Educator’s
Corner

Welcome to the Biomedical Beat Educator’s Corner! This free resource is designed for educators to build on the existing NIH STEM content, like topics from our Pathways collaboration with Scholastic and other basic science areas, through the integration of supplemental material in Biomedical Beat blog posts. The Educator’s Corner is intended to give you additional tools to use in your lesson plans.
Below you’ll find a carefully curated list of blog posts from NIGMS that connect topically to STEM categories. We also provide suggestions for how to use the posts as educational supplements.








Pharmacology
What Happens to Medicine in Your Body?

ABOUT THE POST
The second post in our pharmacology miniseries introduces pharmacokinetics, the study of how the body acts on a medicine. The post follows a medicine entering the body, finding its therapeutic target, and eventually leaving the body to answer the common question, “What happens to medicine in your body?”
ACTIVITY
What Is Pharmacology?

ABOUT THE POST
The first post in our pharmacology miniseries gives an overview of the research-based science situated at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and medicine. Pharmacologists explore how molecules and bodies interact, and their research can have major impacts to how we understand human health and how clinicians treat patients.
ACTIVITY
The Vaccine Science Issue
Science Snippet: RNA’s Remarkable Roles

ABOUT THE POST
RNA molecules play essential roles in protein building and other cellular processes. They also have the potential to help prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.
This post discusses RNA’s role in protein synthesis and in the COVID-19 vaccines, which is the topic of Pathways.
ACTIVITY
Science Snippet: The Marvels of Membranes

ABOUT THE POST
The boundaries of cells and many organelles are marked by membranes—layers of lipids and proteins. Membranes not only provide structure, but also control the import and export of molecules and support cellular communication.
For mRNA vaccines to be effective, they must be able to cross membranes. Pathways mentions that the mRNA is specially packaged to cross these membranes.
ACTIVITY
In Other Words: Translation Isn’t Only for Languages

ABOUT THE POST
What comes to mind when you hear or see the word translation? Likely, you might think about converting words from one language into another. But in biology, translation means producing proteins from messenger RNA. It’s part of the system through which DNA directs the processes of life. Our cells carry out translation constantly to build protein molecules that transport oxygen, defend us against infection, and perform many other tasks.
This post explains how the body makes proteins from mRNA, which is what’s found in the vaccines for COVID-19 described in Pathways.
ACTIVITY
COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutic Trials ACTIV-ate in West Virginia

ABOUT THE POST
The NIH-supported Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines partnership is coordinating nationwide clinical trials of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. NIGMS-funded clinical and translational research networks are stepping up to help these trials reach underserved areas and populations. In this post, we highlight a network in West Virginia that involves people from rural parts of the state in trials.
This post discusses clinical trials for COVID-19 in rural areas, including the trials for the vaccine described in Pathways.
ACTIVITY
The Brain and Anesthesia Issue
All About Anesthesia

ABOUT THE POST
Anesthesia is a medical marvel that keeps patients from feeling pain. If you’ve ever had a surgery or even a minor procedure, you’ve probably benefited from it! In this post, we dive into the different types of anesthesia, its history, the way it works, and NIGMS-supported research on it.
ACTIVITY
Science Snippet: Get to Know Your Nerve Cells

ABOUT THE POST
Did you know that some cells in our bodies use electricity to carry information? These nerve cells, or neurons, are fundamental for how we interact with our environment. In this post, we explore the role of nerve cells and describe NIGMS-supported research on them.
Nerve cells allow us to feel pain (among other things), and anesthetics, as described in Pathways, prevent us from feeling pain.
ACTIVITY
Biology Beyond the Lab: Using Computers to Study Life

ABOUT THE POST
Computers and mathematical methods are increasingly important tools for studying biology. In this post, we share the stories of a medical doctor who aims to use these tools to predict sepsis and a computer scientist who applies them to understand cell development pathways.
Pathways discusses machine learning as a possible way to discover a definitive biomarker for pain. This post explains how scientists use computers to study biological processes.
ACTIVITY
The Imaging Issue
Photo Quiz: Puzzles in Purple

ABOUT THE POST
This quiz features eye-catching, purple-hued images paired with questions that test your knowledge of basic science concepts. The images were captured using some of the techniques described in Pathways.
ACTIVITY
Automating Cellular Image Analysis to Find Potential Medicines

ABOUT THE POST
Anne Carpenter, Ph.D., has developed software for analyzing images of cells that can identify signs of diseases and potential medicines to treat them. Thousands of researchers, including many at pharmaceutical companies, have adopted her computer program. Dr. Carpenter never imagined this achievement when she started her journey in science as a biologist without any computer science training.
Both this post and Pathways describes tools used for imaging microscopic biological structures such as cells.
ACTIVITY
Fifty Years of the Protein Data Bank!

ABOUT THE POST
Since 1971, the Protein Data Bank has served the scientific community as an open-access resource of 3D protein structures. To celebrate 50 years as a key resource in the community, we spotlight an educational board game that simulates the process of determining a protein’s structure. Knowing the structures of proteins and other biological molecules helps scientists understand their roles in human health and disease and leads to the discovery of new and more effective medications.
Researchers use many imaging techniques in determining protein (and other macromolecular) structures. Some of these techniques are described in Pathways, and others are introduced in this post.
ACTIVITY
Cool Video: A Biological Lava Lamp

ABOUT THE POST
The glowing, twisting cells in this video look just like a bubbling lava lamp, but they actually show a step of egg cell development.
The video was taken using a confocal laser scanning microscopy (sometimes shortened to just “confocal microscopy”), one of the techniques mentioned in the Pathways timeline (1970s).
ACTIVITY
A Focus on Microscopes: See Eye-Catching Images

ABOUT THE POST
Did you know that there are many kinds of microscopes? Each offers its own advantages to researchers studying the tiny components of life, but all of them can capture eye-catching images.
The images in this post were taken using some of the imaging techniques described in Pathways.
DISCUSSION
Through the Looking Glass: Microscopic Structures in Many Sizes

ABOUT THE POST
Microscopic structures can vary greatly in size. The largest objects that we view through microscopes are about 10 million times larger than the smallest!
The relative sizes in the microscopic world described in Pathways can be difficult to conceptualize. This post describes an interactive tool to view these relative sizes.
ACTIVITY
Superbugs
Antibiotic Resistance and Researchers Studying It

ABOUT THE POST
Test your knowledge of bacterial infections with this quiz, using examples from some of the scientists we’ve featured on the blog who explore new ways to fight antibiotic resistance. This post and Pathways discuss antibiotic resistance.
ACTIVITY
Science Snippet: Brush Up on Biofilms

ABOUT THE POST
Microbes often form organized communities called biofilms. Some are useful to people, but others cause disease. Many NIGMS-supported researchers study biofilms and are developing ways to combat those that can threaten your health.
Pathways describes antibiotic-resistant superbugs, and this post describes biofilms, which are also antibiotic resistant.
DISCUSSION
Cool Images: Bewitching Bacteria

ABOUT THE POST
The effects of bacteria on our bodies range from helpful to life threatening. But regardless of their relationship to us, many species of bacteria can be surprisingly stunning.
This post shows pictures of bacteria, and Pathways is all about bacteria and superbugs.
ACTIVITY
Exploring Nature’s Treasure Trove of Helpful Compounds

ABOUT THE POST
Compounds that plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals produce can sometimes help people as well. In fact, many medicines, molecules used in research, and other useful compounds originated in nature.
Natural products are a source for new antibiotics that may help us fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and superbugs.
ACTIVITY
The Circadian Rhythms Issue
Why Am I So Tired?

ABOUT THE POST
Circadian rhythms are your internal timekeepers—they control daily activities such as when you go to sleep and wake up. When they fall out of sync with your environment, you may feel groggy and have trouble focusing.
ACTIVITY
Quiz: What Can Research Organisms Reveal About Health?

ABOUT THE POST
Research organisms such as fruit flies and mice help scientists better understand basic biological processes and develop treatments for human diseases. This interactive quiz tests your knowledge of these important creatures.
Much of what we know about circadian rhythms in humans was first discovered in research organisms.
ACTIVITY
Scientist Interview: Investigating Circadian Rhythms with Michael W. Young

ABOUT THE POST
When circadian rhythms are disrupted—for instance, by the beginning or ending of daylight saving time that occurs each March and November—we often feel “off” until our bodies adjust. But for some people, this adjustment never happens. Nobel laureate Michael W. Young, Ph.D., describes his current research on circadian rhythms and delayed sleep phase disorder in a short video interview.
The scientist interviewed in this post, Dr. Michael W. Young, was awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize for his research on circadian rhythms.
ACTIVITY
The Regeneration Issue
A Tale of Tails: How Reptile Regeneration Could Help Humans

ABOUT THE POST
Thomas Lozito, Ph.D., has been fascinated by lizards since he was about 4 years old. He now researches how they regrow their tails in hopes of unlocking secrets that could ultimately improve human healing. Within the next 10 years, Dr. Lozito aims to take his research a step closer to humans by enabling a mouse to regenerate its tail.
Both this post and Pathways feature Dr. Lozito and his research on regeneration.
ACTIVITY
Make Like a Cell and Split: Comparing Mitosis and Meiosis

ABOUT THE POST
Mitosis is essential for growth and cell replacement, while meiosis creates egg and sperm cells for reproduction. In this post, an illustration places the two types of cell division side by side, emphasizing their striking similarities and key differences.
Our bodies may not regenerate like some of the research organisms described in Pathways, but they can heal and replace damaged cells through mitosis—the subject of this post.
ACTIVITY
Quiz Yourself to Grow What You Know About Regeneration

ABOUT THE POST
Do you know which tissues and organs the human body can regenerate? How about which animals can regrow entire limbs? Our quiz will test your knowledge of regeneration and regenerative medicine.
This post quizzes how much you know about regeneration, the topic of Pathways.
ACTIVITY
Interview With a Scientist: Unlocking the Secrets of Animal Regeneration With Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado

ABOUT THE POST
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., is making exciting discoveries in the field of regenerative medicine. For the last 2 decades, NIGMS has supported the work of his laboratory in studying flatworms to uncover the genetic and developmental basis of regeneration. In a short video interview, Sánchez Alvarado describes his research findings and how they might impact our health.
Both this post and Pathways feature Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., and his work in regenerative medicine.
DISCUSSION
Basic Science Careers
How Research Works: Understanding the Process of Science

ABOUT THE POST
Have you ever wondered how scientific discoveries are made? Scientists follow the scientific method when they ask questions about the world around them. They perform experiments, analyze their results, and draw conclusions based on the results.
Pathways introduces the important role that scientists play in understanding the world around us, and all scientists use the scientific method as they make discoveries—which is explained in this post.
ACTIVITY
Any of Our Posts on Being a Scientist!

ABOUT THE POST
We regularly interview scientists to hear about their research and what led them to where they are in their careers. Check out our Q&As with:
- Evolutionary biologist William Ratcliff
- Biomolecular engineer Markita Landry
- Bioengineer César de la Fuente
- Organic chemist Elizabeth Parkinson
- Biochemist Alexis Komor
- Medicinal inorganic chemist Eszter Boros
- Immunoengineer Caroline Jones
- Clinician-scientist Faheem Guirgis
- And more in our Being a Scientist category
We also have posts highlighting some of the researchers featured in Pathways, including Computational biologist Melissa Wilson and Geneticist Michael Young.
Pathways discusses the importance of basic science, and these posts highlight researchers who study different fields of basic science.
DISCUSSION
Select a topic from the dropdown above to view blog posts that directly or indirectly connect to the STEM topics along with activity suggestions for how to use the posts as educational supplements.
Other Resources for Your Classroom
If you’re looking for other educational supplements, check out the short scientific posts in these series:
Find more educational content and curriculum supplements on our NIH-wide K-12 STEM resources website.
We’d love to hear how you’re using these resources or if there’s one you suggest that we add. Feel free to leave these comments below!