Biology students, lick your rat
One for the biology teachers. Get your students to lick their rats.
Not a real rat, though I knew students that would have done it given the opportunity.
In this case it is a cool animation to help students and teachers get a handle on epigenetics. Most teachers will be aware of the University of Utah’s “Learn Genetics” web site, but if you haven’t checked it out for a while, there is a relatively new section on epigenetics with excellent explanations and examples – and this cool story and animation to accompany it. Essentially, Mum rats will lick their pups to varying degrees, from lots to never. Pups that get licked a lot grow up to be less anxious and stressed. This trait will be passed on through the generations, however, it is not a genetic trait, but an epigenetic one.
Have a play, lick a rat. From the perspectives of a teaching tool, I would be interested to know how effective you think it is.
Jason Major