Rosalind Franklin - Dark Lady of DNA

Here's the link to the NOVA program telling the story of Rosalind Franklin's key contribution to the discovery of the structure of DNA. Secret of Photo 51. Watson, Crick and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize for the structure of DNA in 1962. Rosalind Franklin died prematurely in 1958, should she have received the Nobel Prize along with Watson, Crick and Wilkins?

What should you know after each Human Genetics presentation?

What disease/condition is the group presenting on?

How is this disease transmitted/inherited?

How does the condition manifest in people? (Phenotypic expression)

What research is currently being done? (Mention several areas of study, go into some detail on one study)

What treatments or changes in life-style are currently used/recommended?

Human Genetic Disorders

A few useful websites on Human Genetic Disorders to help you get started:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genetic_disorders

http://www.genome.gov/10001204

http://www.ygyh.org/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim

Evoution of Earth's Atmosphere

From Science Daily:
The Earth is 4,500 million years old. Microbial life has probably thrived in the oceans for most of that time. However, until about 2,300 million years ago, the atmosphere contained only traces of oxygen. During that time, some microbes in the oceans likely produced oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. But the quantities they produced were insufficient to accumulate much in the atmosphere and oceans. The situation changed with the "Great Oxidation Event," 2,300 million years ago. Oxygen levels rose again around 550 million years ago. The first animals appear in the fossil record at this time, marking the beginning of an era that geologists call the "Phanerozoic."
Check out the article!

Osmosis Lab Data

Click here for all class data for osmosis lab.

Biologists on the verge of creating a new form of life!

As we begin the study of cells, read this interesting article. In particular, watch the video part way down the page - it's really cool, and relates to the possible origins of the first cells.

New study tracks human evolution - track your Y chromosomes guys

This is an interesting new look at human evolution - much previous work has focused on sequencing mitochondrial DNA, which is strictly maternally derived (the sperm doesn't donate mitochondria when it fertilizes the egg). This new study looks at the question of human origins from the Y chromosome point of view. Check it out!