Free Biology Homework Assignments
Free Microbiology and Cell Biology Homework Assignments
Free Microbiology and Cell Biology Homework Assignments


Biology Homework Assignments

from Science Prof Online

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ANAT & PHYSGENERAL BIOCELL BIOMICRO 8wkMICRO 15wkINSTRUCTORS



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SPO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS
METABOLISM

Aerobic Cellular Respiration 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Helps students relate gas exchange to the steps of aerobic respiration.

Alcoholic Fermentation 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Where do the bubbles in beer come from?

Catabolism of Proteins and Fats 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Students describe how the breakdown of fats and proteins produced molecules that can "take cuts" into the steps of cellular respiration.

Metabolism Biology Paper [Assignment Instructions]
Students choose whether to track their own diet and calculate calories consumed, or read one of two books that do a good job of relating cell biology to human health - Ultrametabolism or Ultraprevention. Students love this assignment, and frequently comment on how much they learned.

Monsters Inside Me TV Show on Parasitism from Animal Planet

Monsters Inside Me

TV show, from Animal Planet, presenting case studies of people with parasitic infections. So interesting, you'll learn about parasitism without even trying!
See our related homework pages:

Monsters Inside Me Prokaryotes
MIM Eukaryotes Part 1
MIM Eukaryotes Part 2

​GENERAL BIOLOGY / CELL BIOLOGY

Scientific Inquiry [Radiolab Homework]
Assignment based on the Radiolab podcast "Yellow Fluff and Other Curious Encounters" an episode based on the curious characters called scientists and their quest for knowledge. What's in Oliver Sacks' fine wooden box? What did Jerry Coyne feed his pet maggot? What the heck are scientists thinking, anyways? Teaching opportunities for this episode: scientific curiosity, periodic table, parabolas and parasites

Darwinvaganza! [Radiolab Homework]
In "Darwinvaganza", students learn about some of the experiments done and observations made by Charles Darwin during the 20+ years he spent 'shoring up' and struggling with the implications of his theory of natural selection. Teaching opportunities for this episode: Charles Darwin, natural selection, evolution, true love

Prokaryote Cell Structure 
[Homework or all Student Materials Cell Bio or Microbio]
Students label and define parts of a prokaryotic cell.

This page provides links to many biology homework assignments, all currently used, continually tested and refined in live courses. New assignments are regularly added and updated. If you'd like to be notified of new materials on SPO, follow us on Facebook.
Science Prof Online (SPO) is a free science education website. The Instructor's Corner offers fully developed general biology, cell biology and microbiology courses; materials currently used in real, live high school and college introductory science classrooms. 

Radiolab Logo

"Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every conceived notion, follow humbly wherever and whatever abysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing."

 - Thomas Huxley (1825-95)

The VBC offers homework assignments based on Radiolab 
podcasts. 

RADIOLAB PODCASTS: 
 "Yellow Fluff"
Curious stories about what drives scientists!

"Henrietta's Tumor"
The story of Henrietta Lack's and her immortal cells.

Darwinvaganza!
What was Chuck Darwin doing during the 20+ years he noodled over his new theory before publishing?

"CRISPR"
Science will use it to fight cancer and maybe even bring extinct animals back from the dead!

"Shrink"
Viruses have been downsizing!

"Parasites"
What's eating you is smarter than you think!


HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
Yellow Fluff HW doc
Henrietta's Tumor HW
Darwinvaganza!
CRISPR HW doc
- Shrink HW doc 
(coming soon!)
Parasites HW doc


Students are crazy about Radiolab! See what they have to say about the podcast in:
Love Letters to Radiolab

Virtual Biology
Classroom






You have FREE access to a large collection of materials used in a college-level introductory biology course. The Virtual Biology Classroom provides a wide range of free educational resources including PowerPoint Lectures, Study Guides, Review Questions &  Practice Test Questions.
Hawaiian Ginger Flower
GENETICS

Cell Division - Meiosis 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Diagram and describe steps of meiosis starting with six chromosomes. 

Cell Division - Mitosis 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Diagram and describe steps of mitosis starting with six chromosomes.

CRISPR [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
Episode explores CRISPR, a cutting-edge method of genetic engineering. Scientists may someday be able to use it to fight cancer and even resurrect extinct animal. But could tinkering with this biotechnology change the course of human evolution?
Teaching opportunities for this episode: genetic engineering, bioethics

DNA Replication 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Prompts students to relate the antiparallel nature of DNA to how it must be copied.

Genetic Transcription & Translation 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Students define these processes, transcribe a segment of DNA and translate proteins.

Inheritance [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
Exercise based on the Radiolab podcast "Inheritance,"
a genetics episode presenting "stories of nature and nurture slamming into each other and shaping our biological blueprint".

Genetics & Heredity 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Students examine their phenotype and possible genotype for several traits of simple inheritance.

Page last updated: 10/2015
​MICROBIOLOGY

Differential & Selective Bacterial Growth Media
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]​
Students identify and describe the selective and differential aspects of of two types of specialized growth media from photos.

Microbial Metabolism 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]​
Highlights the relationship between differential bacterial growth media and microbial metabolism. This same homework assignment is also listed below under Differential & Selective Bacterial Growth Media. 
Microbial Genetics & Gene Transfer 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Assignment helps students rehearse their understanding of the different types of microbial horizontal gene transfer.

Patient Zero [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
The "Patient Zero" podcast episode begins with the story of perhaps the most iconic Patient Zero of all time: Typhoid Mary, then unfolds a molecular detective story to pinpoint the true beginning of the AIDS epidemic. 
Teaching opportunities for this episode: epidemiology, ethics, typhoid, history of HIV, tracing HIV lineages through genetics

Parasites [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
What's gotten into you? The "Parasites" Radiolab episode tells the fascinating story of several parasites including hookworms, parasitic wasps, flukes and protozoans, then asks listeners, “Are parasites degenerates or some of evolution’s craftiest forms of life?” Teaching opportunities for this episode: parasite ecology, microbiology, challenge student perception of parasites, hookworm, toxoplasmosis. 

Rabies [Radiolab Homework Assignment]
Based on the Radiolab podcast "Rodney vs Death," this episode describes the disease, history of rabies treatment, and details Jenna Giese's amazing recovery following use of the Milwaukee Protocol.
​Teaching opportunities for this episode: viruses, infectious disease, history of rabies, treatment of rabies, medical ethics

MORE > Microbiology Homework Assignments - FREE!


Missing Microbes [NPR Homework Assignment]
Based on Terri Gross' interview with Dr. Martin Blaser, author of "Missing Microbes", a book about the potential importance of the human microbiome, this assignment helps students rehearse their understanding of the different types of microbial horizontal gene transfer.

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Virtual Cell Biology
Classroom






You have FREE access to a large collection of materials used in a college-level introductory Cell Biology Course. The Virtual Cell Biology Classroom provides a wide range of FREE educational resources including Power Point Lectures, Study Guides, Review Questions and Practice Test Questions.
Endomembrane System of a Eukaryotic Cell, Mariana Ruiz
Virtual Microbiology
Classroom

8 week or 
16 week course





​ 
The Virtual Microbiology Classrooms provide a wide range of free educational resources including PowerPoint Lectures, Study Guides,  Practice Test Questions, 
Microbiology Images & Videos.
Ermahgerd Microbiology Science
FREE SCIENCE POWERPOINT LECTURES

Classroom-tested science PPT lectures
FREE from 
ScienceProfOnline.com

Free Science Lecture  PowerPoints
Eukaryote Cell Structure
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Students draw and label a eukaryotic cell, then relate how the endomembrane system would create a lipopeptide and either destroy or ship it out of the cell.

HeLa Cells [Radiolab Homework]
Assignment based on a Radiolab podcast episode called "Henrietta's Tumor". Although she died of cervical cancer in 1951, Henrietta's tumor cells gave rise to the first immortal cell line, HeLa. Learn more about this amazing story by watching the Good Morning America segment "The Gift of Life."
Teaching opportunities for this episode: HeLa cells, mitosis, cancer, medical ethics, cell biology research 
​​
Osmosis 
[Homework Assignment or all Student Materials]
Students describe what would happen, osmotically to a cell placed in honey. Assignment includes an illustration.