Welcome to GENE... 

Dedicated to rescuing teachers and other students from terminal boredom by helping them do real science with modern research organisms


The GENE Project | The GENE Team | Yeast Experiments | Download files | Yeast Strains and Supplies | Photos| Frequently Asked Questions (NEW!)

Yeast Strains and Supplies from Carolina
Carolina Biological Supply Company is now selling GENE yeast strains, media and other supplies.

About the GENE Project
Teacher-scientist collaborations to adapt modern research organisms and techniques to the classroom through workshops, laboratory procedures, video tape, and computer simulation.

About the GENE Team
Scientists and teachers available for brain picking.

A Classroom Guide To Yeast Experiments
These articles describe genetics and radiation experiments using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), a popular eukaryotic microbe for genetics and molecular biology research. They include student experiments and techniques, teacher tips, background material, integrated applications to environmental science, math, and physics, and sources of supplies.

UVRISK: Biological Consequences of UV exposure and Ozone Depletion.
This MS-DOS computer program allows you to explore the biological response to UV radiation from a variety of sources, including sunlight. You can select the UV source, a variety of UV blockers, including ozone, and the specific biological response. Use it to predict the results of experiments using yeast to monitor solar UV exposure. Click here to download this program. Then read the file UVRISK.TXT.

Classroom Experiments with Flour Beetles ( Tribolium castaneum)
These friendly, non-flying beetles have become important research organisms for studying the genetic control of development. They are easy to grow and are an alternative to fruit flies for many classroom applications. Articles present techniques for culturing, sexing, making genetic crosses, and studying responses to pesticides. Sources of standard and mutant beetles and the simple materials required are included.

Experiments with "high-tech" plants
Rapid cycling plants provide many opportunities for classroom research. Brassica species, including Wisconsin Fast Plants and radishes, Arabidopsis thaliana and others have many application for studying genetics, physiology, and environmental interactions, including response to environmental radiation. For more information on these plants and how to order them please follow this link.

Diagram of the Life Cyle of Yeast

Some links to yeast research lab sites:


You may e-mail comments or questions about the GENE project or this Web site to   Tom Manney.
Last updated 11/29/01.