How did the giraffe get such a long neck? Why do zebras have stripes? How can there be carnivorous plants?
Think about an organism with a special adaptation or characteristic (either plant or animal) - why do you think that characteristic provided that species with an advantage in their environment? Come up with your own ideas - post what your thoughts are first. Then, your second post will be your research - summarize your findings (a few paragraphs) and include pictures &/or video and website links that you used to do your learning.
Once that is done, read and comment on at least one other students blog post idea &/or research.
Can't wait to read your posts! Yay learning!
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Evolution of Beads Activity
Here we go again grade 11's!
I am posting a data table as a google spreadsheet - I would like to to create a COPY by signing into your google account, clicking File ---> Make a Copy and use it to record you data from our activity in class today (and post to your blog). So what I have made can serve as a template for you to complete and post, I hope.
And then guess what - try and create the appropriate graph on google docs! Don't worry. I have already photocopied the graph paper in anticipation of our collective failure. Boo.
Evolution of Beads Spreadsheet
I am posting a data table as a google spreadsheet - I would like to to create a COPY by signing into your google account, clicking File ---> Make a Copy and use it to record you data from our activity in class today (and post to your blog). So what I have made can serve as a template for you to complete and post, I hope.
And then guess what - try and create the appropriate graph on google docs! Don't worry. I have already photocopied the graph paper in anticipation of our collective failure. Boo.
Evolution of Beads Spreadsheet
Friday, 20 September 2013
Variation Responses
Data Completed
Summary - frequencies
Fingers crossed. You can try to make your graphs online or I will photocopy some graph paper now.
Once done the graphs, you can answer the questions.
:) Thank you for being patient.
Summary - frequencies
Fingers crossed. You can try to make your graphs online or I will photocopy some graph paper now.
Once done the graphs, you can answer the questions.
:) Thank you for being patient.
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Variation Lab - Take 2!
Okey dokey... Now I have created a new way to submit your same data, as multiple choice questions. You should be able to access the spreadsheet of these results after, which may or may not (!) be the data we are hoping to graph.
Here we go!
Variation Data Take 2
This is a perfect example of a frequency graph I would like you to make:
Height categories on the X axis
Frequency of results on the Y axis
Here we go!
Variation Data Take 2
This is a perfect example of a frequency graph I would like you to make:
Height categories on the X axis
Frequency of results on the Y axis
Variation Lab
Now that you can see everyone's data for the measurement lab, the averages should be at the bottom of the spreadsheet....
Answer the following questions on your blog about the information that you have collected.
1. What were the trends that you noticed in each of the frequency graphs?
2. How many people had "extreme" traits?
3. What trait had the most variation?
4. How would having variation within a trait benefit the entire species? How would having no variation be detrimental to the success of the species?
5. How could having extreme traits be beneficial? Can you find an example in nature?
6. How did you come to have the characteristics that you have? (ie. why are you short?)
7. What is a gene? What is DNA? Where did you get your DNA?
Answer the following questions on your blog about the information that you have collected.
1. What were the trends that you noticed in each of the frequency graphs?
2. How many people had "extreme" traits?
3. What trait had the most variation?
4. How would having variation within a trait benefit the entire species? How would having no variation be detrimental to the success of the species?
5. How could having extreme traits be beneficial? Can you find an example in nature?
6. How did you come to have the characteristics that you have? (ie. why are you short?)
7. What is a gene? What is DNA? Where did you get your DNA?
DNA & Evolution
What do all living things have in common? They are all made of CELLS which contain DNA. The sequences of bases on the DNA molecule provide the genetic code which gives each organism unique traits.
We have just looked at the structure of DNA by colouring and cutting and pasting a model of DNA in the classroom. Now, I would like you to explore how DNA makes copies of itself - which it needs to do in order for a cell to divide. This process is called DNA replication.
Watch this animation to see the steps of DNA replication in action.
DNA replication
Remember how long each DNA molecule was and how many base pairs it possesses? Although there are proofreading enzymes, mistakes in base pairing during replication can occur, which are called mutations. Mostly, mutations have a negative effect on the cells ability to perform it's function, but there is a possibility that a mutation can be advantageous.
Although we are all humans with 46 chromosomes, we each have distinct traits that we have inherited from the DNA of our parents. A key factor in evolution is that there is diversity in life forms and variation in these traits within a population.
Next we are going to look at the variation of some unimportant physical traits within our class, collect data, and see if there are any extreme phenotype (what we look like) variations - how might that benefit an organism?
Working in partners, measure the following physical characteristics:
a) Height (without shoes, in cm)
b) Cubit (bend arm at elbow, measure from tip of elbow to end of fingers)
c) Hand span (tip of thumb to tip of pinky finger, hand spread wide)
d) Eye width (stare straight ahead, partner measures center of one eye to center of other eye)
e) Foot length (stand on ruler)
Enter info into shared google spreadsheet that you can access here:
Data
Once everyone has inputed their data, you are to plot a frequency graph for each characteristic - so that you can see how often each characteristic occurs. Plot the measured characteristic on the x-axis, and the number of people having the characteristic on the y-axis. One graph / characteristic...
We have just looked at the structure of DNA by colouring and cutting and pasting a model of DNA in the classroom. Now, I would like you to explore how DNA makes copies of itself - which it needs to do in order for a cell to divide. This process is called DNA replication.
Watch this animation to see the steps of DNA replication in action.
DNA replication
Remember how long each DNA molecule was and how many base pairs it possesses? Although there are proofreading enzymes, mistakes in base pairing during replication can occur, which are called mutations. Mostly, mutations have a negative effect on the cells ability to perform it's function, but there is a possibility that a mutation can be advantageous.
Although we are all humans with 46 chromosomes, we each have distinct traits that we have inherited from the DNA of our parents. A key factor in evolution is that there is diversity in life forms and variation in these traits within a population.
Next we are going to look at the variation of some unimportant physical traits within our class, collect data, and see if there are any extreme phenotype (what we look like) variations - how might that benefit an organism?
Working in partners, measure the following physical characteristics:
a) Height (without shoes, in cm)
b) Cubit (bend arm at elbow, measure from tip of elbow to end of fingers)
c) Hand span (tip of thumb to tip of pinky finger, hand spread wide)
d) Eye width (stare straight ahead, partner measures center of one eye to center of other eye)
e) Foot length (stand on ruler)
Enter info into shared google spreadsheet that you can access here:
Data
Once everyone has inputed their data, you are to plot a frequency graph for each characteristic - so that you can see how often each characteristic occurs. Plot the measured characteristic on the x-axis, and the number of people having the characteristic on the y-axis. One graph / characteristic...
Monday, 16 September 2013
Scientific Naming
Choose any combination of 5 plants and/or animals (maybe ones that you are interested in...) and learn their ENTIRE scientific name - KPCOFGS. Post a picture of your chosen organisms with their scientific name.
Do any of your organisms share any of categories? Can you that they are closely related by just looking at them? Are their any organisms that you thought would be more closely related than they are? Think about these questions and write a paragraph describing your findings.
What has this bit of research made you wonder about how organisms are related?
Do any of your organisms share any of categories? Can you that they are closely related by just looking at them? Are their any organisms that you thought would be more closely related than they are? Think about these questions and write a paragraph describing your findings.
What has this bit of research made you wonder about how organisms are related?
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