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Biology

  Biology is the study of all living things.

Lemur at Animal Kingdom

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class:Mammalia

Order:Primates

Suborder:Strepsirrhini

Infraorder: Lemuriformes

Watch Promo Clip of "Planet Earth"

Protein Synthesis

DNA encodes for the production of amino acids and proteins
 

This process can be divided into two parts:

 Transcription
Before the synthesis of a protein begins, the corresponding RNA molecule is produced by RNA transcription. One strand of the DNA double helix is used as a template by the RNA polymerase to synthesize a messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA migrates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. During this step, mRNA goes through different types of maturation including one called splicing when the non-coding sequences are eliminated. The coding mRNA sequence can be described as a unit of three nucleotides called a codon.

Translation
The ribosome binds to the mRNA at the start codon (AUG) that is recognized only by the initiator tRNA. The ribosome proceeds to the elongation phase of protein synthesis. During this stage, complexes, composed of an amino acid linked to tRNA, sequentially bind to the appropriate codon in mRNA by forming complementary base pairs with the tRNA anticodon. The ribosome moves from codon to codon along the mRNA. Amino acids are added one by one, translated into polypeptidic sequences dictated by DNA and represented by mRNA. At the end, a release factor binds to the stop codon, terminating translation and releasing the complete polypeptide from the ribosome.

History of the Microscope

The invention of the microscope has allowed us to investigate a whole new world of tiny objects.

Microscopes magnify and resolve, which tend to be mistaken as the same but are two very different things.

Magnification  \mag-ne-fe-'ka-shen\ n 1. apparent enlargement of an object 2. the ratio of image size to actual size
A magnification of "100x" means that the image is 100 times bigger than the actual object.

Resolution  \rez-e-loo-shen\ n 1. clarity, sharpness 2. the ability of a microscope to show two very close points separately              

resolution example below

 

Scientific Photography through the Microscope

Prepared  Specimen Slides

Recording Field of View

Orientation of sections for the study of wood anatomy.

(A) Transverse; (B) longitudinal; (C) tangential.

Lilac leaf

Mitosis

Meiosis

In Meiosis I, chromosomes in a diploid cell re-segregate, producing four haploid daughter cells. It is this step in Meiosis that generates genetic diversity.

Meiosis II is similar to mitosis. However, there is no "S" phase. The chromatids of each chromosome are no longer identical because of recombination. Meiosis II separates the chromatids producing two daughter cells each with 23 chromosomes (haploid), and each chromosome has only one chromatid.

Major differences between mitosis and meiosis

French Botanist

Among the first scientists to recognize

living things have changed over time

all species were descended from other species

He also recognized organisms were somehow adapted to their environments

Charles Darwin

Father of Evolutionary Biology

1809 - 1882

Evolution: Great Transformations

Gregor Mendel

Father of Genetics

1822 - 1884

Mendelian Genetics

Postulates:

Mendel did his research on the garden pea because it was easy to breed, quick turn around, and it was easy to see the changes in generations.  Mendel's work went unnoticed for many years until 3 scientists came across his work in the early 1900's.  At that time Mendel was given the name "Father of Genetics" for his major contribution to the field of genetics.

See Genetics Page

Corn Snake

Pantherophis guttatus

(formally known as: Elaphe guttata)

Fruit Fly

Drosophila melanogaster

Turning genes on and off

Watch the full episode. See more NOVA.

Pedigree Charts

This is how we trace inherited traits

DNA Technology

Circular Plasmid

Linear Plasmid

Aluminum  in Vaccines

HIV

Drug Research & Development

The Miller-Urey Experiment

Miller-Urey experiment states:  molecules that are the building blocks of living organisms form spontaneously under conditions designed to simulate those of the primitive earth.

Their apparatus consisted of a closed tube connecting two chambers.  The upper chamber contained a mixture of gasses (resembling earth's primitive atmosphere).  Electrodes discharged sparks through this mixture (simulating lighting).  Condensers cooled the gasses causing water droplets to form, which passed into the second heated chamber (the ocean).  Any complex molecules formed in the atmosphere chamber  would be dissolved in these droplets and carried to the ocean chamber, where samples were removed for analysis.
Miller and Urey found that within a week, 15% of the carbon originally present as methane gas had converted into other simple carbon compounds.  These compounds then combined to form simple molecules and more complex molecules containing carbon-carbon bonds, including the amino acids glycine and alanine.  Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and proteins are one of the major kinds of molecules of which organisms are composed.  Their experiment was designed to prove that the key molecules of life could have formed in the atmosphere of the early earth.

The lowest, most basic division is species, which consists of organisms that resemble each other and are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring. The system scientists use to name species is called binomial nomenclature. It is done by putting together a creature's genus name and species name. The first is the genus, the second is the species.

Check out the spikes on this tree

Invertebrate & Vertebrate Survey

Invertebrates:

Sponges, Cnidarians, and Unsegmented Worms

Mollusks and Annelids

Arthropods

Echinoderms and Invertebrate Chordates

Vertebrates:

Fish and Amphibians

Reptiles and Birds

Mammals

Humans

Ornithology

The study of birds

Interesting Facts:

Mark Catesby was the famous Naturalist (America’s first natural scientist) in Williamsburg, VA in the 1700s, whom I (Mrs. King) am privileged to be related. He was the brother of Elizabeth Catesby Cocke, my ancestor who was married to Dr. William Cocke, a prominent physician and Secretary of State under Gov. Spotswood. They all lived in Williamsburg, VA during the 18th century.  I have my sister, Dr. Patricia L. Petitt, to thank for her diligent work in our family's genealogy who supplied me with this information.

"English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) is considered by many to be the founder of American ornithology. Catesby made two expeditions to the southern part of colonial America in the first half of the eighteenth century. Based on his observations and collections, he published The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, which stood for more than a century as the primary natural history of British North America. His images of flora and fauna influenced the style of later artists, notably John Abbot and John James Audubon" (Morris Museum of Art, 2004).

Metamorphosis

Types of Metamorphosis

Complete & Incomplete

Dissection

Dissection is a process used in science class to help the student understand structure and function of plants & animals organs.

Dissections in our class are performed with extreme care, using virtual labs when at all possible.

Annelid Dissection

Squid Dissection

Class - Cephalopoda

Starfish Dissection

Phylum - ECHINODERMATA

Class - Asteroidea

Clam Dissection

Class: Pelecypoda

Crayfish Dissection

Frog Dissection

Frogs belong to the class Amphibia, which means "double life."

The 3 orders that make up that class are

Bull Frog

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Ranidae
Genus Rana
Species catesbeiana

Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias

Cat Dissection

AP Biology Students

Fetal Pig Dissection

Brain Dissection

Dragon Anatomy

*Dissection & photos by Mrs. King

Last modified: June 16, 2013