Workshop by Anitomical at the Bètapartners conference Long live biology!

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, Anitomical was one of the participants in the conference ‘Leve de biologie!’ (‘Long Live Biology!’), organized by Bètapartners in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. On this day, full of lectures and workshops, biology teachers and a number of interested high school students were welcomed for an extensive program at the University of Amsterdam. Joris Koene, Anitomical's scientific advisor, provided a workshop on the pond snail.

In humans, squids and pond snails there are clear differences in heart structure and function, depending on lifestyle and living environment. Such anatomical variations are often difficult to compare one-to-one in order to understand the evolutionary history of the organisms. Digital 3D anatomical models make comparative anatomy immediately accessible and insightful.

During the workshop, Joris zoomed in on these anatomical differences and conducted an experiment with the students present that focused on the heartbeat of the pond snail. Mollusks, such as pond snails, are cold-blooded and therefore do not produce their own body heat. Body temperature is entirely dependent on external factors, meaning internal processes are influenced by ambient temperature. One of those processes is the heartbeat.

Using a 3D model from Anitomical, the location of the heart was first accurately determined and then the difference in heart rate was measured at different water temperatures. The beating of the heart can be seen through the partly transparent shell of the pond snail. By determining the heart rate at different temperatures, the relationship between temperature and heart rate can be determined. That data was plotted on a graph.

Would you like to give your input about biology education of the future?

Anitomical would like to get in touch with secondary schools and universities from different countries to further investigate how our offering can best meet the needs of education. Are you interested in thinking along and providing input? Please contact us!