The Obesity Epidemic

As we discuss nutrition and our digestive system here's something to think about: We love our bake sales and chocolate chip cookies but are we too fat?  Is the problem that we eat too much and exercise too little?  Is the mantra, "eat less, exercise more, everything in moderation" wrong?  Anna P forwarded me this interesting article that says it may be.  The article discusses the nutrient-hormone-fat interaction. Obesity Crisis  Check it out and let us know your thoughts? 

Plants, Squirrels, DNA and Jurrasic Park!

Interesting article on growing a plant from a fruit hidden by a squirrel 32,000 years ago!

New Life from Arctic Plant
The dinosaurs get your attention, don't they?!

Evolution of Plants

Here's a short video that gives you a nice overview of plant evolution
plant evolution

Are Kids with Down Syndrome on the Road to Extinction?

We've just finished hearing about human genetic disorders. For most of these there is actually minimal treatment options and only support groups for parents. Here's an interesting article on one of the most common genetic disorders - Are Kids With Down Syndrome on the Road to Extinction?
What are your thoughts?

Oral Presentation Scoring Guidelines

Cell Organelle Oral Presentations - 30pts total

Content (10pt max)

Complete, excellent, additional material discussed -10 pts

Complete, good but not excellent -8 pts

Textbook level, basic and satisfactory - 7 pts

Incomplete, but most items covered -6 pts

Substantially incomplete, poor -5 pts

Presentation (10pt max)

Exceptional, clear, concise, organized, effective use of time -10 pts

Clear, concise, organized but some areas rough -8 pts

Average presentation/organization, some parts unclear, timing okay -7 pts

Breaks in presentation, dull, disorganized such that ideas are unclear -6 pts

Poorly done, unprepared, chaotic, way too short or too long -5 pts

Model (10pt max)

Excellent design and materials, truly inspired -10 pts

Visually pleasing, generates some enthusiasm -8 pts

Somewhat engaging, design is average -7 pts

Dull, little effort beyond very basic -6 pts

Uninspired, does not communicate information correctly -5 pts

Preparing for Biology Drawing

When preparing drawing, use your test or other references to help you identify structures, but draw what you see; do not simply copy a stylized textbook illustration. Suppose, for instance, you wish to draw a cross-section of a Smilax root from a microscope slide (see Fig. 9.1 and the sample student drawings based on it in Fig. 9.2). You need not be an artist to render an accurate, detailed, and comprehensible illustration. Use pencil for your initial sketch and allow enough room to include sufficient detail. Label your diagram carefully and always print legibly; be sure to identify details using the correct terminology. Check that all lines pointing to particular structures are drawn unambiguously. Provide a legend so that you know exactly what is being represented; note the magnification for microscope drawings.


This was taken from the 4th edition of Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences by Victoria E. McMillan

Bugs and Barney!

Here's an interesting little article about capturing and killing a destructive beetle. How do you think natural selection might alter the current situation? An Insect's Weakness for Purple