Biology at Animas High School is taught by Colleen Dunning. It is my first class of the day and one of my favorites. We started out the year with studying the Human body! We had many guest speakers and mini projects.
In biology we have a Blog that we add things on too when we have completed something new. The link to my blog is...followbiologysaramartin.blogspot.com
HUMAN FUNCTIONS PROJECT
With our Human Function project we were put into groups and all had a different role. Our group had the Respiratory System! Here is my reflection for the Human Function Project...
To lead up to our Human Function Project we studied all different systems in the body and had many different speakers talk about what they do or how there body has gotten a very serious disease. We learned about the Characteristics of Life, Cancer, Kidneys, Cells, Circulatory System, Lymphatic System, Defense System, and Reproductive System. We took notes and did experiments with these topics.
The purpose of this project was to make a webpage that people can view and learn more about the Respiratory System.
We were all very independent in deciding what everyone was going to do. We got our jobs then got straight to work. We worked off of each other’s work and ideas.
Everyone in our group got a role. Some possible roles were…Personal Connection, Interviewer, Creative Media, and Web Designer. I was the Web Designer and group leader. I made a Community Connection and Designed and set up our webpage.
For my community Connection I got in contact with someone from the Red Cross. They did an amazing presentation on why they do Red Cross and a simple example. I am very proud of myself for putting that together. I wish that our original website worked so that we didn’t have to switch to Blogspot (a website builder). If I could change this project I would change my Human Function that I was given. I didn’t really connect the Respiratory System. I wish I would have had more time to refine my webpage because it does not look as professional as my original. I will take away more webpage creating skills and being able to talk to people a lot easier. I had to contact someone I have never met before and have a conversation with them not knowing where it was going to go next.
Webpage URL…..http://yourrespiratorysystem.blogspot.com/
DISSECTION
In biology we could choose from a fetal pig, a cat, or a dog fish shark. I had to dissect a dog fish shark with a partner. It was pretty difficult to remember where everything was and what the function of the organs are. But it is pretty similar to the human body.
CONVICTED BY JURIES, EXONERATED BY SCIENCE
In class we did a number of DNA related activities. We started off with an online CSI lab. Here we found evidence and tested for DNA and also looked through the body in the toxicology lab. We also listened to a few radio shows where they talked to exonerated people and asked them about their experiences and where they are now in life. Then we actually set up an electrophoresis gel and looked at sample DNA. There are four steps in DNA processing. Those are isolation, amplification, separation, and analyzing. We isolated the Genomic DNA in class by Gatorade, a salty solution, collecting cheek cells. These cells were then lysated with a lysis buffer solution made from dishwashing liquid. Chilled lsopropyl alcohol was then used to cause the isolated Genomic DNA to percipitate and collect near the top of the vial. Because the salts and other electrolytes in the Gatorade have a positive charge. We explored the amplification of DNA through a web-based virtual lab provided by the University of Utah. DNA is amplified through known as PCR, Polymerase Chain Reaction. In this process, heating and cooling triggers DNA replication by DNA polymerase. DNA polymerase reads particular sections of DNA known as DNA markers. The polymerase is told where these sections are by Primers, which attach to particular sections of DNA. This process is done multiple times in order to create millions of copies of DNA makers we will want to look at in DNA fingerprinting. We separated DNA samples in class by running our own electrophoresis gels. The samples we used were stimulations of real DNA and we used our results to determine the perpetrator of a of a fictitious crime. DNA is separated through a process known as electrophoresis. Amplified DNA samples are placed in agarose gel. Because DNA is negatively charged, the DNA Markers move toward the positive electrode. This causes the Markers to separate because smaller markers will move faster than larger markers. This creates a pattern that is unique to an individual, like a fingerprint. Once separated, the size of the markers and the pattern they create can be compared to DNA evidence found at a crime scene. This provides a relatively simple way to determine who the perpetrator of the crime is and/or to rule out suspects. We did this in class by comparing the DNA markers found on the gels we ran. We dyed our gels with methylene Blue, in order to make the DNA Markers visible. These DNA technologies helped many people get exonerated by testing for prints, semen, and other body fluids.
My project was biased on James Bain, an African American man from Florida. He was accused of kidnapping and raping a nine year old boy. Bain was only 19. The boy told his dad that man that committed the crime was African and had Bushy side burns. He also mentioned that his name was Jimmy. Baine fit that description and was sent to jail for 35 years, the longest anyone has been in jail before being exonerated. We represented our exoneree by painting a shirt on him that said not guilty, just like the one he wore right after he was released from jail. We also but side burns on him.
Through out this project, I learned a lot about our justice system. How can we truly put someone in jail for 35 years and then just let them go like nothing happened? thats half of their life that they spent wasted. We connected this project through science by researching the testing of seamen. I was very proud of our work in this project, I think that we really pulled through in the end. If i could redue this project I would make sure that we make our sculpture very strong from the beginning so that on our last day to work we don't have to work on getting it put together well. This requires a lot more tape!
DISSECTION
In biology we could choose from a fetal pig, a cat, or a dog fish shark. I had to dissect a dog fish shark with a partner. It was pretty difficult to remember where everything was and what the function of the organs are. But it is pretty similar to the human body.
CONVICTED BY JURIES, EXONERATED BY SCIENCE
In class we did a number of DNA related activities. We started off with an online CSI lab. Here we found evidence and tested for DNA and also looked through the body in the toxicology lab. We also listened to a few radio shows where they talked to exonerated people and asked them about their experiences and where they are now in life. Then we actually set up an electrophoresis gel and looked at sample DNA. There are four steps in DNA processing. Those are isolation, amplification, separation, and analyzing. We isolated the Genomic DNA in class by Gatorade, a salty solution, collecting cheek cells. These cells were then lysated with a lysis buffer solution made from dishwashing liquid. Chilled lsopropyl alcohol was then used to cause the isolated Genomic DNA to percipitate and collect near the top of the vial. Because the salts and other electrolytes in the Gatorade have a positive charge. We explored the amplification of DNA through a web-based virtual lab provided by the University of Utah. DNA is amplified through known as PCR, Polymerase Chain Reaction. In this process, heating and cooling triggers DNA replication by DNA polymerase. DNA polymerase reads particular sections of DNA known as DNA markers. The polymerase is told where these sections are by Primers, which attach to particular sections of DNA. This process is done multiple times in order to create millions of copies of DNA makers we will want to look at in DNA fingerprinting. We separated DNA samples in class by running our own electrophoresis gels. The samples we used were stimulations of real DNA and we used our results to determine the perpetrator of a of a fictitious crime. DNA is separated through a process known as electrophoresis. Amplified DNA samples are placed in agarose gel. Because DNA is negatively charged, the DNA Markers move toward the positive electrode. This causes the Markers to separate because smaller markers will move faster than larger markers. This creates a pattern that is unique to an individual, like a fingerprint. Once separated, the size of the markers and the pattern they create can be compared to DNA evidence found at a crime scene. This provides a relatively simple way to determine who the perpetrator of the crime is and/or to rule out suspects. We did this in class by comparing the DNA markers found on the gels we ran. We dyed our gels with methylene Blue, in order to make the DNA Markers visible. These DNA technologies helped many people get exonerated by testing for prints, semen, and other body fluids.
My project was biased on James Bain, an African American man from Florida. He was accused of kidnapping and raping a nine year old boy. Bain was only 19. The boy told his dad that man that committed the crime was African and had Bushy side burns. He also mentioned that his name was Jimmy. Baine fit that description and was sent to jail for 35 years, the longest anyone has been in jail before being exonerated. We represented our exoneree by painting a shirt on him that said not guilty, just like the one he wore right after he was released from jail. We also but side burns on him.
Through out this project, I learned a lot about our justice system. How can we truly put someone in jail for 35 years and then just let them go like nothing happened? thats half of their life that they spent wasted. We connected this project through science by researching the testing of seamen. I was very proud of our work in this project, I think that we really pulled through in the end. If i could redue this project I would make sure that we make our sculpture very strong from the beginning so that on our last day to work we don't have to work on getting it put together well. This requires a lot more tape!
