Biology Revision Classes

All Y12 Bio students are welcome to attend these revision classes taking place in B11. These have been scheduled to fit around 12 Chemistry classes so that there is no clash with time and less trips into HVHS. 

If you are finding elements of your externals difficult we really encourage you to attend and bring lots of questions!!

Thursday 7 November          0900-1100       Topic = Cell Biology

Wednesday 13 November    1200-1400       Topic = Gene Expression

Thursday 14 November        0900-1100       Topic = Genetics and Variation   

Chemistry is scheduled spell 3/4 on Thursday 7 & 14 and Spell 5 on Tue. 

A reminder that your BIOLOGY EXAM is scheduled on the 22nd November at 0930.

Last 12 Biology class for 2013

Team Excellence?

12 Biology revision

Dear Students

I hope your Biology revision is well underway and you are making good use of the long weekend. In class last week I mentioned two very good web pages that could help your preparation. They were No Brain too Small and Pass Biology. 

Regards

Mr Edwards

Answers to Punnet Square questions - No Brain Too Small

Punnet Squares collated questions - No Brain Too Small 

Sheep Question (2011, Q2) click here for answer

Pygmy Goat Question (2010, Q2) click here for answer

Plant Question (2009, Q1)  click here for answer

Pea Plant (2008, Q2) click here for answer

Drosophilia (2007, Q1) click here for answer

Budgies (2006, Q2) click here for answer

Dog barking (2005, Q2) click here for answer

Natural Selection explained clearly

This 9 minute video explains the process of natural selection - click here to watch

On line text book perfect for revision leading up to exams

http://www.passbiology.co.nz/home

Biology Revision class Saturday

Dear Students

This Saturday 19 October there will be a Biology revision class in room B 12 from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Students from any Biology class are welcome to attend.

Regards

Mr Edwards 

Collaborative activity - Genetic Drift NZ Examples

Hi 12BIO students of Miss Meehan
Please find the link below to contribute your research idea (1 x Founder, 1 x Bottleneck) to the NZ examples list.
Click here and edit the table by adding your contribution. If table is fill, create a new row by clicking at the end.

What are linked genes?

Are you stuck on what is genetic linkage?

Normally when we talk about dihybrid crosses we are looking at two different traits where the genes responsible are on different chromosomes (i.e trait A on Chromosome 2 and trait B on Chromosome 7), but sometimes the two traits were are looking at are on the SAME chromosome. If this is the case then we will see a different inheritance pattern in the offspring - there will be less variation as the genes are inherited together as a pair.

The following page has some walk through videos that show meiosis of linked genes with and without crossing over. Click here.  (Sex linked traits are also discussed here, this may be interesting as an extension)

Population genetics simulation program

Use this simulation to see the effect of genetic drift. Try changing the features of the population and view the effect on the allele frequency.

 Population genetics simulation program:

'via Blog this'

Hi Students (and Caregivers)

We hope you are enjoying your holidays and are having a restful break. 

We also hope you are revising for the examinations and if you are interested in coming to a study class check out the following timetable.

These are open to all students regardless of your subject teacher and you are welcome to invite other HVHS students who might not have received this email. 

Classes will take place in B11/B12 (or check door for any room change on the day). 

It would be great if you could please reply by email to let us know which class/s you may attend so we have an idea of numbers.

The structure of these tutorials will be students working in small groups on model question/answers, completing workbook activities, plus come with any problems/questions you have on specific topics

Regards

Mr Edwards

Time	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
1100 - 1300	13BIO              All topics(Edwards)	x		13 BIO All topics(Edwards)	12BIO (Wallis)
1300 - 1500	12BIO             Cell Biology (Edwards and Meehan)	x	12BIO                   Gene Expression(Edwards)	12BIOGenetics  (Meehan)
1500 - 1700	11SciGenetics (Edwards and Meehan)	x	11Sci      Mechanics(Edwards)	11Sci                   Acids and Bases(Meehan)	x

Genetic Drift

▶ Genetic Drift - YouTube: ""

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Linked Genes - YouTube

Linked Genes - YouTube: ""

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▶ Enzymes- a fun introduction - YouTube

▶ Enzymes- a fun introduction - YouTube: ""

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Independent assortment

Examine the following diagram that shows there are different ways chromosomes (maternal and paternal) can be separated into sex cells in meiosis. Each homologous pair of chromosomes is sorted independently of every other pair of chromosomes. The following video links this concept to the alleles (genes) that are carried on the chromosomes.
Watch this clip ready for our next class.

The Cell Cycle

Mr Anderson explains more about the Cell Cycle (with a nice link to enzymes!! and a simple comparison of purpose and outcome of Meiosis/Mitosis)

Mendel's peas genetics - Experiments that changed the world. - YouTube

Mendel's peas genetics - Experiments that changed the world. - YouTube: ""

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12 Bio drop in help

Hi All
Feel free to pop into B11 tomorrow between 0900 - 1100 if you are in school and require any last minute help with Bio Revision.

Miss Meehan

12 Bio Study help

I'll be running a study help room on Saturday from 1300 for anyone who would like help before the upcoming practice exam. Meet in B11 with some questions.
A second study help room will be on Monday from 4pm. All welcome.
Miss Meehan

Study class Tuesday 23 July

Dear Students

You are invited to attend a study class on Tuesday 23 July in room B12 starting at 10.00am.

The focus will be on past NCEA questions from the gene expression topic.

Students from all year 12 Biology classes are welcome to attend.

Regards

Mr Edwards

Study class 16 July

Dear students

There will be a study class on Tuesday 16 July in room B12 from 10 am. Students from all year 12 biology classes are welcome.

Investigating enzyme activity

Effect of the environment on phenotype

Effect of the environment on phenotype (B2.7-3.3) - YouTube: ""

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Environmental effects on phenotype

Genotype Expression - YouTube: ""

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Sickle Cell Explained

Sickle Cell - YouTube: ""

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Mutations - YouTube

Mutations - YouTube: ""

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A Mutation story - Sickle Cell Anaemia

Sickle cell anaemic caused by a single point mutation (substitution) causes red blood cell shape to be irregular. This can have health affects for affected individuals. Where in the world does this have a selective advantage? Why? (is it the heterozygote or homozygote that has the advantage?)
Watch this video

Hot Turtles - How the environment (temperature) can influence phenotype (sex)

Watch the following clip to look at sex determination in turtles. What impact will climate change have on the long term survival of these animals?

Metabolic pathways

Metabolic pathways (B2.7-3.3) - YouTube: ""

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What is DNA? - YouTube

What is DNA? - YouTube: ""

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What is a gene? - YouTube

What is a gene? - YouTube: ""

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What is DNA? - YouTube

What is DNA? - YouTube:

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Webpage of an American Biology Teacher

Biology - 12 - Mr. Jodelka's Webpage:

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The Inner Life of the Cell - YouTube

The Inner Life of the Cell - YouTube: ""

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DNA, transcriptions and translation - YouTube

DNA, Hot Pockets, & The Longest Word Ever: Crash Course Biology #11 - YouTube: ""

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DNA Transcription and Protein Assembly - YouTube

DNA Transcription and Protein Assembly - YouTube: ""

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Animation of Cellular Respiration

Watch the following clip to see the process of cellular respiration (inputs/outputs and locations within the cell)

Osmosis - Hypertonic/Hypotonic

Watch the following clip to see what happens to the cell when it is in a hypertonic (high solute) or hypotonic (high water) solution.

Saturday Study Group

Keen to do well in Biology in 2013?

Come to Biology study group

Room B12
Starts 10.00am

Students from all Biology classes are welcome.

Regards
Mr Edwards

Stages of Mitosis

There are three videos that show Mitosis using different modelling.
Video one - 5min
Video two - 6min details of each stage
Video three - 3min Mr W's Mitosis rap

DNA Replication

Hank gives a good overview of DNA structure and the process of DNA synthesis or replication.
Watch the video

Getting Energy - How do Mitochondria work?

This interactive activity summarises the process of producing ATP from glucose (produced by plants).

This 5 minute video explains what happens to our muscle cells when we train/exercise and discusses where there are increases/decreases in mitochondria in cells. 

A reminder about important organelles within an animal cell - use this information to complete the handout on Cellular Function your teacher provides you. 

ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate - YouTube

ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate - YouTube: "http://youtu.be/5GMLIMIVUvo"

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Photosynthesis

Have you seen our photosynthesis essay?

Big thanks to all who have contributed. Not to late to add your bit. It could do with some more images and color.

Biozone activities for Cells topic

A number of students have asked me which activities you should attempt from our biozone activity book. Here is a bit of a list.

Life processes at the cellular level

General cells;

Cell Size and Shape     106,

Plant cells  108,

Identifying structures in a plant cell 110,

Animal cells 111,

Identifying structures in an animal cell 113,

Membranes and transport;

The structure of membranes 118,

The role of membranes in cells 120,

Passive transport processes 121,

Ion Pumps 124,

Exocytosis and endocytosis 125,

Active and passive transport summary 126,

Limitations to cell size 127,

Photosynthesis;

Chloroplasts 138,

Photosynthesis 139,

Energy in cells 132,

Respiration;

The role of ATP in cells 133,

ATP production in cells 134,

Glucose Catabolism 135,

We will also cover Enzymes and DNA replication before our topic test.

Bio Coach online help

PHSchool - The Biology Place:

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A song explaining the biological process of respiration

"Cell Respiration" - Cellular Respiration Song - YouTube: ""

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ATP & Respiration: Crash Course Biology #7 - YouTube

ATP & Respiration: Crash Course Biology #7 - YouTube: ""

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Surface area to volume ratio experiment

One reason that cells are small is: Small objects have a larger surface area compared to their volume than large objects. This means that the transport of materials into and out of cells can occur easily through simple diffusion rather than requiring the more energy costly active transport.

We investigated this using some cubes cut from agar gel that had an indicator added to it. By placing the agar blocks into Sodium Hydroxide solution the bright pink colour of the agar blocks showed us how far the Sodium Hydroxide had diffused.

Science (ICAS) 2013 Competition

ICAS in Science is a is a skills based  Science Literacy assessment that is completed by over a million students from over 6,300 schools in Australia and New Zealand annually.  Why should you enter?

• Fun and challenging competition
• Great for CV
• Gives you an indication of skill on a national level
• HVHS students have traditionally preformed very well. 
• All students can participate - Y9 to Y13

Students sit the assessment on the 5th June, however if you want to enter you need to hand in permission slip with $8.50 to the resource centre by Friday 3rd May

Find out more here

Bozeman Biology - Photo.........synthesis

In this clip you can see more about the two phases of photosynthesis. 
Photo (light dependent stage)
and synthesis (also known as the Calvin Cycle, Carbon Fixation or Light Independent stage).

In the first stage inputs are LIGHT, WATER and require CHLOROPHYLL and ADP, the result is ADP (Adenine DI-phosphate)  is 'charged' to ATP (Adenine TRI-phosphate) and water is split into oxygen and hydrogen.

The second stage requires HYDROGEN generated from 1st stage and CARBON DIOXIDE and these are used to synthesis or make GLUCOSE using the energy currency of ATP also made in 1st stage.

Respiration ATP and ADP Question

Had a question from an ex-student who wanted some help with ATP and stuff. Here's what i sent them. Thought it might be not too bad for year twelve biology students also:

ATP and ADP are the two molecules involved in the use of energy by cells. ATP is often referred to as the energy currency of the cell.

Cells can use ATP where ever they need to expend energy particularly in processes such as active transport of materials through cell and organelle membranes. 

ADP is Adenosine Diphosphate the low energy version of the energy carrier. During respiration in the mitochondrion it is "charged" with energy by having a third Phosphate group added to create ATP or Adenosine Triphosphate .

There are several stages in the metabolism (chemical reactions that occur in living things) of glucose. the first stage is called glycolysis (in the cytoplasm) followed by the krebs cycle and finally the electron transport chain (both in the mitochondrion). 

The electron transport chain is the stage of respiration that generates the most number of ATP molcules per molecule of glucose entering the respiration process. 

Check out these videos for more information

Crash course Biology Respiration and ATP 

Bozemanbiology ATP  

Bozemanbiology Respiration

Visit the wikipedia links and read just the first bits that tell you what things are, watch the videos twice

What are enzymes and why are they important?

Mr Anderson gives us an overview of enzymes. Click here for video. This year we need to understand the factors that increase/decrease reaction rates of biological reactions. Enzymes are special proteins that allow reactions to proceed without themselves being used up. They are very specific, page 129 of your Biozone discusses this further.

The Cell Membrane - YouTube

The Cell Membrane - YouTube: ""

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Why Are Cells Small? - YouTube

Why Are Cells Small? - YouTube: ""

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A Tour of the Cell - YouTube

A Tour of the Cell - YouTube: ""

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Membranes & Transport: Crash Course Biology #5 - YouTube

In Da Club - Membranes & Transport: Crash Course Biology #5 - YouTube: ""

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Cell size and scale

Use this cool interactive tool to zoom in and look at how cells vary in shape and size, this makes a comparison to common small objects, organelles, viruses and tissue structures. Click here to find out more

Internal assessment resources

Have you ever visited the NZQA website? This link will take you to the assessment resources page where you will find information about the internal assessments. The most relevant section at the moment is probably the marking schedule for the ecological patterns investigations. Use this to help you to prepare for the assessment at the end of this term.

Creepy phagocytosis!

Check out the Neutrophil (a special white blood cell) gobbling up the bacterial cell in this short video. this happens as part of the immune response when cell membranes detect 'foreign' cells.

The second clip shows two PROTISTS (we will look at some of these under microscopes next week). The Amoeba is phagocytosing the Paramecium.

Amazing cells!! (great interactive resources)

Check out the following link to look at comparision of size between different cells, cell structures, bacteria, virus and molecules. This page (click here) also has a huge number of videos that will be useful to watch along side your BIOZONE activities.

ME Biology homework -
View A TOUR OF THE CELL and then view INSIDE THE CELL - click on the organelles of animal and plant cells to find out more about what they do.

Plant Cells video

Plant Cells: Crash Course Biology #6 - YouTube: ""

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Ecology Investigation

Have you chosen which native species you are going to research for your assessment?  By now you have covered the theory in class and you should be busy collecting articles and information so you have all the material you will need to write your reports.
One good way to get started could be to read the Wikipedia entry for your species. At the foot of the Wikipedia entry there is a list of references they have quoted. These references are a great starting point for your research. Please ask your teachers if you have any problems.

Photosynthesis Rap - YouTube

Photosynthesis Rap - YouTube:

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More Photos from Zealandia field trip

Zealandia field trip 2013

Reproductive strategies

In this clip Mr Anderson talks about two different reproductive strategies, R and K. After watching this clip, you should consider what does R stand for? What does K stand for? What does it mean by a continium? Think about our native species, what strategy do they follow in general? Compare with Introduced species? What impact will this have on populations of our native species?

Hutt Valley Science Student Day

YEAR 12 and 13 SCIENCE STUDENTS: THE HUTT VALLEY SCIENCE STUDENT DAY:

Friday 1 March Spells 1-4.

We have 7 invitations to the GNS Science Day. It’s a hands-on program of activities that include making your own icecream with liquid nitrogen, splitting the atom with ion guns and carbon policing the air. So if you are thinking you might study Science at tertiary level and could be keen to obtain future employment locally –this would be ideal for you. Sign up on the Science Department Noticeboard.

Ecosystem chains

What is ecosystem ecology? How does it differ to Population or Community ecology? Click here to find out more.
Energy efficiency? How does % energy flow decrease as you move up the trophic levels? Click here for further information

What is an ecological niche?

The following video clip from 'the virtual school' gives a good overview of what an ecological niche is and how we describe them. Click here to watch clip

Stoat killed by domestic cat

http://db.tt/KGbwRGxd

(warning realistic image)

2013 has begun

Dear Students

Welcome to level two Biology for 2013. Please make use of this blog during the year to follow up our in-class activities. In particular I would urge you to view the internet links for videos and online learning.

Regards
Mr Edwards