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

Welcome to Biology at College Prep!

LEARNING is a PROCESS, NOT an EVENT!
Welcome to CPS Biology! We are genuinely looking forward to spending a fun and exciting year with all of you!

Though many people don't appreciate this, Biology is the most complex of scientific disciplines. Biological entities are marvels of complexity - they are composed of large, complicated molecules, some of which have amazing characteristics, such as the ability to replicate themselves! These complex molecules then come together in any of millions of possible combinations to undergo chemical reactions that we recognize as life processes. Fortunately we have one overarching idea that synthesizes all of the complexity we find in the biological world. This is the modern Theory of Evolution, stemming largely from the work of Charles Darwin. We will begin the semester with a consideration of Darwin's ideas to set the stage for the rest of the semester. At the end of the term, we will come back to the topic of evolution from a more modern perspective, armed with information about molecular genetics that were not available to Darwin and other earlier biologists.

Because Biology is so complex, it takes a lot of effort to really "get it." We know from experience that you cannot do this if you simply show up in class, listen to us talk for 45 minutes, and then forget about it all until the next day. When a question pops into your mind about what we've been talking about, jump online and see what Wiki or other references can tell you about the answers. Read over the articles and other resources we provide you with, and ponder how they tie in with class material. Talk to us! Send us emails. Talk to each other! Explain things to your parents!

So, your motto for this class is "Learning is a Process, Not an Event!" Don't treat this class as a daily "event" that you show up for and then forget about. Make it a part of how you look at the world. It'll be more fun and interesting if you're fully engaged with us and the material. Good luck!

FINAL EXAM TOPICS

These are the topics and chapters we’ve covered this spring. Review the online objectives and case studies from the biology website - major units- (http://faculty.college-prep.org/~bernie/introbioweb/index.html). You may prepare a 1-page Study Guide (8.5 x 11 front/back) to use on the day of the final exam.

•Format: 35 multiple choice questions (6 on ecology, 9 on plants, 20 on human physiology) / 1 Comprehensive Essay on human physiology

•For help, feel free to see shellem or Ms Doering. Good luck!

Ecology - Chapters 37, 38
Plants -Chapters 22,23,24

Nervous System - Chapter 34
Immune System - Chapter 33
Endocrine System - Chapter 35
Reproductive System - Chapter 36
Circulatory System - Chapter 29
Respiratory System - Chapter 30
Skeletal/Muscular System - Chapter 28
Digestive System - Chapter 31
Excretory System - Chapter 32

Good luck - see you Thursday June 9!
Final Exam Review Sheet

Jonna's sections: EPTAS after chapter 8

In Part Three of her book, High Tech, Dr. Sanders looks at how testing has changed how medicine is practiced. Please address both questions below by class time on Monday.

1. There are many different kinds of medical tests that were mentioned in this chapter; would you trust the results from all tests equally? Please explain with an example.
2. What point is she trying to make by focusing on Lyme disease?