April 10th - Artificial Selection and Darwin's Influencers

Today's Daily questions were ALL from previous topics to help us start reviewing for the keystone exam NOW!!!  I plan on everyday from here on out having on KQD (keystone question of the day) from a previous topic and one to 2 days of multiple questions like we did today.

Here they were:

 

Then we talked a little about how Darwin related what he saw in nature on the Galapagos' Island to what humans have been doing for centuries with domesticated animals.

Like most naturalists, scientists, sociologist, etc...... Darwin did not just use his OWN experiences and knowledge to come up with his Theory but used the work of others:

 

Wednesday April 9th Evolution and Natural Selection intro

We started the class with the following daily questions:

We then started into the last section of this course (before a review of Ecology from 8th grade)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

We watched the following video that does a GREAT Job of describing Darwin's work and his findings:

Gene Technology Articles and Benchmark Tests

We finished up transcription/translation and mutations last week and started into genetic technologies.  Friday you read about the different technologies in the book and started a directed reading. 

 

 Today I had you finish that work up, take your study island benchmark exam.   

This benchmark exam will give me an idea of how well you are progressing in preparation for the keystone exam.  I just want to get an idea of where we are right now before we take our next CDT at the end of the month. 

Finally, when you finished your benchmark exam you read a current article about a genetic technology, summarized the article and wrote a reflection on it incorporating your knowledge about the specific genetic technology that it focused on!
You were assigned one of the following 5 articles to summarize:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-biotech-makes-it-much-easier-to-genetically-modify-monkeys/?print=true

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2014/03/15/golden-rice-opponents-should-be-held-accountable-for-health-problems-linked-to-vitamain-a-deficiency/

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/36481/title/Gene-Therapy-Coming-of-Age-/

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/35995/title/Genes-Get-in-Your-Eye/



http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18781430



Chromosomal Mutations and review

After going through different types of point mutations and Frameshift mutations last week, today we wrapped up mutations with larger scale mutations.
here were the notes from today

Here is an animation of a couple different forms of these

 

 

Tomorrow we will review formally, I have set up the study island review if you want to start working through it tonight.

When you click on the assignment make sure you click on BOTH DNA & Genetics AND Mutations & Genetic variability to study.

You then worked through a review of this chapter:







translation and mutations dqq

Today we started class with a podcast that I really liked that explained mutations.  I have told you guys before that while it is nice you are part of a generation that has access to SOOOOOO much information all the time, it can be frustrating to weed through it all and know what is actually ACCURATE.  I always like the Bozeman biology channel and the Khan academy videos when it comes to proper detailed descriptions of concepts.

This was the wrap up video I had you watch before your quiz:

We then took our Daily question quiz

 

That pretty much took the rest of the period.  I also mentioned how proud of you guys I am.  This is a CHALLENGING class that moves very fast but you guys are holding strong!!  I have seen you all grow this year as students and learners and am confident it will pay off on the keystone exam but MORE important, in your LIVES :)

Mutations

We got through most of the mutations today with the following daily questions and notes:

I used the site below to explain the first daily question - explaining how large genes actually are. (not just the puny 10 or so nucleotides that I usually have you write!!)

And of course a screencast of the daily question:

And the mutation notes:

**If you missed today or need a refresher check out the following clip from Bozeman Biology.  This clip gives you a better look at how mutations can occur.  In the clip after that it goes through examples of the three point mutations.

Protein packaging and mutations intro

Today's daily questions continued having you go through translation and also introduced more mutations.

then we finished up notes on protein packaging, wrapped up all our analogies and did a quick intro to mutations.