Pig Dissection

Recently we dissected a fetal pig. Our class had grouped up in set of 2-3 students. We had a total of  5 fetal pigs. My group and I had decided to do group 2 which dissected the circulatory and respiratory system. In the circulatory system we found the heart, pericardial membrane, right ventricle, left ventricle, right atrium, left atrium, aortic arch, pulmonary artery, coronary artery, coronary vein, umbilical vein, and umbilical artery. In he respiratory system we learned the larynx trachea, diaphragm, lungs, pleural membrane, bronchi, and alveoli. Then group one dissected the external anatomy and the digestive system and group two dissected excretory and reproductive system. We went around the room and learned all the parts and then afterwards we were tested. It was a total of 64 parts and I missed one and that was the urethra in the excretory system so I got a total percentage of 98 which is really good.

The Circulatory and Respiratory system.

The Excretory and reproductive system

This is Ronald

 

The External and Digestive system 

 

Evolution Essay

Angel Lopez

05-15-14

1st Hour

Evolution Essay

There are many people that have different views and beliefs on evolution. Some tend to reply with the simple line of  “ I believe in science” while others say “ I believe in god” but what some people don’t understand that there are points on both sides.

The term evolution means the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of earth.  The ways that species adapt to specific habitats and ways of life can also be explained by evolution. There were many different theories from Lamarck, Darwin,

Early Theories

 Some of Charles Darwin ideas now might not make sense in our eyes but in his eyes at the time made all the sense in the world. His grandfather was Erasmus Darwin, he was one of the leading intellectuals of eighteenth century England. Darwin was only when he set out on a five year voyage in the ocean to study many diverse life forms.This is when he started to discover the changes in the different animals, one of them being the mockingjay. Darwin had come to the conclusion that the world was very old and species  arise and change which was the method by biological evolution. Darwin believed that an animal's environment resulted in the way they changed over time, they adapted to the way of life. Once they are able to adapt they pass along the trait and the generation so forth will change slightly.  An example being the Patagonian hare, Dolichotis patagonum. This animal had no native to rabbits,  but it has the face of a guinea pig and is native to South America.

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck had another theory which at the time was quite different that of what Darwins was. He was the first biologist to believe that evolution did occur, being older and having more experience; Lamarck had be the first to also link diversity with adaptation to the environment. Although during his lifetime his theories were often ignored or attacked. The study of invertebrates had been what Lamarck specialized in.  His first theory of evolution had been that life just  sort of appeared without coming from nonliving matter. The more research he obtained the more he had  to offer information. Lamarck had strongly supported the idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which was when the environment can bring about inherited change. An example is that a giraffe had started off with a short neck and with time it was longer because it had to constantly stretch to reach and eat food. They passed along their long necks to their offspring.  This was his most famous example.

There is microevolution is an evolution a small scale within a single population. There are different types of microevolution. An example is when brown beetles could have migrated with population of green beetles making the genes for brown beetles more frequent in green beetle population. Mutation could cause parents with genes for bright green coloration to have offspring with a gene for brown coloration, making the genes for brown coloration more frequent in the green population.Genetic Drift is the different chances you have in order to have offsprings, and the chances change from generation to generation. Natural Selection is when a selection of beetles (green) are easier to be seen by predators and they are eaten which lead to more brown beetles and the generation next with more brown beetles that before.

A fossil skeleton can tell us a lot about our past. Ardipithecus (Ardi)  is the name of a fossil skeleton found in Africa. It is 4.4 million year and lived well before the famous 3.2 million year old Lucy. They had suspected that it was an adult female who weighed about 120 pounds and stood four feet tall.  A lot of the body of Ardi had resembled the proportions of a distinct ape. Her feet had not developed the arch  like humans, her arms were long  with short legs,  and her hands were more like an apes. With this skeleton they were able to examine the changes that have taken place along the human lineage.

    There is a ton of information on evolution along with other information involving it. At the beginning I didn't know or understand much of what evolution was so I really hadn't believed in it but now I can say that I do in many ways. Over a period of time I have read quite a bit on fossil skeletons found and how they compared them to one another. Then they went on to compare them to apes, now I believe we did come from apes and over time we have changed. A human body has changed dramatically over time and with the new discoveries every so often we are learning more and more about our past. This can be quite interesting and convincing on my side.  In the end though I do believe in the religious views, I don't believe in just science in all of it.

My Sources

MaderSylviaS.Biology.NewYork:McGraw-Hill.2007.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/science/02fossil.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IVMicroevolution.shtml

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/evothought.html

Did Darwin Do It All?

EXPLORING THE ROOTS OF EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

Awareness of biological evolution emerged over centuries through the cumulative observations of many naturalists, biogeographers, comparative anatomists, and paleontologists. When Darwin and Wallace in the mid-1800s arrived at the idea of evolution by natural selection, they had been influenced not only by their own travels and observations, but also by the writings of many of their predecessors. Darwin's ideas were also influenced by his travels as a young naturalist on the H.M.S. Beagle. The islands he explored off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos, are hotbeds of evolutionary change. However, as you will see, Darwin did not entirely recognize the importance of these islands until after he returned from his voyage.

Activity

In this activity you will access the evolution section of the University of California's Museum of Paleontology to explore some of the roots of evolutionary biology. You will then visit the Why Files site to learn about Darwin's voyage to the Galapagos and the current state of these islands.

Part 1.

Use your browser to go to the "History of Evolutionary Thought" exhibit at the University of California Berkeley Museum of Paleontology at http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/evothought.html

Use the links in this section to learn about and briefly describe the background and scientific contribution of each of the following people:

1. Erasmus Darwin- Erasmus Darwin was the grandfather of Charles Darwin; he was a respected physician, a well known poet, philosopher, botanist and naturalist. He had formulated on one of the first formal theories of evolution in Zoonomia or The Laws of Organic Life. He was a well respected man who talked about how competition and sexual selection could cause changes in species.
2. Jean Baptiste Lamarck-(1744-1829) his theories were either ignored or attacked during his lifetime.Lamarck published a series of books on invertebrate zoology and paleontology. Today his name is associated with a discredited theory of hereditary, the inheritance of acquired traits. He was acknowledged as a great zoologist and as a forerunner of evolution by Charles Darwin, Lyell Haeckel, and many other evolutionists.

3. Georges Cuvier-(1769-1832)- he had processed one of the finest minds in history. In vertebrate and invertebrate zoology and paleontology, he contributed a large amount of research. It was Cuvier who firmly established the fact of the extinction of past life forms. He also wrote and lectured on the history of science.
4. Thomas Malthus-(1766-1834)- According to Malthus observation, plants and animals produce more offspring than can survive and that man two is capable of overproducing if left unchecked. He had a belief that God had ways in prevent men from being lazy. Malthus thought similar to China, which was for every family they only had one child.

Part 2.

Use your browser to go to the Why Files' "Treasures of Evolution Island" at http://whyfiles.org/125galapagos/index.html

Use the information from Sections 3 and 4 to answer the following questions:

1. What interesting evidence of geological change did Darwin observe while visiting the Galapagos?
Some interesting evidence of geological change that Darwin did observe while visiting the Galapagos
He observed that South America was rising from the ocean. There were rocks that were found in the water recently. He realized that the quakes had been the reason for the rising beaches. There were fossils founds that were related to living animals in the location.

2. What did Darwin learn about the Galapagos finches when he returned to England? What vital information had he neglected to record when he collected them?
Darwin learned about the Galapagos finches
Darwin neglected to record which came from where when he collected it, also he broke the species barriers.

3. Describe the distribution pattern of Galapagos mockingbirds. What question did this raise in Darwin's mind?
The question that arose in Darwin's mind was 'why do you have different species, when one species seems good for all the islands. Some distribution patterns were four species lived in similar patterns, numerous species lived on overlapping chunks of the terrain, three islands would house one species and one species lived on all the others.

Microevolution: Changes in Populations

Microevolution

PART 1: EVOLUTION 101

--Go to http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IVMicroevolution.shtml and proceed to the definition of microevolution page.

1. How do the authors of this page define microevolution?

They described microevolution as an evolution on a small scale within a single population

2. How do they define a population?

They described population as a group of organisms that interbreed with each other, that is they all share a gene pool.

--Read the section “Mechanisms of Microevolution”

3. Summarize each of the 4 mechanisms of microevolutionary change that are discussed.

Migration-brown beetles could have migrated with population of green beetles making the genes for brown beetles more frequent in green beetle population.
Mutation-could cause parents with genes for bright green coloration to have off spring with a gene for brown coloration, making the genes for brown coloration more frequent in the green population
Genetic Drift-the different chances you have in order to have off springs, and the chances change from generation to generation
Natural Selection- when a selection of beetles (green) are easier to be seen by predators and they are eaten which lead to more brown beetles and the generation next with more brown beetles that before.

--Under “Explore further” at the bottom of the page, click on “examples of microevolution” and read the examples provided.

4.  Summarize the 3 examples of microevolution on this page.

The Size of the Sparrow.
Coping with Global Warming
Building Resistance

--Go to the link “Artificial selection in the lab” and read about experiments with the evolution of guppies.

5. Summarize the results of the two different experiments (with and without predators).

When the guppies were in the present of the predators they would tend to blend in with their surrounding so they wouldn't be eaten. When there were no predators the male guppies would tend to stand out to attract the attention of females.

6. What types of selection were demonstrated in each experiment?  Are these experiments truly cases of artificial selection? Explain your answer.

The guppy selection in their surroundings!!! (questioning this)

PART 2: SEX AND THE SINGLE GUPPY

Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/sex/guppy/index.html

Use the simulation to test different hypotheses about why some guppies are very brightly colored even though that makes them easy for predators to find.

1. Why do some guppies tend to be drabber than others?

It all depends on their surroundings because they adapt to it.

1. Why do some guppies tend to be more colorful?

The bright colors tend to attract females.

1. What role does color play in guppy survival?

The brighter the guppies are the more they will attract a predator and if they are dab they won't easily find a mate. Although the chances of them getting eaten are less.
4. Explain the push and pull that the environment (including predators) has on the coloration of guppies in Endler’s pools.
Its pretty much the same answer as number three.

Genetic Engineering: Bacterial Transformation Lab

Transformation Lab

Procedure

1. Level one closed micro test tube +pGLO and another -pGLO. Label both tubes with your group's name. Place them in the foam tube rack.
2. Open the tubes and using a sterile transfer pipet, transfer 250us of transformation solution (CaCi2).
3. Place the tubes on ice.
4. Use a sterile loop to pick up a single colony of bacteria from you starter plate. Pick up the +pGLO tube and immerse the loop into the transformation solution at the bottom of the tube. Spin the loop between your index finger and thumb until the entire colony is dispersed in the transformation solution (with no floating chunks). Place the tube back in the tube rack in the ice. Using a new sterile look. repeat for the +pGLO
5. Examine the pGLO plasmid DNA solution with the UV lamp. Note your observations. Immerse a new sterile loop into the plasmid DNA stock tube. Withdraw a lapful. There should be a film of plasmid solutions a cross the ring. This is similar to seeing a soapy film across a ring for blowing soap bubbles. Mix the lapful into the cell suspension of the +pGLO tube. close the tube and return it to the rack on ice. Also close the -pGLO tube. Why not?
6. Incubate the tubes on ice for 10 minutes. Make surety push the tubes all the way down in the rock so the bottom of the tubes stick out and make contact with ice. 
7. While the tubes are sitting on ice, label your four agar plates on the bottom as follows: Label one LB/amp plate:+pGLO Label the LB/amp/ara plate: +pGLO; Label the LB plate: _pGLO.
8. Heat shock. Using the foam rack as a holder, transfer both the (+) pGLO and (-) pGLO tubes into the water bath, set at 42 degrees Celsius, for exactly 50 seconds. Make sure to push the tubes all the way down in the rack so the bottom of the tubes stick out and make contact with the warm water. When the 50 seconds are done, place both tubes back on ice. For the best transformation results, the change from the ice (0 degrees Celsius) to 42 degrees Celsius  and then back to the ice must be rapid. Incubate tubes on ice for 2 minutes.
9. Remove the rack containing the tubes from the ice and place on the bench top. Open a tube and using a new sterile pipet, add 250 ul of LB nutrient broth to the tube and reclose it. Repeat with a new sterile pipet for the other tube. Incubate the tubes for 10 minutes at room temperature.
10. Tap the closed tubes with your finger to mix. Using a new sterile pipe for each tube, pipet 100 ul of the transformation and control suspensions onto the appropriate plates.
11. Use a new sterile loop for each plate. Spread the suspensions evenly around the surface of agar by quickly skating the flat surface of a new sterile loop back and for across the plate surface.
12. Stack up your plates and tape them together. Put your group name and class period on the bottom of the stack and place the stack upside down in the 37 degree Celsius incubator until the next day.

Observation
So in the end we had plates that we observed.  None of the bacteria grew but one of them was killed. The color of the bacteria was neon green.

Gel electrophoresis

Procedure 

1. First we had to make the gel substance. By doing so we had to measure the amount of agarose (gel stuff0 about three grams then add it to water. We mixed the water up and put it in the microwave to heat it up. It was just like jell-o, in order for it to become a gel substance it had to be heated up. So after it was heated we added it to the trays and let it sit there over night. Once we came back to school the next day we were able to actually start the project. There were multiple stations and we split up in to different groups. There were many tools that were sterile. So we grabbed a pipette and measured the right about of substance and put it in the little squares in the gel. While doing this we had to make sure we didn't go through the gel otherwise it would make a mess. Once you knew you were in the gel you would press down and the substance would release. This was kind of a ruff process. Afterwards we put the lid on and hooked it up to the gel electrophoresis (gel rig). We left it going for about 45 minutes.
So in the end they liquid dyes had spread out and some of them had reacted differently because the mixtures had been different.
There are pictures of the different steps I had went through and the reactions the had happened. While putting the dye I had difficulties of not going through the gel and on some of them I had. In the pictures you will see how it spread out.

DNA Detective Work

DNA DETECTIVE WORK

Unless you have a twin, no one in the world has a DNA sequence identical to yours. Although 99 percent of the DNA is the same in all humans, certain segments vary widely. Differences in these segments are detected through DNA fingerprinting. A small amount of tissue, such as blood, hair, or semen, is all that is needed to create a DNA fingerprint. The sample is cut up using enzymes and the segments are separated by size through gel electrophoresis. DNA is made visible either with radioactive probes or by staining. This reveals a pattern of bars: the DNA fingerprint. If the two DNA fingerprints match, they probably came from the same person. If they don't match, they certainly came from different individuals. In recent years, a number of people convicted of crimes have been exonerated based on DNA evidence.

Activity

In this exercise, you will learn the basics of DNA fingerprinting and consider the use of DNA in criminal investigations.

Part 1.

Use your browser to go to NOVA’s web site about “Killers Trail,”  the story behind the man who inspired the Fugitive TV series and later the movie version starring Harrison Ford:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/

Click on the “Chronology of a Murder” section and read about the events that led up to the murder trial of Dr. Sam Sheppard.

1. In your opinion, what role (if any) did newspaper stories and editorials have in the outcome of the original trial of Dr. Sam Sheppard?

So in my opinion, they have a huge a effect because the people believed what was put in the newspaper even if it wasn't true.

Go back to the Killers Trail homepage and select ”Create a DNA Fingerprint.”

Read about the crime and the suspects then go on to part 2. Answer the following questions about the technique as you go through the simulation:

2. What is the function of the restriction enzymes in DNA fingerprinting?

The function of the restriction enzymes in DNA fingerprinting, they work similar to scissors that cut across long DNA molecules at different locations.

3. What is the function of  the agarose gel electrophoresis step?

The function of the agarose gel electrophoresis step is that its a gel jell-o like substance that will act like a molecule strainer that allows tinier pieces of DNA to move through more easier than larger pieces.

4. Why is a nylon membrane used to blot the DNA?

Nylon membrane is used to blot the DNA because DNA transfers to the nylon.

5. What does a dark spot on the X-ray film indicate?

A dark spot on the x-ray film indicates the radioactivity from the probes.

Part 2.

Use your browser to go to Frontline's "What Jennifer Saw" at

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dna/.

The material on this site is about a man convicted of rape but later exonerated by DNA evidence. To read a summary of the case, choose the link to Ronald Cotton's wrongful conviction, then choose "Summary of Cotton's Case."

In the interviews section, read the interviews with DNA expert Peter Neufeld and lawyer Barry Scheck.

Answer the following questions:

6. What evidence was initially used to convict Cotton?

The evidence that was initially used to convict cotton was a flashlight that resembled the one used by the assailant and the rubber of the tennis shoes which was consistent with the rubber found at one of the crime scenes.

7. What did the DNA evidence show?

The DNA evidence showed no match to cotton. The results matched a convicted felon who had confessed to a crime earlier.

8. How could DNA fingerprinting be used to prevent a false conviction if a case like this was being tried today?

The DNA fingerprinting could be used to convict false convictions today by getting the correct results from evidence found on the crime scenes and match to the correct DNA from the convict.

9. What percentage of convicts are unjustly convicted of sexual assault cases, according to Neufeld and Scheck?

The percentage of convicts that are unjustly convicted of sexual assault cases is 15 percent.

10. The O.J. Simpson trial was one of the most visible trials that attempted to use DNA evidence.  In the end, the DNA evidence was not satisfying to the jury, who acquitted Simpson.  What do Neufeld and Scheck believe about the impact of the O.J. Simpson trial on the use of DNA evidence?

Neufeld and Scheck believed that the case had a lot of potential from when it had first started. Neufeld said they have to be very rigorous in the kinds controls that they exert when they utilize this tremendously powerful new technology to make sure that it's used wisely and cautiously. So the OJ trial had a big impact they believe from where DNA evidence started.

DNA Extraction Lab

Procedure:
1. Place 1 gram of raw wheat germ in a 50 ml test tube
2. Add 20 ml of hot (50-60 Celsius Degrees) tap water and mix constantly for three minutes.
3. Add 1 ml or a scant 1/4 teaspoon of detergent and mix gently every minute for 5 minutes. Try not           to create foam.
4.  Us an eye dropper, pipette, or piece of paper towel to remove any foam from the top of the solution.
5 Tilt the test tube at an angle. Slowly pout 14 ml of alcohol down the side so that it forms a layer on top of the water wheat germ/ detergent solution. Do not ix the two layers together . DNA precipitates at the water- alcohol interface (the boundary between the water and the alcohol). Therefore, it is crucial to pour the alcohol very slowly so that it forms a layer on top of the water solution. If the alcohol mixes with the water, it will become too dilute and the DNA will not precipitate.
6. Let the test tube sit for a few minutes. White, stringy, filmy DNA will begin to appear where the water and alcohol meet. You will usually see DNA precipitating from the solution at the water-alcohol interface as soon as you pour in the alcohol. If you let the preparation sit for 15 minutes or so, the DNA will float to the top of the alcohol.
7. Use a glass or a paper clip hook or a wooden stick to collect the DNA.
Observation
This is when I added alcohol and it didn't mix.

Models of DNA Structure

So my group and I created a structure of DNA on the white bored and took a picture of it. We had decided to do it differently than everyone else's. Then we answers some questions about the structure of DNA and how it kind of works.

 

Old school DNA sequencing: Sanger method

So there are many ways that you are able to record DNA. This one was the old way, which was quite difficult to do with out getting confused a little or lost with the multiple lines of coding. Back then they didn't have computer to do them automatically like we do now. I had to read the bottom to the top and make sure it was all done correctly otherwise I would either have to many letters or not enough.

From DNA to Proteins: Central Dogma Vocabulary

I created a Popplet with definitions to show the definitions and that I was able to understand them.
http://popplet.com/app/#/1781706 If you go here, it will take you to the popplet.

GATTACA Reflection Questions

Questions about GATTACA!

Choose several of the following questions to discuss in a blog post reflection on the movie GATTACA. This reflection might be used as an artifact on your portfolio page 4 and could help demonstrate your awareness of the effects of science and technology upon society.

1. The following terms were used in the movie. How do they relate to the words we use: degenerate and invalid?

        De-gene-erate

        In-valid

        Borrowed Ladder

2. Why do you think Vincent left his family, tearing his picture out of the family photo, after winning the swimming race against his brother?

So I thin Vincent left his family because they didn't support him in his dream, they thought he could never do it because he was invalid.

3. Describe the relationship between Vincent and Anton.

The relationship between Vincent and Anton is kind of difficult at times because Anton was the perfect child while Vincent was invalid. Vincent and Anton competed in swimming the furthest and every time Anton won until the last time they swam and Vincent won. In the end they still were brothers and loved one another.

4. When Jerome Morrow said to Vincent/Jerome, “They’re not looking for you. When they look at you, they only see me,” what did he mean? Can you find any parallels to this type of situation in real life?

When Jerome said that to Vincent, he meant that they don't see beyond what his information his because his information says it all. It's like what people say it's not what is on the outside but what is on the inside.

5. Choose your favorite character from the film. Explain why you choose that person. Would you want to be that person? Why? Why not?

My favorite character had to be Vincent because even when people told him he could never go to outer space he never listened but instead strived to be better and live his dream. Even though he was invalid he accomplished more than anyone could dream and he strove so hard to be better. Although I would never want to be him because those aren't my dreams at all.

6. At the end of the film, you are told that the Doctor knew about Vincent all along. Why did the Doctor go along with the fraud? What would you have done if you were the Doctor?

So in the end the doctor did knew about Vincent all along but he went along with it all this time because he to had a son with dream and problems. His son had looked up to Vincent and the doctor knew how hard he worked to get to where he was. If I were to be in the same situation as the doctor I would help Vincent accomplish his dream. I would not want to be the one to destroy his dreams. He was not causing anyone problems or putting anyone in dangerous situation because he was able to control himself.

7. The technology to do what was done in the movie is definitely possible within the next ten years. Do you think that Vincent’s world could eventually happen in America? Why?

I do think that Vincent's world could eventually happen in America because everyday in America there are people working to improve our technology. Every year the improvement to our technology is tremendous.

8. What do you think is wrong with the society portrayed in "GATTACA"? What is right?

The society in GATTACA is portrayed as the perfect people could accomplish anything they wanted to because they were not messed up or had a disease. The people who were sick or had some type of disease were automatically put at the bottom and kind of looked down upon. Vincent had a heart disease and because of that he wasn't allowed to do much. I thought of this to be very wrong because the dreams of many people were taken away without even having a fighting chance to them.

9. What were the screenwriters trying to tell us through the episode of the 12-fingered pianist? Is anything wrong with engineering children to have 12 fingers if, as a result, they will be able to make extraordinarily beautiful music?

The screen writers were trying to tell us that you can have a child with any feature or can do anything by putting the right gene together that you want them to have. I truly think that having twelve fingers is wrong just to make extraordinary music. We are not mean to have twelve fingers only ten, even if the parent want that they should not be able to go through with it.

10. You and your spouse are having a child and are at the Genetic Clinic pictured in the movie. What characteristics would you want for your child and what would you ask to be excluded? Why would you make those choices?

  If me and my spouse were to have children and go to the Genetic Clinic like in the movie, all I would ask is to have a healthy child that resembled both my spouse and I. I would love for them to play sports but I would not want them to be made for them because I would rather them make their own choices rather than them having to live up to a picture perfect future. It's not right!

11. Picture yourself as either Vincent, Jerome, or Anton. Would you have acted the same or done things differently if you were in the same world as them?

If I were to be in the same situation as Vincent and Jerome then I would do the same thing because I would want to prove everyone wrong on what they think and believe. Just because something is wrong with you doesn't mean you have to revolve your world around it.

12. How does the society portrayed in GATTACA resemble the type of society that some Americans were hoping for during the height of the Eugenics movement?

The society in GATTACA is resembled to stop all of the bad characteristics that kids can have. The healthy people or kind of put on a pedal stool while the sick or not healthiest people or put down at the bottom. They believe that only the healthy people can do stuff while the unhealthy are a inconvenience.