NB The items in the list which follows carry no specific recommendations as against other, similar, products which may be available.

Gene Web

Gene Web is a new site on the World Wide Web at:
http://ncet.csv.warwick.ac.uk/WWW/geneweb/index.htmll
Co-ordinated by: Neil Ingram, Clifton College, Bristol
Sponsored by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, ICL Education Systems, Medical Research Council, National Council for Education Technology, Nufficid Foundation and the Welicome Trust.
An interactive resource for secondary students and their teachers, providing information on genetics. Linked to topics on the UK science curricula, with notes for teachers and maps to Key Stages.

Bioreactors/Fermenters

The problems in arranging for GCSE students to gain practical experience with some form of bioreactor are both financial and organisational, but many schools will be able to offer at least a limited exposure.

Many commercial 'school' bioreactors are available, offering varying degrees of sophistication and in widely different price categories. The following systems are referred to as an indication only, on three different levels, of the range of what is available; the NCBE (see Useful Addresses on page 43) may be approached for advice and comparisons of features available on most commercially available systems.

Bioreactor kit - Philip Harris

This kit guides students through the design and construction of a simple air lift bioreactor which can then be used to process milk or whey using an immobilised enzyme. Includes teachers' notes and students' worksheets, as well as ideas for further investigations.
NB This is not a fermenter.
Ref. H0632019 Current price £57.82

NCBE Bloreactor - National Centre for Biotechnology Education

This bioreactor/fermenter assembly has been developed to provide schools with an inexpensive yet safe system for individual students to use. Whilst incorporating all the essential features of much more costly devices, it uses a standard wide-mouthed flask as the main vessel, making replacement cheap and easy. There are no computer interfaces, but pH andlor oxygen probes, which schools may already possess, may be used.
price £85 Contact NCBE for further details

Fermenter kit - Philip Harris

A very sophisticated and versatile system, allowing a wide range of detailed studies. Conditions in the fermenter may be monitored by using meters, chart recorders, DL plus or a computer via an interface. The kit comes with extensive documentation and a useful list of possible investigations. Schools will probably use this kit primarily for A-level classes but GCSE students could benefit from being involved, even if only peripherally.
Ref. H54200/8 current price £750

Plant tumour kit - Philip Harris

Sunflower plants are injected with Agrobacterium to induce gall formation, then the bacterium is re-isolated on to agar plates
Ref. H54700/6 current price £32.34 kit, H5470219 current price £1.65 teaching notes

Bacterial growth kit - Philip Harris

This kit enables the population growth of a safe bacterium to be monitored, without the need for elaborate aseptic precautions. Monitoring can be carried out colorimetrically or by using a counting chamber.
Ref. H73720/8 current price £43.31

Slide set (35mm) - Philip Harris

Food from microbes Part 1.
A set of 57 slides dealing with the traditional roles of microorganisms in the production of cheese, yoghurt, vinegar, bread and beer.
Ref. H54560/5 current price £47.22

Videos

The Bio-Bombshell
New Scientist-Quest Video, IPC Magazines 1984

An Introduction to Practical Microbiology
Metropolitan University of Manchester
Faculty of Science & Fngincering
Faculty Development Unit
John Daiton Building
Chester Street
Manchester
MI 5GD
Tel 0161 247 1626
Price £33.40 + VAT
Intended for sixth form students, but useful for younger students, this video outlines the importance of safety and aseptic techniques, then specific methods for inoculation and cultivation of microorganisms are described in detail. The video is likely to be useful with the 'Microorganisms and disease in humans' section of the subject extension material, also.

Computer software - Philip Harris

Build a fermenter
A programme, for BBC computers, designed as a game to increase understanding of how fermenters are designed and how they function.
Ref. H543608 current price £21.83