Mr. Blacher

TAKE-HOME TEST DUE MONDAY

Please don't forget.

Friday 1/27: Welcome to Frontier on Modern Biology...GENETICS!

Hey There,

  Genetics is the cutting edge of scientific research and discoveries are made almost daily...it moves that fast!   Genetics helps us understand who we are, cure and prevent disesases, understand the mechanisms of evolutionary biology, and more!  It's an exciting field.

  Yesterday, we extracted DNA from a strawberry!  With no fancy equipment or regulated chemicals!  Just household stuff and a strawberry...how cool is that?  I'll answer that...WAAAAAY!

  So, genetics has its own language and in order to understand what's happening, we have to understand the words.  I am posting a list of our vocabulary and then I'll explain what to do with the words.

GENETICS Vocabulary:

1. Genetics
2. Heredity
3. Trait
4. Allele
5. Genotype
6. Phenotype
7. Punnett Square
8. Purebred
9. Hybrid
10. Homozygous
11. Heterozygous
12. Dominant
13. Recessive
14. Karyotype
15. Sex-linked Trait
16. Genetic Disorder
17. Homologous Structure
18. Pedigree
19. Inbreeding
20. Genetic Engineering

That's quite a list!  We won't do them all at once...relax : )

Here's what you do:
-Divide one side of a sheet of paper into four squares
-Put one word in the center of of the paper
-Top Left: Defnition...your words!  Don't just copy from a glossary...that's useless.
-Top Right: Biological Significance: what make this term important...biologically speaking.
-Bottom Left: Illustration: No crayons or markers. No STICK FIGURES...please : )  Color it or don't...your choice.
-Bottom Right: Current Research OR Higher Level information.  It'll be contingent (look it up...or ask your parents...so they can tell you to look it up) upon the word.

The first four words (1-4) are due on Tuesday of next week and we'll go from there. If you wish to work ahead...have at it : )

Take Home Portion of our Human Phys Test

Right....HERE!

Download Human Phys Take Home 1112

Wed. 1/24: Today in the Computer Lab

Well...here we are...in the computer lab.  I guess you already know that, bein' as...well...you have eyes.

So...we are going to do a lab tomrorrow...YAY!!!!!  Of course that means we have some pre-lab research to do cuz without that...it's not a lab...it's just playin' with stuff.  Playin' with stuff can be cool...but...this is a lab.  I love ellipses...don't you?  Doesn't matter...I'm doing the typing here.

What is the lab?  Extracting DNA from Strawberries!  Told ya it was cool!

Okay, so anyway...I have attached the prelab questions for you to research and complete.  In order to do this lab, which I think is pretty darn cool, you'll need to have your pre-lab completed.  You have this class period to make it happen, and if you do finish...
Orange Class: Work on test corrections.  Fully written out questions and your original answer with your corrected answer (mult. choice), and all portions of your essay that were incorrect or incomplete...rewritten as necessary.  Why?  Because you have a much better chance of learning this stuff that way.
Blue, Purple,& Red: You may begin working on the take-home portion of test.

If you do not finish...it's homework...there's your motivation to finish : )
So...here's the prelab: Download DNA Extraction PreLab

Happy Monday Again...Here's Your Review Game and Study Guide Key

...what more could a person want...besides a study session in the morning...see ya there : )

Jeopardy: Download Human Phys 2

Study Guide Key: Download My Study Guide For Anatomy

Here is Your Human Physiology Study Guide...

...just in case you never made it back on Friday.  You really have what you need already to be honest.  I know that some of you do prefer to have a separate study guide, so...
Download My Study Guide For Human Anatomy and Phys

See you tomorrow : )

Thurs. 1/19: Howdy Folks

We do have homework tonight.  Please...hold your applause until the end of the post.

Chapter Section Survey for:
Chapter 24; Section 2
and
Chapter 25: Section 3

There...that wasn't so bad...was it?  Now you may cheer ; )

See ya tomorrow : )

Tuesday 1/17: Into the Home Stretch...of our Human Phys. Unit.

So...today we took our quiz.  It should be a really good barometer of how well you've been understanding/focusing as you've worked through the first four systems....semi-independently.  If you did well then just keep on going as you have been.  If you didn't do as well as you had hoped, then now is the time to adjust.  We're into a new grading period; it's the perfect time to make (or renew) your commitment to excellence!  My feeling is that the majority of you are extremely adept at knowing what you need to do to be successful.  Of course if you need guidance or you're not quite sure what to do to make things shake out the way you want...I'm right here for you.

Now tomorrow, we have the writing test.  As you also know...I feel very strongly that written articulation is of paramount importance.  Please take this test seriously.  Being able to express your thoughts and knowledge is an incredibly powerful tool.  Being able to speak and write skillfully and precisely...that stuff will make you stand out amongst other college applicants (and employment candidates).  Believe me...you really will stand out!  Anyway...do your best!

Postscript...No Homework tonight...I am soooo sorry...that's just the way it is ; )

Jeopardy for Human Physiology Part 1

Hi There,

  Enjoy your long weekend...have a little Jeopardy.  We played on Friday, and I am sure that you want to play some more.  Have at it doctors...

Download Human Phys

Friday December 44th,,,err...January 13 that is.

Hey All,

  We're having another break, so...try not to be bored.  If you want to...you can immerse yourself in a self-dierected study of human anatomy. 

We do not have any homework this weekend, but you know that we have five more organ systems to explore: the endocrine, excretory, skeletal, muscular, and the immune system.  Come on back later, and I will have some more cool websites posted.  You can explore the next five systems to your heart's content.

Have a great weekend and be safe out there...please : )