Last Blog

What was your favorite topic this semester? Why?
What was your least favorite?
What would you change about this class if you could?
What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment in biology this year?


My favorite topic was learning about the human organs and how they functioned. I liked understanding what's going on inside my body. I also liked how we dissected different organisms to see how their organs looked like. It was fun to have a first hand experience with the different organs.

My least favorite would be learning the multiple different cycles that occurs in our bodies to produce energy. It was tough memorizing each step of the cycle and what they produced.

If I could change something about this class it would be to have homework due more often. I am one of those students who would procrastinate until the very last minute to turn something in. If deadline are not set, I would probably not set my own deadline and wait until one is set for me.

My biggest accomplishment this year would be being able to dissect the various organisms and not be afraid to touch them. The spider, in my opinion, took me a lot of courage to look at it under the microscope since I do have a big fear of them.

Genome Entry 10

Chromosome 10
Stress

This is one chapter that every teenager in high school can relate to. In chromosome 10, a gene's purpose is to synthesize the enzyme that allows the body to convert cholesterol in cortisol, testoterone, and oestradiol. Cortisol is released when the there is stressed in the body. The brain sends out a signal and sets off a chain of different genetic triggers that causes the different genes in the body to turn on and off. This long chain of reactions can have many effect on the body including suppressing the immune system. The cortisol has a very important role in the health of a body. It affects the rate of a heart disease in an individual. Cortisol correlates to the level of stress in the human body which affects the heart health of that body. If an individual usually has a lot of stress on him or her, that person would have a higher chance of having a heart disease.

Genome Entry 9

Chromosome 9
Disease

Ridley also discusses about diseases in this chapter. He starts off with a discussion of variation in blood type. He also talks about the previous theory that the variation, like some others, was actually an effect of random genetic mutations instead of just natural selection. But on the other hand, it is also able to be linked to immunity and susceptibility to different diseases. These diseases include cholera which is linked to A and AB types and malaria which is more susceptible in O types. One example used in this chapter is malaria. Malaria occurs more in the African American population where they have a higher chance of having a gene linked to sickle-cell anemia. However they have an allete that's more resistance to malaria. There is a known link of immunity to malaria that affects the susceptability of that individual to sickle-cell disease.

Genome Entry 8

Chromosome 11
Personality

The chromosome 11 is used for dopamine. Dopamine helps give an individual energy. If an individual lacks in dopamine, he or she will feel lethargic and weak. However too much dopamine might be a bad thing too, it may even cause schizophrenia. A person's behavior is affected by many factors. There is over five hundred heritable genes that can affect a person's behavior. The environment the individual is in is also very important.

Invertebrates

Pick 3 invertebrates Compare them in terms of physical features and systems. Identify at least 3 similarities and 3 differences Include pictures and References

1. Centipedes are invertebrates because they don't have a back bone, they have many different sections to their bodies which helps them move. They are considered arthropods because they have a long flat body and numerous legs. The antenna on their heads helps them sense and feel for things to know where they are going. They are usually poisonous and prey on other insects using the pincers near their butt. 

 2. Snails, unlike centipedes, move at a really slow rate. Centipedes have many many legs which helps them move at a really quick speed. The have a soft body and a hard shell that protects them from preys. They leave a trail of slime that comes from their body. Similar to centipedes, they have tentacles that helps them sense what's around them just like the centipede's antennas.

3. Spiders are also invertebrates because they have no back bones. But they are no like centipedes because they have two body parts instead of many. They are called arachnids with a cephalothorax and abdomen. They have eight legs which is two more than the common bugs with six. But unlike both the snail and the centipedes, they use mandibles to sense what's around them.

Sources:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=Qgh1_FhyDIViAM:&imgrefurl=http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/centipedemillipede012.shtml&docid=LGD11myNJS2RFM&imgurl=http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/images/CentipedeMillipede/gardncnt.jpg&w=600&h=406&ei=iYbWT6-IFeGi2gXPo_i6Dw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=336&vpy=204&dur=64&hovh=185&hovw=273&tx=159&ty=98&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=163&tbnw=264&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:157

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=5d7lcuItLYbOBM:&imgrefurl=http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/copse-snail-photo-1224.html&docid=_sJGelxOhSpg3M&imgurl=http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/others/copse-snail-25279.jpg&w=600&h=422&ei=tobWT9fGE4Oq2QXH2oTADw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=108&vpy=274&dur=1641&hovh=188&hovw=268&tx=94&ty=134&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=162&tbnw=203&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:157

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=s2SSP38NGAJHVM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider&docid=FGdZDFN6y5fUhM&itg=1&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Orb_weaver_black_bckgrnd03_crop.jpg/250px-Orb_weaver_black_bckgrnd03_crop.jpg&w=250&h=188&ei=7IbWT6WzNYno2QWG4vGNCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=288&vpy=232&dur=1389&hovh=150&hovw=200&tx=63&ty=101&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=200&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:157

BOW 4 Intelligence

Why is it important to define and debate our understanding of intelligence and its origins? How does this relate to you?

Different people interpret intelligence differently. According to the book Genome, our intelligence is constantly changing. Everyone has a different, unique way of learning things. Some people are visual learners which means that they need the used of different visual aids to learn better. It's easier to them to see it being done than to just read about it. While others may have natural intelligence which means that their mind is able to connect and relate different things easily. Understanding intelligence can help us accomplish our different techniques that are unique to ourselves. We can be good at everything, but knowing that we can specialize in a particular area will allow us to focus on it and excel in that area. That is why it relates to me. I am a mathematic learner where I like to see things being done step by step. In my opinion, things are easier to understand when they are done in the proper order. But I am partially a visual learner too because the visual aids do help me grasp a concept better.

BOW 3 Starfish

The starfish is a special type of marine invertebrate. It has no brain or blood but instead have filtered sea water flow through its body. Although most people commonly know starfishes to have 5 arms, it is possible for them to have up to forty arms. The starfishes with the five arms are the most common one though.

The name starfish could be misleading because it is not actually a fish. It is, in reality, an echinoderm. Starfishes are very similar to sea urchins and sand dollars. Some scientists have also began to call it a sea star instead of a starfish.

With over two thousand species of starfishes around the world, they have a wide variety of differences. They can live in hot and cold climate. Their unique skin is able to protect them from different predators because it has a tough cover.

Starfishes only have one hole which serves as both it's butt and it's mouth. It consumes preys through that hole and releases waste through the same hole. The use their suction cups in their arms to pry open different shelled fish like clams and oysters.

Sources:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=Cwaua9wxUI8o0M:&imgrefurl=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/starfish/&docid=gvXbhIu3ZZ-2WM&imgurl=http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/007/cache/star-fish_723_600x450.jpg&w=600&h=450&ei=IH_WT8WGIIqM2gXXyZWWDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=117&vpy=201&dur=971&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=171&ty=112&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=166&tbnw=213&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:141

http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=0_dbmbiE_wzO5M:&imgrefurl=http://morquecho-samantha.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-13-compare-circulation-of.html&docid=hKeEEuyr_aIQvM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xfouTd4mA6y2mbvAPDr4teOQxmANwEXHdp2kSiPlSh0jRVn5CozH8soIkj6Gq2B0nK9C8IAKJRDw_ZTvnMcHIGQgLISPNFCj-uwvrzglkETutk5_ktr2PQ7icWHGXNiuxbLxQUMpS6o/s1600/I10-82-starfish.jpg&w=650&h=423&ei=WH_WT4yoJYmy2QXLyomCDw&zoom=1

http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=JY0yrt7quCBw6M:&imgrefurl=http://animalplanet.wikispaces.com/Gabby%2B%2526%2BEmily%27s%2BInvertebrate%2BReflection%2Band%2BAnalysis&docid=dRms6St9pD5XsM&imgurl=http://animalplanet.wikispaces.com/file/view/water_vascular_system.jpg/53377906/water_vascular_system.jpg&w=400&h=275&ei=WH_WT4yoJYmy2QXLyomCDw&zoom=1

BOW Nephrons

The kidneys are a vital organ to humans. Kidneys are also sometimes referred to as nephrons. They come in a pair and they are about the size of your fist. They're bean-shaped and are located in your lower back area. The kidneys are so important that if anything is wrong with them, the individual may develop a serious health problem.

The kidneys are used to filter about twenty percent of all the blood that runs through our body. They regulated the composition of our blood. Through the kidney, our blood gets filtered of the water and the other chemicals in it to keep it in a balanced level. It is also responsible for removing the wastes that can be found in our blood. Some other tasks of the kidney involves creating red blood cells and producing urine and maintaining the body's calcium levels.

The nephrons in the kidney eliminates wastes from the individual while also being able to regulate the blood volume and control blood pressure. Humans need their kidneys in order to survive. If one kidney fails, the other one will be sufficient to keep the individual alive. An average human kidney is able to have up to 1.5 million nephrons.

Sources:
ahttp://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=nWfRSQ06uoX6kM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephron&docid=ZsbXNoFLTHB9yM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Gray1128.png/290px-Gray1128.png&w=290&h=289&ei=RVPWT6PHJcW42wX-6KGcDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=110&vpy=186&dur=90&hovh=224&hovw=225&tx=102&ty=145&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=165&tbnw=164&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:141

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=nWfRSQ06uoX6kM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephron&docid=ZsbXNoFLTHB9yM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Gray1128.png/290px-Gray1128.png&w=290&h=289&ei=RVPWT6PHJcW42wX-6KGcDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=110&vpy=186&dur=90&hovh=224&hovw=225&tx=102&ty=145&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=165&tbnw=164&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:141

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=qC_pDkpiDq8E7M:&imgrefurl=http://www.unckidneycenter.org/kidneyhealthlibrary/glomerulardisease.html&docid=t3Cy7uCrpRVBIM&imgurl=http://www.unckidneycenter.org/images/glomerulus.jpg&w=448&h=299&ei=RVPWT6PHJcW42wX-6KGcDw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=508&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=216&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:144&tx=10&ty=42

BOW Double Fertilization

Double fertilization occurs in flowering plants. These flowering plants are also called angiosperms. The double fertilization process involves the joining of a female gametophyte with two male gametes. The male gametes are also known as sperm. This process begins with a pollen grain which sticks to the stigma of the carpel. The carpel is the female reproductive structure of a flower. Moisture adds to this process and helps the pollen grain germinated. Later this forms a pollen tube that stretches down toward the ovary through the style. The micropyle opening in the ovule is penetrated by the tipe of the pollen tube. It now is able to enter the ovary. The pollen tube can now let the two sperms go in to the megagametophyte. While the egg is being fertilized by one sperm, another sperm is used to combine the two polar nuclei of the central cell of the megagametophyte. The haploid sperm cell combines with the haploid egg to create a diploid zygote. The polar nuclei that contributes to the endosperm comes from mitosis from the same meiotic product that created the egg.

Sources:
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=tblaFAyl05UxnM:&imgrefurl=http://ankerz-bangetz.blogspot.com/&docid=yDS_aVpfvEqQSM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCy8vlbR-DTiF2X52W7rGvLkhH24a7-QKX7kLd_DCy7quHrwURGNf7unrvk4hHfZp8b_4s-OPGmQcdLIAvhXkEe3s0pLGL_ez6prnlHYGdt7zW3KBKlnCzy1zPdSYFlgO6MOk9qWfdGiH7/s400/pembuahan%252Bganda.jpg&w=400&h=286&ei=CVDWT8f3OKfM2gWwtNGnDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=252&vpy=272&dur=1475&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=163&ty=106&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=197&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:111

Genome Entry 7

Chromosome 10
Stress

This is one chapter that every teenager in high school can relate to. In chromosome 10, a gene's purpose is to synthesize the enzyme that allows the body to convert cholesterol in cortisol, testoterone, and oestradiol. Cortisol is released when the there is stressed in the body. The brain sends out a signal and sets off a chain of different genetic triggers that causes the different genes in the body to turn on and off. This long chain of reactions can have many effect on the body including suppressing the immune system. The cortisol has a very important role in the health of a body. It affects the rate of a heart disease in an individual. Cortisol correlates to the level of stress in the human body which affects the heart health of that body. If an individual usually has a lot of stress on him or her, that person would have a higher chance of having a heart disease.

Genome Entry 6

Chromosome 9
Disease

Ridley also discusses about diseases in this chapter. He starts off with a discussion of variation in blood type. He also talks about the previous theory that the variation, like some others, was actually an effect of random genetic mutations instead of just natural selection. But on the other hand, it is also able to be linked to immunity and susceptibility to different diseases. These diseases include cholera which is linked to A and AB types and malaria which is more susceptible in O types. One example used in this chapter is malaria. Malaria occurs more in the African American population where they have a higher chance of having a gene linked to sickle-cell anemia. However they have an allete that's more resistance to malaria. There is a known link of immunity to malaria that affects the susceptability of that individual to sickle-cell disease.

Genome Entry 5

Chromosomes X and Y
Conflict

The conflict that Ridley discusses is that each of the X and Y chromosomes are only attracting genes that are beneficial to that sex. This means the X chromosome is more likely to get more feminine genes and genes that are more helpful to the female reproductive system. The Y chromosome, on the other hand, recieves the masculine genes which attracts genes for large muscles and less body fat. The Y chromosome is outnumbered three to one by  the X chromosomes. It has to fight extra hard to compete with them. The conflict between the genese from seduction and the genes that is used fro resistance is what keeps the molecular biology of sex in balance. These constant battles between genes and the balance that results is the reason why individuals compete with each other through continually advancing forms of seduction and resistance.

Genome Entry 4

Chromosome 7
Instinct

Chromosome 7 holds a link to a disorder called Specific Language Impairment (SLI). It is almost one hundred percent inheritable. It impedes the individual from learning grammar rules but not neccessarily from the act of speaking. Children are able to learn how to speak with proper grammar even without having to learn the rules first. This is because they have this innate learning ability in them. But the individuals with SLI have a hard time comprehending grammar rules and using words in different tenses. They lack an internalized grammar which can be compared to adults trying to learn a different language. 


Chromosome 8
Self-Interest

Genetic information are categorized in different sections. They are in sections called exons with intermiettent random sections called introns. There are protein in the human body that have no use at all. For example, reverse transcriptase is one that only has the purpose to fuel for AIDS. This gene and several others only exist because they are good at replicating themselves. Humans are able to suppress these genes through methylation.

Genome Entry 3

Chromosome 5
Environment

Ridley begins by exploring the world of genetics. He says that it is not just black and white as people may come to think of it but there are also many details in between that people are missing. Genetic inheritance is affected by many factors. These factors include the principles of pleiotropy, pluralism, and the environment. These all affect the individual significantly. 

Chromosome 6
Intelligence

He also talks about a study done on the genes of children with high IQ numbers. They noticed that there was a difference in the gene IGF2R on the chromosome 6. He later discovered that the intelligence genes cannot be only considered by themselves, but also all the other factors that affect it like the environental stimulation that is required for it to function. Through other studies, Ridley noticed that there is heritability to intelligence and personality.  

Genome Entry 2

Chromosome 3
History

Ridley brings up Dr. Archibald Garrold, a historical figure, who published the inborn errors of metabolism. He was working with a disease called alkaptonuria and made some insightful discoveries. He later published his eerily accurate hypothesis in the inborn errors of metabolism in 1902. In this, he predicted that the inborn erros of metabolism were caused by genetic mutations. He first assumed that each gene only was able to make one chemical catalyst and he called the mutations a loss or malfunction of an enzyme. He also discovered that the proteins managed nearly all the functions in a human body. Most of the readers of his book missed his point, including Mendel and Darwin. They both produced different theories which were eventually combined into one in 1918. Finally, discoveries later on showed that genes were the foundation for proteins after much study of mutations.

Genome Entry 1

CHAPTER 1
Chromosome 1

Life Ridley talks about the DNA and RNA. He refers to Genesis and compares the beginning of the world to the beginning of the word. The word represents RNA. RNA is distinguishable different from DNA. He also compares DNA to written languages. He says that it is written in a line where it must be read from side to side. It cannot be read from top to bottom only from either left to right or right to left. He also says that DNA is like the alphabet and although it only has 22 letters, the letters still all represents something. RNA came before DNA and it is more chemically active compared to DNA. However, compared to DNA, it is also more unstable because it is only one strand, unlike DNA which is two strands that complete each other. DNA, compared to RNA, is faster, more reliable, and more accurate which is why organism now have DNA instead of just RNA.

15. A fear of phermones article

A Fear of Phermones is an article about how human's phermones affect people. Although some may think that only animals are able to secrete and smell phermones, humans can also do the same thing. Phermones are made up of several carbon atoms that animals use to distinguish the opposite sex and how to communicate with them. Animals, as well as humans, use phermones as a way to attract the opposite sex. In A Fear of Phermones, the author discussed how primates react to the different chemicals that the famales secrete. They release a phermone called estradiol that is used to attract males. My friends have recently told me how they are learning about phermones in class and one of my best girl friends just got her period. Which led another girl to another one of my bestfriends to get her period. Since we spent so much time together, I got my period the next day too. I believe what the author said was pretty accurate and that phermones do affect humans, as well as animals.

14. Lit Circle - what has surprised me the most so far

In the Beak of the Finch, the thing that surprised me the most was how one species of finch birds were able to divide into two species. Some of the birds were separated by the island for a long period of time and the two separate groups of birds had to adapt to different environments. This caused them to change and evolve into different species. But decades ago, they were the same bird. That was really interesting to me.

17. Major Plant Division

Green Algae
The green algae are the large group of algae where the higher plants emerged from. The green algae include unicellular and colonial flagellates. There are a large number of algae which sums up to be about 6,000 species of green algae. Many of the algae species live their lives as single cells, while other algae species form colonies, coenobia, long filaments, or highly differentiated macroscopic seaweeds.

Vascular Plants
These are plants that have lignified tissues used for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include the club mosses, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.

Nonvascular Plants
These are plants without a vascular system. They do not have xylem or phloem. Even though these nonvascular plants don't have these particular tissues, they still have tissues that are used for internal transport of water, minerals, and other photosynthesis products.


Resources:
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=svh_F_FFCTo0kM:&imgrefurl=http://www.digitalnaturalhistory.com/flora.htm&docid=WAo8we4i56NsSM&imgurl=http://www.digitalnaturalhistory.com/diapensia.jpg&w=575&h=431&ei=2OgaT_nlNqiPigLz_JDZCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=181&vpy=262&dur=318&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=132&ty=90&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=159&tbnw=180&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=ub843ha5RuLQOM:&imgrefurl=http://www-th.bo.infn.it/tunguska/99-bryophyta.htm&docid=WZLFST3UNr-WsM&imgurl=http://www-th.bo.infn.it/tunguska/99-bryophyta.jpg&w=720&h=540&ei=BekaT5K8NunKiQLH4ZWMAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=844&vpy=358&dur=1226&hovh=139&hovw=186&tx=72&ty=80&sig=114823444161963020132&page=2&tbnh=124&tbnw=156&start=10&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:10
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=575&tbm=isch&tbnid=QFT4ZmzsH9jKBM:&imgrefurl=http://doralbio8.wikispaces.com/Red,%2BBrown%2B%2526%2BGreen%2BAlgae&docid=xvqSY4RgnCRN3M&imgurl=http://doralbio8.wikispaces.com/file/view/3329_greenAlgae_lg.jpg/205427190/3329_greenAlgae_lg.jpg&w=277&h=344&ei=FegaT__XOcWOiAKPs-nhCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=912&vpy=171&dur=87&hovh=250&hovw=201&tx=99&ty=149&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=162&tbnw=138&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

18. three key ideas; Beak of the Finch

1. natural selection - The finches on the island change and adapt to their environment. They also follow Darwin's survival of the fittest where the finch who is the most adaptable to the new environment survive and reproduce while those who lack features needed for their survival slowly die away.

2. separation - When the finches at the Galapagos island are separated from the finches elsewhere in the world, they adapt to that environment and change into a whole new version of the finch. Different finches living in different areas of the world adapt to their environment. When they adapt to it, the pass it on to their offsprings and after several generation, a noticeable difference will show in the two sets of birds.

3. adaptation - This tied in with the previous two key ideas. Adaptation is vital to the survival of the finches, they had no where else to go but the island. Being isolated from the society, they must learn how to adapt to survive or die. Some of the finches adapted to eating fruits for survival which changed their beak size to a larger beak so it's easier to break open fruits and eat them. Some of the finches adapted to eating bugs so they had a narrower, longer beak to be able to capture the critters with ease. Their beaks were one of the main adaptations they made after separation and natural selection hence the name of the book Beak of the Finch.

13. cell poem

Cells are small, but many
You can't live if you don't have any.

Cells are able to live on their own,
they are the smallest living thing,
But when they come together,
they can even make up a king.

Cells have many organelles,
including a nucleus with many orders to tell.

The membrane around the cell is all about
controlling what comes in and out.

12. diversity of cells wordle

Cells are diverse in many ways including their size and functions. In cell sizes, they can range from as little as 1 micrometer to as big as 200 micrometers. One advantage of being small is the large surface to volume ratio. This ratio is important because it helps things to be moved in and out of the cell efficiently and quickly. In addition, the diffusion time to the center of the cell is a lot lower than if the cell was larger. Some cells die when they are mature in example: xylem cells. Different cells serves different purposes including red blood cells, nerve cells, rod cells, phloem cells and xylem cells.

11. Cellular Metabolim Wordle

Cellular metabolism differ depending if it's a plant or an animal. But whether it's an animal or a plant, cellular serves ones main purpose which is to produce ATP. Cells have many, many different activities to carry out in order to maintain their proper functions. These chemical reactions all need energy. Through their metabolic systems, they produce energy which is used to carry out the various activities. Plant cells use photosynthesis while animal cells use aerobic respiration.

10. phyla protozoa

 

a.) amoeba -  cell's organelles and cytoplasm are enclosed by a cell membrane

                           -obtains food through phagocytosis

                           -heterotrophs

                            -single large tubular pseudopod at the anterior end

                            -several secondary tubular pseudopods on the sides

                            -about 220-740μm in length

                            -have at least one nuclei

                           -food is digested in vacuoles

                           -asexual

b.) paramecium - slipper shaped

                            -about 70 - 140 um

                            -covered with simple cilia

                            -moves about 12 body lengths per second

                            -heterotrophs

c.) stylonychia - has cilia grouped into membranelles along the mouth

                            -has cirri over the body

                            -long cirri at the posterior (about 3)

                            -carnivrous

d.)vorticella - inverted bell shape

                            -they are anchored onto the substrate

                            -live in freshwater ponds

                            -reproduce by budding

e. colpidium - curves left

                            -twist forward parallel to anterior

                            -swims in a spiral, rotating around their long axis

                            -kidney shaped

                            -found in moist soil

f.) tetrahymena - have two types of cell nuclei ( large and small)

                            -have hundreds of cilia

                            -complicated microbule structures

                            -switch from commensalistic to pathogenic modes of survival

                            -easy to cultivate and study

9. bacteria, virus, prion, protist

Bacteria are single cell organisms, with countless varieties that have different effect on the organisms. They have a wide range of shapes including spheres, rods, and spirals. These organisms can be found almost anywhere on Earth, from the skin on our body to the hair on our head. Plants and animals also have hundreds of thousands of bacteria living within and outside of them. One gram of soil can contain up to forty million bacteria cells in it.
Unlike bacteria, viruses are small infectious agents. Bacteria are able to be spread easily while viruses can only replicate inside human beings or other living cells of organisms. Besides human beings, they are able to infect all sorts of organisms from animals to plants to bacteria.
Another infectious agent is the prion. Prion is made up of a type of protein that is folded differently than a regular protein. They are able to transmit different diseases to organisms, similar to bacteria and viruses, including mad cow disease. Unlike some bacterial and viral diseases, prion infections are deadly because all the known prion diseases target the neural tissues including the brain. These diseases have no known cure.
Protists are a group of different eukaryotic microorganisms with a variety of different unicellular organisms. They are either uniceullular or multicellular without specialized tissues which makes them a lot more simple than the other organisms. The usually live in water which could also be in the human body. Some protists are beneficial to the human body and do not harm them like viruses and prions.

8. bacterial transformation and transduction video

Boyer and Cohen's goal was to get the plasmids into E. coli. Through a chemical experiment, they mixed the bacteria and the DNA in a mixture of calcium chloride. This mixture was set at a freezing temperature. They later created a "heat shock" by raising the temperature to 42 degrees Celsius and lowering the temperature back down to the freezing temperature. Through this procedure, the bacteria takes in the plasmid DNA. Later the resulting bacteria was placed in an environment with only tetracyline and kanamycin where only the transformed bacteria could thrive. This showed that the bacteria had the two genes needed for them to survive in that environment which were the tet and kan. Some resulted in doubly transformed bacteria. Through this experiment, Boyer and Cohen were able to distinguish between the different plasmids in the colony.

E. coli have adhesion zones where they have lipid molecules with negatively charged phosphates used to repel plasmid DNA. The lowered temperature decreases the movements of the lipids which in turn makes them easier to shield. When the heat shock occurs, the DNA is able to penetrate the adhesion zone.

7. 3 beneficial bacteria + pictures

1. normal microbiota

 These bacteria live on human skin and can also be found in the mucous membranes. They have many beneficial uses including easing the maturation of the immune system, help with digestion, fight other bad bacteria, and destry various toxins in our body. The normal microbiota is only beneficial when they are in the right place and if the human has a strong enough immune system to support them. If this bacteria was found in an area they are not usually in, the human could get sick from it, especially if it's able to penetrate it's weak immune system.




2. Lacto bacilli

This bacteria is mainly important to females because it is found in the vagina.  The lacto bacilli bacteria almost immediately appear in the vagina after the baby girl is born. It takes the place of other bacteria before they could inhabit the vagina. They make that area acidic enough so that other harmful bacteria cannot penetrate it. When the baby grows up to a young lady, but before she reaches puberty, other bacteria will be taking the place of this and making it acidic. But after puberty, the lactobacilli will be able to inhabit it again.



3. Staphylococcus Epidermidis

As a member of the normal microbial flora groups, this bacteria is also vital to humans. It's found usually on the outermost layer of the human skin, if  not really close to it. Sometimes, it is in the hair follicles, ready to be in action if the skin is washed. The staphylococcus Epidermidis is the first layer of defense against various bacteria and germs that human come in contact with daily. These bacteria are so small and are able to cover so much surface area at once that they make up about 10,000 to 100,000 on each square centimeter of skin.

resource used (for information)
resources for pictures:
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=670&bih=559&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=39e9h7Yxp01yLM:&imgrefurl=http://www.niaid.nih.gov/LabsAndResources/labs/aboutlabs/lhbp/pathogenMolecularGeneticsSection/Pages/otto.aspx&docid=dML8dWYWnLlzGM&imgurl=http://www.niaid.nih.gov/SiteCollectionImages/labs_scientific/labs/aboutlabs/lhbp/staphylococcus_epidermidis.jpg&w=300&h=390&ei=HwoNT7eDJ-ihiQLv0IjqAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=125&vpy=162&dur=366&hovh=166&hovw=150&tx=115&ty=250&sig=114823444161963020132&page=1&tbnh=166&tbnw=150&start=0&ndsp=6&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=CoV&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=670&bih=559&tbm=isch&tbnid=7HHrlGWhRcAmhM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus&docid=pDMXRbBflOKWyM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Lactobacillus_sp_01.png/240px-Lactobacillus_sp_01.png&w=240&h=191&ei=5AkNT9AZoqiIAtiz1Y8E&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=139&vpy=213&dur=1511&hovh=152&hovw=192&tx=71&ty=89&sig=114823444161963020132&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=148&tbnw=190&start=0&ndsp=6&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=rSq&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=670&bih=559&tbm=isch&tbnid=tJZko2jB_sFHNM:&imgrefurl=http://classes.midlandstech.edu/carterp/Courses/bio225/chap01/ss5.htm&docid=N_KNLh3SLJeKmM&imgurl=http://classes.midlandstech.edu/carterp/Courses/bio225/chap01/01-07_MouthMicrobio.jpg&w=719&h=603&ei=vAkNT6StG4qViALeir3xAw&zoom=1

6. Extreme Organism: Hyperthermophile

There are certain organisms that thrive in environments that are too harsh for ordinary organisms to survive in. Some can live in high level of salt or water, and some can live in high levels of heat. The ones that thrives in high levels of heat are know as hyperthermophiles.These organisms usually live in an environment that's about 60 degrees Celsius or more which is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit, usually staying in a temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius. Hyperthermophiles can withstand even 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit). Along with it's addiction to heat, some of these organisms may also withstand high levels of acidity or radiation. Hyperthermophiles were first discovered by Thomas D. Brock in 1969. He found them in the Yellowstone National Park hot springs. There have been over seventy discoveries since then.

The picture above is a Metanopyrus Kandleri which can survive and thrive in an environment of about 122 degrees Celsius.

Resource Used