The curriculum of the CURE BioBus Educational Programs is based on experiments that teach advanced bioscience laboratory techniques to students in grades four through twelve.

BioBus/BioConnection Experiments

The following experiments are used both in the BioBus and the BioConnection programs:

	The Art of Forgery	Grades 4-8
	Forensics, art, science, and history combine in this experiment, as students are challenged to solve an art forgery caper. Students perform gel electrophoresis to separate paint samples from four recovered paintings to determine which is the real Mona Lisa. Student Guide. Teacher Guide.
	Mystery of the Crooked Cell	Grades 8-12
	Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease with an interesting evolutionary background; it is both detrimental and advantageous to those who carry the mutation. Here, gel electrophoresis is used to separate hemoglobin protein samples and make patient diagnoses, setting the stage for a discussion of ethics, heredity, and human health. Student Guide. Teacher Guide.
	The Cold Stone Caper	Grades 7-12
	Crime scene investigation relies heavily on the power and reliability of DNA forensic analyses to solve crimes. In this experiment, students learn the real science behind DNA fingerprinting, using restriction analysis and gel electrophoresis to discover which of three suspects is guilty of stealing a secret ice cream recipe. Student Guide. Teacher Guide.
	Genetically Modified Organisms	Grades 9-12
	Many of us unknowingly consume genetically modified products every day. The presence of genetic modification can be detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using this technique, students determine if various soy flour samples are contaminated with genetically modified soybeans. Student Guide. Teacher Guide.

BioBus Experiments

The following experiments are used on the BioBus only:

	A Twist of Lyme	Grades 7-12
	Connecticut residents live in one of the highest risk areas for contracting the tick-borne, bacterial illness Lyme disease. Antibodies, proteins produced by the immune system to help combat infection, are detected in patients by an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, or ELISA. Students investigate the ecology and immunology of Lyme disease as they perform an ELISA and make diagnoses of simulated patient samples. Student Guide. Teacher Guide.
	Glowing from Permutation (formerly called "Lighting the Magic Lantern")	Grades 9-12
	Genetic transformation is a technique widely used to produce therapeutic proteins for humans and animals. In this experiment, students explore the process of genetic engineering by transforming bacteria with a jellyfish gene that produces green fluorescent protein or GFP; a result that literally sheds light on the applications and recent advances of biotechnology. Student Guide. Teacher Guide.
	Hunting the Immune Villain	Grades 9-12
	With close to 40 million people infected worldwide, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has become a crisis of staggering proportion.  Human immunodeficiency virus is detected using a scientific technique called an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, or ELISA. In this experiment, students perform an ELISA to determine which of four simulated patient samples may be infected with HIV. In the process, students learn about the biology and evolution of this powerful virus. Student Guide. Teacher Guide.

Also performed on the BioBus, at public events only, is:

	Off to the Races	Grades 4-5
	In this experiment students perform gel electrophoresis to "race" color samples through an agarose gel. In the process, students observe the sizes and charges of various molecules and learn about color composition.