Convicted by Juries, Exonerated by Science

 Before I can tell you about our latest biology project you need to know some background knowledge on the topic. First you need to know what exoneration means. Exoneration is when you are wrongfully convicted of a crime but you are set free because DNA testing set you free. Now that you know that, you need to know how to test DNA. There are 4 steps of DNA processing; isolation, separation, amplification, and finally analysis. Using these four steps we were able to tell whether DNA matched up or not. These technologies used by professionals can determine if a convict is innocent or not. It is truly amazing how far we have come with DNA technology.

Now for the actual project. We researched people that had been exonerated. We learned why they had been put in prison, why they have been released, and every little thing about them. We then were given the task of representing them in a tape sculpture. Yes tape. First I taped my partner with the sticky side of the tape up and then again with sticky side down. We then cut the tape off and then we had a tape sculpture of a person.

During this unit I learned how to how to make DNA fingerprinting. I connected to this because my mom knows a lot about exoneration and the process of doing it. My final project didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to. The first design he was supposed to be standing with his fist in the air but due to complications we had to make him sitting down. If I could change one thing

Blood Suckers

Blood Buddies

In this new short, a tree full of blood-sucking bats lends a startling twist to our understanding of altruism and natural selection.

 

http://www.radiolab.org/series/podcasts/ then just look for the one called Blood Buddies

 

i thought this was very interesting but at times a little disgusting but overall a good Podcast

1. What is the difference between selective breeding and genetic modification? Explain the science behind both of these practices. Yes, there is a big difference, choosing the best animal to mate with another good animal. Genetic modification is passing a gene, giving it to another animal so that they have the gene also.
2. What are the beneficial applications of selective breeding??Getting the best of the best of whatever it produces.
3. What are the beneficial applications of GMO's? Enchanced taste and quality.
4.What are the concerns with selective breedeing? They look buff, but they can be very unsafe and unknown effects.
5. What are the concerns with GMO's? Its unnatural and it can change a lot of things to the animal that it happened to.
6.What do you think should be more of a puplic concern? I think that GMO is worse because it changes the whole animal like from glowing in the dark.
7. what do you think Gregor Mendel would think of our current applicatins of his discoveries in the 1800's? He would say that we are crazy from what we are doing now and how it was all natural back then. AZB

Dead Mosquitoes

in class we read an article about what would happen to the ecosystem if we killed all mosquitoes. this was very interesting because every one wanted to exterminate them but didn't think about how it would effect the ecostem.

Biology

the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.

the wonderful platypus

i think that platypus are the most interesting animals found in Australia. not only is one of the few mammals that lay eggs but on of the few mammals that are poisonous. this animal seems like its a mixture of a few animals and that's why i think its so interesting

Immune System Project Reflection

For our first project in biology we learned about a system in the human body. For example one group got the nervous system, the repertory system and out group got the immune system. Each person in the group was responsible for one task, without one person the project wouldn’t turn out good. My role was creative media. My job was to show how the immune system works in a way that made it easier to understand by the audience. I made an animation of a white blood cell chasing down and destroying viruses. I think it turned out very well and I’m proud of it. If I could go back and redo one thing I would research more on the immune system. One thing I didn’t like about this project was that it seemed that it was a very short deadline. Other than that I loved this project. I liked the openness of the project