Explore the Future of Biology Education
MiniOne for AP Biology
In AP Biology, students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they learn about topics like heredity, ecology, and cell communication.
MiniOne is proud to have developed several hands-on, inquiry-based labs that use science practices to reinforce content in Units 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Each MiniLab has enough materials for a class of up to 40 students, and many can be completed within a classroom period.
Students are engaged with hands-on DNA electrophoresis experiments that bring textbook concepts to life, while streamlined protocols allow educators to focus on teaching, instead of spending precious time on prep, clean-up, and troubleshooting.
Aligned Labs for AP Biology
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
Students are introduced to the molecular building blocks of living things.
Aligned MiniLab:
Students learn how to assay for starch, glucose, proteins, lipids and DNA, then apply their new found skills to analyze substances with unknown macromolecules. Minimal teacher prep allows for quick set up and student inquiry.
Unit 4: Cell Communication
Students develop an understanding of how cells communicate and reproduce.
Aligned MiniLabs:
Connect the ability to taste or not taste PTC with cell signaling, and start the discussion about heredity.
Learn how disruptions in cell signalling can result in HER2 and/or ER breast cancer, diagnose which type of breast cancer patients have using molecular biology tools, then determine the best target therapy providing a personalized course of treatment.
Unit 5: Heredity
Students learn about patterns of inheritance.
Aligned MiniLab:
Students use family history to construct a pedigree, use Mendelian genetics to determine the probability of fraternal twins inheriting the disease, and then then confirm genotype via gel electrophoresis
Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
Students learn how genetic information in DNA is copied, interpreted, and controlled to produce specific traits.
Aligned MiniLab:
Let it Glow™ Bacterial Transformation MiniLab
Classic bacterial transformation experiment to help students understand gene expression and regulation without the intense prep. 10 minute prep and the ability to run the next day.
Unit 7: Natural selection / Unit 8: Ecology
Students investigate how populations evolve over time through selection pressures, genetic variation, and environmental change. In Unit 8, they learn how organisms interact with one another and with their environment, shaping ecosystems and biodiversity.
Aligned MiniLab:
Let it Glow™ Bacterial Transformation MiniLab
Classic bacterial transformation experiment to help students understand gene expression and regulation without the intense prep. 10 minute prep and the ability to run the next day.
What Educators Are Saying
This lab was wonderful, the students really enjoyed being able to create the gel themselves, figuring out and ensuring they did everything technique correctly, seeing the DNA movement in real-life, taking time-lapse videos and pictures. The overwhelming consensus was, “that lab was actually really cool!”; win-win!!
Brittany Kurinsky
Barnegat Township School District
Such a nice neat, clean result. Wish I had this equipment 25 years ago. We are having a great week in A PBiology thanks to MiniOne! Thank you for your good work.
Bob Freeborn
Blackhawk Christian School
This equipment was used successfully in all levels of biology (biology, honors biology and AP biology). 100% of my students were able to follow the directions and produce a DNA profile. Students were thrilled to photograph their results and share their experience on social media.
