Biology 12 electives – molecular biology, biological control, and human ecology

BiologyEcology & EnvironmentAges 17–18

Three Biology 12 elective topics in one simulation, selected with the topic parameter. Molecular biology: run a PCR reaction through the denaturation 95 °C – annealing 55 °C – extension 72 °C cycle, with the number of DNA copies rising as 2ⁿ and showing up on a gel. Biological control: release natural predators into a field to keep pests in check, compared with spraying pesticide once pests become resistant. Human ecology: choose a lifestyle for diet, travel, and electricity use to calculate the ecological footprint in global hectares and the number of Earths it would take.