Last week before Finals!

This week is our last before Final Exams (week of 6/15/09). This week we'll be studying the last of our Physiology unit, the Circulatory System & The Frog! As part of our Circulatory System series, I'll be sharing 2 powerpoint presentations with my students. The first is the basics about the Heart Parts & Functions, and the second is about Heart Disease. Both presentations can be found by clicking on the words underlined in the prior sentence.

On Friday we'll be dissecting a frog. Yum! Yum! Frog legs, anyone?

Evolution - Week 3

This week will be our last week covering Evolution. This week's calendar can be found HERE. On Friday we'll be taking a quest over the unit. The review for this week's Evolution QUEST (not quite a quiz, not quite a Test) is HERE. Don't forget that your Evolution Reading Packet questions (distributed the day of our Genetics Exam) are due on Friday as well.

You may also find the Speciation Powerpoint HERE and the Evolutionary Structures Powerpoint HERE.

Evolution

This week will mark the beginning of our unit on Evolution. This week's calendar can be found here.

LaMarck vs. Darwin Argument

For your homework this weekend you were asked to read a bit about Darwin & LaMarck's theories of evolution. Today we know that Darwin's theories were more accurate than LaMarck. Assume that these two theorists lived at the same time, and could have sat down to dinner together. Their conversation might have rounded around to evolution, and they might have ended up arguing! Your task is to create a script of dialogue between these 2 men. Each person should have 5 lines, for a total of 10 lines minimum in your script. Each should argue their point. Use actual examples from the reading to further solidify your argument.

The assignment is worth 25 points (2.5 times a typical homework assignment in my class), and is due on Monday!

A sample of A+ student work is here...

What happens when mothers & their fetus have different blood types?

Students always ask this question when I teach about blood typing and Genetics.

First off the placental barrier does not allow mixing of the maternal blood & the fetal blood.

The Rh factor is a bit different. Maternal antibodies can cross the placenta and destroy fetal red blood cells. Here is a link to a great article that explains how the Rh factor influences the mother-fetal problems that may occur.

Karyotype Computer Lab Activity

Today's activity involves doing some Internet research about chromosomal abnormalities. You may use the following links to aide your research...

Link 1: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/predictdisorder/

Link 2: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/karyotype/index.html

Link 3: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/

Genetics - Week 3

This is our 3rd (and final) week studying Human Genetics. So far we have covered the following modes of inheritance: Mendelian Genetics (monohybrid & dihybrid crosses), polygenic inheritance, codominance, incomplete dominance, and multiple alleles. We have also learned about blood types and pedigrees.

This week we'll be focusing on Karyotypes & Genetic Disorders, as well as the production of sex cells (aka "gametes) during the process of Meiosis. We will learn about various methods to screen an unborn child to test whether he or she will have any chromosomal abnormalities, and you will be taking a trip to the computer lab to research some information about various disorders.

We will complete the LAUSD SPA Test on Thursday, and our classroom Genetics Exam on Friday. You can find the Genetics Exam Review Sheet here. You may use a 4x6 notecard of notes during the exam if you wish.

Our calendar for the week can be found HERE.