Each month Unlocking Life's Code selects the best possible web-based biology or genetics learning tool to be named "Resource of the Month."
The winning resources are shared on our homepage for the entire month. After that period they are celebrated here in our "Resource of the Month" collection of exemplary learning tools for teachers, students and the general public.
We accept nominations for resource of the month. Simply email us the URL of the resource. Selected online resources must appeal to all three audiences, be must be free of cost to the user, and be generally about biology and genetics.
Award Winners
The HHMI BioInteractive's CRISPR-Cas9 Learning Toolset: ULC Resource of the Month for May 2018 Our monthly search for the best free teaching resources for biology teachers has chosen a winner for May 2018: The HHMI BioInteractive's CRISPR-Cas9 online learning toolset: CRISPR-Cas9: Mechanism & Applications.
The 2018 USA Science & Engineering Festival: ULC Resource of the Month for March 2018 Held April 7-8 at the Washington, DC Convention Center, this event is free and open to the public. Explore all things STEM with 3,000 hands-on activities! Perfect for kids, teens, parents, teachers and STEM enthusiasts!
The Genome News Network: ULC Resource of the Month for February 2018 "A Quick Guide To Sequenced Genomes" from the Genome News Network provides the genomes of more than 180 organisms that have been sequenced since 1995.
Frontiers for Young Minds: ULC Resource of the Month for January 2018 Our monthly internet search for the best free teaching resources for biology teachers has a winner for January 2018: "Frontiers for Young Minds." A collection of freely available scientific articles by distinguished scientists that are reviewed for younger audiences by "a board of kids."
Understanding Science: ULC Resource of the Month for November 2017 The expansive "Understanding Science" website provides science resources for K-16 teachers, students, and science lovers in general. Complete with teacher resources and a resource library.
Advanced Bioinformatics: ULC Resource of the Month for October 2017 The free introductory bioinformatics curriculum from NWABR. The second part of a two-part effort in top-notch classroom support.
Introductory Bioinformatics: : ULC Resource of the Month for September 2017 The website of the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (NWABR) is free, easily accessible, and offers General, Student, and Research resources. Our focus this month will be the Teacher Center with its information for teachers of biomedical science.
The Archived Site of Information About the Human Genome Project: ULC Resource of the Month for August 2017 Our monthly Internet search for the best free teaching resources for biology teachers has arrived at a winner: The federal archive website for information from the original Human Genome Project, all 13 years!
Cell Size and Scale: ULC Resource of the Month for July 2017 Our monthly Internet search for the best free teaching resources for biology teachers has arrived at a winner: The University of Utah's Genetic Science Learning Center's "Cell Size and Scale" interactive.
"OpenCourseWare": ULC Resource of the Month for June 2017 "OpenCourseWare" from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Every MIT department and degree program posts course information with a syllabus, lecture notes, reading assignments, and additional learning exercises and exams: free for anyone to use!
"Explore Your Inner Animals": ULC Resource of the Month for May 2017 Students can explore anatomical structures of the human body and discover what they tell us about evolution and our relationship to other species in "Explore Your Inner Animals" from the Biointeractive website of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Genetics Home Reference: ULC Resource of the Month for April 2017 Easy-to-understand information on more than 1,100 health conditions, diseases, and syndromes. Plus: A primer on human genetics.
The University of California Museum of Paleontology's "Understanding Evolution": ULC Resource of the Month for March 2017 A one-stop source for information on teaching evolution.
Baylor College of Medicine "BioEd Online": ULC Resource of the Month for February 2017 Teaching aids in genetics, neuroscience, viruses, and other areas. Up-to-date materials and current science news edited by faculty and staff at the Baylor College of Medicine.
"The Evolution Lab" from NOVA Labs: ULC Resource of the Month for January 2017 "The Evolution Lab" from NOVA Labs at PBS provides games, videos, experts, and a teacher's guide on how to infuse top-level resources on evolution into your biology class.
The Surgeon General's Family History Tool: ULC Resource of the Month for November 2016 "The Surgeon General's Family History Tool." The Thanksgiving family gathering as a genetics lesson. Safe and easy to use!
Genetics 101: ULC Resource of the Month for October 2016 Our monthly Internet search for the best free teaching resources for bio teachers has arrived at a winner: "Genetics 101" from 23andMe and the Khan Academy. Whimsical, informative, and a must see!
The National Audubon Society's free Bird Call App: ULC Resource of the Month for August 2016 Recently updated. Features over 770 North American birds highlighting diversity and variation. A must see!
Stated Clearly: Science is for Everyone: ULC Resource of the Month for July 2016 Stated Clearly: Science Is For Everyone. Don't miss this excellent free series of narrated animations covering many of the hot topics in biology classes. These high-quality mini-movies use iconic references like Elvis Presley, Jurassic Park, and even the Wolverine to engage their audience. A must-see.
Images from the History of Medicine (IHM): ULC Resource of the Month for June 2016 From the National Library of Medicine. Over 70,000 downloadable, high quality images from the history of medicine. All free. Mendel, Jonas Salk, HGP posters, and more. A great resource for teachers and students.
Curriculum Modules at Teach.Genetics: ULC Resource of the Month for May 2016 Our monthly search for the best online teaching resources for bio teachers has chosen a winner for May: The robust biology curriculum modules offered free of charge by the Teach.Genetics team. Pigeon breeding genetics, the human microbiome, and over a dozen more. Perfect for teachers, home schoolers, and STEM enthusiasts!
The USA Science & Engineering Festival: ULC Resource of the Month for April 2016 The 2016 USA Science & Engineering Festival. Held April 16-17 in Washington, this event is free and open to the public. Over 3,000 hands-on activities. Perfect for kids, teens, parents, teachers and STEM enthusiasts.
“Image of the Week”: ULC Resource of the Month for March 2016 “Image of the Week” is a weekly presentation of scientific images from working scientists in the fields of life and earth sciences presented by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).
Science Buddies: ULC Resource of the Month for February 2016 “Science Buddies” is an award-winning website that offers valuable online support (24 hours a day) to K–12 students, parents, and teachers in many areas of science including ideas for well-designed science projects and activities for many other school and family projects.
"Teaching Evolution through Human Examples": ULC Resource of the Month For January 2016 This three-year exploratory research and development project features four curriculum units for (AP) biology classes that are aligned to learning objectives using human case studies to teach core evolutionary principles. Includes a Cultural and Religious Sensitivity Teaching Strategies Resource to help teachers create a comfortable and supportive classroom environment for teaching evolution.
GARD: ULC Resource of the Month For November 2015 GARD, established in 2012, offers a wealth of readily accessible online information about genetic and rare diseases sourced from NIH resources, medical texts, scientific journals, disease advocacy sites, and medical databases.
"Ask A Biologist": ULC Resource of the Month for October 2015 Started in 1997 as a biology learning resource tool for students, teachers, parents, and life-long learners, the site is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers and has answered more than 34,000 biology questions.
Cell Snap: ULC Resource of the Month For September 2015 Cell Snap is a free online teaching resource based on the always-popular picture-matching games, but with a novel focus on cell structure.
"Gene Screen" App: Our Resource of the Month for August 2015 "Gene Screen" is a fun way to learn how recessive genetic traits and diseases are inherited and how certain diseases are more prevalent in different populations.
"Skin and Bones" App: Our Resource of the Month for July 2015 "Skin and Bones" brings the Smithsonian's Bone Hall skeletons to life with 3-D graphics. Check it out!
GeneEd: ULC Resource of the Month for June 2015 The National Library of Medicine's "GeneEd" website for learning genetics is powerful, vetted, and robust. Check it out!
Map-Ed: ULC Resource of the Month for May 2015 Take a short quiz focused on genetics-related topics. “Pin” your location on a world map with hundreds of other quiz takers globally!
The iCell: ULC Resource of the Month for April 2015 Interactively explore the inner workings of a typical animal, plant or bacterial cell.
Cell Size and Scale: ULC Resource of the Month for March 2015 The Genetic Science Learning Center's amazing interactive.