Prokaryote: Cells

In this picture are millions and millions of bacteria. No matter how much I clean the countertops, once an object or hand is placed on it, more bacteria live there. Bacteria is a prokaryote which are cells that do not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles. Prokaryotic cells are way smaller compared to eukaryotic cells, which are the cells in our body not on our body. Bacteria is on our skin every day, and although the term has a negative connotation, some bacteria are actually good for us. After all, it is believed that the earth started from a speck of dust that was a prokaryotic bacteria.

Pollen: Evolution

 

In this picture is pollen that got stuck to the ground because of juice or water. Pollen has been flying around because plants and flowers are blooming and they are ready to fertilize. Pollen is like a tiny grain inside id a seed plant which usually looks like dust. Each pollen grain is different, they very in shape and structure. Pollen is synthesized in the anther, in seed-bearing plants which is transported to another plant (flower) by wind water or insects (bees/birds) to the pistol where fertilization occurs.

Genetically modified organism: Genetics

In this picture is an egg carton full of "Jumbo Eggs". What are the size of normal eggs then? Today we live in a fast pace technology dependent civilization where people want the next big thing now. Our large corporations that feed our large demand are able to supply us with this due to the use of lipids. Millions of organisms are injected with steroids to make them bigger so that more of it can be used to sell to more than one person and profits can be made. Tomatoes, corn, apples, and livestock are injected to be genetically modified. It is sad because we are mutating the genes in these animals and food which has detrimental effects on us today. Each year the US is the home of more and more obese people, the USDA is the one to blame.

Detritivore: Ecology

In this picture is a snail! Snails are detritivores because they eat decaying food. A detritivore is a heterotrophic animal that feeds on dead material. You can see that the snail is near dead leaves that he may be munching on. This snail feeds on plant remains or the remains of small organisms. Snails contribute to the decomposition and nutrient cycle since detritivore is the same as a decomposer. Snails can live in any type of soil as well as marine environments.

AP Course

As an eleventh grader, this was my first year taking an advanced placement class. Taking an AP science course was not too bad because I enjoy science and am an inquisitive learner. Although the work got hectic sometimes with deadlines interfering with other classes, I managed to pull through. Taking AP biology impacted me as a learner because it made me become more of a risk taker. I am not afraid or hesitant about the pace or work load of next year, because I feel prepared, I just know that the content will be different and denser. I feel as though I am not afraid to challenge myself academically because I am familiar with college work the style of a class; so it all feels like beneficial preparation for the fall of 2014. For next year my goals in AP courses are to start my homework earlier and sit in front of the class, away from distractions. Sitting in front of you allowed me to block out the back of the class, and really have nothing to look at except you and the board - since I am a visual learner. What I will do differently next year is not give the teacher attitude, and I will seek more help.

Dominant vs Recessive: Genetics

This is a picture of my moms eye. She has green eyes which are a recessive trait. Eye color is a linked trait, so she might have gotten eye color and height together on one chromosome as a single gene. This picture relates to genetics because most people pass on the dominant eye color brown, to their offspring but my mother got green. I think she got green from her father, he had hazel eyes. My father has brown eyes and my brother and I got a mixture of these traits. My phenotype resembles the dominant trait: dark brown eyes. My little brothers eye color is light brown due to the green eye color trait.

Cellular Respiration: Evolution

This is a picture of a tree at night. This photo represents cellular respiration because there is no light. During the day, when the sun is out plants do photosynthesis to create their own energy to eat and give oxygen back to the earth, win the use of the suns energy. The suns energy helps them make glucose, but what happens when the sun  goes down? Trees and plants do cellular respiration to keep themselves alive and us too! During the night this tree cellular respiration happens in three main steps: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and electron transport. These three stages are evolutionary that a tree or anything as small as a four leaf clover can break dow sugars, go through fermentation, release CO2, ATP, and ultimately this energy is provided for themselves and oxygen for us.