You got back your review packet today. Please study for the final exam on plants (Monday 6/11). I wish you all good luck and I hope you have an fantastic summer!  See you soon.

Today was the Q4 retake. Hopefully you improved your grade. If you did not complete the IR in class for 25.1 and 25.2, please complete it tonight.
The warm-up quiz is tomorrow. If you are absent, please come take it during A lunch Thursday.

Today we took notes on chapter 24 section 3 and you completed an IR in class. If for some reason you talked, instead of working in class today, then please finish this tonight.
4th Q retake tomorrow
Wed June 6- Warm up quiz (Please know what grade you want to replace.)
Monday June 11- Plant Test (Exam)

If you are absent you must make these up the next day during lunch.

Transport

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Today we reviewed stems, root and leaves which is section 24.2 in the textbook. In class you were given time to outline 24.4 and do the chapter review pg. 593 3-23. What ever you did not complete is homework. We are almost done!
4th Q retake Tuesday in class
Final exam on Plants Friday 6/8

You should have completed and turned in the outline for chapter 24.1 on Plant Tissue. For homework yo need to complete the IR on Flowering Plants. This was the one section from Chapter 23 that we are covering. We will cover all of Chapter 24.

Today we reviewed the IR on plant tissue and we took notes on plants. The notes are below.

Chapter23 section01 edit

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We finished the movie early today so we went ahead and started chpt. 23.4 today.

Everyone needs to finish the Chapter 23 section 4 outline and be sure to include the diagram on page 560. You need to label the parts of the flower.

I hope you scored advanced on your HSA if you took it yesterday. It looked like all of you were doing a great job.
Today the 10th graders reviewed for their HSA, which is on Thursday, and 9th graders watched a movie. Tomorrow you will finish the movie and 10th grades will continue to review.
Friday we will start a new unit on plants. There will be no homework all week and probably no additional posts this week on the homework site either. The next posting will be powerpoint notes....Most likely Friday.

Please study your HSA review packet tonight.

Please finish the HSA review packet tonight. Only about half of every class did the HSA homework last night. Sadly, 5 people failed BM 4, which is an old HSA! I hate to think that anyone in an honor's biology class even has a chance to fail the HSA. A handful of you need to seriously buckle down and get studying. Most of you are doing a great job and I want you to score advanced on the HSA. I have given you so many tools this year to study from AND you have an awesome review packet with notes at the end.

Tonight complete pages 2-5 (through protein synthesis #17), in your HSA review packet.
 Please study the review notes at the end of the packet. They are VERY helpful in summarizing up main topics we covered this year.

Today you took Benchmark 4. This is actually an old public release of an HSA, so it is a good indicator of how you may do on the HSA. We will continue to review all week for our HSA which is next Monday for all you freshman and Thursday for sophomores.

Tonight finish page 1 (front and back) and page 2 (front, cell organelle chart) for homework.

We started reviewing for BM4 today. I have attached the notes below. We will continue this tomorrow. If you are on the Six Flags trip you can get the notes you miss tomorrow from the notes below.

Benchmark 4 review

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No homework tonight!

Tomorrow we begin the task of full blown HSA review!!! What fun we will have for the next several days. Your HSA is May 21 (freshmen), May 24th (sophmores). Please start reviewing...Look over Osmosis, DNA/Protein synthesis, Genetics....just for starters.

Review your worksheets to prepare for the Unit Ecology Test this Wednesday.
Start reviewing all the topics you have learned! The HSA is fast approaching....We will start to review Thursday.

Most of you did pretty well on the computerized practice HSA. It is not a really good indicator of how you will do on the real HSA because many of the questions on it, were repeated from previous tests. It did show you what your screen will look like during testing, so that was nice.
Make sure you read the handouts of Human Impact and answer the questions in the packet that you received after the HSA quiz today.
Monay we will review human impact. Tuesday is the test review, and Wednesday is the Unit ecology Test.

We reviewed succession today and covered cycles.  Make sure that look over the cycle information. There will be at least 1-2 questions on the HSA about cycles (water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous).
Complete the questions on the back on the cycle graphic organizer if you did not do that already in class today.
Tomorrow- Media center to practice an on line HSA.
May 9 (wed) Ecology Unit Test
Monday May 14- Benchmark 4- it is cumulative
Monday May 21 HSA 9th grades
Thursday May 24th - HSA 10th graders

Today you took the quiz on ecology. They will not be in until late today or tomorrow. They take a lot of time to grade.
After the quiz you outlined the section on cycles in your textbook. Pg. 90-93. Then you completed pg. 93 1-6. Be sure to use complete sentences to restate the question or write the question to earn full credit.

Tomorrow we will review succession and cycles. Like I said in class, you are going to be so busy up until the HSA. You will have homework every night.  We will have a nice break after the HSA.

 Keep up the great work and remember, you want to score ADVANCED on the HSA when you are an honors student, not just an average passing score.

Succession was introduced in class today. Make sure that you understand the difference between primary succession, secondary succession and a climax community. These are pretty easy concepts, but you have to take the time to read the packet. Also, complete the book work that you started in class.
I imagine that most of you finished it.
Although I was not in school today, you still have the quiz tomorrow. Succession will not be on the quiz. See you tomorrow!

Today you watched a clip on symbiotic relationships. That was followed up with the IR for relationships and an article on Cowbirds. they have a unique parasitic relationship with another bird. Most people do not realize that this is actually a parasite host relationship. If you read this, now you too, know.

Finish both of those worksheets for tomorrow. You had about 20 minutes in class to get started, so hopefully you have finished them both.

Tomorrow you will begin succession. This will not be on the quiz.  We have a SUPER busy next 3 weeks. Please start studying for the HSA. Also, go to the MSDE website and search for Biology Public release. There are at least 5 years worth of HSA's you can practice taking.

Quiz is Wednesday May 2. I discussed and wrote on the board what you should study. Again, look over those power point notes from last week..

We finished up our discussion on how energy flows through ecosystems today. We also talked a little bit about invasive species (non-native). Over the weekend, make sure that you finish the questions relating to the snake head fish article that I gave you. This invasive species competes with native bass and catfish in the Potomac and many other rivers around here. It occupies the same niche as many native fish species do, so we have competition.

• 

Today's Assignment:  Reading for Comprehension

1.)  Read chapter 4.2.  Pay careful attention to any diagrams/pictures given.

2.)  Outline 4.2.  Include important diagrams in your outline.  (Remember:  we summarize from blue heading to blue heading with at least 4-5 sentences each.)

3.)  Answer questions 1-6 on page 89 and include those answers at the end of your outline. Restate each question in your answer or copy the question down.

We will have a quiz next Wednesday 5/2. You need to study the notes from yesterday and everything we do in class each day up to the quiz.  Everyone seems to be understanding the material thus far.

Today we took notes on ecology. We went over A LOT of terms that you will need to become familiar with.
We will be spending a day or 2 on each topic in the notes. There will be most likely 2 quizzes in this unit and a unit test. We have a lot to cover and you really have a bunch to learn before we start to review for the HSA.  I have attached the notes from today.
Homework- Finish the food web/food chain worksheet. Remember, all food chains begin with a producer and energy is lost at each link in a food chain.

Ecology notes ppt

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Today we looked at Classification of Living Organisms. Tonight finish pg 441 3-13 in your textbook. You just need to write the answers. I have attached the notes we looked at in class.

Classification%20 powerpoint[1]

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Study for the test tomorrow (Evolution and Natural Selection). It should be the easiest test of the year!
We begin Classification next, and then Ecology up until the HSA..

No homework tonight. Great job on the quiz!
Tomorrow we will take a practice test and then go over it. The unit test is on Friday. I think everyone is ready for it at this point.
Our next topic is classification and then a big one-ECOLOGY!

Today we reviewed questions that you did last Friday on Natural Selection and Evolution. It seems students thought the quiz was easy. I am glad!  Tomorrow we will look at Natural Selection in action (Pocket Mice).
The unit test is Friday.

Today in class you read section 16-2 in your textbook and answered questions that went along with the section in the form of a handout.  I also gave you the study guide for the test.
Remember we have a quiz on vocab and some general concepts next Tuesday the 17th and then the unit test is Friday the 20th.
I will not be here tomorrow the 13th or Monday the 16th.  The quiz is still Tuesday as we have covered all the material.
Tomorrow (Friday 13th), in class, you will have a reading and some questions from the HSA study guide.
Monday (16th) you will watch an interesting movie on the greatest discoveries regarding evolution and natural selection. It will be a good review to reinforce material we have been covering in class.
See you next week.

Charles Darwin proposed that the Finches he found in the Galapagos islands all came from a common species, but evolved differently due to the differences in food sources on the various islands.

Today we took notes on Darwin and the theory of evolution by natural selection. There really is not a whole lot to it! I have attached then notes. Please finish the vocabulary tonight and the crossword puzzle that you worked on in class.
Vocab quiz April 17th
Unit test April 20th

Evolution by natural selection

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Today we started Natural Selection/Evolution. This can be found in chapter 16 of your textbook.
Please finish the interactive reader packet that you worked on in class today as homework.
 Just a head's up- we will have a quiz next Tuesday and the unit test will be next Friday April 20th.

I am sure that everyone did a great job on the benchmark today! We did a lot of review and it seemed pretty easy. Remember that I do not score these and I can't enter a grade until the BOE scans them. So, I should have them in the gradebook as a 5th quarter grade when we come back from break.
No homework tonight or over break.

Have a fantastic vacation and we will begin Natural Selection when we come back.

Study for your benchmark and if you did not finish the mRNA/tRNA synthesis worksheet, finish it tonight.

Today we went over the answers to yesterday's benchmark review packet. Below you will find today's class notes. The benchmark is Thursday. Make sure you review tonight.

Benchmark%203%20 review%20notes[1]

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Today I was on a field trip with my Environmental Science class. You had the Benchmark III packet to complete in class today with Ms. Ferguson.
 This is a great review for the benchmark on Thursday.  If you used your class time wisely today, then you may have finished it in class. If not, it is due tomorrow. We will go over it in class.

Today we reviewed for the unit test on Genetic Engineering.  You have everything you need to study, which includes the notes from last week.The packet from class today has a repeat of this information in the reading.  This is actually a good reading and directly relates to what you need to know for the HSA. The key and warmup from today's classwork is posted below.

Next Thursday March 29th is Benchmark III. This covers Asexual/Sexual reproduction, Genetics, DNA/Protein synthesis and genetic engineering.

HSA biology key genetic engineering

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Today we continued with the movie Food Inc. to see real life applications of genetically modified foods.
There was no homework last night, but you do have an assignment due Thursday.
Read 15.2 and outline it. Also, complete pg. 354 questions 1-3. Remember you must restate the question.

Wednesday we are in the computer lab doing an online activity on Gel Electrophoresis.
Thursday- Test review
Friday- Unit Test on Genetic Engineering (Chapter 15). Also, use you notes from class to help you study
Know the vocabulary from the packets (transgenic, clone, gene splicing, recombinent DNA, gene therapy etc.) These are the same words we reviewed in class warm-ups too.

The notes from today are posted below.
Please finish the AR on gene technologies this weekend. It will only take 5 minutes or so.

Disorders and dna technology

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Today you took the 3rd quarter re-take. If you were absent, you can make it up tomorrow during lunch. I was surprised at how many of you did not want to do a retake.  It can't hurt your grade, it can only help you! On the other hand, I have kids trying to replace a "low" grade of an 85 taking it. Good for you!  That shows you really care about your grades!  Every point matters toward your GPA.

After the test you started tonight's homework
Read chapter 15, section 1 pg. 345-348
Complete Quick lab pg. 347 1-2 and the Review questions 1-3 on pg 348.
I will collect this tomorrow and the DNA Fingerprinting activity I gave you yesterday.

Today we went over the DNA quiz and the asexual and sexual reproduction test in class.  You were also able to see you genetics test card and a copy of the test if you wanted to in order to help review. Very few of you actually did this and it would have helped you review what you did not understand on the original unit test....
I also was available during lunch if you wanted extra help.

You were given an activity to introduce gel electrophoresis. This will be due on Friday. Most of you finished it in class today. This procedure is used to link suspects to crimes and in court to prove paternity cases.

Tomorrow 3/15- 3rd quarter retake
Monday 3/19- warm up quiz
Wednesday 3/21- end of 3rd quarter. Summer will soon be upon us!

Mutation Notes

Here are the mutation notes from today.

Mutation powerpoint

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Complete the IR if you did not finish it during class today.  This week we will spend time mutations and get into genetic engineering.

Remember the 3rd quarter retake is Thursday and the Warm-up quiz is Monday. This has been on the board since last week.

We will end the month with Benchmark III and then we will begin ecology. Something you can finally relate to!

The averages were really high on the Protein Synthesis and DNA test. Great job!  The overall average was an 85. No homework this weekend.

Today we took our unit test on DNA and Protein synthesis. Next, we start mutations and genetic engineering.
Homework: Finish the 14.1 outline that you started in class after the test and try to get outside and enjoy this beautiful day!

Yesterday I was out of school and you completed the test review in class. Today we went over that review.
Tonight, finish the review on protein synthesis. I have attached the key below so you can check your work.
Tomorrow is our unit test. Good Luck!

Newproteinreviewsheet

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Complete the worksheet on Transcription and Translation tonight.
We will continue to review over the next 3 days.
Our unit test is Thursday March 9th.

Today we took notes on protein synthesis and completed a worksheet called Breaking the Code.  We reviewed DNA synthesis and took a close look at protein synthesis. I have attached the powerpoint notes.

Homework: Finish the worksheet on Breaking the code. This covers DNA synthesis and Protein synthesis.
If you were absent today, you missed a lot of information. You will need to get with me next week to go over all of this.  It can be confusing and it is a lot to remember. Remember, if you ever come to school late, come and see me to get what you missed in class that day.

Transcription and translation08

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Great job on the DNA quiz. The averages for all periods was between an 83-88 percent!

Today you should have finished your Bio2Go on protein synthesis in class. Tomorrow we will take notes on protein synthesis. This is a fairly detailed process to remember.

DNA has the direction on how to make a protein. Remember that DNA can't fit out through a nuclear pore, so it stays int he nucleus. mRNA copies DNA and brings the directions on how to make a protein out to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.  It is here, that tRNA reads the codons on mRNA. The codons are a series of 3 nitrogen bases.  tRNA has the anticodons to match up to the codons. Each codon codes for a different amino acid. It is tRNA that brings in the amino acids to the ribosomes.  Proteins are simply chains of amino acids and there are 20 amino acids.

Below is a diagram of a protein being made.  You can see the long mRNA chain on the ribosomes. The tRNA molecule is bringing in the amino acids. See the chain being formed?

asssa

Nice job on the quiz! The class averages for all periods were between and 83-88!

Today you should have completed the Bio2Go on protein synthesis. TOmorrow we will take notes on protein synthesis. It is more detailed than RNA synthesis.  I have several review sheets that we will complete to prepare for our unit test.  The unit test date is still not set in stone. Perhaps the end of next week, or the beginning of the following week.

The following diagram shows mRna attached to a ribosome and the tRNA molecule reading the codons ( series of 3 nitrogen bases) as it brings in the correct amino acid. An anticodon on tRNA macthes up with a codon on mRNA.
Remember, a protein is a chain of amino acids and theere are 20 amino acids.  The length and the ordering of amino acids is what makes proteins different from each other.

Today we did a coloring activity to visually see the bonds between the nitrogen bases in DNA and RNA.
Tomorrow is your quiz on DNA. You have your notes from your power point yesterday and the reading sheet that came with the coloring acticity today. The reading sheet from today is also very good to look over.  Know the basic differences between DNA and RNA as outlined in the power point notes. Also know the parts a a nucleotide and be prepared to label a diagram.

Today I gave you a paper explaining how to set up an account at home to use a program called USATestprep.  HHS has puchased this program to help prepare students for the HSA. Please set up an account as outlined in the letter.  You can play games, take practice assessments that I create (there is one on genetics so far), and watch video clips of topics we have covered to reteach yourself.

You can also go to the MSDE website and get access to old HSA's that Maryland has released. Search on MSDE biology public release.  There are several years available to you. I encourage you to practice using these. We have not covered all the topics on the HSA yet, but you can pick and choose the topics you want to practice with. You will be given questions, and you can select answers, and then check to see if you are correct. This will REALLY help you prepare for the HSA. I hope everyone looks at this a lot in April, when we will be nearly done with our curriculum.

Today we took notes on DNA synthesis ad the base pairing rules. We also introduced RNA and protein synthesis.  Look at the powerpoint again. Quiz is Wednesday on DNA. We will have a review sheet tomorrow.

Tonight: Get the Testprep letter signed and finish Scince Skills f you did not finish it in class.

Dna and rna

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Have great weekend! No homework.
On Monday we will begin to take notes on DNA synthesis.

I hope you did well on the Genetics test today!
Tonight finish the outline. Start on the first blue heading on page 298 and go through 301.
This starts off our genetics unit.

Tonight your need to study for the genetics test. Hopefully you came back to me today to get your test review packet. Afternoon classes kept their packet.

Be familiar with sex linked traits and how to do punnet square crosses for them. Be able to do autosomal trait crosses for one trait (fur color)

The link below shows the key to what you did in class. Please know what was in the study guide from Tuesday night's homework.

Genetic review for test

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Complete the genetics test review tonight.

Today we wacthed a movie detailing the Greatest Discoveries in Genetics.
No homework tonight. If you did not have your homework that was due today, remember to turn it in for half credit tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will continue with Pedigrees and go over the homework that I collected today.


Sex Linked Trait Punnet Square                             Monohybrid Cross Punnett Square

                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                        

   

Today we reviewed the quiz from Monday. If you still have questions please come and see me at lunch.
We will have another quiz on Punnet squares and sex linked traits on Tuesday.
Unit Test will be Thursday 2/23 (New date)

Remember, you only use X and Y in your punnett square if it is for a sex linked trait. Otherwise you pick a letter to represent your autosomal trait (eye color, hair color etc). For example. B- brown eyes, b- blue eyes. The lower case letter is the recessive form. Remember you must have both recessive alleles for a recessive trait to be expressed. Otherwise you will exhibit the dominant form (BB or Bb) for your phenotype.

Remember genotype refers to the alles like, Bb
Phenotype is the physical form of the trait - Brown eyes

Tonight: complete the worksheet on Pedigrees. We will go over it tomorrow in class.

Tonight you should finish the worksheet on monohybrid crosses and sex linked crosses.
Remember, you only use X and Y if it is a sex-linked cross.
Our unit test will be next Tuesday the 21st.

Today we went over sex-llinked traits again. The notes are below.
Practice doing monohybrid punnett squares by looking over the ones we did in class yesterday (Thursday). These are the types on your quiz Monday. Know how to express genotype and phenotype just like we did on the practice sheets,. Know how to display a ratio and a percentage for each.
If you have the field trip today, then you were provided with the work you will miss including the note taking sheet and asked to get the notes off of the homework website.

Sex linked traits

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Today we worked on monohybrid cross punnett squares. Then we determined genotype and phenotype ratios.  This is what your quiz will cover on Monday.

Do you think you would ever get a punnett sqaure tattoo??????

Today we graded the IR in class that you completed yesterday during class.

We practiced punnett squares by working through some practice problems. Then I introduced sex linked traits.  We will spend more timeon sex linked traits next week and they WILL NOT be on your quiz. Remember sex linked traits are inherited on the X chromosome. They are recessive and generally passed from mother to son. 

The quiz has been moved to Monday since some students have a field trip Friday. The quiz will cover monohybrid crosses, like the first side of the worksheet we did in class.

Tomorrow we will practice more monohybrid crosses in class. After tomorrow you should be able to comple these on your own.
Vocabulary is due to tomorrow. You got this from me yesterday.

Yesterday you made off spring with someone in the class. You used your genotype for certain traits to determine the genotype and phenotype of the "baby".

Today we followed up with some IR from the textbook. You should have finished these sheets in class.  Friday you willhave a quiz on punnett squares.

Tonight: Work on the vocabulary. It will be due on Thursday so you have 2 days to complete it.

Genetics Notes Part 2

Genetics 2

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Genetics Notes Part 1

Today we took notes on genetics. The powerpointnotes are below.  Monday we will do a fun activity in class to help enforce the concepts.

Genetics 1

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