Advice for the Newbies

I can sum up my advice for you in two words: WORK HARD!!!
Seriously, what you get out of this class will be equal to what you put in, so don't complain and whine! Just get your work done and study hard. Also, if you know what college you plan on attending look what score they require on the AP test. This will give you a nice goal to work towards, as opposed to just going through the motions. One final thing, learn how to study. Find a method that works for you! My studying usually consists of writing things down and diagramming the things we learned on a small whiteboard. Then I would erase it and do it all over again. This may work for you or it may not, but that doesn't matter, just find what works!
I wish you all the best of luck as you begin this adventure through the world of AP Biology!

Vote MITOCHONDRIA for 2012 Cell President

Check out landryapbiology.blogspot.com on 11/26, 11/27, 11/28 and vote for the MITOCHONDRIA!

Hmmm if I had to be a macromolecule.....

If I had to be a macromolecule I think I would choose to be a carbohydrate. Being a runner, I truly appreciate the work of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are fast energy sources. However, the more complex the carbohydrate the longer it takes to break down. This is why runners usually have pasta the night before a race so when the race actually happens that carbohydrate will have broken down and be available energy. On top of that, carbohydrates provide structural material.

Carbohydrates are primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The monomers of carbohydrates are most commonly known as sugars, such as glucose. When you combine monomers you can get dissaccharides (sucrose) or polysaccharides (starch, cellulose). To combine monomers dyhydration synthesis occurs. This is when an OH from one monomer and an H from another monomer combine to form water and a glycosidic linkage froms between the two monomers.

I would want to be a carbohydrate because they are extremely essential for life. For one, glucose, a carbohydrate, is a component within photosynthesis and cell respiration. Both are essential for life. Also, ribose, a type of sugar, is used within DNA. DNA is the blueprint of life and controls which proteins are produced and where. Therefore, carbohydrates are more essential than they seem!

My Thoughts About AP Biology

Even though it seems unreal, we are 8 weeks into the school year. Where has all that time gone? In the last eight weeks I have come to a conclusion. I really do not want to go into biology, or any science for that matter. While I know a lot of my classmates love the class I just can't seem to get interested, even though Mr. Landry is great at giving interesting examples and facts. This conclusion, however, has made me more interested in taking the AP exam. At first, I didn't plan on taking it because I wanted to take entry level biology in college, but now that I am not going the sciences route I think taking the AP test would be a fantastic idea. And if I get into Notre Dame, I know that I will need a 5, so I should probably start studying up! Wish me luck!

Have a great week everyone!!!!

New Scientific Findings About Twins!

For AP Biology class we had to find a current event article about biology. As I was scrolling through sciencnews.org, I came across an article on twins! This really intrigued me because my younger brothers are identical twins. Below I have the name of the article and a summary of it:

Study Shows Where Identical Twins Part Ways
      This article starts off by explaining how identical twins have chemical markers on their genes, know as epigenetic markers. This markers do not change the genetic code but do change the way the DNA operates within the organism. It was at first believed that epigenetic markers arose after birth and where caused by different environmental factors, this would then cause differences in personalitys, looks, etc in twins. However, new studies have shown that differences in the womb can cause these epigeneic markers.
        These new studies have concluded that the biggest difference in epigenetic markers are in the genes linked closely with metabolism and development. Factors, such as birth weight or umbilical cord size, can cause these epigenetic markers and can affect the twin later in his/her adult life. Though some scientists argue whether birth weight causes the epigenetic markers or whether the epigenetic markers cause low birth weight. More studies will be conducted to test this question.

My Thoughts
      I found this new finding to be intriguing. I know that twin studies are especially helpful to scientists because it helps them learn about DNA and nature/nurture specifications. As I said, this article was interesting, but I do think the author could have gone into more depth about the studies and given more examples.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/342342/description/Study_shows_where_identical_twins_part_ways

The Homecoming that Beats All Homecomings

      Sparta High School has the best Homecoming, hands down! Basically, our homecoming consists of different competitions that each grade competes in in an attempt to win the RED APPLE. On the week leading up to homecoming, we have a dress up day every day and have competitions such as a canned food drive and penny a point (both of which go to a good cause). If your grade wins the competition you earn 4 points, if you come in 2nd you get 3 points and so on and so forth. On dress up days, example, the grade with the highest percentage of students dressed up get the 4 points. These competitions continue on the Friday of Homecoming. On that Friday we arrive to school and have a formal assembly. At this assembly the homecoming court members give a speech and then we have an adult speaker. After that we go back and vote for King and Queen and then return to the gym for some games. These games can be anything from the Catepillar game (which would take to long to explain) to the Orange Pass Game (passing an orange from person to person using only your neck). These competitions also win points for each grade. After the games we have Mock Rock, which is a choreographed dance that each grade preforms, and then we have a parade to the football field for a pep assembly. During the parade each grade walks next to the float they made.  This concludes the homecoming day activities. Many students do, however, show up to the football game and do attend the homecoming dance the next day.
      Overall, I have had great homecoming experiences! I love dressing up on the dress up days and I love participating in the games! Though I must admit, my favorite memory from Homecoming was being on Homecoming court. I was blest with the chance of being a class representative sophomore year and I got elected by my grade again this year to be on court! I felt so honored and I wish more people got to have that experience because it was a blast! I enjoyed preparing and giving a speech (public speaking has become my new passion). Then I felt like a princess getting all dressed up for the parade and the football field. And on top of all that already amazing stuff, I actually won Homecoming Queen! I couldn't believe that I won so I stood there with a dazed look on my face for quite a few seconds. All in all, it was an amazing experience and I feel so blest for having it!

SPARTA HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING ROCKS :D

The Human Footprint ...Stop stepping on an animal's home!

     Would you be okay with another species just taking over your home? Or doing things that causes it to be destroyed? Probably not. Then what gives humans the right to do activities that destroy others species' habitats? Nothing. Habitat destruction and fragmentation has become a major issue since the Industrial Revolution, when more natural resources and land started to be used. And this issue has become progressively worse over the years. An acre of rainforest disappears every second, and in some of the US states 90% of their wetlands have been destroyed. This is an issue that needs to be tackeld NOW.
     Habitat destruction is when an animal's habitat is directly destroyed. For example, when trees are cut down and birds lose their nests. Habitat fragmentation, on the other hand, is when an animal's habitat is altered and no longer continuous, but instead is separated. This separation could occur due to man-made barriers, such as roads or bridges or dams. An example of habitat fragmentation would be the Three Gorges Dam on China's Yangtze River. This dam prevents certain aquatic animals from swimming up or down stream.
       Both habitat destruction and fragmentation can cause a lack of biodiversity. When habitats are destroyed or altered, not all species can adapt quick enough, and many individuals may die. This can sometimes even lead to species extinction. Also, when habitats, such as the rainforest, are destroyed this causes a decrease in the amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed, which in turn causes more carbon dioxide to remain in the atmosphere. In addition to that, habitat destruction
weakens the ability for areas to handle severe weather. For example, studies show that Hurricane Katrina wouldn't have been as bad if coastal wetlands hadn't been destroyed. These wetlands could have absorbed much of the incoming water.
       To lessen and stop habitat destruction and fragmentation, goverments and agencies should be more aware of which resources and land are safe to use and develop. Not only that, but efforts should be made to restore wetlands and to regrow naitive trees in areas of deforestation.

 

Video on Habitat Destruction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjG5mkI0URc&feature=related

 

Sources

http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Threats-to-Wildlife/Habitat-Loss.aspx

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Habitat_fragmentation

http://www.environment911.org/175.The_Effects_of_Habitat_Destruction

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/thinkgloballyactlocally/lossofhabitat/default.cfm