Structure of DNA

Today in class we learned about the structure of DNA.

Homework: Color and cut out the base pairs, phosphate groups (the plus-sign shapes) and deoxyribose sugars (the pentagon shapes). Bring these to class on Friday so we can build a DNA molecule.

Use the following colors:
Adenine - pink
Thymine - yellow
Cytosine - blue
Guanine - green

The Power of Genes

Yesterday students started to learn about the Power of Genes, through a discovery education video. Today we finished the video (or rather, as much of the video as we are going to watch).
Click the picture to link to the DNA game on the Nobel Prize website. Before you begin playing, you will read about DNA. Take notes on what you read. Play the game. Write down how many mutations you have. Also, write down the name of the organism that the DNA from "unknown organism 1" belongs to.

You can do samples 2 and 3 for extra credit.

Making Wet Mount Slides

On Friday, students made wet mount slides using yeast cultures. Below is what yeast cells look like on medium power (100x) on our microscopes.


At the end of the mini lab, we review why yeast is a living thing. Yeast is alive because:
1. it is made up of cells
2. it grows and divides
3. it responds to its environment
4. it uses energy
5. it reproduces (asexually, by budding)
and lastly
6. it evolves.

In our experiment, we were able to see #1-5 on the list, but watching evolution is more challenging. As Jose correctly said in class, evolution takes a long time!

Our next unit, starting on Monday, will be on DNA, the code of life. It is changes to DNA that are the basis for all evolution!

Since you had a lab report due on Friday, you do not have homework due Monday. Have a great weekend!

Working on the yeast lab report

Today students worked on their lab reports. The lab report is due in class on Friday. It must be a printed copy. Late work will NOT be accepted.

Tomorrow in class we'll have a REAL, LIVE SCIENTIST, come to class! Please arrive on time :)

It's alive lab report

Today students worked on their lab reports for the "It's Alive!? Investigation." For homework you will need to make graph in excel.

Click through the powerpoint below to see what you need to do.

Making an xy scatter plot

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Yeast Lab Report Part 1:

Tomorrow a rough draft of your introduction is due in class. You need to have a scientific title that includes: the organism studied, the parameter measured, the factor you changed.

You should also write an introduction that includes the following information:

The hypothesis

3-5 sentences about yeast that answer the following questions:

What is yeast?

Is it alive?

What does yeast need to live?

Is yeast a plant, animal or fungi?

It's Alive Investigation Day 2

Yesterday we reviewed controls and variables and then collected data on how long it took the balloons to inflate at various temperatures. Below is the data we collected.



For Friday, you need to write out the procedure you will use to redo this experiment. You will all be working with 65 deg C water. Be detailed! You will use 2.5g of yeast, 1.5g sugar, 25mL of water.