Written in 1996, and published by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), this book looks at issues surrounding the use of genetic modification in agriculture.

The chapters in the book...

This colourful leaflet from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) looks at how environmental factors have affected human evolution. It includes a timeline and map showing how and where humans have developed and changed over millions of years.

Humans are a truly global species. We have colonised...

Darwin Day celebrates the birth of this eminent scientist who challenged the status quo of beliefs of the time to propose the radical new idea of evolution through natural selection. This collection brings together different resources from various publishers, suitable for all ages. For primary pupils the Darwin...

Published in April 2015 this is the final report evaluating the impact of a continuing professional development (CPD) science course for primary school teachers. The course was developed by the Wellcome Trust and the National STEM Learning Centre, and was designed to train primary teachers to become primary science...

The British Science Association has been running the STEM enrichment programme for young people for almost 30 years.  This report is the first quantitative evidence of the impact of extra-curricular STEM interventions.

The report reveals that undertaking a CREST Silver Award appears to have a significant...

Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the themes of harnessing technology and continued professional development. This project was set up to develop effective ways of collecting and reviewing student evaluation in Hillcroft College, a London Further Education college....

This issue of Catalyst includes the following articles:

Fruit Flies and Alzheimer's Disease

This article looks at some basic aspects of genetics and how fruit flies are being used in novel ways to study genetic diseases....

One of a series of articles for post-16 students published by Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS). Chloroplasts evolved from photosynthetic bacteria and contain DNA encoding a remnant of their original bacterial genes. 

This booklet discusses how the study of chloroplast genes has helped biologists...

In this activity from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), students investigate what causes a Venus’ Fly Trap to shut. These experiments are related to a series of investigations that Darwin carried out as part of his work on evolution and adaptation and background...

This activity introduces Darwin’s ideas on evolution by looking at variation, adaptation and distribution of banded snails. Children learn about Charles Darwin, then work as science explorers looking at different habitats and the snails found in them. Using correct vocabulary, they describe habitats and the snails...

In this Triple Crossed activity, from the Centre for Science Education and supported by the Astra Zeneca Teaching Trust, students are provided with information about Charles Darwin and his work.

The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection is discussed and students are asked to comment on the...

Four big issues:

• The case for human space flight
• Who owns space?
• Should we really put anything into space?

Genetic selection for screening astronauts and the implications

This booklet contains a range of suggested teaching activities and contexts for teaching about genomes at A level. Curriculum links include genetic sequencing, DNA profiling, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), electrophoresis

This poster illustrates the stages of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the uses of this in cancer research, tissue matching, forensic medicine, infection detection and genetic testing.

A collection of images representing semi conservative DNA replication:

Illustration depicting semi-conservative DNA replication 1. Three generations of DNA are shown. After separation of the DNA double helix, two new complementary DNA strands are synthesised (indicated by a new colour)....