This Mathematics Matters case study looks at how mathematicians are aiding the fight against viruses. Many viruses have a symmetrical structure made from basic building blocks, and biologists have struggled to explain some of the more detailed shapes. Now mathematicians are using complex theories of symmetry to...

These technical briefs look at how to store and preserve food in a number of different ways. This is a vital part of food security and enables farmers to provide nutritious food for a longer period to feed their families and to provide an income.

Technical briefs are documents produced by Practical Action...

This article on Genetic Databases appeared in Biologist magazine in 2001. The resource is provided by the Association for Science Education (ASE).

What we eat; how we function (even to the smallest active molecule); every creature, microbe or plant that lives and grows in, on and around us - all these...

One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. An enjoyable and thought-provoking introduction to the topic of sexual reproduction in plants. Students observe in real time the growth of a pollen tube, over the course of a lesson. When a pollen...

This booklet, from the Microbiology Society, gives an overview of the swine flu story so far. In eight pages it covers the disease, the causal virus, how it is transmitted, who is affected and how the disease can be treated. The National Immunisation Programme, international pandemic preparedness and the...

The resource, from the Microbiology Society, clarifies the difference between HIV and AIDS. The booklet describes the HIV virus, how it replicates and how it causes the disease. The stages of the infection are charted and transmission of HIV is explained, together with sections covering tests, treatments and work...

Produced by Understanding Animal Research, this information leaflet looks at the regulation of animal research in the UK. The law safeguards animals while allowing important medical research to continue.

The leaflet is useful as information for teachers and also as background or research information for...

Influenza or flu is a common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. This resource, from the Microbiology Society, gives an overview of the disease, how the infection is transmitted, infection, replication of the virus inside the body, the immune response and how vaccines are developed. It also explores the...

One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. An enjoyable and reliable practical activity allowing students to compare factors affecting photosynthesis. Possible investigations could include the rate of photosynthesis in sun and shade plants,...

One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. In this practical activity, students to investigate the role of light in starch production in leaves during the process of photosynthesis. By using leaf discs rather than whole leaves, a number of...

One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. This activity offers a simple way to investigate phototropism: the response of seedlings to different wavelengths of light. This technique will help students investigate this tropic response, using...

One of a series from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. This practical introduces a simple method to grow radishes, for investigations into the effect of a range of factors on plant growth, including levels of pollutants,...

One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology.

This activity allows students to investigate many factors that influence seed germination, including temperature, light, nutrient levels, pollutant effects, tropisms and so on.

It...

This Mathematics Matters case study, from the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, looks at how mathematics modelling can aid investigations into the circulatory system. Blood-related diseases can seriously harm patients’ quality of life and even lead to death. Many of these diseases are caused by...

Produced by the Royal Astronomical Society, this booklet examines the possibility of extraterrestrial life in the Universe. Many astronomers believe that there is life out there, but where is it? Is there life comparatively nearby, in our Solar System, or do we have to look to planets beyond the solar system that...