A Letter to Aspiring AP Biology Students

Dear Aspiring AP Biology Student,

If you are reading this, then congratulations!  You are working on one of the first of many summer assignments required to complete before school starts next fall.  Now if you are reading this, and considering dropping the class because of the summer assignment...DO NOT DROP THE CLASS.  You signed up for this class because you had interest in biology, don't let a summer assignment discourage you.  We all have to complete them and honestly I enjoyed them.  I enjoyed learning some background knowledge before I got into class to help prepare me.

...if you believe me when I say the summer assignment is not that bad you can skip this paragraph, but if you are still not convinced...keep reading!  I know that packet looks really scary...it's like six pages of four large assignments that consist of 50+ vocabulary terms and essays and maybe some things that you would rather be out swimming in Lake Michigan than doing.  You have 3. Whole. Months.  Don't get overwhelmed (hint: that is one of the many skills you will learn when you take this class).  I know there is a lot but if you space it out over your summer, you will have more than enough time to complete the work!  So time is definitely in your favor while completing this assignment...and if you are worried that you won't know how to complete an assignment or if you have a question..."and it's summer and I won't be able to talk to my teacher..."STOP.  Don't even think that.  Mr. Landry is always available to answer questions via Twitter, Facebook, and email.  So no excuses or worries there!  Just do the work and you will definitely be rewarded.

So now that we have the summer assignment out of the way, now we can focus on bigger mattes! (yeah, you think the summer assignment is big...think again :) )  I don't say that to scare you...but to inform you ;) You will be doing a few major lab write ups (if you have any questions on format talk to Mrs. Ritter or Mr. Landry) and a lot of outside of class work.  You won't get a lot of "this paper is due tomorrow" homework, but there will be assignments that are turned in when the test day is (Landry might change this, but for class of 2014 this is how it went).  Again, Mr. Landry gives out a lot of material, but he also gives you plenty of time to do the assignments, so have no fear!

Another important thing to note is that Mr. Landry !!!OFFERS EXTRA CREDIT FOR EACH UNIT!!!  I cannot tell you enough how important those extra credit assignment are!  For our class, each unit there were extra credit reading packets for each chapter.  So what you do is you use that 5 lb. beast of a book and read through the chapter and fill out the packet.  Now these packets can be as long as 10 pages and as short as 4.  AGAIN, DON'T GET OVERWHEELMED!  These packets do a great job at getting you used to reading and comprehending material.  Not only are they a source for a few extra points here and there, but they are a wonderful studying tool that you should take full advantage of!  That is some advice that former student gave me, and I found it very useful!

I know by now you are probable thinking, "Great...this class is gonna be so much work..." It's is so much more than just notes, worksheet, test.  Mr. Landry does a great job at group discussions that involve a deeper understanding of the material given.  We also do great interactive labs that help us to experience first hand the concepts we are learning about.  I know sometimes for me, studying cells and diffusion seem like such distant concepts because I don't get to see cells perform this process...so we did a lab for it :)  That allowed me to really see what happens on a cellular level.  I can promise you that you will never be bored in this class.  Biology (and anatomy) is the one class where it applies to every single person in the world!  Biology is the study of life!  LIFE IS AMAZING! and to have the opportunity to learn about the world around us and how it works should give you goose bumps! I know I get goose bumps thinking about the vastness of the world around me and how there is infinite knowledge to learn and further understand. 

If you haven't noticed...I like biology...like I really, really, really, really, really, really love biology.  It has been one of my most favorite classes in all of high school!  I think that it is definitely a challenging class, but a manageable one.  It taught me how to manage my time wisely to complete all of the extra credit and study guides.  Biology has taught me to use a calendar to keep track of assignments that need to be completed before a class day (sometimes we will watch a video on the blog before class).  I have also learned how to think critically about the world around me and how various systems interact with one another to make the world...the world.  If you work hard, stay focused, and keep your eye on the prize that is knowledge you will do well in this class.

I know that was a lot...but I hope you learned something through reading all of my excited nerd talk :)  I hope that you stick to AP Biology like I did.  I know if you do you will see the benefits.

#ThankyouMrLandryforeverything
#CellSlayersforLife
#BioStyle
#nerdstatus


...and with that I say farewell to AP Biology... :(

Good Luck Aspiring AP Biology Student, I know you will succeed!


Em

Goodbye AP Biology

AP Biology: One of my favorite classes of all time

Wow... it's hard to believe that AP biology is almost over.  It seems like only yesterday I was sitting at my computer typing out my first blog entry (I thought I was so cool).  I'll never forget those two trips to the zoo looking for an example of a heterotroph and an animal with a two chambered heart.  I also found one of my favorite books of all time that summer while doing an extra credit reading assignment.  Our first weeks of biology, I remember we were studying ecology and talking about the biodiversity of life.  We've come a long way since then. :)  Together our class discussed human stupidity and talked about things we need to change.  From ecology to evolution, we talked about Darwin and his theories.  We talked about species and natural selection.  I will forever know how to do a Punnett Square and solve a Hardy-Weinberg Problem.  I have also learned about cell structure and membranes and phospholipids and that the nucleus is not the most important organelle!  I really enjoyed learning about diffusion and osmosis in a whole new light because they are not the same :)  I really enjoyed the cell unit, because it amazes me that our bodies are made up of these tiny little cells that work together to give me the ability to do anything.  We ended the year talking about various concepts that would be on the AP test and I had an especially great time making cupcakes for the functional groups :)  

This class was so beneficial to me!  I would definitely recommend this class to anybody and everybody who isn't afraid to work hard and be challenged.  This was a wonderful class that I learned so much in!  I was really able to understand a wide range of concepts while studying for the AP test especially.  Oh! and just because this was an AP class, do not let that scare you!  Mr. Landry is one of the best teachers at Sparta High School and will help you do well in this class!  I could talk all day about how beneficial this class has been.  During my senior year I took two college classes: anatomy & physiology and principles of  chemistry.  AP biology was a perfect combination of anatomy & physiology, chemistry, and biology.  I feel so prepared for college and I am so excited to be going into the science field!  I am so glad I took AP biology.  It was the best class decision I have ever made.

So I guess this is it...my how the time has flied.  I guess the last thing there is to say is don't give up on anything that you care about, because anything that is important is going to take some work but you will make it :)

Have a great summer y'all :)

~Em  

My Favorite Organelles are the...

Lysosomes

These organelles are probably the coolest of all the organelles in your body. Yeah, the ribosomes that make the proteins that do everything are important, the nucleus that stores all the DNA is important, the mighty mitochondria that makes energy for the whole cell is important,  because they all keep the cell alive...but what about the other part of life?  Death.  Death is an important part of life that sometimes gets looked over. In fact, death is essential to life (kind of an oxymoron, I know), but it is true, especially on a microscopic level.

What happens when after the cell has a "big dinner" and needs to digest all that "food"?  Who does the cell call?  Lysosomes.  What if something goes wrong in the cell and there is no hope for recovery? Who does the cell call? Lysosomes. What if there is something that needs to be disposed of? Who does the cell call? Lysosomes. What happens when there are some big molecules and compounds and they need to be digested? Who does the cell call? Lysosomes. Who has the power to sacrifice? That's right the lysosomes. So much power in one little organelle... 


http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/lysosomes/lysosomes.html


The lysosomes are made in the Golgi Apparatus. They have a plasma membrane lipid bilayer and contain a hydrolytic enzyme mixture that is used to break down the molecules that it needs to. ( Credit ) There is an estimated number of how many of these organelles are in an average cell, but the number cannot really be defined because there are so many different types of cells.  Even though there are many types of cells, we can "ballpark-it" and say that are dozens of lysosomes in an average cell. ( Credit )

Even though these little organelles can do a lot of good for the human body, but if they aren't working correctly, they can cause a lot of problems called lysosomal storage disorders. Some of these disorders are Acid Maltase Deficiency, Gaucher's Disease, and Tay-Sachs Disease. All of these diseases/disorders are genetic, "where the lack of specific acid enzyme creates a build-up of molecules that would normally be digested by the lysosomes within the cell" ( Credit ). The buildup of those molecules can lead to some very serious problems in organs and the nervous system.


I guess I chose the lysosome over any other organelle is because the lysosomes are still kind of a mystery.  I think it's cool that we don't know that much about lysosomes.  The only thing we really know about them is that they have some pretty powerful enzymes inside them that can break down pretty much anything.  That's another reason why I like them too; they are powerful.  They have the power to not destroy, but to sacrifice a cell for the greater good of the organism that they make up.  They have the power to save.  To me, that is the most amazing thing that a cell can do.


Thanks for reading!
~Em




P.S


Here are my sources that I used in this blog entry!


http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/lysosomes/images/lysosomesfigure1.jpg

http://faculty.muhs.edu/klestinski/cellcity/lysosomedata.htm

http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_golgi.html


http://www.numberof.net/number%C2%A0of%C2%A0lysosomes%C2%A0in%C2%A0a%C2%A0cell/

A Survey of Human Stupidity: Deforestation

A human being by definition is "a person, especially as distinguished from other animals or as representing the human species..."  This means that as human beings, we are set apart from the animals in the world.  In my opinion, I believe that this means we have power over the animal kingdom and in return are supposed to care for it.  To protect the animal kingdom, we must first protect the environment they live in.  This also means we need to protect the autotrophs and flora that make up the lowest level of the food chain.  If we are cutting out the lowest level of the food chain, we are cutting out the rest of the animal kingdom and in the end, ourselves.

Forests cover about 30% of the world’s land area and at the current rate of deforestation; the forests could be gone in a hundred years according to National Geographic.  There are many reasons for deforestation but in the end, money is the biggest factor.  Deforestation has many impacts on the environment, the biggest being the, "...loss of habitat for millions of species.  Seventy percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and many cannot survive the deforestation that destroys their homes."  These shocking statistics come from National Geographic and show that if we don't do something about deforestation, we could potentially not only lose all of our forests, but 70% of all the animals and plants that live there.

In my opinion, human impacts all affect each other.  This means if you help one, you can help them all.  For instance, if we recycle more of our paper products there won't be the need to cut down as many trees.  If the trees stay, then there will be more protection for the animals that are going towards extinction.  If the forests are cut down, the animal being poached are forced to live in the new boundaries of the forest.  With smaller forest boundaries, it is easier for poachers to trap and kill their desired prey aiding in the animals extinction. There is also the issue of global warming and climate change.  With the large amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, there are not enough autotrophs to perform photosynthesis to convert CO2 back into oxygen. There is so much more to recycling as well.  If we can reuse, there will also be a decrease in pollution in the air and on the land.  Plants cannot grow under certain pH levels that can be affected by the garbage that seeps into the ground.  As you can see, by doing things like reduce, reuse, recycle we can change more than just deforestation but human impacts as a whole.

We have the power to change the world!  The question we must ask ourselves, is how we are going to change it and what is it going to cost us?

Thanks for reading!

~Em

P.S.

Here is YouTube video showing a time lapse of deforestation!

Here are the links to the sites I used:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/human+being?s=t&ld=1172

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEQQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcwmi.css.cornell.edu%2Fsourcesandimpacts.pdf&ei=bhRcUuvjLaXYyQHE34CYDg&usg=AFQjCNG0PqBLvfdTbU_a7zZo9CzKiFH-tQ&sig2=R1ZgTZ5b-kJrZ2qWbcnHKg 

SPARTA HOMECOMING!

 

This past week, Sparta Spartans have had their annual homecoming events.  It is the time of year for a week filled of fun and ending with a lot of school spirit.  This year our theme was decades!  The Seniors got the 80's, Juniors got the Roaring 20's, Sophomores go the 70's, and the Freshman got the 90's.  There are so many amazing things that go into Sparta's homecoming, it is almost impossible to fit all of the good times into one post, but I will try :) 

During the week of homecoming there are dress-up days: Monday is dress up from a decade day, Tuesday is crazy hair day, Wednesday is PJ day, Thursday, twin day, and Friday is class color day.  Friday has to be my favorite day of the week.  It is a day full of games, from the caterpillar to the orange pass, it is a great day!  It is Friday when all of the speeches are given from the homecoming court and the king and queen are announced at the game that night.  We also do a class dance called Mock Rock every year along with float building.  We also do a can food drive along with penny a point which is donated to charity. 

Mock Rock has been one of my favoirte parts of homecoming since I was a sophomore.  As you know, I am a dancer and love an opprotunity to dance and have fun with my classmates.  Mock Rock has allowed me to get involved in my school and get to know my peers better.  This years Mock Rock was a lot of fun when we danced to Michael Jackson's, "Thriller".  We also finished off the dance with Journey's, "Don't Stop Believin'".  I have had a blast working on Mock Rock for the past three years!

Another part of homecoming I look forward to is, of course, the football game!  I love the feeling of community you get at a Sparta football team.  There is a feeling of unity and pride when you are sitting in the bleachers cheering on your team to victory.  Sparta did win their homecoming game 41 to 14!  I am so proud of our football team!

I have to say the best part of homecoming has to be the dance.  Getting a dress, doing your hair, going to dinner, and having fun with friends are some of my favorite things to do :)  I love dancing with all of my friends and having a good time.  I don't always get the chance to hang out outside of ballet, but homecoming is one of the few times in the year I can get dressed up and dance for fun! :)

It's so hard to believe that this year was my last homecoming and that a year from now I will no longer be a student at Sparta High School.  I know that next year I won't be attending Sparta Area Schools anymore, but I will always be a Spartan and I will always have my Spartan Pride! :)

HAPPY HOMECOMING
~Em

First Entry! :)

Welcome to my AP Biology Blog!  My name is Emily and I am a ballerina.  I am a part of a junior company, which means I am dancing 6 days a week.  I have danced many different roles, my favorite has to be "the Witch" in Snow White.  There is just something about dancing that makes me so happy.  For a moment you get to be on stage and tell a story, be an inspiration to someone watching.  Besides dance, I love science and I want to do cancer research for my career.  I have been affected by cancer through family members and friends.  I feel that cancer is something that needs to be stopped, and I want to be the one to help make that happen. 
I am taking AP Biology because I love science!  I loved biology and chemistry and I really wanted to dig deeper into my field of study.  I hope to get a better understanding of biology on a more detailed level.  I want to dive right into biology.  It is so interesting, I love it!
On a final note, thank you to all of the past AP biology students for your advice!  It really helped put this class into perspective.  I will also have a good idea of what I'm getting myself into.  With this summer assignment and your advice I know I will feel confident walking into AP Biology on my first day!
Have a fantastic summer!
Em