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0122628/main.php
This excellent Web site is a winner of the 2001 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge. Developed by a team of students, The Code Unravelled is a creative way to learn about DNA and its influence on all living things. The best way to view the site is with the Flash plug-in, but much of the information is accessible in text-only format. With interactive trait inheritance games and virtual lab demonstrations, the Games section is a highlight of the site. The Articles section, however, is the heart of the site, detailing the science of DNA in words and pictures. To access the site, you will need to click on the appropriate link on the ThinkQuest site. [AL]
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NOAA Fisheries [.pdf]
http://www.oar.noaa.gov/k12/html/fisheries.html
Part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Web site, Science with NOAA Research, the Fisheries page gives a unique look into fisheries conservation in the US. Students read various linked sites, follow the given directions, and answer related questions for each section. A downloadable version of the directions and questions section is provided, which may help simplify the exercise, as some require several steps. This site gives an excellent introduction to a topic which often gets overlooked in many k-12 biology and conservation classes and is definitely worth visiting. [JAB]
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Cells Alive
http://www.cellsalive.com/index.htm
The Cells Alive Web site (last mentioned in the October 25, 1996 Scout Report), offered by Quill Graphics, contains several activities to help students understand the basics of cellular biology. The animal cell cycle and cell mitosis animations are especially excellent visual learning tools, clearly showing what takes place during these events and giving well-written descriptions of each stage. The site also has three interactive quizzes on cell structure, cell function, microbes, and the immune system. [JAB]
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NatureWorks
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/
Developed by New Hampshire Public Television and the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, NatureWorks offers teachers an excellent resource for biologically related subjects geared for students grades 3-6. Sixteen topics are included, ranging from species diversity to fresh water communities. Each subject has a one page description for students to read and a short quiz for them to take. A teacher's guide offers additional vocabulary, hands-on activities, teaching tips, and external links. [JAB]
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The Biotechnology Science Center
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/tc00006e.html
Strategis is a department of the Canadian federal government that wants to harness the power of the Internet to expedite information to the public. Its Web site, The Biotechnology Science Center, is a good resource for advanced high school and college students learning about the basics of biotechnology, including subjects like cloning, xenotransplantation, gene therapy, transgenic organisms, and genetic testing. Each case study gives an easy-to-understand, multiple page description with attractive diagrams as well as many links to find additional information. [JAB]
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Biomedia: Learning Programs for Biology [.pdf]
http://ebiomedia.com/
Biomedia Associates is a group of biologists, educators, and film-makers collaborating to educate students about the multitude of creatures on earth. Even though the company's main focus is educational films that can be purchased online, this site provides a wide variety of educational materials: galleries of beautiful images, descriptions of fascinating creatures, and more. Images and text from each film can be previewed online, along with several reviews. Teachers can download free teaching guides corresponding to each film in .pdf format. [AL]
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South Florida Virtual Tour [.ipex]
http://sofia.usgs.gov/virtual_tour/index.html
Southern Florida contains some of the most unique landscape and biology in the US. The US Geological Society and Southern Florida Information Access (SOFIA) maintains the South Florida Virtual Tour in hopes of sharing the beauty of the area and promoting its protection. Visitors can tour sixteen areas (e.g., the Everglades and the Florida Keys); view images (still and 360 degree), illustrations, and maps; and read simple but informative descriptions about the landscape and biota. The site is easy to navigate and enjoyable to explore. [JAB]
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The Brain Connection [Flash, Shockwave]
http://www.brainconnection.com/
The Scientific Learning Corporation maintains the Brain Connection, a Web site "dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality information about how the brain works and how people learn." This extensive site has descriptions, pictures, animations, puzzles, quizzes and much more on nearly every aspect of the human brain. Everyone from kids to adults will find hours of interesting and fun exploration at this well-constructed Web site. [JAB]
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NOVA Online: Life's Greatest Miracle
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/
The companion Web site to the NOVA program Life's Greatest Miracle, which PBS will re-broadcast on February 26th, is a great site for anyone interested in human pregnancy and fetal development. With wide-ranging information, this Web site is likely to appeal to many different audiences; users can even choose to view the entire program online. Those users interested mainly in the science of human development will enjoy How Cells Divide and How Sex is Determined. Those more interested in learning about pregnancy can read journal entries from an expectant mother or learn about various screening techniques used to assess the health of an unborn baby. An essay on the stem cell debate gives insight to the controversial topic. A teacher's guide is also provided, offering suggestions for discussion and activities associated with the television program. [AL]
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The Horseshoe Crab
http://www.horseshoecrab.org/
An entire site devoted to the Horseshoe Crab? The Ecological Research and Development Group (ERDG) has a "commitment to protect this remarkable mariner who plays a vital role in nature's delicately balanced food web and whose life-sustaining contributions to humanity have yet to be fully realized." This well-designed site gives descriptions of the Horseshoe Crab's natural history, evolution, anatomy, medical uses, conservation, research, and even a section devoted to poems, tales, and images. [JAB]
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Carl Hayden Bee Research Center
http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov
The Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, part of the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service, conducts ecological studies of honey bees to improve honey production and pollination of agricultural crops. This award-winning Web site has recently added an Expert Forum on Honey Bees where users are able submit their questions to USDA experts and receive a response via email. A database of previously submitted questions and answers is maintained for viewers to browse or search. Additionally, researchers, beekeepers, students, and homeowners will find many other features of interest, including a fact sheet on Africanized honeybees, a handbook on plants that require pollination, and a natural history of honey bees. Although I was unable to download some of the models or view some of the photos, this site has plenty of valuable information. [AL]
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Epidemiological Information on Bioterrorism
http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/bioterrorism.html
"...bioterrorism thrives on public fear." Dr. Ralph R. Frerichs of the UCLA School of Public Health maintains this Web site to educate students, the public, and health professionals about the public health impact of bioterrorism. The site offers links to recent articles about the public health threat of biological weapons and information about various diseases associated with possible biological weapons, including anthrax, smallpox, botulism and others. Unless you are a UCLA student, most viewers will choose to skip the Courses section, but users should check out the interactive Anthrax and Bioterrorism tutorial. Also, a feature that could easily be missed but is surprisingly thorough, Disease Detectives provides a substantial amount of data and analysis of the 2001 anthrax outbreak. [AL]
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WWF International: Canon Photogallery
http://wwfcanon.panda.org/index.html
Did you know that no two tigers have the same stripes? Or that the smallest bird in the world weighs only 2 grams? Learn this and much more on the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International's Canon Photogallery. Canon and the WWF have partnered to "raise awareness for the environment." See stunning photos from exotic places, organized into categories of People and Nature, Birds, Pandas, Endangered Seas, Tigers, and Gorillas. All of the amazing thumbnail images can be enlarged and are accompanied by a caption containing interesting tidbits about the animals or one of WWF's programs. [AL]
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Two on the First Human Cloned Embryo
"The First Human Cloned Embryo"
http://www.sciam.com/explorations/2001/112401ezzell/
"What Clones? Were Claims of the First Human Embryo Premature?"
http://www.sciam.com/explorations/2001/122401clone/index.html
The first is an article appearing in the January 2002 issue of Scientific American detailing what Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) claims is the first human cloned embryo. This online version describes the research that ACT calls the "dawn of a new age in medicine" and includes links to further information, covering ethical and legal considerations surrounding cloning and the difference between reproductive and therapeutic cloning. The second is a related Scientific American article that argues that the results are misleading. [AL]
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Animal Cloning
1. "Middle-Aged Dolly Develops Arthritis"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64317-2002Jan4.html
2. "Cloned Pigs May Offer Organ Transplants"
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/SciTech/reuters20020103_384.html
3. "Ethical, health concerns surround pursuit of pig-organ transplants"
http://nandotimes.com/healthscience/v-text/story/210328p-2030203c.html
4. Cloning Fact Sheet
http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/elsi/cloning.html
5. PPL Therapeutics
http://www.ppl-therapeutics.com/Welcome/Technology/technology.html
6. Roslin Institute
http://www.roslin.ac.uk/
7. PhRMA Genomics: A Global Resource
http://genomics.phrma.org/cloning.html
8. bioethics.net: Cloning and Genetics
http://www.ajobonline.com/cloning.php
The past few years have seen many changes in the field of genetics, including the ability to genetically clone mammals, first achieved in 1997 with a sheep named Dolly. Still a relatively new phenomenon, news stories are continually detailing new advances in cloning, reasons why cloning is important, and concerns about the safety and ethics of cloning. This week's Topic In Depth highlights some recent news articles and Web sites that address the topic of animal cloning.
The first site (1) is a recent article from the Washington Post about the sheep named Dolly, the world's first cloned mammal, who has developed arthritis at a relatively young age and has caused some to question whether cloning can have adverse health effects. An ABC news.com article (2) details the recent birth of five cloned piglets whose parent had been genetically engineered to remove a gene that causes human bodies to reject transplanted animal organs. An Associated Press article (3) discusses some concerns raised by scientists and ethicists surrounding the idea of xenotransplantation (animal to human transplantation). For users who need a primer on what exactly cloning means and why it is done, check out the Cloning Fact Sheet (4) . Developed by the Human Genome Project, it provides short, non-technical explanations of the different types of cloning and some links to other cloning related Web sites. Those users looking for more detailed information about cloning technology will find the next two sites interesting. PPL Therapeutics (5) , which created the five piglets and collaborated with the Roslin Institute (6) to clone Dolly, provides news articles and technical descriptions of cloning and related genetic technology. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's Web site (7) provides links to a tremendous amount of information surrounding all aspects of cloning, including recent congressional activity, news, and general resources. Although focused more heavily on human cloning, The American Journal of Bioethics Online (8) has a Web page with links to various articles relating to the ethical issues involved with cloning and genetics. [AL]
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Below are the copyright statements to be included when reproducing annotations from The NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences.
The single phrase below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing any portion of this report, in any format:
From The NSDL Scout Report for Life Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/
The paragraph below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing the entire report, in any format:
Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-2002. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.
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For information on additional contributors, see the Internet Scout Project staff page:
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