EXAMS!

This week we will focus on exam review.  This exam is cumulative.  To prepare for this assessment you should use your notes, old test, notes, textbook and your old blog posts.  There are also powerpoints on the class website for all the chapters covered.  Also refer to the exam review sheet I emailed out last week.  There is also info on the exam format on this document.

Please use the comment section of this blog post to ask questions on exam content and review material.  I will make sure to look through your comments and answer all questions at least once a night.  Feel free to answer each others questions as well!

Good luck and happy studying!

More on the Human Body.....

As you you continue on in your investigation of the human body, I thought you might find these videos on various systems and phenomenons of the body interesting.....if anything else, I hope they teach you a few things that you didn't already know. 

The Human Body is AMAZING!!!!

Please take a few minutes to watch each video (they are all 3-4 minutes long), and write down any questions you have.  We will be discussing all of these clips on Monday.

Human Body 101

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/science/health-human-body-sci/human-body/human-body-sci.html

London Taxi Drivers Brains’

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/science/health-human-body-sci/human-body/human-body-sci.html

Science of Stress

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/science/health-human-body-sci/human-body/human-body-sci.html

Bone Strength

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/6830-human-body-bone-strength-video.htm

An In-Class Assignment on the Human Body

Your Assignment:

Research your topic today in class and put together a 3 to 4 minute powerpoint presentation on your organ/system that you will share with the class tomorrow.....

Ready. Set. Go!

This is a VERY broad assignment, but you need to use time both effectively and efficiently. 

NO DISTRACTIONS!  

Focus your research on information found on this website: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/

Images can be taken from others places, though.

Your presentation should provide others in the class with an overview of your topic.  Assume your audience knows nothing. Make sure to keep it interesting!

Topics you might want to include in your summary are:

·      Main functions of your system/organ

·      Explanation of your systems anatomy (visual aids will be helpful!)

·      Interesting facts on your topic

·      External factors that can affect the function of your organ/system

·      Diseases that can effect your organ

·      Development of your organ/system (are you born with it fully developed? Is it continuously changing growing??)

·      Fun/interesting facts

Assignments:

Brain

Matt

Dawson

Peter

Digestive System

Nick

Lucy

Heart

Austin

Mayze

Ava

Lungs

Cuyler

Annie

Skin

Megan

Sara

Shelby

Genes: It's All in the Family!

After collecting data on a variety of genetic traits and comparing your own sets of these traits to your classmates as well as your family members, take a minute to reflect........

Do any of the results surprise you?  Were you able to determine your genotype for any of the investigated traits?  Why or why not?  What about the genotypes of your family members?  Are there any other Mendelian traits that you looked into on your own?  I know someone mentioned hand-folding......

Also, could you create any pedigrees based on your findings?

 

Angiosperm Dissection in Action!!

Hot Topics in Genetics

The Task: Create an informative and engaging blog post on your assigned topic in the field of genetics

Specifics:

Your post must address/include the following:

·       A complete description of your topic with appropriate background information (note who your audience is- this needs to be thorough)

·       A brief explanation of your topic on a molecular level (how is linked to protein synthesis or the cell cycle)

·       A specific case study linked to your topic or current research/breakthroughs

·       Explanation of potential future breakthroughs in the field

·       Any ethical/moral issues related to your topic

You will be graded using the usual blog post rubric

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

Genetic cloning                

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

Stem Cell Research                                                                                          

Behavioral Genetics

Gene Therapy                                                                                                            

Personal Genome Project

Human Genome Project                                                                        

Forensics

Genetically Modified Foods/Organisms                                                      

Genetic Testing

Genetics and the Law (Some Legislative Background)                  

HIV/AIDS Research

HPV Vaccine

Influenza Vaccine

                                                                                                            

Cancer Project Presentations

Hope you all are enjoying your long weekend!

When we get back to class on Wednesday we will pick up with our cancer research presentations.

Below is the rest of the schedule for presentations (I selected names randomly to come up with this order!)

Wednesday
Sara
Matt
Cuyler
Nick

Thursday
Shelby
Mayze


Let me know if you have any questions.  Otherwise, see you next week!

The Cell Cycle Gone Wrong: Cancer Research Project

To finish out our discussion of the cell cycle and mitosis, you are going to be researching and presenting on a class of diseases that make up the second leading cause of death in the United States: Cancer. Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth and affects humans in a variety of ways. Cancer is caused by genetic mutations, or changes to the DNA sequence, that often arise as a result of carcinogens, cancer causing agents. For this project you will be researching one type of cancer and presenting the following information to the class:

•  Your cancer and its history, facts & figures
• Types of cancer (the various forms, if any exist)
•  The risk factors and genetic causes
•  Discussion of the biology of your cancer (how this cancer works on the molecular level)
• Treatments currently used or being tested to help those with cancer 

Project Requirements:

•  2-page paper summarizing the information above, including a list of sources used.  This paper must be uploaded onto your blog as a post
•   A  5-minute class presentation with a power point or prezi (this will also be uploaded onto your blog).

Resources:

            Below I have posted several online resources for you to begin your research. Your research should not be limited to these sources, however, and you may incorporate other print, online, or other media resources. The end of your report should include a list of sources, but I will not require a formal bibliography.

The National Cancer Institute

http://www.cancer.gov/

American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

http://www.dana-farber.org/can/default.html

Cancer Quest: Winship Cancer Institute

http://www.cancerquest.org/

Due Date: February 15, 2011

Grading:

             This will count toward one project grade and your grade will be divided equally between the paper and the presentation. You will be graded on the inclusion of all information above, the quality of your presentation, and your overall preparedness. You will have time in class to research and write, but you will be expected to do a great deal of work at home, as well.

GOOD LUCK! 

Does Photosynthesis Happen in the Dark?

Hopefully by now you have succesfully collected all of your data (I hope the extra day away didn't have any effects on your results) Now comes the write-up.....

Please complete the lab report that I handed out to you in class on Tuesday. For the conclusion, remember appropriate lab formatting (starting by re-stating your purpose and go from there). Make sure to summarize your findings, discuss experimental error (how confident are you that your results are accurate? and note, you cannot just cite "human error"!!!! That will peeve me.....)  Also include an answer to the question, "Do your results support your hypothesis? Why or why not?"  Please reference outside sources (your textbook or that fancy thing called the inter-web) to support your conclusion.

This lab will be due at the start of class tomorrow.

Questions can be posted below in the comments section.

Sorry I can't be there today.  Hope you all enjoyed your snow day yesterday!

Plants Are Awesome!!!!

Did you know that an average hectare of corn produces enough oxygen per hectare per day in mid summer to meet the respiratory needs of about 325 people?!? In Ontario, there are just over one million hectares of corn grown. This corn, via photosynthesis, produces enough oxygen for the annual respiratory needs of Ontario's 10 million residents in about 11 summer days! (From: "Corn and Photosynthesis")

Isn't that incredible??

This week we have taken on the amazing and essential process of photosynthesis. For this week's post I would like you to reflect on your understanding of the process so far. You have some creative liberty here, but your post at a minimum must incorporate a brief summary of the light and dark reaction within the process (please include inputs and outputs for each).

Cool facts on the photosynthetic rates and plants can also be incorporated.

Next week we will investigate various factors that can effect photosynthetic rates in plants. In your post, please propose two factors that you think may influence the rate of photosynthesis.

Make sense? Any questions on the post can be asked below. This post will be due Monday, but comments on classmates blogs will be due on Tuesday.

Carbon Fixation and the Calvin Cycle

Now that you've mastered the Light Dependent Reactions within photosynthesis, let's take a closer look at the Calvin Cycle (I know you're excited!!!)




For homework tonight, watch this video from Khan Academy on the details of the Calvin Cycle. Remember, the easiest way to learn the cycle is to count carbons. Bring any questions you have on the process to class tomorrow. Or write them to me in the comment section below this post.

Also, for those of you who were not in class today (I hope you're feeling better!). Here is a link to the video we watched in class today on the light reactions. Please watch it if you are feeling up to it.

Student Blogging: What else is out there????

As promised......

Here is the link to the blogs at La Junta High School in Colorado. Click on "Biology" and look through some of the student blogs. The 10th grade biology class there is taking on photosynthesis right now.....sound familiar?!?!?

Feel free to comment, but just make sure to be respectful.

Also, here's a link to a 10th grade student's chemistry blog that was just awarded 2010 Runner-Up Student Blog of the Year by Edublog. Thought it might provide some inspiration. Pretty cool. Maybe that could be one of you next year....