free online life sciences education resource update 08/27/15
Mark Lasbury
Good morning,
Did you know that identical
twins aren’t anywhere near identical – they can even be different genetically.
Mosaic twins, mirror twins, parasitic twins: monozygotic twins come in many
flavors. Also, did you know that the biology of epigenetics can explain the
evil twins that show up on every TV show sooner or later or that in vitro
fertilization can actually can cause more twinning?
These are some of the recent stories we have addressed on a
free online resource developed to increase learner engagement and educator
content knowledge. As Many Exceptions As Rules tells the stories of organisms that
break biological rules or norms in order to survive and thrive. Through these
stories, the core concepts of the science are reinforced.
The resource can be accessed at: http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.com
Posted weekly, each story includes pertinent vocabulary with
etymology, interesting questions to spark discussion, links to the reports from
the latest research on the subject being discussed, and a list of online
resources for more information and classroom activities.
Upcoming topics will
include the story of how dizygotic (fraternal) twins are more interesting than
identical twins – why do taller, older, bigger, and Nigerian women have more
dizygotic twins? Another story tells you how close you and your mother really
are – you have some of her cells growing in you right now, and some of your
cells keep her from getting breast cancer!
If you wish to receive weekly e-mail notifications of new
posts, reply to the sender individually.
Mark E. Lasbury, MS, MSEd, PhD
Indiana University School of Medicine
IUPUI School of Education
As Many Exceptions As Rules