Kingdom Monera: Bacteria

Basics to study tonight:


Characteristics of bacteria:
1. Single-celled
2. Prokaryotic - Have no nuclear membrane around the DNA
3. Has a cell membrane and cell wall

Bacteria love warm and moist places!

Can be found EVERYWHERE!



Reproduce by Binary Fission: Which basically means the bacteria splits into two.

Helpful (Good) Bacteria: Those found in foods like yogurt, cheese, sourdough bread :)
Harmful (Bad) Bacteria:  Those that make you sick like food poisoning and strep throat

More to come in class tomorrow!

Extra Credit Opportunity!

    Biology Related News Article

8 Points Extra Credit!!

Due Date: December 16^th

Goal:

1.     Find a news article (newspaper, magazine, online)

2.    Read it

3.    Highlight important/interesting information

4.    Write a short summary of article

5.    Write how the article relates to biology

6.    Staple the article to your paper

7.    Turn in to Mrs. Dokken J

Blood Genetics Tutorial

Be sure to do the "assignment" at the end of the screencast! :)

Mitosis

Make sure you understand the phases of Mitosis for tomorrow's class!  

This is an animal cell undergoing mitosis like we discussed in class today. Mitosis is when a cell divides into two and FORMS TWO EXACT NUCLEI.  After the nuclei are formed, the rest of the cell splits (the cytoplasm and cell structures are divided up) through "CYTOKINESIS" (important term).  Remember, most of the time, a cell is in Interphase doing normal cell functions (also growing and duplicating it's DNA).  But, when it's time to divide it begins the process of Mitosis as shown here:



Image taken from: accessexcellence.org


Plant cells also undergo mitosis, but it is different because the plant cell forms a "cell plate" instead of undergoing cytokinesis!


On Thursday in class you will be looking at Onion Plant Cells going through Mitosis. You will have to identify three different stages for a lab grade.  If you can correctly point all FIVE phases of Mitosis, you can count that towards 10 points of your cell project part B! :)


Here are some examples of what you might see:

Image take from: faculty.cbu.ca


We talked in class about how you have mitosis going on in your body cells all the time.  That is a good form of mitosis, but mitosis can be bad if a "bad" cancer cell is undergoing mitosis.  The definition of cancer is "a disease in which some cells in the body divide uncontrollably."  

Cells: Structure and Function

Hopefully, your cell project is going well and you are starting to "get it".  Cells really are similar to a city with many different jobs that have to be done.  Cells are just smaller and have organelles instead!  If you had to compare them, you could say the nucleus is like the "mayor" or "boss" of the city,  the lysosomes are like the "trash collectors", the endoplasmic reticulum is the "highway", etc.  Tomorrow is our quiz.  Here is a good website to use to study...http://www.neok12.com/Cell-Structures.htm  We did some of these quizzes in class.  I think you'll find them helpful!

Using the Scientific Method

How does temperature affect the growth rate of sponge critters?  We're about to find out!

Metrics!!!

Length

Kilograms, Milliliters, Centimeters, and degrees Celsius are the mainstays of science!  No more feet and inches or ounces in here!  Scientists use only the metric system.  So, we've been practicing this week with the metric side of the ruler, balances, and graduated cylinders.  I think we've got it!

Mass

Nice job guys.  Good lab techniques!

How tall are you in centimeters?

Remember, no inches in science!

Volume

Looking for the meniscus

Having way too much fun!

Metrics is easy 

Teamwork

Welcome to 7th Grade Biology Class!

The first day of class is always one of my favorites! The "What is it?" Lab allows me to see what you know and I always enjoy the responses! I think one of the funniest ones I saw today was after one of the groups looked at the model of body fat and said they thought it was "vomit"!!! For your "homework" tonight you were supposed to read this blog...I want you to read the "Classroom Information" to the right and write down the 3 most important things you learned from it! You will earn 5 points for bringing this to class with you Thursday! I hope you enjoyed Science class today! We have many great things to learn this year! Mrs. Dokken :)

Things to do if you're bored this summer!

It's that time!  S-U-M-M-E-R!!!!!  Yea!  I know you have lots of swimming, sleeping, sports, and more swimming on your list of things to do this summer, but just in case you get bored, here are some super cool biology games that I found for you to check out!

http://www.anatomyarcade.com/

The Human Eye

Homework for Wednesday, May 4th:  Research the eye.  Draw and label a diagram of the eye and know the function of each part. 

Important parts:  Pupil, iris, cornea, retina, sclera, lends, vitreous chamber (humor) optic nerve.  You may find other important parts too! 


Sites to try:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bigeye.html

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/V/Vision.html

http://www.pasadenaeye.com/faq/faq15/faq15_text.html

Sheep Brain Dissections

"Wow!  That's a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be."  That was a quote from a first hour student when he first saw the sheep brain.  Many students also said it was not as gross as they thought it was going to be.  The consistancy?  "Looks and feels like chicken!" according to one observant student!

Nervous System Study

Check out this site for tons of kid-friendly information on the brain- http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

Frog Dissection Time!!

We've been studying invertebrates for the past couple of weeks, but now it's time to get back to the vertebrate body.  Check out this site to complete your Virtual Frog Dissection Homework Sheet.  It's due Monday, April 18th!

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_16/BL_16.html - Virtual Frog Dissection


Image borrowed from Google Frog Image

Day 18 of the Wisconsin Fast Plant Experiment

We've been pollinating our plants and they are starting to grow small seed pods!

We have a lot of colorful flowers growing!

Our plants are getting tall!

The stamen (male) and pistils (female) are visible.

Pollination has occured and many plants have seeds pods growing.  The long, green structure in this picture is a seed pod.

Invertebrate Review!

Here is a quick tutorial to go along with your notes when studying invertebrate animals.

WFP Day 11

Our Plants are growing true leaves and flower buds now!

We have seedlings! Day 4 WFP

The cotyledons are out now and the hypocotyl (first stem) is raising the seedlings up towards the light!

Notice the root hairs and the seed coat laying next to the seedling.

How many cotyledons? 

Chick Chat Girls!

Be sure to check the TOMS shoes website and see if our picture made it onto the website!  We love our TOMS!  Who wouldn't love a comfy shoe that also donates a pair of shoes every time you buy one to a kid in need?!  Tuesday, April 5th, we are going "One Day Without Shoes" to raise awareness for kids who don't have this necessary item!  Students can wear socks or slippers to school (must bring shoes for outdoors and in the hallway) to wear in the classroom. 

 http://www.toms.com/how-we-wear-them/ TOMS site

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/

8th Grade Chick Chat Girls! 

7th Grade Chick Chat Girls!

Ok, Hanna was not in our TOMS picture because she was out getting her track uniform when we took it.  So, here we are posing with our TOMS!  I don't think she runs track in them although they are comfy!  :)  (just kidding!)

Day 3- We're seeing some growth!

Seedings have emerged!  Are these monocots or dicots?

 A closer, yet blurry, view

Third hour seems to be growing quicker than the other hours because their plants were slightly closer to the lamp.

Fast Plant Germination-Day 2

Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-The embryonic roots are starting to emerge!

Wisconsin Fast Plants: Brassica rapa



Monday 3/28/11  Day 1: Gemination of our little baby seeds!



9:00 a.m.





9:00 a.m. Seeds soaking up water



5:00 p.m. Notice the 2nd seed from the right has started to break out of it's seed coat!