Life Sciences Simulations

Simulations aligned with NGSS Performance Expectations:

HS-LS1-1

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.

• DNA to Protein Structure and Function - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how DNA sequence determines protein structure and specialized cell function.

  DNA to Protein Structure and Function Resources & Implementation

  • DNA to Protein Structure and Function: The Mutation Challenge (Student Task) (Download .md)
    • Task PreScreener (Download .md)
    • Task Screener (Download .md)

• Virus Capsid Explorer - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Interactive 3D visualization of a viral capsid structure and its internal genetic material.

  Virus Capsid Explorer Resources & Implementation

• Protein Unfolding & Denaturation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Simulates how extreme temperatures and pH changes cause a protein (hemoglobin) to lose its 3D structure and function.

  Protein Unfolding & Denaturation Resources & Implementation

• Enzyme “Lock and Key” Puzzle - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore enzyme-substrate specificity by interactively docking a molecule into a highly specific 3D active site.

  Enzyme "Lock and Key" Puzzle Resources & Implementation

HS-LS1-2

Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.

• Hierarchical Organization of Interacting Systems - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive model illustrating the hierarchical organization of cells, tissues, organs, and systems in multicellular organisms.

  Hierarchical Organization of Interacting Systems Resources & Implementation

HS-LS1-3

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.

• Homeostasis and Feedback Mechanisms Investigation - An interactive simulation to plan and conduct investigations on how the body maintains homeostasis during exercise.

  Homeostasis and Feedback Mechanisms Investigation Resources & Implementation

HS-LS1-4

Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex organisms.

• Mitosis and Cellular Differentiation Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive model illustrating how a single cell divides and differentiates to form a complex multicellular organism.

  Mitosis and Cellular Differentiation Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS1-5

Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.

• Photosynthesis Rate Lab - An interactive lab to investigate how environmental factors (Light, Temperature, CO2, Wavelength) affect the rate of photosynthesis.

  Photosynthesis Rate Lab Resources & Implementation

HS-LS1-6

Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.

• Macromolecule Biosynthesis Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules combine with other elements to form amino acids and other large carbon-based molecules.

  Macromolecule Biosynthesis Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS1-7

Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed resulting in a net transfer of energy.

• Cellular Respiration Energy Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive model illustrating how the bonds of food and oxygen are broken and rearranged to transfer energy.

  Cellular Respiration Energy Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-1

Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.

• Predator-Prey Ecosystem Simulation - An ecosystem simulation visualizing the population dynamics of predator and prey species over time.

  Predator-Prey Ecosystem Simulation Resources & Implementation

  • Ecosystem Balancing Act: Predators, Prey, and Population Dynamics (Download .md)
    • Task PreScreener (Download .md)
    • Task Screener (Download .md)

• Bioluminescent Bay Ecosystem Dynamics - An interactive simulation of Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bay ecosystem, modeling the population dynamics and carrying capacity of the dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense based on unique environmental factors.

  Bioluminescent Bay Ecosystem Dynamics Resources & Implementation

• Connecticut Black Bear Population Expansion - Model the factors affecting the carrying capacity and expansion of the black bear population in Connecticut.

  Connecticut Black Bear Population Expansion Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-2

Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.

• Lyme Disease Ecology Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive mathematical model exploring the ecological cascade in New England forests, demonstrating how oak masting, predator populations, and winter severity drive mouse populations, tick proliferation, and human Lyme disease risk.

  Lyme Disease Ecology Simulation Resources & Implementation

• Biodiversity & Population Dynamics Lab - Explore how habitat size, pollution, climate stress, and invasive species affect biodiversity and population trends, then revise claims using disturbance evidence.

  Biodiversity & Population Dynamics Lab Resources & Implementation

• Lyme Disease Ecology: The Acorn Connection - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Investigate the complex, multi-year ecological cascade that drives Lyme disease risk in New England forests, modeling the 2-year delay between acorn mast events, white-footed mouse population booms, and infected tick surges.

  Lyme Disease Ecology: The Acorn Connection Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-3

Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

• Aerobic vs Anaerobic Respiration Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation comparing the cycling of matter and flow of energy with and without oxygen.

  Aerobic vs Anaerobic Respiration Model Resources & Implementation

• Little Poland Fermentation: Dry Sausage (Krakowska) - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation exploring Krakowska dry sausage fermentation in New Britain’s “Little Poland”, focusing on manipulating environmental variables to favor beneficial anaerobic bacteria.

  Little Poland Fermentation: Dry Sausage (Krakowska) Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-4

Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.

• Trophic Energy Pyramid Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive mathematical model illustrating the transfer of energy and biomass from one trophic level to another in an ecosystem.

  Trophic Energy Pyramid Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-5

Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

• Global Carbon Cycle Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive system model illustrating how photosynthesis and cellular respiration exchange carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

  Global Carbon Cycle Simulation Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-6

Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

• Ecosystem Resilience and Disturbances - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation evaluating claims about ecosystem stability and resilience in response to modest and extreme disturbances.

  Ecosystem Resilience and Disturbances Resources & Implementation

• Invasive Species Dynamics - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation introducing an invasive species into a stable ecosystem and testing various human interventions.

  Invasive Species Dynamics Resources & Implementation

• Lyme Disease Ecology - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation evaluating claims about ecosystem stability and complex interactions in a Connecticut forest between oak trees, mice, deer, and ticks that drive Lyme disease risk.

  Lyme Disease Ecology Resources & Implementation

• Long Island Sound Lobster Collapse - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An investigative simulation exploring the causes of the American Lobster population collapse using a mystery environmental variable.

  Long Island Sound Lobster Collapse Resources & Implementation

• El Yunque Secondary Succession - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating secondary succession in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest, featuring the fast-growing pioneer Yagrumo and the slow-growing climax Tabonuco trees post-hurricane.

  El Yunque Secondary Succession Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-7

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.*

• Human Impact & Biodiversity Solutions - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation evaluating the tradeoffs of different engineering solutions to mitigate human impacts on an ecosystem.

  Human Impact & Biodiversity Solutions Resources & Implementation

HS-LS2-8

Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to survive and reproduce.

• Group Behavior and Survival Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation evaluating how flocking and herding behaviors impact the survival rates of prey against predators.

  Group Behavior and Survival Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS3-1

Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.

• DNA and Inheritance Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation illustrating how genes on chromosomes are passed from parents to offspring to determine characteristic traits.

  DNA and Inheritance Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS3-2

Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.

• Sources of Genetic Variation Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive exploration of how meiosis, replication errors, and environmental mutations create heritable genetic variation.

  Sources of Genetic Variation Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS3-3

Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.

• Garden of the Giants Genetics - * IN DEVELOPMENT * A selective breeding simulation where students track the inheritance of polygenic traits like weight in giant pumpkins over multiple generations, visualizing statistical shifts in bell curves.

• Trait Distribution and Probability Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive statistical model exploring how genetic and environmental factors influence the normal distribution of traits in a population.

  Trait Distribution and Probability Model Resources & Implementation

HS-LS4-1

Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.

• Evidence of Common Ancestry Explorer - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive explorer to compare DNA sequences, amino acid sequences, and anatomical homologies to find empirical evidence of common ancestry.

  Evidence of Common Ancestry Explorer Resources & Implementation

HS-LS4-2

Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment.

• The Four Factors of Evolution - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how population growth, genetic variation, competition, and differential survival drive adaptation.

  The Four Factors of Evolution Resources & Implementation

HS-LS4-3

Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait.

• Natural Selection Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating natural selection and adaptation (NGSS HS-LS4-3), featuring an evolving population, real-time data logging, and graphing.

  Natural Selection Simulation Resources & Implementation

HS-LS4-4

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.

• Anole Lizard Urban Adaptation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how urban environments drive rapid adaptation in Anolis cristatellus.

  Anole Lizard Urban Adaptation Resources & Implementation

• Natural Selection and Adaptation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how specific biotic and abiotic factors drive changes in gene frequency over time, leading to adaptation.

  Natural Selection and Adaptation Resources & Implementation

• Crop Evolution and Selection Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating natural selection, artificial selection (selective breeding), and CRISPR genetic modification, and their effects on crop yield and pest resistance.

  Crop Evolution and Selection Simulation Resources & Implementation

  • Crop Evolution and Selection: The Future of Farming (Student Task) (Download .md)
    • Task PreScreener (Download .md)
    • Task Screener (Download .md)

• Coquí Frog Climate Adaptation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how rising global temperatures drive phenotypic adaptation in the Puerto Rican Coquí frog, leading to smaller body sizes and higher-pitched calls.

  Coquí Frog Climate Adaptation Resources & Implementation

• Antibiotic Resistance Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how populations of bacteria adapt to antibiotics over time through natural selection and genetic variation.

  Antibiotic Resistance Resources & Implementation

  • Antibiotic Resistance: A Growing Threat Task (Download .md)
    • Task PreScreener (Download .md)
    • Task Screener (Download .md)

• Finch Beak Adaptation & Form - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how environmental changes like drought drive natural selection for specific physical adaptations in a population of finches.

  Finch Beak Adaptation & Form Resources & Implementation

  • Finch Beak Adaptation & Form: Natural Selection in Action (Student Task) (Download .md)
    • Task PreScreener (Download .md)
    • Task Screener (Download .md)

HS-LS4-5

Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

• Environmental Change & Extinction Explorer - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation evaluating how environmental changes like drought, deforestation, and pollution cause species extinction, speciation, and population booms.

  Environmental Change & Extinction Explorer Resources & Implementation

HS-LS4-6

Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.*

• Habitat Fragmentation Mitigation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive computational model to test engineering solutions (wildlife corridors) that mitigate the adverse impacts of habitat fragmentation on genetic variation and population size.

  Habitat Fragmentation Mitigation Resources & Implementation