Category Archives: Honors Biology

02.26.15
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Common Assessment #3

Hopefully we had some good study time over the last few days to prepare for Common Assessment #3!

As a reminder, here is the information included in the 35 (for honors, 30 for academic) question assessment:

  • Unit 7 – Reproduction
    • Types of Reproduction
    • The Cell Cycle, Stem Cells, & Cancer
    • Mitosis
    • Meiosis
    • Karyotyping & Genetic Disorders
  • Unit 8 – Genetics
    • Mendel (& his laws)
    • Advanced Genetics 
      • Codominance, Incomplete Dominance, Multiple Alleles, Sex-Linked
    • Pedigrees
    • Dihybrd Crosses

The Link below will take you to the answer sheet. Answer all questions on the answer sheet, do not write on the test. When you finish, there is an option to go back and review your work. Do not ever press the back button on the browser, you will have to start all over. Good Luck & Think Spring!

Link  – Common Assessment #3

02.20.15
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One more day I promise

Sorry guys. I know you’re excited to hear about baby Cooper and get back to our normal routine, but I’ll need one more day at home supporting our new family.

On the plus side, its a pretty easy day to celebrate winterfest. Here is the gameplan:

Biology

You’ll be watching the movie Gattaca today. Here is the trailer:

In the back of the room is an assignment I’d like you to fill out as you watch. Please keep it in a safe place because we’ll be watching the movie over about 3 class periods. Its a great movie and will start some pretty interesting convo (for example, keep an eye on the staircases).

If for some reason you cannot play the movie, you can work on your study guide for Common Assessment #3. Here is the link.

** Word on the street is you had trouble with the answer sheet for yesterday’s quest. We’ll discuss this on Monday so don’t worry about it too much.

SEHS

Keep working on those Nutrition plans. We start Unit 5, Biomechanics, on Monday.

Since I’m not there, I’ll throw one more pic your way. See you Monday!

IMG_0850

Yes, those are Ohio State socks. The kids got good taste.

 

02.19.15
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Thursday, February 19th agenda

This is you walking from Kelly Hall to Loretto

Hey, sorry I can’t be there. My wife and newborn son Cooper had a little longer stay in the hospital, everyone is healthy and happy, but I’ m going to take just a little more time to attend to them. That being said, I’m going to make some adjustments to the plans we had discussed before I left last week. Here is the gameplan:

Biology:

1. Instead of a Unit 8 Test, we’re going to do a “quest” (not as long, not as many points). I’m also going to allow you to use notes and ask each other questions. YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER OR SHARE ANSWERS. But you can ask each other for clarifications, explanations, or double checking work.

2. Use the link below to be taken to the answer form for the quest (we’ll do this quest on the iPad so I can grade it from home. Keep in mind the class period is shorter and you cannot “save” progress. You will want to have a piece of paper and pencil to work on punnett squares.

Link → Unit 8 Genetics Quest

3. Next week week, we’ll be watching a movie AND preparing for your common assessment. If you would like an early copy of the study guide you can find it on the biology semester 2 page.

SEHS:

Good news… I’m going to give you an extra week to turn in your nutrition guide. However! We will still be working on Unit 5 and following the daily goals for that unit as scheduled. I just figured it wasn’t fair to give you a huge assignment then disappear the week it is due. So continue to work on it but if you have questions you don’t have to panic about me not being there.

All:

I’m sure this is what you were waiting for…
IMG_0805Cooper thanks you for sharing his Dad with him. And he wants you to stay warm out there!

01.28.15
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The Unit 7 Hunger Games

Today in #hbio we’ll be reviewing for tomorrow’s test over Unit 7. To review, you’ve been selected to be Tributes in the Unit 7 Hunger Games!!! Ok, so its not life or death survival of the fittest, instead we’ll be doing a speed stations activity. There are 32 stations posted throughout the room. You and a partner will try to complete these stations as ACCURATELY & QUICKLY as possible. You are Competing against the other players in your class. The fastest, and the most accurate, will receive a bonus point.

At the end of the day, I will post the stations on this site for you to review with. Be sure to study your Unit 7 Study Guide as well. Good Luck, and may the odds be forever in your favor…

Unit 7 Review: Answer Sheet – Link –

01.22.15
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MEiosis and MItosis… what’s the difference?

Mitosis vs. Meiosis

“So what’s different about Mitosis versus Meiosis?”

 

Well looking at the picture we see Mitosis on the left… There is a single cell, which duplicates its chromosomes, divides, and the result are two cells identical to the parent cell.

Meiosis, on the right, all those same steps occur… BUT THEN! Another cell division occurs! We do PMAT a second Time (Thats Cray-Cray Mr. K)! The result then are 4 cells, with half the number of chromosomes, and each one has a unique set of chromosomes.

I know what you’re thinking… “But why would we only need half the number of chromosomes? Doesn’t each one of the cells of our body need all 46 chromosomes!?”

It is true that each one of our Somatic, or Body, cells needs a complete set of chromosomes. But our Gametes, or Sex Cells, only need half the number of chromosomes. This is known as being Haploid, or having one set of chromosomes. And I bet you already know why! That’s right, the other half comes from the 2nd parent during sexual reproduction (That’s off the chain Mr. K). When the male and female gametes meet (Fertilization), they combine to form one new cell called a Zygote that has two sets of chromosomes, one from Mom and one from Dad. This is known as being Diploid.

Crossing Over

The Red X and the Blue X are duplicated chromosomes. During Prophase 1, they sometimes “Switch Legs”. This is known as Crossing Over.

The coolest part about the whole process is that it makes you Unique. And not in the Sesame Street, “You are special,” kind of way. More like, there are more than 8 million different genetic combinations that you can create in each of your gametes and they are assorted completely randomly (Independent Assortment), meaning that for each of your 23 pairs, you can give either one of the chromosomes, its not predetermined! And sometimes, Duplicated Chromosomes will even switch pieces (Crossing Over) making them even more unique!

All in all, Meiosis is a pretty unique process and I hope you enjoy learing about it as much as I enjoy teaching it! To learn more about Meiosis and how it causes genetic variation, check out my YouTube video below!

01.13.15
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Game Plan: Tuesday, January 13

Alright team, here’s the plan for today. Remember, I’ll be back tomorrow!

Biology:

  1. Finish & turn in your “Cell Cycle Stations”
  2. If you have time, you can take the notes for the cell cycle that we’ll be going over tomorrow. Here is the video of the notes:


SEHS:

  1. Today’s Goal: complete sections 3.1.8 & 3.1.9
  2. Make sure you are taking notes on what you have completed and learned.