12/17 Biology Recording - Meiosis

Part 1

Part 2

12/17 Biology update and homework due 1/7

Hi folks,

Today we finished off 2019 by taking a look at meiosis.  Meiosis is the process of cell division where the end product is a haploid cell that is genetically unique from the cells that it came from.  When we get back from break we will begin our genetics unit.

We are off for the next two weeks so here wishing that everyone's holidays are merry, joyful, peaceful and safe!

For homework due 1/6

Read 161 - 164

Do the enclosed .pdf (Answers included in the email)

Answer the following questions based on today's meiosis and mitosis simulation.  Answers also included. (STUDY THEM! :)  )

1.  What did the little pickle shaped pieces of paper represent?

2.  Why were there two different colors of paper?

3.  To illustrate DNA synthesis, what did we do?

4.  What represented the sister chromatids?

5.  What represented homologous chromosomes?

6.  What did the tape represent when we taped the two pieces of paper together?

7.  In mitosis, when you illustrated metaphase, how were the papers lined up?

8.  In meiosis, when you illustrated metaphase I, how were the papers lined up?

9.  During meiosis prophase I, what did you do to show the tetrads?

10.  What did you do to illustrate "crossing over" in meiosis prophase I.

11.  To illustrate anaphase I in meiosis, what did you do to your little sister chromatids?  Careful here.

12.  To illustrate anaphase II in meiosis, what did you do to your little sister chromatids.  

13.  How were your sister chromatids lined up in meiosis, metaphase II?

14. What did you do to illustrate independent assortment?

15.  What are the two ways that genetic shuffling takes place in meiosis?

16.  In what phases do those two types of shuffling take place in meiosis?

17.  When we started, how many chromatids were in the cell we worked with today?

18. After synthesis, how many chromatids were in the cell we worked with today?

19.  After synthesis, how many CHROMOSOMES were in the cell we worked with today?

20.  When we finished mitosis, how many chromosomes did the finished cells have?

21.  When we finished mitosis were the cells diploid or haploid?

22.  When we finished meiosis, how many chromosomes did the finished cells have?

23.  When we finished mitosis, how many cells did we end up with?

24. When we finished meiosis, were the cells diploid or haploid?

25.  When we finished meiosis, how many cells did we end up with.

26.  Why is an enzyme called a catalyst?

12/10 Biology Recording - Mitosis

Part 1

Part 2

12/10 Biology update and homework due 12/17

Hi folks,

Today we took a look at mitosis, a method of cell division that creates an identical cell to the original.  Next week we will take a look at meiosis.

For homework this week:

Read pages 151-158 in the text book

Do the enclosed .pdf file. I've included the answers in a second .pdf so that you can use this as a self test.  Please be sure to use your notes and try to get the answers correct.  There's no better way to study than to quiz yourself.

Be sure to study this week's homework and past quizzes for next week's quiz.

12/3 Biology update and homework due 12/10

Hi folks,

Today we started our block on cell reproduction.  This will lead us directly into genetics and then evolution as we move forward.  Next week we will dive into mitosis and meiosis. 

For homework this week please do (and study) the following questions. Answers are included in an attached .pdf so that you can check and test yourself. The last thing you want to do is get one of these questions wrong and then study the wrong answer!

Remember, much of the following will be on next week's quiz.  However, any past quiz questions are fair game, so study all your old flash cards and quizzes.  It's been a while since we've seen those prefixes and suffixes so they are due to make a return visit as well. 

1.  What is a vesicle and what does it do?

2.  What does RNA polymerase do?

3.  What does DNA polymerase do?

4.  What is exocytosis?

5.  What is endocytosis?

6.  What is phagocytosis?

7.  What is pinocytosis?

8.  Would leaving the front do open so that flies can come in and out of the house at will be passive transport or active transport?

9.  Would kicking someone out of your house because he ate all the potato chips be active transport or passive transport?

10.  Is phagocytosis a from of endocytosis or exocytosis?

11.  What are the 3 steps of the cell life cycle (just interphase)?  

12.  What happens during each step?

13.  Why is the S step important?  In other words, what does it prepare the cell to do?

14.  What is the meaning of diploid?

15.  What is the meaning of haploid?

16.  Draw a picture and label the centromere and the sister chromatid.

17.  What is a chromatid?

18.  What is a chromosome?

19.  What is the difference between a chromatid and a chromosome?

20.  What is a somatic cell?  Are they diploid or haploid?

21.  What is a gamete cell?   Are they diploid or haploid?

22.   Which bio molecule is best for quick energy?

23.  What kind of molecule is a triglyceride and what does it do?

24.  In which bio molecule would you find nitrogen atoms?

25.  In which  2 bio molecules would you find a carboxyl?

26.  So in the cell we have transcription and translation and then the proteins wander into the rough E.R. or the Golgi body.  Now that they are all formed and trained, what do they do next?  In other words, what are their jobs?

27.  What does a lysosome do?

28. What's the difference between a vacuole and a vesicle?

12/3 Biology Recording - Introduction to cell replication

Part 1

Part 2

11/19 Biology update and homework due 12/3

 Hi folks,

First off NO CLASS next week due to  the Thanksgiving Break.  Here's wishing you all a safe and tasty Thanksgiving holiday.  Be sure to count all the biological molecules you'll be consuming in the turkey, potatoes and stuffing!!

By the way, take a look at this game if you have a chance.  It's quite a bit of fun and really helps get to know quite a few complicated systems that keep cells healthy.  https://www.kongregate.com/games/cellcraft/cellcraft  This is just for fun.  Not an assignment.

Be sure to get me any missing homework!  Email me if you're not sure if or what you're missing.

This week we learned about passive and active transport and diffusion and osmosis. 

Homework due next class is to:

Read Chapter 5 pages 96 - 106

answer questions 5-15 on page 108

Also, Answer the following questions.  (Be sure to check yourself with the answers below.)

1.  Why is active transport important to the cell?

2.  What is the definition of diffusion?

3.  What is the definition of a concentration gradient?

4.  What is the definition of osmosis?

5.  Do materials flow from low to high concentration or from high to low concentration?

6.  What is the definition of hypertonic solution?

7.  What is the definition of hypotonic solution?

8.  With today's potatoes, when they were in the salt solution, were they in a hyper or hypotonic solution?

9.  With today's potatoes, when they were just in water, were they in a hyper or hypotonic solution?

10.  When the potatoes were in the salt, did they swell or shrink?  Why?

11 When the potatoes were in the water, did they swell or shrink?  Why?

12.  Does water tend to flow towards solutes or away from solutes?

13.  Draw a picture of a cell in a hypotonic solution.  Be sure to label where the concentration of solutes is greater and whether water is entering the cell or moving out.

14. Draw a picture of a cell in a hypertonic solution.  Be sure to label where the concentration of solutes is greater and whether water is entering the cell or moving out.

Answers:

1.  It is a way that cells can get nutrients in and waste out.  it's important because many molecules are too large to pass through the cell membrane and because sometime you need to move things agains the concentration gradient. 

2.  Materials spreading out along a concentration gradient.

3.  Things tend to flow from a high concentration gradient to a low concentration gradient.

4.  Diffusion through a membrane.

5.  They flow from high to low naturally.  It takes energy to make them flow the other way.

6.  A solution where the concentration of solutes are high.

7.  A solution where the concentration of solutes are low.

8.  They were in a hypertonic solution.

9.  They were in a hypotonic solution.

10.  They shrank because the water left the cells to go towards the highly concentrated salt.

11.  They swelled because the water in the glass moved into the cells since the concentration of solutes was higher in the cells.

12.  Flows towards solutes.

13 and 14 see pic below.

11/19 Biology Recording - Osmosis etc.

Part 1

Part 2

11/12 Biology Recording - Cells

Part 1

Part 2

11/12 Biology update and homework due 11/19

Hi folks,

First off, what an amazing job folks did on today's homework.  Clay models, models from candy, stop animation, comics, power points!  Wow!!  I was amazed by how much effort so many of you put into this assignment.  Very well done!

For today's class, we got into cells and cell structure.  

For homework this week please read chapter 4 (pg 68) and answer the following questions based on the reading and on your notes.  (I've included the answers below for you to check yourself.) 

I would also recommend watching the video  we saw in class today again.  It's a fantastic overview of everything we discussed today.  

WARNING!  WARNING! WARNING! THERE WILL BE A QUIZ NEXT WEEK and it will be based strongly on these questions.  Be sure to memorize ALL of these answers.  I would recommend doing the homework, studying the homework and then printing off a blank version of these questions to take as a practice quiz.  If you can get all of these questions right without looking at your notes your grade will thank you.

1.  What does tRNA do?

2.  What does mRNA do?

3.  Which comes first, transcription or translation? 

4.  For each of the following,  tell me whether it takes place in transcription or translation.

A.  DNA gets split by RNA polymerase. 

B. TRNA brings amino acids to ribosomes. 

C.  Base pairs are matched in the nucleus. 

D.  Amino acids are strung together. 

E.  MRNA is formed.

F.  Protein is created. 

G.  mRNA joins a ribosome. 

H. mRNA leaves the nucleus. 

5.  For the following,  tell me if it relates to a prokaryote or a eukaryote cell or both.  

A.  More complex. 

B.  DNA in a ring

C.  May have a capsule.

D.  Has organelles.

E.  Has a nucleus. 

F. Has cytoplasm.

G.  Has a flagellum.

H.  Has a cell membrane. 

6.  Of the following,  tell me if it relates to a plant cell or an animal cell or both. 

A.  Has a chloroplast.

B.  Has a mitochondria.

C.  More than likely has a vacuole.

D.  Has a cell wall.

E.  Has a nucleus. 

F.  Has a Golgi body. 

G.  Can have a flexible shape.

7.  What 3 things do all cells have in common?

8.  What does a rough endoplasmic reticulum do?

9.  What does a smooth endoplasmic reticulum do? 

10.  What does a Golgi body do? 

11.  What does a lysosome do? 

12.  What two things does cytoskeleton do? 

13.  What is the cell membrane made of?

14.  What does a mitochondria do? 

15.  What is a vacuole?

16.  What is a vesicle and what does it do?

17.  Which monomer consists of a carboxyl and an amino group? 

18.  Which monomer consists of a sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate. 

19. Which monomer consists of a ring of carbon and a lot of hydroxyl groups? 

20.  What 6 jobs do proteins do?

21.  What 5 jobs do enzymes do?

22.  Draw pictures of a plant, an animal and a prokaryote cell.  Include at least 7 cell structures in the eukaryote cells and 5 in the prokaryote cell.

23.  What are the full names of the 4 DNA bases?

24.  Which base is replaced in mRNA and what is it replaced with? 

Answers :

1 tRNA tranfers amino acids from the cytoplasm to the ribosome to be made into proteins.

2.  mRNA carries the code from the DNA to the ribosome to be made into proteins.

3.  Transcription comes first.

4. a. Transcription

b.  translation

c. Transcription

d. Translation

e.  Transcription

f. Translation

g. Translation

h. Transcription

5.  a.  Eukaryote

b. Prokaryote

c. Prokaryote

d. Eukaryote

e.  Eukaryote

f. both

g.  Prokaryote

h. Both

6.   a. plant

b. both

c. plant

d. plant

e. both

f. both

g. animal

7. Cell mebrane, Nucleus, DNA

8.  Makes proteins, puts finishing touches on proteins and ships them off.

9.  Puts together lipids and adds molecules to lipids.

10. Puts final touches on proteins and ships them to other parts of cell or outside of cell.

11.  It's the recycling person.  Takes apart waste into parts that can be reused.

12.  Gives structure to cells and makes "roads". 

13. Lipids, specifically phospholipids. 

14.  Powerhouse of the cell.

15.  It takes up space in the cell and can contain waste products.

16.  The vesicle is a "bubble" made out of lipids that is the shipping container for molecules.

17.  Amino Acid

18. Nucleic Acid

19.  Carboxyl

20.  HANSET  Hormones, Antibodies, Nutritional, Structural, Enzymes, Transfer.

21.  FRECC Functional group transfer,  Rearrangement, Electron transfer, Condensation, Cleavage.

22.  Please compare with your notes.

23. Guanine, Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine

24.  Thymine is replaced with uracil and it pairs with adenine. 

11/5 Bio update and homework due 11/12

Hi folks,

Sorry I didn't send this earlier.  I thought I had but apparently not.

This week we spent a bit of time doing a small lab.  Using simple materials such as rubbing alcohol, dish soap and gatorade we were able to actually see our very own DNA.  It's pretty amazing to think that those teeny tiny little threads contain all the information that makes us us and makes us work.

For homework this week, let's get creative!

From looking at today's quizzes it looks like we could still spend some time with protein synthesis.  I want you to imagine that you are teaching a class of 5th graders and you need to come up with a way for them to understand how protein synthesis works.  I want you to come up with a story, a comic, a movie, a poster, a song, an interpretive dance (like today's video), a painting, a picture made from pasta, a diorama made out of pizza, a sculpture, sky writing ANYTHING that you feel would teach all the steps of protein synthesis to your class.  Be sure to start your story in the nucleus of the cell and end your story with a new bouncing baby protein.  Along the way you must describe and define; cell nucleus, cytoplasm, translation, transcription, mRNA, tRNA, codons, ribosomes, amino acids, proteins, and RNA polymerase.  Pages 206 to 209 in your book has as nice description if you need.  

This will be graded as a normal 10 point assignment but if you really go above and beyond with this I'd be happy to give some extra credit.  Good luck and have fun.

Best,

Jim Mueller

(919) 907-3217

11/5 Bio recording - Introduction to Cells

Part 1

Part 2

10/29 Biology update and homework due 11/5

Hi folks,

Today we went into great detail learning how we get proteins from RNA and how we get RNA from DNA.  In other words, protein synthesis.

Homework for this week is to:

Be sure to take all the definitions we started class with today and put them into your flash cards.  They will all be on upcoming quizzes in one form or another.  Memorize how the DNA & RNA bases pair as well.

Here's the list of terms from today's lecture. 

Protein Synthesis

Transcription

Translation

DNA

RNA

mRNA

tRNA

Codon

RNA Polymerase

Ribosome

rRNA

Adenine pairs with Thymine.  Guanine pairs with Cytosine.

In RNA Thymine is replace with Uracil.

Also:

Read pgs. 193-210

Do Chapter Review Questions on page 212 #'s 1 - 3, 9 - 14, 18 - 22  (Sorry for jumping around on this but I'm trying to skip some of the more "out in left field" questions.  I'm sure you won't mind.  :)  )

Do Standard Test Prep questions on page 213 #'s 1-8

Study the steps in transcription and translation that I put on the board today  They will be tested.  You have been warned! :)

10/29 Biology Recording - Protein Synthesis

Part 1

Part 2

Extra Credit Possibility for biology

Hi folks,

I mentioned this in class but I wanted to do a little write up to make sure all is clear.

For folks who might be looking for some extra credit, or, who would just like to work a little more with biology here's an opportunity.

First step, hit the Googles and find someone who's done something important in the world of biology.  It can be something to do with DNA, medicine, evolution, genetics, biomolecules or whatever else might strike your fancy.

Once you find that individual, email me with the person you're interested in.  At that point I'll give you the thumbs up or down as far as going ahead with the paper goes.

When you get the go ahead, write a small essay on the person.  At least one full page, typed, normal margins, single spaced.  Include things like; when did the person live; where did they live; what was their background; what did they discover; and why the discovery is important.  Be sure to include the sources you used to do the essay.  Try to find at least three different sources.

The more thorough the essay, the more points it will receive.  Maximum of 5 extra credit points.

This assignment is valid all year so as long as you get this to me before the final exam it can be counted as extra credit.

Have fun and good luck.

Best,

Jim Mueller

(919) 907-3217

10/22 Biology update and homework due 10/29

Hi folks,

Today we wrapped up our work with the biological molecules by taking an in-depth look into lipids and proteins. We will be doing more with nucleic acids when we get to protein synthesis.

For homework this week:

Using your new knowledge, see if you can find 3 things that would be a good representative of something containing lipids, something containing nucleic acids, something containing proteins and something containing carbohydrates. 3 things for each molecule so 12 things all together. These need to be things you can see/touch around you. (Hint…look in your fridge… :) ) Write down what you find and turn it in next week.

Also do the questions #1 - 8 on page 63.

Lastly, next week will be a fairly all inclusive quiz on the biological molecules. (This is why homework is fairly light this week.) I'd highly recommend studying the homework that I just handed back to you today (the questions from the email from 2 weeks ago). Study those old quizzes and make sure you master any questions you've gotten wrong. Also memorize/master the following if you haven't already.

Drawing the 4 biomolecules CHAN
Drawing the 4 functional groups CHAP
Knowing what enzymes do FRECC
The 8 characteristics of life MOSHGOD R
Examples of each of the CHAN
Which CHAP's are associated with what CHAN's
The names of all the monomers
The subcategories of the CHAN
The major functions of each CHAN
The prefixes and suffixes.
Why is water special

10/22 Bio Recording - Lipids and Proteins

Part 1

Part 2

Bring cell phone to Bio

Hi folks,

If you can, bring a internet connectable device to class on Tuesday.  We are going to be doing a game show at the end of class.

Good news, no quiz!!!  But still keep memorizing those flash cards!!!!

Best,

Jim Mueller

(919) 907-3217

10/15 Bio Recording - Carbohydrates

https://youtu.be/mn1As5St83Y

10/15 Biology update and homework due 10/22

Hi folks,

Today we spent some more time reviewing those molecules we've been working on and we also took a closer look at carbohydrates.  Next week we will explore lipids, proteins and maybe nucleic acids if we have time.

Homework for this week is to read pages 50 - 61 in the text book and do questions 1 - 23 on page 62.

Best,

Jim Mueller

(919) 907-3217

10/8 Biology Recording - Enzymes and Bio molecule structure

Part 1

Part 2

10/8 Biology update and homework due 10/15

Hi folks, 

Today we discussed enzymes and five of their basic functions.  We also enjoyed the amazing thrill of learning to draw the monomers of the four biological molecules.  :)  Next week we will get into those quite a bit deeper.

There will be a quiz next week so be sure to focus on the material on this homework and keep memorizing those prefixes and suffixes.  

I've added today's words to the Quizlet we've been working with.  Here it is.

For homework next week:

 On either the flash cards I gave you or on your own:

Create flash cards based on the biological molecule chart I gave you in class last week.

Create a flash card for each of the four functional groups.

Create a flash card with the 5 things that enzymes do. (Remember FRECC)

Create flash cards with the four bio molecule monomers.

Create flash cards with the monomer and the associated functional groups.

Be sure to practice drawing those functional groups and those monomers.  YOU MUST DRAW THEM TO LEARN THEM!!!

Also, fill out the following set of questions. 

1. Which biological molecule stores energy? 

2. Which biological molecule is the main source of energy? 

3. Which biological molecule contain nitrogen? 

4. Name all the biological molecules that contain carboxyl groups. 

5. Name all the biological molecules that contain hydroxyl (if a hydroxyl is in a carboxyl, it's just a carboxyl). 

6. Which two biological molecules are associated with providing structure for animals and plants? 

7. Which biological molecule is vital for genetic information? 

8. Which biological molecule would be most associated with eggs? 

9. Which biological molecule would be most associated with vegetable oil? 

10. Which biological molecule is associate with cell membranes? 

11. Which biological molecule consists of a sugar and an phosphate group? 

12. Which type of biological molecule is a triglyceride? 

13. What kind of a biological molecule is insulin? 

14. What kind of a biological molecule is starch? 

15. What kind of a biological molecules are fatty acids associated with? 

16. What are the 3 elements all life is made from? 

17. What are the monomers of carbohydrates called? 

18. What are the monomers of proteins called? 

19. What are the two types of nucleic acids? 

20. What kind of a biological molecule is a sterol? 

21. If I'm talking about a polypeptide, what kind of biological molecule am I talking about?