Welcome to the 2016-2017 School Year!!

Hello students!  I hope you had a great summer!  I am excited to see you back in the classroom and to continue the work we started last year.  This year we will be studying the following topics, in pretty close to this order:

First Semester

Ecology

Biodiversity

Evolution

Digestion and Absorption

Circulation

Gas Exchange

Immunology

Second Semester

Muscles and Movement

The Kidney

Nerves, Hormones, and Homeostasis

Sexual Reproduction

Neurobiology and Behavior

In addition, we will be doing an inquiry lab this fall that will prepare you for the larger Internal Assessment that you will perform in the winter.   The IB Biology Exam is scheduled for May 1st and 2nd, 2016.  During and after testing, we will have time to do fun, biology-related projects.

The Not-So-Short Answer Test Questions for Your Exam

On the day of your Exam, we will choose 4 questions out of 1-6 and 4 questions out of 7-12, and you will answer 6 questions total.   (I am doing it this way to make sure that there are questions chosen from both quarters).  Once again, I have put some terms in parentheses below to help you prepare, but they will not be there on the day of the test.  6 pts each.
There will also be a multiple choice section with 40 questions and a data-based question with several parts. Scratch that. No data-based question!!

1. List the aim of the Human Genome Project and describe how it was carried out.  What was surprising about the project and what can we do with the information we obtained from it?
2. Outline 3 factors that promote genetic variation.  Make sure that you explain how they promote the variation and don’t just name them.  You may use drawings to help explain.
3. Describe the genetic cause, effect on the body, treatment, etc of either Huntington’s disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, or Down Syndrome.
4. Outline the process of DNA replication, including names and functions of all the enzymes, direction of replication  and other details about the process.  (leading strand, lagging strand, continuous, discontinuous, Okazaki fragments, replication fork, etc)
5. Outline the process of translation (protein synthesis) from start to finish.  (initiation, elongation, termination, mRNA, tRNA, large ribosomal subunit, small ribosomal subunit, translation initiation complex, exit, aminoacyl and peptidyl sites, translocate, peptide bonds, GTP, etc)
6. Outline the control of gene expression, including nucleosomes, epigenetics, promoters, enhancers, silencers, etc.
7. Outline the function of enzymes (including what they do, how they do it, inhibitors, etc).  Then list 3 enzymes that we couldn’t live without, including what function they serve in our bodies.
8. Outline a basic technique used for gene transfer involving plasmids, bacteria, and named enzymes.  Also, list 3 specific examples of gene transfer in action.
9. Discuss the pros and cons of the use of stem cells (at least 3 pros and 3 cons).  Also, list 3 examples of stem cell use in action.
10. Draw and label a diagram showing the internal and external structures of a dicotyledonous seed.  Also, give a brief function of each part.  You should label at least 6 parts. (testa, micropyle, hilum, cotyledon, plumule, radicle, etc)
11. Compare and contrast xylem and phloem in terms of their structures and their functions.  You may use a chart.  Include at least 4 similarities and 4 differences.  Be specific.
12. Plants are different from animals in that they are not mobile and have had to evolve adaptations to carry out functions of life like nutrition, reproduction, response, homeostasis, etc. from a fixed position.  DESCRIBE 3 good examples of ingenious adaptations by plants that allow them to get their needs met while being stuck in place.

Plant Investigation Assignment due 6/2 through turnitin.com

This is your last assignment of the year! Worth 15 points, so not life-changing, but don't blow it off! When in doubt, check with me to see if you have the right detail.

• Background (at least 2 paragraphs, including reason for doing it, background research w/ citations)
• Focused question (make it specific!!)
• Variables:  list independent and dependent.  List at least 5 controlled and HOW you will control them.
• Procedure:  include rationale for why you are choosing materials and amounts, how many trials, use specific amounts, etc. (a diagram can be very helpful!)

Options for Next Year

Please look at these Options for next year.  We will study ONE of them and it will be covered on Paper 3 of the IB Biology Test.  This past year we did Neurobiology and Behavior (A) and it went pretty well, but if the others have many merits.  Please review them and vote for one on Thursday 6/2!

A:  Neurobiology and Behavior (Subtopics:  Neural Development, The Human Brain, Perception of Stimuli, Innate and Learned Behavior, Neuropharmacology, and Ethology).
B:  Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (Microbiology, Biotechnology in agriculture, Environmental Protection, Medicine, Bioinformatics)
C:  Ecology and Conservation (Species and communities, communities and ecosystems, impacts of humans on ecosystems, conservation of biodiversity, population ecology, the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles)
D:  Further Human physiology (human nutrition, digestion, functions of the liver, the heart, hormones and metabolism, transport of respiratory gases).

2nd Semester Review Topics for Final Exam

These are the topics you will find on the Final Exam and the sections from the IB book that you have.  The test will be made up of 30-40 multiple choice questions, approximately 6 not-so-short answer questions, and a data-based question with several questions.

Genes, Chromosomes, Meiosis, and Genetics:

3.1, 3.2. 3.3, 3.4, 10.1, 10.2

Replication, Transcription, and Translation

2.7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3

Enzymes

2.5 and 8.1

Biotechnology

3.5 and 1.1 (stem cells)

Plants

9.1-9.4

End of the Year!!

• Tues 5/24:  Check off Plant and Flower worksheet and go over.  Kahoot Review for Plant Test.  Finish plant video.
• Thurs 5/26:  Take Plant Test.  Brainstorm an investigation you could do with plants.  Due Thursday 6/2 through turnitin.com.  Include Background, Question, Variables, and Procedure.
• Tues 5/31:  Write up your plant proposals and review for the Final Exam.
• Thurs 6/2:  Plant investigation proposals due today through turnitin.com  More review for the final exam.  Late work and extra credit deadline is Friday 6/3!!! (tomorrow)
• Mon 6/6:  Big ole Review for the Final Exam!!
• Tues 6/7:  Finals 1, 2, and 4
• Wed 6/8:  Finals 5, 6, and 8
• Thurs 6/9:  Finals 3 and 7

HAVE A FABULOUS SUMMER!!!

Short-Answer Test Questions for Plant Test on Thursday, May 26

Short Answer Questions.  On test day, we will draw 6 from the hat, and you will answer 4.  I put some words in parentheses to help you now, but those words will not be included with the questions on the test day!! Keep in mind that each of these questions will be worth 6-8 points, so don't think too short in the answer. There will also be multiple choice questions and possibly a data-based question.

1. Describe the process of transpiration of water from leaf to root.  (evaporation, polarity, hydrogen bonds, cohesion, adhesion, hydrophilic xylem, pressure gradient, etc).
2. Describe at least 4 adaptations of xerophytes to conserve water and 2 adaptations of halophytes to survive in saline conditions.  Also, include 3 examples of xerophytes and 1 example of a halophyte.
3. Draw and label a cross-section diagram of a young dicotyledonous stem (6 labels: xylem, phloem, cambium, cortex, epidermis, pith).  Also, give a brief function for each thing labeled.
4. Describe the translocation of phloem sap from source to sink.  (companion cells, proton pumps, active transport, incompressibility, osmosis, hydrostatic pressure, phloem loading, sieve tubes, etc).
5. Describe how scientists use aphid stylets to study translocation rates in plants.  Be specific.  
6. Describe how auxin works to promote phototropism in plants (gene expression, PIN3 proteins, shady side, hydrogen ions, cellulose, cell expansion, etc).
7. Draw and label an animal pollinated flower (stigma, style, anther, filament, petal, sepal, ovary).  Also, give a brief function for each thing labeled.
8. Describe the concept of photoperiodism and how phytochromes PR and PFR control long-day and short-day flowers.  
9. Distinguish between pollination, fertilization, and seed dispersal in plants and give 3 methods of pollination and 3 methods of seed dispersal.
10. Describe the process of seed germination, including factors that affect germination and the role of gibberellin.