Weekly Blog 2/13 - 2/17

Image Source: 

https://www.birdbrainscience.com/_images/galleries/70_168.jpg

Summary:

The energy pyramid is the pyramid consisting of how organisms on this planet get their energy. This consists of producers and consumers. Producer make their own food through photosynthesis, while consumers eat producers for their energy. But when consumers eat those consumers they only gain 10% of that energy which means they will need to eat more to gain lots of energy. We humans are at the top of the energy pyramid but we weren't always at the top. Now extinct animals used to rule the energy pyramid like the saber toothed tiger.

S&EP:

Did you plan and carry out an investigation?

This week we used gizmos to see how populations of animals are affected by the boom or drop of prey or predator. I used gizmos to conduct investigations to see how exactly populations of prey of predator affect the populations of all the producers and consumers.

XCC:

Cause and Effect

The cause is the populations of prey and predators. While the effect is the aftermath of the cause with populations of prey or predators booming or dropping quickly.

Genetics Project Blog

Image Source:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9v7ONC97akRZEJQSnpyUFlBZnM

Summary:

If both parents are hybrids at some trait it is a 3 to 1 ratio. This is determined from something called a Punnett Square, this is used to determine the probability of a trait that will be passed on to their offspring. There are different types of traits that can be passed on such as hair and eye color there is also medical type traits like the chance of having something related to medical stuff. All of this can be predicted using a Punnett Square. Mutations can also happen through exposure of chemicals or something goes wrong in copying the DNA when passing it down from mother and father to child.

Backward Looking:

How much did you know about the subject before we started?

I didn't know much about the subject before we started. I knew that mutations can happen due to exposure to chemicals. And that traits are passed down from parent to child. I didn't know anymore than this little fraction of the understanding of genes. But now that I have I understand so much more about the building blocks of life and how a child can look like part of its mother and father.

Inward Looking:

How do you feel about this piece of work? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why? What did/do you enjoy about this piece or work?

I feel proud to create a poster to present about my understanding of genetics. I like making the little machine to make my super hero move side to side. I really was uncomfortable with drawing and telling a story between my superhero and mate. This was because I thought this was just about our superhero with no mate or child with it. I really only enjoyed making the little machine.

Outward Looking:

What grade would you give it? Why?

I would give this work an A-. I would give it this because although it showed my understanding of genetics it could've used more work on it. Like my drawing on my little machine could've used more time and effort. Or my drawing for my original superhero could've used more effort on the background. And the name of my superhero could've used more work as it was just "Bubble Man".This is why I would give my work an A-.

Forward Looking:

One thing I would like to improve upon is ...

I would like to improve on the amount of effort I put into the drawings. The name could've used more thinking into it instead of just doing Bubble Man. The drawings could've used more time into covering the white spots which made it look like it was done in 5 minutes. This is what I would like to improve on and why.

Weekly Blog 1/30 - 2/3

Image Source:

https://www.coursebuffet.com/course_images/coursera/amnhgenetics.png

Summary:

You can create a GMO by inserting a new thing into its DNA that is not already in there. You do this by inserting a restriction enzyme to cut the DNA at a specific point. When cut it leaves a sticky end this helps the new piece of DNA to stick with the old DNA. Then this modified DNA can multiply quickly. This is how you make a GMO from a living living organism. 

S&EP:

SP2: Developing and using models

This Week I performed SP2: Developing and using models because I used drawings to represent systems of my villain. And I used my side to side model for my super hero. This is SP2: Developing and using models because I used models to represent my super hero and villain.

XCC:

Systems and Systems Models

My super villain drawings help you visualize how the systems work and how they help the villain like the skeletal system changes to allow better eye sight and faster reflexes. This is systems and systems models because I used models to represent systems for my super villain.