Curious GMOs

Genetically Modified Organisms is the theme here. Remember that the main concept from chapter 9 is that we are living at the “frontier” of the biotechnology century. Like the “wild west” of the 1800s, our new century is one where the rules are being made now; the decisions that will determine the things we will do in the future are being made today. To reach this frontier we have created certain tools to manipulate DNA. You should know what those tools are. The key one is recombinant DNA. Please watch the video if you are still confused. Keep in mind the project ahead concerning biotechnology and the four questions. A possible project could be a presentation such as this one.

Curious GATTACA

I get the sense that this is now your newest favorite movie. The key quote is: “We now have discrimination down to a science.” As we look at biotechnology over the next weeks, keep it in mind.

More Curious DNA

The structure of DNA is very simple: A pairs with T, C pairs with G. When the two sides of the “ladder” are separated (hopefully by enzymes and not mutagens like chemicals or UV light), the missing side is replicated using the base-pairing rules. In this way DNA structure reveals the “secret of life” — that is how the same genetic information (the list of ATCGs) can maintained from generation to GENEration; two DNAs can be made from one.

Our next problem is how this DNA information is used to make proteins. Here is a simple video. Because it is from 1971, maybe you should watch this one first. Read sections 8:4 and 8:5 in the text and Reader.

Curious DNA

C-8 is your current assignment. Here is an excellent summary of the discovery of the structure of DNA.

Curious Mealworm

Please join the mealworm myspace and become a friend. Leave your diary notes as comments se we may all follow the progress of your baby’s metamorphosis.

Review Answers

C-10 pages 304-9
Selection is the factor that determines which individuals of a population survive and which do not. In our bean-gathering activity, “selection” was the made by the points earned: more points = increase population. Selection “sorts out” which variations work best. These variations can then be said to be “adapted” to the environment. They “fit.” Their “fitness” is shown by having more offspring — more babies that fit the environment just like the parents.
C-10 310-17
fossils, biogeography, embryology, anatomy (homologous = similar body parts), vestigial organs, genetic similarity
C-11 328-9
(look at the diagram in the book) phenotypes are visible traits like the frog’s color; genotypes are the alleles – GG, Gg, gg – that create the traits; the G’s and g’s that compose the population are the gene pool; the percentage of G’s and g’s is the allele frequency.
If a dominate phenotype is eliminated, all of the G’s will be removed. The G % changes to 0. Then the g’s are 100% of the population. Selection only works on phenotypes. When the number of individuals with any particular trait changes in the population, the allele frequency will also change. This change IS the modern definition of evolution.
No, hybridization does not mean half of one species joined to half of another. It means two different mammal OR bird species could interbreed to make a new species, a hybrid mammal species OR bird species.
C-11 330-3
A normal distribution is a bell-shaped curve like Figure 11:2. Human height is like this: few are very short and few are very tall (the edges of the bell). Most people are “average,” somewhere in the middle.
The distribution can shift is new selective conditions occur. If “tallness” or “shortness” became deadly or for some reason were eliminated (stopped reproducing), then the average height would shift to one end of the graph or the other as is shown by Figure 11:5. Height makes no difference to human survival, so height has the “normal” distribution. Other creatures, like honey bees for example (or kinglets, or mockingbirds, etc.), are almost all exactly the same size. So there must be some factor that makes this exactness important in the bee world.
C-11 343
genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, sexual selection, natural selection
(A good activity for this is at Classzone here.)
C-11 344-6)
reproductive, behavioral, geographic, and temporal.
Any of these factors can split a single population into two or more separate populations. When this happens (such as a group of finches leaving the mainland and moving to the Galapagos), the different populations are stressed by different environments. Because they are no longer interbreeding populations, natural selection will work on their unique variations and slowly change the characteristics of each group. Their genetic make up will change. Eventually members of each population are so different that they will not interbreed; they are now new and separate species. This is “speciation.”

My email

If you are having trouble submitting your extra credit answer, put it in an email and send it to me at dcloer@vusd.org

Timeline Test extra assignment

Your extra assignment was given on the handout in class. This comment space is for your answer to part 2. Give an explanation for ONE of the 7 numbered items in section A. Read the comments posted in front of you (unless you are the first to post). You may NOT use the same item until all 7 have been posted. That means is you are the 7th person to post, you must respond to the last available question. (So, for example, if the first six comments are about questions: 1,3,6,5,2,7, you must answer #4 “An oyster fossil in Texas.”)
Everyone answers question B. This site may help you increase your understanding.

Curious EARTH

We are now into the second semester. Hopefully you have taken note of the more participatory nature of the work. You have investigated your learning style via an online survey; have created and presented a powerpoint; and soon you will be blogging a diary of your new mealworm baby. More details will be given in class of course, but here is some background. Right now we are studying the history of life on earth as a prelude to investigating the history and development of the individual organism. The mealworm will illustrate this development firsthand. Meanwhile in class, we will be studying DNA, protein synthesis, and embryology. Right now you should be reading chapter 12 in both your textbook and reader.

curious video

Try this: