The Weeks of 4/21-5/2

• Mon 4/21:  Work day, catch up day.  Work on Gel Electrophoresis Lab due tomorrow and/or Biotech Review due Thursday.
• Tues 4/22:  Questions on Biotech Review?  Turn in Gel Electrophoresis Lab.  Introduce seed germination and set up seeds to germinate in the classroom.  You choose type of seeds, type of vessel, amount of water, location for seeds, etc.  In the meantime, work on Leaf Structure and Coloring Worksheet to be checked off Thursday after the test.
• Thurs 4/24:  Turn in Biotech Review.  Take Biotech Test.  Check your seeds, add water if needed, and finish Leaf Worksheet.  Get checked off when finished.
• Mon 4/28:  Notes on leaves, roots, and stems.   Introduce Seed Germination Inquiry.  Check seeds again and get Leaf Worksheet checked off if not already.
• Tues 4/29:   Notes on stems.  Gather plant parts in the Lincoln Yard.  Get 10 different leaves, 3 roots and 3 stems.  In the classroom, draw 5 leaves, 2 roots, and 1 stem.  Label all the parts that you can and then write a caption describing the features of each sample (color, texture, where it was found, special features).  Read 35.1.  Plant seedlings if you would like.
• Thursday 5/1:  Notes on plant growth and water transport in plants.  Transpiration.  Finish drawings and turn in.  Read 35.2-35.4.

Information on Gel Electrophoresis Lab: Due Tues, 4/22

Data Processing Part (done in class on Tues 4/15)
1)  Make Data Table for Ladder, Crime Scene, Suspect 1, Suspect 2, Suspect 3 to show distance traveled  of each band and then converted into DNA size in kilobases
2)  Measure practice gel bands (distance traveled from well in mm)
3)  Make graph on semi-log paper of Ladder information (Band 1 = 23,130 Kb, Band 2= 9,416 Kb, Band 3=6,557 Kb, Band 4=4,361 Kb, Band 5=2322 Kb, Band 6=2027 Kb).  Draw a distinct line of best fit that goes through the points as best as possible (should be curved)
4)  Use the graph, to complete the data table (convert CS, S1, S2, and S3 distance traveled to kilobases)

What you need to turn in on Tues 4/22:
a)  Completed lab hand-out (questions on first page and last page)
b)  Completed data table, neat and labeled graph, and practice gel photo taped to either.
c)  Court testimony:  1.5-2 pages on "who done it" including how gel electrophoresis works, your evidence, and possible sources of error and uncertainty.  You may use either your group's gel photo or the one I gave you.  If you want a JPG file of your group's photo, ask the group member who has it or myself and I can e-mail it to you.  Remember that you are an expert witness for the prosecution in a murder trial, so you may play the part as you see fit!

The Week of 4/14-4/18

Welcome to the 4th Quarter!

• Mon 4/14:  Take photos of your gels and share them with me.  Start researching Bioethics.
• Tues 4/15:  Analyze gels and make graphs.  Gel Electrophoresis Lab due next Tues, 4/22.  More research and preparation for Bioethics Debate.
• Thurs 4/17:  Bioethics Debate.  Questions on Gel Electrophoresis Lab?  Review Sheet for Biotech Test to be taken next Thurs 4/24.

Bioethics "Debate" on Thursday 4/17

On Tuesday, April 15, research the history and science behind your topic (topics listed below), in addition to researching its pros and cons.  On Thursday, April 17 explain the science of your topic to the class (beyond what we took in notes) and present positives and negatives of the technology (5-8 minutes).   After the debate, submit a bibliography of 5 solid resources, a list of who did what in your group, and a 1-2 page summary of your findings.

On the day of the "debate", your group will have 5-8 minutes to present, followed by 5-10 minutes of questions and comments from other class members.

The Topics:

1)  Reproductive Cloning (you can include cloning of organs as well)

2)  Stem Cells

3)  Genetically-modified organisms (GMO's).  Include both plants (crops) and animals.

4)  DNA Sequencing (include the history of the Human Genome Project)

4/7-4/10/14: End of 3rd Quarter

SPARK Lecture:   Dr. Peter Hurlin of Shriners Hospital for Children:  A Wholistic View on Embryonic Development, Evolution, and Cancer.  Monday at 3:30 in 169.

• Mon 4/7:  1st part of DNA Fingerprinting Lab.  Cut DNA samples with restriction enzyme.  While waiting for your samples to incubate, do Restriction Enzyme Activity, and take notes on Bacterial Transformation.
• Wed 4/9:  2nd part of DNA Fingerprinting Lab:  load samples onto gels and run.  While waiting for samples to run, finish Transformation notes and do transformation activity.  Turn in and late/missing work.
• Fri 4/11:  Teacher Work Day for end of the 3rd Quarter.

Instructions for Stem Cell Assignment

In pairs, go to Virtual Stem Cell Laboratory in the links.

›Read the descriptions as you go
1)  Using the coaxing agents, stimulate the growth of different types of stem cells.
2)  List 6 different types of stem cells, their purpose, and uses in treatment.
3)  Draw and label the "tree" connecting" the different types of cells.
4)  Define "embryonic stem cell".  

Turn it in with both of your names on it.