Skip to main content

Environmental Science

Learn about the environment with simulations that integrate ecology, geology, biology, and chemistry for an engaging laboratory experience.

Featured Simulations for Environmental Science

  • Cellular Respiration: Measuring Energy Production in Plants

    In this simulation, you will understand how cells can convert sugar molecules into usable energy using a process called cellular respiration and compare the volume of oxygen consumed by growing (germinating) soybean seeds and nongerminating soybean seeds in order to estimate the amount of cellular respiration occurring.

  • Sampling Ecosystem: Biological Sampling

    In this simulation, you will collect animals and plants from a defined area in an ecosystem, bring these organisms to the lab to sort and count them, and calculate the Simpson’s biodiversity index.

  • Osmosis: Movement of Water Across a Selectively Permeable Membrane

    In this simulation, you will examine osmosis using thistle tubes that are fitted with membranes over their large, open ends.

See the growing list of Environmental Science simulations here:

1st Lab Tutorial

  • Virtual Lab Tutorial 

Applying the Scientific Method 

  • Pillbug Preference 

Bacterial Genetics

  • Bacterial Transformation 

  • DNA Profiling

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 

Basic Chemistry 

  • Chemistry for Biology

  • Density of a Cube 
  • Properties of Water

  • Synthesis of Calcium Carbonate
  • Titration of Vinegar 

Cell Division 

  • Examining Mitosis 

  • Examining Meiosis

Cellular Respiration  

  • Measuring Energy Production in Plants

  • Yeast Fermentation 

Cell Structure

  • Examining Plant and Animal Cells

  • Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Size, Shape, and Function 

Chemical Composition of Cells 

  • Digestion of Starch 

  •  Emulsification of Lipids

  • Test for Fat 

  • Test for Proteins

  • Test for Starch 

  • Test for Sugars

DNA & Biotechnology 

  • DNA and RNA Structure

  • Gel Electrophoresis 

  • Isolation of DNA

Diffusion 

  • Diffusion Across a Selectively Permeable Membrane

  • Effect of Concentration on the Rate of Diffusion in a Semisolid 

  • Effect of Density of Media on the Rate of Diffusion

  • Effect of Molecular Weight on the Rate of Diffusion in Air 

Dissections

  • Shark (Vertebrate)

 

 

Environmental Studies

  • Climate change

  • Water Quality

Enzyme Function (How Enzymes Function) 

  • Effect of Concentration 

  • Effect of pH

  • Effect of Temperature 

  • Enzyme Activity

Evidence for Evolution 

  • Fossils and Comparative Anatomy

  • Molecular Evidence

  • Phylogeny and Cladistics 

Human Genetics 

  • Chromosomal Inheritance During Meiosis 

  • Genetic Inheritance

Lab Safety 

  • Hand Washing Procedure

  • Personal Safety 

Mendelian Genetics

  • Fruit Fly Characteristics 

  • Monohybrid Fruit Fly Cross

  • Monohybrid Plant Cross 

  • Dihybrid Fruit Fly Cross

  • Dihybrid Plant Cross 

  • X-Linked Fruit Fly Cross

Metric Measurements

  • Length 

  • Temperature

  • Volume 

  • Weight

Microbial Growth 

  • Effects of Osmotic Pressure

  • Effects of pH 

  • Effects of Temperature

  • Oxygen Requirements and Anaerobic Jar 

  • Oxygen Requirements and Fluid Thioglycolate Medium Tubes

Microscopy 

  • Animal Cells (Human Epidermal Cells)

  • Euglena Wet Mount 

  • Operation of a Brightfield Microscope

  • Plant Cells (Onion Epidermal Cells) 

  • Diversity of Microorganisms

  • Pond Water Wet Mount 

 

 

Natural Selection 

  • Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria 

  • Natural Selection in Insects

Organismal Diversity

  • Sponges and Cnidarians

  • Flatworms, Rotifers and Water Bears

Osmosis 

  • Movement of Water Across a Selectively Permeable Membrane

  • Tonicity in Elodea Cells 

  • Tonicity in Potato Strips

  • Tonicity in Red Blood Cells 

pH Balance

  • Antacids as Buffers 

  • Function of Buffers

Photosynthesis 

  • Carbon Dioxide Uptake

  • Comparing Green and Blue Light 

  • Determining Rate in White Light

  • Photosynthetic Pigments 

Plants

  • Angiosperm Reproduction 

  • Bloom Color and pH

  • Gravitropism and Phototropism (Mustard Plant Seedlings) 

  • Gymnosperms

  • Transpiration 

  • Mosses and Ferns

  • Flowering Plant Anatomy

Population Biology

  • Growth and Competition 

Sampling Ecosystems 

  • Biological Sampling 

  • Comparing Ecosystems

Specimen Collection

  • Collecting a Sputum Specimen

Transgenic Organisms 

  • Bt Corn

Ubiquity of Microorganisms 

  • Sampling Surfaces for Bacteria

 

1st Lab Tutorial:

• Virtual Labs Tutorial

Applying the Scientific Method:

• Pillbug Preference

• Ubiquity of Microorganisms

Aseptic Technique:

• Broth Culture to Sterile Agar Plate

• Broth Culture to Sterile Broth

• Slant Culture to Sterile Agar Slant

Bacterial Genetics:

• DNA Profiling

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

• Bacterial Transformation

Basic Chemistry:

• Chemistry for Biology

• Density of a Cube

• Properties of Water

• Synthesis of Calcium Carbonate

• Titration of Vinegar

Blood:

• Differential White Blood Cell Count

• Hematocrit

• Hemoglobin Content

• Blood Typing

Cardiovascular Physiology:

• Pulse Rate

• Blood Pressure

• Electrocardiography

• Heart Auscultation

Cell Division:

• Examining Meiosis

• Examining Mitosis

Cell Structure:

• Examining Plant & Animal Cells

• Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Size, Shape, and Function

Cellular Respiration:

• Yeast Fermentation

• Measuring Energy Production in Plants

Chemical Composition of Cells:

• Test for Starch

• Test for Sugars

• Digestion of Starch

• Emulsification of Lipids

• Test for Fat

• Test for Proteins

Control of Microbial Growth:

• Effect of Ultraviolet Light

• Effect of Antiseptics and Disinfectants

• Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing (Kirby-Bauer Method)

Diffusion:

• Effect of Concentration on the Rate of Diffusion in a Semisolid

• Effect of Density of Media on the Rate of Diffusion

• Effect of Molecular Weight on the Rate of Diffusion in Air

• Diffusion Across a Selectively Permeable Membrane

Digestive System:

• Enzymes & Digestion

Dissections:

• Dissection Tutorial for Animals and Plants

• Earthworm (invertebrate)

• Mussel (invertebrate)

• Perch (vertebrate)

• Crayfish (invertebrate)

• Shark (Vertebrate)

• Sea Star (invertebrate)

• Fetal Pig (vertebrate)

• Frog (vertebrate)

• Nematode (Roundworm) (invertebrate)

DNA Biology and Technology:

• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Testing (New)

• Isolation of DNA

• Gel Electrophoresis

• DNA/RNA Structure

• Rapid Diagnostic Testing

• Transcription, Translation, and Mutation

Electromyography:

• Motor Unit Recruitment

• Time to Fatigue

Endocrine System:

• Influence of Thyroid Hormone on Temperature Regulation

• Effects of Blood Glucose Level

Environmental Studies:

• Climate change

• Water Quality

Evidence of Evolution:

• Fossils and Comparative Anatomy

• Molecular Evidence

• Phylogeny and Cladistics

Eye and Vision:

• Eye Dissection

• Accommodation of the Lens

• Astigmatism Test

• Blind Spot Demonstration

• Color Vision Test

• Convergence Reflex Test

• Pupillary Reflex Test

• Visual Acuity Test

How Enzymes Work:

• Effect of Temperature

• Enzyme Activity

• Effect of pH

• Effect of Concentration

Human Genetics:

• Chromosomal Inheritance During Meiosis

• Genetic Inheritance

Isolation Methods:

• Quadrant Streak Plate Method

• Pour Plating Method

• Subculturing of Bacteria

• Quantitative Dilution of Bacteria

• Quantification by Colony Counting

• Optical Density

Lab Safety:

• Hand Washing Procedure

• Personal Safety

Mendelian Genetics:

• Monohybrid Plant Cross

• Fruit Fly Characteristics

• Monohybrid Fruit Fly Cross

• Dihybrid Plant Cross

• Dihybrid Fruit Fly Cross

• X-Linked Fruit Fly Cross

Metric Measurement:

• Length

• Weight

• Volume

• Temperature

Microbial Growth:

• Oxygen Requirements & Anaerobic Jar

• Effects of Osmotic Pressure

• Effects of Temperature

• Oxygen Requirements and Fluid Thioglycolate Medium Tubes

• Effects of pH

Microscopy:

• Operation of a Brightfield Microscope

• Oil Immersion

• Pond Water Wet Mount

• Plant Cells (Onion Epidermal Cells)

• Animal Cells

• Diversity of Microorganisms

• Epithelial Tissue Histology

• Connective Tissue Histology

• Muscle Tissue Histology

• Nervous Tissue Histology

• Euglena Wet Mount

Natural Selection:

• Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

• Natural Selection in Insects

Nervous System:

• Demonstrate Monosynaptic Reflexes

Organismal Diversity:

• Protists

• Sponges and Cnidarians

• Flatworms, Rotifers and Water Bears

Osmosis:

• Movement of Water Across a Selectively Permeable Membrane

• Tonicity in Red Blood Cells

• Tonicity in Elodea Cells

• Tonicity in Potato Strips

pH Balance:

• Function of Buffers

• Antacids as Buffers

Photosynthesis:

• Photosynthetic Pigments

• Comparing Green and Blue Light

• Determining Rate in White Light

• Monitoring Photosynthesis with Carbon Dioxide Uptake

Plants:

• Angiosperm Reproduction

• Bloom Color and pH

• Gravitropism and Phototropism (Mustard Plant Seedlings)

• Gymnosperms

• Transpiration

• Mosses and Ferns

• Flowering Plant Anatomy

Population Biology:

• Growth and Competition

Respiratory System:

• Mechanism of Breathing

• Pulmonary Function Tests

Sampling Ecosystems:

• Biological Sampling

• Comparing Ecosystems

Skeletal Muscle:

• Shoulder & Elbow Movement Exercise

• Electrical Stimulation

Specimen Collection:

• Collecting a Sputum Specimen

Spectrophotometry:

• Apply Beer's Law to Determine Concentration of Dye

Staining:

• Smear Preparation

• Gram Staining

• Acid-Fast Staining

• Capsule Staining

• Spore Staining

Transgenic Organisms:

• Bt Corn

Ubiquity of Microorganisms:

• Ubiquity of Microorganisms

Unknown Bacterial Identification:

• Samples 1-10

Urinary System:

• Urinalysis