My ClassFour-course case studyMeasles: More Than a RashAudit outbreak data, explain immune memory, choose an intervention, and repair a misleading chart.
Learning Centers
Get unstuck on any skill: pick your level.
Prerequisite
Build the background this depends on, two levels back.
Remediation
Re-learn the skill with worked practice and clear examples.
Extension (Advanced)
Apply it in real situations and push further.
Principles of Biomedical Technology (Principles of Biomedical Science)
· 93 centers · 5 unitsLaunch
CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalApply PPE and Read An SDSRead a safety sheet, name the hazard, and match PPE to the body part at risk.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsIdentify Variables and ControlsSort what changes, what is measured, what stays the same, and what comparison group is used.VisualBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsConstruct and Label A GraphBuild a readable graph with a title, labeled axes, units, and a sensible scale.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsCompute Descriptive Statistics Mean, RangeSummarize a small data set by computing mean and range and explaining what each tells you.
Unit 1
CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsDocument A Scene and Log EvidenceRecord a scene with photos, labels, times, and an evidence log before anything is moved.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsDistinguish Observation From InferenceSeparate what you directly notice from conclusions you draw from those clues.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalMaintain Chain Of CustodyKeep evidence trustworthy by recording every label, seal, handoff, time, and receiver.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsCollect Trace Biometric EvidenceCollect small trace evidence and body-based biometric evidence without contaminating it.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsDesign An Evidence TestDesign a fair evidence test with a sample, positive control, negative control, and clear result rule.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsIdentify Biomolecules From Indicator DataUse indicator color changes to identify carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in evidence samples.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsWrite A Mini CERWrite a short claim-evidence-reasoning paragraph from a small set of data.VisualBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsIdentify Tissues Under MicroscopyUse visible microscope features such as fibers, layers, spaces, and cell shape to identify tissue.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsInterpret Toxicology EvidenceCompare toxicology results to cutoffs and controls before making an evidence claim.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsRelate Structure to FunctionExplain how a body structure helps an organ, tissue, or cell do its job.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsSynthesize Multi Source EvidenceCombine independent evidence sources into one careful claim.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsEvaluate Reliability LimitationsJudge whether evidence is trustworthy enough and name what limits the claim.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsWrite A Forensic ReportWrite a forensic report that separates evidence, conclusion, and limitations.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalRemove gloves without contaminating yourselfGloves only protect you if they come off correctly. Learn the two rules that keep whatever you touched off your skin, and when to wash.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalPrevent cross contamination between samplesOne sample at a time, one applicator per sample, and nothing goes back in the stock bottle. Learn why a carried-over trace reads as a real result.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalPackage a specimen for the laboratoryDry it, breathe it, seal it, sign it. Learn why sealed plastic ruins biological evidence and paper does not.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalHandle preserved specimens in dissectionThree hazards sit on one tray: the holding fluid, the blade, and the tissue. Learn what each one needs from you and where each one goes at the end.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalHandle a substance you cannot identifyAn unknown gets the protection the worst plausible hazard would need. Learn what you never do to identify something, and what you write on the tube.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalOperate a micropipette to the correct stopThe plunger has two stops and they do opposite jobs. Learn which one fills the tip, which one empties it, and why the order decides your volume.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalSet a micropipette inside its volume rangeThe same digits mean three different volumes on three different instruments. Learn to read the dial for the pipette in your hand and to stop before you force it.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalConvert liters, milliliters and microlitersEvery step between these three units is a thousand. Learn to move between them without losing a factor of a thousand somewhere in the middle.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalCheck pipetting accuracy and precision by massSix weighings tell you two separate things about your technique. Learn which one says close to right and which one says the same every time.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalWeigh agarose using tare and a weigh boatZero the balance with the boat already on it, land inside the tolerance, then rinse the boat so the powder you weighed is the powder that arrives.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalHandle a flask heated in a microwaveOne minute or until clear, out with a mitt, and cool until your palm agrees. Learn why the clock is not the endpoint and why hot glass looks exactly like cold glass.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalAdd a DNA stain after the meltUnder one microliter of stain has to reach every part of a flask. Learn why it goes in after the heating and why the swirl is the only thing that spreads it.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalLabel and store a cast gel between periodsBoth bags carry the same two facts. The plastic one keeps the water in, the paper one keeps the light out, and the same pair of materials is wrong somewhere else.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalWash glassware immediately and invert it to dryMolten agarose rinses out with water. Set agarose does not. Learn the window you have and why the drying rack holds everything upside down.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalKeep the extraction alcohol ice coldThe materials list does not say alcohol. It says alcohol kept ice-cold. Learn what the temperature is buying you and what a warm bottle costs your result.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalLayer alcohol down the side of the tubeAlcohol and water mix the moment anything stirs them. Learn why the tube is held at an angle, why the pour is slow, and what the boundary between the layers is for.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalFill the gel chamber with buffer, not waterThe same buffer appears twice in this workflow, once inside the gel and once around it. Learn what the dissolved salts are doing and why distilled water leaves your bands standing still.BenchmarkHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalCover the gel box before the leads go onThe workflow says cover, then attach. Learn why that order is a safety rule written as a sequence, and what the reverse order looks like at the end of a run.BenchmarkHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalStore a reagent that can quietly expireSome reagents fail without looking any different. Learn why the peroxide in a presumptive blood test is one of them, and which step of the procedure catches it.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalRecover fingerprint powder instead of spreading itThe wand that lays powder down is the same tool that lifts it back. Learn how the magnet does both jobs and why the station is left with the powder back in its container.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalSet up a ring stand that cannot tipWhen you design the experiment yourself, nobody hands you the setup. Learn where the clamp goes, where the load sits, and how the stand is put away.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalClean and dry dissection instrumentsThe last step of the heart examination covers tools and trays as well as the specimen. Learn why drying is the part people skip and what it costs the kit.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalUse the water the protocol namesThree different activities in this unit specify distilled water. Learn what is taken out of it, when that matters, and why refilling the bottle from the tap is worse than leaving it empty.
Unit 2
CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsCollect and Chart Vital SignsUse patient evidence to collect and chart vital signs without overclaiming.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsConduct A Patient HistoryUse patient evidence to conduct a patient history without overclaiming.CoreFeeds no tested domainApply Privacy Rules HIPAAUse patient evidence to apply privacy rules (hipaa) without overclaiming.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsInterpret Bloodwork Against Normal RangesUse patient evidence to interpret bloodwork against normal ranges without overclaiming.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsIdentify Risk FactorsUse patient evidence to identify risk factors without overclaiming.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsRead Monitoring DataUse patient evidence to read monitoring data without overclaiming.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsModel DNA to ProteinBuild a protein from DNA: copy the template strand into mRNA (T to U), then read codons to name the amino acids.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsTrace A Mutation to A PhenotypeFollow a single DNA base change through the mRNA codon and amino acid to the trait it causes.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsRead A Codon ChartLook up mRNA codons on a chart to name the amino acid, the start codon, and the stop codons.VisualBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsInterpret A KaryotypeCount chromosomes in a karyotype to spot a normal set (46), an extra chromosome (trisomy), or a missing one.VisualBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsRead A PedigreeUse a genetics model to read a pedigree with clear limits.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsEstimate Genetic RiskUse a genetics model to estimate genetic risk with clear limits.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsSynthesize A Diagnostic WorkupUse patient evidence to synthesize a diagnostic workup without overclaiming.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsForm A Differential DiagnosisUse patient evidence to form a differential diagnosis without overclaiming.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsJustify A RecommendationUse patient evidence to justify a recommendation without overclaiming.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalHandle sharps and load a sharps containerA used needle goes straight into the rigid container, uncapped, at the bench where it was used. Learn why every part of that sentence is doing work.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalIdentify the patient and label the specimenTwo identifiers before the draw, and the label goes on at the chair right after it. Learn why pre-labelling and desk-labelling both fail.BenchmarkHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalShield your eyes at a UV transilluminatorUltraviolet light gives you no warning while it is doing damage. Learn how the unit is meant to be looked through, when the lamp is off, and what to do when the shield is missing.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalRinse a stained slide until the water runs clearThe staining step is timed and the rinse is not. Learn why the rinse ends on something you observe, and why the beaker gets fresh water each time.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalHeat in a water bath and keep the cover onThe note says the bath has to be hot AND humid, and the cover goes back immediately. Learn what each of those words is holding in and what a quick look costs.
Unit 3
CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsDiagram The Chain Of InfectionUse infection evidence to diagram the chain of infection step by step.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalApply aseptic techniqueWork so that nothing from the room gets into your culture and nothing from your culture gets onto you: bench, hands, lids, loops and waste.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsExplain Immune ResponseUse infection evidence to explain immune response step by step.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsBuild A Line ListUse infection evidence to build a line list step by step.VisualBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsConstruct An Epidemic CurveUse infection evidence to construct an epidemic curve step by step.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsIdentify A Causative AgentUse infection evidence to identify a causative agent step by step.CoreFeeds no tested domainApply A Triage ProtocolApply emergency or public-health rules to apply a triage protocol.CoreFeeds no tested domainCalculate A DoseApply emergency or public-health rules to calculate a dose.CoreFeeds no tested domainExplain Drug MetabolismApply emergency or public-health rules to explain drug metabolism.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsDesign A Surge ResponseApply emergency or public-health rules to design a surge response.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsPlan Public Health CommunicationApply emergency or public-health rules to plan public-health communication.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsApply Usability PrinciplesUse evidence and design criteria to apply usability principles.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalDecontaminate the work surfaceDisinfect before and after, and leave it wet for the time on the label. Learn why a quick wipe that dries in seconds does almost nothing.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalSegregate biological wasteAnything that met a live culture is treated before it leaves the room. Learn which bin each item goes to, and why over-filling the biohazard bag is its own problem.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalLabel cultures and slidesBase not lid, before not after, and four things on every label. Learn what makes a label still useful three days later to someone who was not there.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalStore cultures between periodsWarm to grow, cold to hold, inverted either way. Learn what storage is actually controlling and why a food refrigerator is never the answer.BenchmarkHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalApply stain reagents in orderFour reagents, one order, and one step where the timing decides the answer. Learn what each reagent does and what a skipped step produces.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalWork safely with an alcohol lampThe flame fixes your smear, sterilises your loop, and is nearly invisible in a bright room. Learn the four habits that keep it useful instead of dangerous.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalRespond to a spillTell people, cover it, work from the outside in, wait, then lift. Learn why the instinct to wipe from the middle makes a small spill into a large one.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalApply standard precautions to body fluidsEvery patient, every time, no exceptions and no sorting. Learn why the protection is chosen from the task in front of you rather than from what you know about the person.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalClean immersion oil off the objectiveThe materials list puts lens wipes next to the oil for a reason. Learn which objective the oil is for, what a paper towel does to a coated lens, and why oil left overnight is a different problem.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalRead a plate without opening itTwo days in an incubator changes what a plate is. Learn why the reading happens through the lid and why the materials list gives you a magnifying glass instead of anything that opens it.BenchmarkHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalStore each kit component where it belongsOne box, two storage rules. Learn why the cultures go cold and dry while everything else stays on the shelf, and why getting it wrong shows up weeks later.BenchmarkHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalMix a working disinfectant solutionA 10 percent bleach solution is something you make, not something you pour. Learn the dilution, why it is made fresh, and the one thing it must never meet.CoreHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalSet out the station before you startHands, then bench, then materials. Learn why the order of those three steps is deliberate and why nobody should be walking to a cupboard with a loaded loop.BenchmarkHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalBlot a sample before you put it on the balanceWater clinging to the outside weighs the same as water that moved inside. Learn why the instruction says dry it, and why it also says do not press and do not leave it.FoundationalHandling, Preparation, Storage and DisposalMeasure a volume in the glassware made for itThe materials list gives you beakers and a graduated cylinder, and they are not the same tool. Learn which one measures, which one holds, and where to put your eye.
Unit 4
CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsRun The Engineering Design ProcessUse evidence and design criteria to run the engineering design process.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsWrite A Test PlanUse evidence and design criteria to write a test plan.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsIterate From DataUse evidence and design criteria to iterate from data.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsPitch A Data Backed InnovationUse evidence and design criteria to pitch a data-backed innovation.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsRevise From EvidenceUse evidence and design criteria to revise from evidence.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsState Limitations and Next StepsJudge whether evidence is trustworthy enough and name what limits the claim.
Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions)
· 60 centers · 5 unitsLaunch
CoreLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresApply PPE SDS and Aseptic SetupRead a safety sheet, name the hazard, and match PPE to the body part at risk.CoreFeeds no tested domainCategorize Medical InterventionsSort medical interventions by what they do for a patient or population.CoreLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresSet Up A Lab NotebookSet up a lab notebook so another scientist can follow what happened.
Unit 1
FoundationalFeeds no tested domainTelling a sign from a symptomSort what a clinician can measure (signs) from what a patient reports (symptoms).CoreCulturingWhy antibiotics hit bacteria but not virusesConnect drug targets to cell structure to explain why antibiotics fail on viral infections.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsBuilding an outbreak claim from multiple evidence sourcesMake a claim-evidence-reasoning argument supported by independent lines of evidence, not a single clue.VisualMolecular and Genetic TechnologyReading a serial-dilution / ELISA standard curveUse a standard curve to turn an absorbance reading into a concentration.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsBuild An Outbreak Line ListUse infection evidence to build an outbreak line list step by step.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsClassify PathogensUse infection evidence to classify pathogens step by step.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsMap Symptom Clusters to A HypothesisUse infection evidence to map symptom clusters to a hypothesis step by step.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyInterpret A BLAST Result E-value, CoverageUse molecular-test evidence to interpret a blast result (e-value, coverage) accurately.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyRead a DNA SequenceUse chromatogram peak evidence to read a DNA sequence accurately.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyUse Controls In IdentificationUse molecular-test evidence to use controls in identification accurately.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsPerform Serial DilutionsUse molecular-test evidence to perform serial dilutions accurately.VisualMolecular and Genetic TechnologyBuild A Standard CurveUse molecular-test evidence to build a standard curve accurately.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyModel Antigen Antibody BindingUse molecular-test evidence to model antigen-antibody binding accurately.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyRun An ELISA With ControlsUse molecular-test evidence to run an elisa with controls accurately.CoreFeeds no tested domainDistinguish Sensitivity vs SpecificityUse molecular-test evidence to distinguish sensitivity vs specificity accurately.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainEvaluate False Positive Negative RiskUse molecular-test evidence to evaluate false positive/negative risk accurately.CoreCulturingInterpret Zone-of-Inhibition MICUse culture and antibiotic evidence to interpret zone-of-inhibition / mic.CoreCulturingExplain Antibiotic MechanismUse culture and antibiotic evidence to explain antibiotic mechanism.BenchmarkCulturingArgue StewardshipUse culture and antibiotic evidence to argue stewardship.CoreLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresApply Aseptic TechniqueUse infection evidence to apply aseptic technique step by step.CoreCulturingCulture and Count ColoniesUse culture and antibiotic evidence to culture and count colonies.CoreCulturingExplain Resistance Gene SpreadUse culture and antibiotic evidence to explain resistance gene spread.VisualFeeds no tested domainInterpret An AudiogramUse hearing or immune-response evidence to interpret an audiogram.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsModel Vaccine Immune ResponseUse infection evidence to model vaccine/immune response step by step.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsCalculate Herd Immunity ThresholdsUse hearing or immune-response evidence to calculate herd-immunity thresholds.FoundationalFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 2: Read the vital signsFour numbers, four bands. Learn what sits outside a band, what a pair of moving vitals says together, and the standing-up pattern that reads volume loss.FoundationalFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 3: Take the history firstMost diagnoses are sitting in the patient's own account before any test is ordered. Learn the chief complaint, the follow-up question, and why doctors ask about systems you never mentioned.CoreFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 4: Cluster the findingsRaw findings are a pile. Grouping the ones that travel together, and refusing to force the one that does not, is the step that turns a pile into candidate causes.CoreFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 5: Rule out the worst firstThe most likely explanation is not the first one to check. The one that can kill is. Learn why danger, not probability, sets the order of elimination.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 6: Build the differentialThe centrepiece of the ladder. Turn a cluster of findings into a short written list of rival explanations, rank it, and let new evidence move the ranks.CoreFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 7: Order the test that separatesA test earns its place by splitting the differential: rival candidates should predict different results. Match the tool to the question, then break ties on risk.CoreFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 10: Narrow the list with resultsResults arrive; candidates fall. Strike what a result contradicts, hunt findings that rivals predict differently, and know the two conditions for committing to a working diagnosis.CoreFeeds no tested domainClinical Reasoning 11: Present the caseReasoning that cannot be presented cannot be checked. Carry findings, candidates, deciding evidence, diagnosis and plan in that order, then translate it for the patient without losing the evidence.
Unit 2
VisualMolecular and Genetic TechnologyRead A PedigreeUse a genetics model to read a pedigree with clear limits.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyInterpret SNP DataRead a SNP table: compare alleles across people to find where two individuals differ or which SNP tracks a trait.CoreFeeds no tested domainWrite A Genetic Counseling MemoStructure a genetic-counseling memo: state what the test shows, what it cannot prove (the limitation), and the recommended next step.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyDiagram A PCRDiagram a PCR cycle: order the three steps (denature, anneal, extend) and label what happens at each temperature.VisualMolecular and Genetic TechnologyInterpret Gel BandsRead a gel: smaller DNA fragments travel farther (lower). Compare a band to the labeled ladder to estimate its size.VisualCulturingRead A MicroarrayRead an expression microarray: each spot is a gene; the signal color tells you if it is up- or down-regulated versus a reference.VisualMolecular and Genetic TechnologyInterpret An Expression Heat MapRead an expression heat map using the legend (red = high, blue = low) to tell which gene is up or down in a sample.CoreBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsCompute Fold ChangeUse molecular-test evidence to compute fold change accurately.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologySeparate Risk From DiagnosisUse a genetics model to separate risk from diagnosis with clear limits.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyCompare Viral VectorsCompare AAV, lentivirus, and adenovirus on integration, payload size, and immune response to pick the best vector for a stated need.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyDistinguish Somatic vs Germline EditingUse gene-therapy evidence to distinguish somatic vs germline editing with ethical limits.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsArgue A CRISPR Ethics CERBuild a CER: identify the claim, the strongest evidence, and the reasoning in a CRISPR-ethics case, and pick the best-supported claim.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsSynthesize Testing to TreatmentUse molecular-test evidence to synthesize testing-to-treatment accurately.BenchmarkBiotechnology Research and ExperimentsEvaluate Validity ReliabilityJudge whether evidence is trustworthy enough and name what limits the claim.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainPlan Treatment From DataUse patient evidence to plan treatment from data without overclaiming.
Unit 3
CoreFeeds no tested domainRelate Cancer to Loss Of RegulationWrite a short claim-evidence-reasoning paragraph from a small set of data.CoreFeeds no tested domainClassify Tumor TypesUse cancer evidence to classify tumor types from cell regulation through treatment planning.VisualFeeds no tested domainBuild A Diagnostic WorkflowUse cancer evidence to build a diagnostic workflow from cell regulation through treatment planning.CoreFeeds no tested domainCompare Treatment OptionsUse cancer evidence to compare treatment options from cell regulation through treatment planning.CoreFeeds no tested domainInterpret StagingUse cancer evidence to interpret staging from cell regulation through treatment planning.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainRecommend A Treatment PlanUse evidence to recommend a treatment plan in a biomedical case.
Unit 4
VisualMolecular and Genetic TechnologyTrace A Recombinant Protein WorkflowOrder the steps of making a human protein with recombinant DNA: gene to plasmid to host cells to expression to purification.BenchmarkMolecular and Genetic TechnologyApply HLA Transplant MatchingUse organ-failure biotechnology evidence to apply hla/transplant matching.CoreCulturingCompare Tissue Engineering OptionsUse organ-failure biotechnology evidence to compare tissue-engineering options.
Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems)
· 56 centers · 5 unitsLaunch
FoundationalMedical TerminologyUsing directional and regional termsPlace body structures using the standard direction words anatomists agree on, from anatomical position.FoundationalLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresApplying PPE and reading an SDSChoose the right personal protective equipment and find safety facts on a Safety Data Sheet before a lab.CoreLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresUsing measurement normsRecord body data in SI units with correct significant figures and read it against a baseline to judge homeostasis.FoundationalMedical TerminologyMedical Terminology 1: A long word is built from partsStart here. See that a medical term is not one blob, find the seams, and learn why the same piece keeps coming back.FoundationalMedical TerminologyMedical Terminology 2: Read the suffix firstThe ending tells you what kind of thing a term names before you know any body part at all. Start at the back of the word.CoreMedical TerminologyMedical Terminology 3: The root names the body partMeet the roots that carry the meaning, learn why one organ has two of them, and get the single spelling rule that decides when the linking o stays.CoreMedical TerminologyMedical Terminology 4: The prefix sets amount, position, and timingTwo terms can share a root and mean opposite things. The front piece is what flips them, and getting it backwards flips the patient's problem.BenchmarkMedical TerminologyMedical Terminology 5: Decode a term you have never seenThe whole point of the ladder. Three moves, on words nobody taught you, ending with one question that hands you no pieces at all.CoreMedical TerminologyMedical Terminology 6: Build the term from the descriptionGoing the other way is harder, and it is where the pieces finally stick. Turn a plain description into the term a clinician would actually write.CoreMedical TerminologyMedical Terminology 7: When decoding is not enoughSome terms will not come apart, and some come apart into the wrong answer. Learn exactly where to stop trusting the pieces.
Unit 1
CoreMedical TerminologyApply body planes and cavitiesSlice the body along the three anatomical planes and place a structure in the dorsal or ventral cavity.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyClassify tissue typesSort a structure into one of the four primary tissue types by what its job is.BenchmarkMedical TerminologyMap anatomy on a patient caseCombine directional terms and planes to pinpoint where a structure is on a real patient.FoundationalHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyRelate bone structure to functionConnect the two kinds of bone tissue (compact and spongy) to the jobs each one does in the body.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyAnalyze a fractureName a broken bone by the pattern of the break and connect it to how bones and joints move.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyExplain bone remodelingExplain how two kinds of bone cells constantly build and break down bone to keep the skeleton healthy.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyModel the sliding-filament mechanismExplain how myosin pulls actin so a sarcomere shortens: without the filaments themselves getting shorter.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyIdentify origin and insertionTell a muscle's origin (on the bone that stays put) from its insertion (on the bone that moves).CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyExplain leverage and movementTreat bones as levers and joints as fulcrums to explain how muscles move the body.FoundationalEvaluate Body SystemsCollect EMG/ROM sensor dataUse sensors to record a muscle's electrical signal (EMG) and read clean motion data.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsQuantify muscle fatigueUse force or EMG data to show that a muscle's output declines as it tires.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsTest joint range of motionMeasure how far a joint moves, in degrees, using a goniometer.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyBuild a rehabilitation planSet measurable recovery goals and load an injured tissue gradually so it gets stronger without re-injury.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsInterpret patient-portal dataRead a patient's progress data over time and judge whether recovery is improving, flat, or getting worse.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsSelect assistive devicesMatch the right assistive device: crutch, brace, or cane: to a patient's specific limitation.
Unit 2
CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyTrace a neural signal through a neuronFollow a message from one neuron's dendrite to the next across a synapse, naming where it is electrical and where it is chemical.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyIdentify the major brain structuresLocate the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem and match each to the kind of job it does.BenchmarkHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyRelate structure to function in the nervous systemUse the layout of the nervous system: CNS versus PNS, and a neuron's shape: to explain why each part can do its job.VisualHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyMap a reflex arcTrace a reflex from the stimulus through receptor, neurons, and spinal cord to the response: and explain why it skips the brain.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsMeasure reaction timeUse ruler-drop trial data to compare reaction times and read the trend: remembering that a faster reaction means a shorter time.BenchmarkHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyExplain drug effects on signalingPredict how a drug changes a synapse: an agonist boosts the signal, an antagonist blocks it: and how myelin speeds the signal along.FoundationalHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyDiagram a negative feedback loopLabel the setpoint, sensor, control center, and effector and show how a negative feedback loop opposes a change to hold homeostasis.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyRelate hormones to their glands and target organsTrace each hormone from the gland that makes it to the target organ it acts on.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyModel blood glucose regulationUse insulin and glucagon to model how the body lowers and raises blood glucose to hold it near the setpoint.FoundationalFeeds no tested domainDesign a model-organism studyChoose and justify a model organism, then plan a study that can actually be run on it.CoreFeeds no tested domainControl variablesChange one thing on purpose, hold everything else steady, and keep a group that gets no change.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainRead scientific literatureFind the claim, find the evidence, and judge how strong the study really is.CoreFeeds no tested domainRun an open investigationTurn a real problem into a testable question, a plan, and a hypothesis you can actually check.VisualFeeds no tested domainBuild data tables and graphsOrganize measurements into a labeled table, then pick and label the graph that fits the data.CoreFeeds no tested domainState limitationsName what could weaken a result: small sample size, measurement error, and confounders: and what the data still can't show.
Unit 3
CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyTrace blood through the heartFollow one drop of blood through the four chambers and valves, separating the lung loop from the body loop.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsInterpret an EKGRead the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave on an EKG and connect each one to an electrical event in the heart.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyRelate vessels to functionConnect the structure of arteries, veins, and capillaries to the job each one does in circulation.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsMeasure lung volumes (spirometry)Read a spirometer's volumes and add the right ones together to find a person's vital capacity.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyExplain gas exchangeExplain how oxygen and carbon dioxide cross the alveolus by diffusion, from high concentration to low.CoreEvaluate Body SystemsClear a client for activityUse a client's oxygen saturation to decide whether it is safe to clear them for hard activity.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyModel innate vs. adaptive immunitySort the body's defenses into the fast, non-specific first line (innate) and the slower, specific line that remembers (adaptive).CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyExplain the antigen-antibody responseShow how a B cell makes an antibody that binds one specific antigen like a lock and key.FoundationalHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyRelate skin and lymph to defenseConnect the skin's barrier role and the lymph nodes' filtering role to the body's defense system.CoreCulturingRunning and reading a plaque assayCount clear plaques to measure how many infectious virus particles are in a sample (titer in PFU/mL).CoreMicrobiology Testing and TechnologyAssessing pathogen riskEstimate risk by combining how likely an infection is (likelihood) with how bad it would be (severity).CoreMicrobiology Testing and TechnologyPlanning risk mitigationChoose barriers, PPE, vaccination, and sanitation that lower a pathogen's likelihood or severity to reduce overall risk.
Unit 4
CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyModel nephron filtrationTrace blood through one nephron: what gets filtered at the glomerulus, what is reabsorbed by the tubule, and what becomes urine.VisualEvaluate Body SystemsInterpret a urinalysis resultRead a urinalysis (or protein electrophoresis) value against its normal range to decide whether a result is healthy or signals a problem.CoreHuman Body Form, Function, and PathophysiologyExplain enzyme and microbiome roles in digestionMatch each digestive enzyme to the food it breaks down and explain how the gut microbiome helps digestion and makes some vitamins.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyReading a DNA gel to decide who carries a variantSeparate DNA fragments by size, then use the band pattern in each family member's lane to say who carries the variant and who does not.
Biotechnology for Health (Biomedical Innovations)
· 56 centers · 8 unitsLaunch
FoundationalLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresApply PPE and read an SDSChoose the right protective gear and pull the safety facts you need from a chemical's safety sheet before you start lab work.CoreFeeds no tested domainSet up a design notebook and portfolioOrganize a design notebook so a problem, its criteria, and its constraints are easy to find and reuse in your innovation portfolio.CoreFeeds no tested domainEstablish an evidence routineBuild a steady documentation cadence so every claim in your project is backed by a dated, recorded observation.FoundationalLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresStoring reagents and disposing of lab wasteDecide where a reagent is stored, how it is labeled, and which waste stream each item leaves in, using the SDS and the container label.
Unit 1
FoundationalBusiness LiteracyMap the stakeholders of an ERList everyone affected by an emergency-room design and name what each one actually needs.CoreBusiness LiteracyAnalyze patient flow and systems constraintsTrace how patients move through an ER and find the constraint that slows the whole system down.FoundationalEmployability SkillsWrite a team contractAgree on roles, norms, and a decision rule before the ER design work starts so the team stays on track.CoreBusiness Ethics and LawEvaluate source credibility and biasJudge whether a source is trustworthy by checking who wrote it, when, and what evidence backs it.CoreBusiness Ethics and LawCite prior artFind existing designs and ideas, then give credit with an accurate citation instead of claiming them as your own.CoreBusiness LiteracyRun a needs assessmentFind out what users actually need before designing, by gathering evidence about the gap between the current situation and the goal.FoundationalBusiness LiteracyWrite a design briefTurn a messy ER problem into a clear design brief that lists what the design must do (criteria) and the limits it must stay inside (constraints).CoreBusiness LiteracyModel a floor plan + process flowMap how a patient moves through the ER step by step (the process flow) and use it to plan a floor plan and the staff each step needs.CoreFeeds no tested domainLog prototype revisionsKeep a clear record of each prototype change, why it was made, and what testing showed: so the design improves on purpose, one iteration at a time.
Unit 2
CoreFeeds no tested domainRevising a design from user feedbackTurn what testers actually struggled with into specific, testable design changes: instead of guessing.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainDesigning a controlled studyBuild a fair test: one thing changed on purpose, everything else held steady, and a group to compare against.CoreFeeds no tested domainDefining the variables in an experimentLabel the three roles in any test: the one you change, the one you measure, and the ones you keep the same.FoundationalFeeds no tested domainExperimental vs. observational studyDecide whether a physiology study changed a condition on purpose (experimental) or just watched and recorded (observational).CoreFeeds no tested domainComputing the mean and standard deviationAdd up a small data set to find its mean (average), then measure how spread out the values are with the standard deviation.CoreFeeds no tested domainChoosing a sample sizeDecide how many people to include so results are trustworthy, and see why a t-test asks whether two group means differ more than chance.CoreFeeds no tested domainChoosing the right graph for the dataMatch the data type to the graph: bar for categories, line for change over time, scatter for two numeric variables.CoreFeeds no tested domainSpotting bias and measurement errorTell a slanted study (bias) from a noisy measurement (error), and random error from systematic error.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainWriting a CER that names its limitationsBuild a claim-evidence-reasoning argument that uses statistical significance and replication, and honestly states its limitations.
Unit 3
CoreBusiness LiteracyDefining a design problemTurn a vague complaint about patient care into a clear problem statement with measurable design criteria.BenchmarkBusiness LiteracyWeighing tradeoffs and feasibilityCompare design options on cost, risk, and benefit to judge which one is actually feasible against the stated criteria.CoreFeeds no tested domainPlanning a prototypeTurn chosen design criteria into a concrete prototype plan: what to build first, with what, and how to test it against the criteria.CoreFeeds no tested domainConduct a literature reviewSearch, screen, and summarize what experts already published before you design a new device.BenchmarkBusiness LiteracyBuild a decision matrixScore design options against weighted criteria to choose the best one with evidence, not gut feeling.CoreFeeds no tested domainDefine validation metricsSet measurable success criteria so you can prove a prototype actually works.
Unit 4
FoundationalGlobal EnvironmentMap exposure pathwaysTrace how a toxin moves from its source to a person's body to decide who is actually exposed.CoreGlobal EnvironmentRelate dose to responseRead a dose-response pattern to predict how the size of an exposure changes the body's reaction, including buildup over time.BenchmarkGlobal EnvironmentAssess public-health riskSeparate a pollutant's hazard from the real-world risk it poses by combining how harmful it is with how much people are exposed.CoreFeeds no tested domainBuild a claim-supporting graphPick what to plot and read the trend so the graph actually backs the claim you are making.CoreFeeds no tested domainIdentify outliers and errorSpot a data point that sits far from the others and read what error bars tell you about a measurement's spread.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainSeparate correlation from causationTell 'two things move together' from 'one thing causes the other,' and spot a hidden third factor (confounder).CoreMicrobiology Testing and TechnologyTesting for an indicator organism instead of the pathogenUse coliform bacteria as a stand-in for waste reaching a water supply, and say exactly what a coliform result does and does not certify.CoreMicrobiology Testing and TechnologyConfirming a presumptive result with a second reactionTake a screening result that only suggests an organism, add an independent reaction that tests a different property, and keep the two readings apart when you report.CoreMicrobiology Testing and TechnologyPresence-absence testing versus countingDecide which question a microbiological method was built to answer, yes or no versus how many, and match the method to the decision you have to make.CoreMicrobiology Testing and TechnologyTelling contamination from a findingUse sterility checks to spot a signal that came from your own bench rather than from the sample, and decide what the run is still allowed to report.CoreCulturingHolding a culture at the stated temperature for the stated windowChoose an incubation temperature and a length of hold, then explain why reading too early and reading too late each damage the result in a different way.CoreCulturingSelective and differential mediaTell what a growth medium keeps out from what it makes visible, and read a plate knowing which organisms were never given a chance to appear on it.CoreCulturingCounting colonies inside the countable windowDecide whether a plate can be counted at all, and say why a crowded plate and an almost bare plate both produce an untrustworthy number.
Unit 5
CoreFeeds no tested domainBuild a line listTurn scattered case reports into one organized table: a line list: so you can spot who got sick, when, and who they were near.BenchmarkFeeds no tested domainCompute incidence and prevalenceTell apart two key public-health numbers: how many NEW cases appear in a period (incidence) and how many people have the illness right now (prevalence).BenchmarkGlobal EnvironmentDesign an interventionChoose a public-health action that fits the problem, and place it at the right prevention level: stopping illness before it starts, catching it early, or limiting harm after.CoreBusiness LiteracyTarget an audience and fit the message to themPick the specific group of people you want to reach (your audience) and shape the health message so it actually lands with them.CoreBusiness Ethics and LawApply privacy and usability to a health productProtect people's private health information and make the product easy to understand and use.BenchmarkBusiness LiteracyMake evidence-based recommendationsUse the data you collected to recommend an action, instead of guessing or going with opinion.
Unit 6
CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyPlan a recombinant-DNA workflowPut the steps of building recombinant DNA in order: cut with an enzyme, join with ligase, carry it in a plasmid.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyJustify experimental controlsExplain why a transformation experiment needs a positive control that should grow and a negative control that should not.BenchmarkMolecular and Genetic TechnologyPredict cloning outcomesPredict which cells will grow after a cloning experiment using competent cells, ligation, and antibiotic selection.CoreCulturingRun a transformation with selectionMove a plasmid into bacteria, then use a selective plate to tell which cells actually took it up.VisualMolecular and Genetic TechnologyInterpret a gel against a ladderUse a DNA ladder of known sizes to estimate how big an unknown DNA band is from how far it traveled.CoreMolecular and Genetic TechnologyRead a restriction digestCount cut sites on a piece of DNA and work out how many fragments a restriction enzyme will produce.
Unit 7
CoreLaboratory Standard Operational ProceduresMaintain chain of custodyKeep an unbroken, signed handoff trail for every piece of evidence so it can be trusted later.CoreFeeds no tested domainFrame a research question + methodsTurn a broad interest into one specific, measurable, testable question and a method that can actually answer it.BenchmarkBusiness Ethics and LawAudit a final portfolioCheck a finished project for completeness, proper consent, and honest data before it is submitted.
Learning Centers cover every skill across all four PLTW courses (PBS, MI, HBS, BI). HBS and PBS are draft pending final PLTW alignment.