Wrapping up the Fruit Flies and Starting the Cell Cycle

Today C period collected the last of their data for the fruit flies, there were thousands of larvae and pupae!  Where did all of these come from and how did they go from eggs laid by adult females to these next stages? MITOSIS!

We're transitioning from cell signaling to mitosis.  How does a cell 'know to divide?'  It receives a signal (see how all of this works together?).

Today C period got their list of objectives, tomorrow D period, you will get your copy.

Both classes:  Homework for tonight:

Click play in the picture below to link to the cell cycle game.

Take notes as you play the game.  Pay close attention to the figure below (featured in the game).  Keep track of how many times you have to start over.

Study Guides and Practicing with Microscopes

Today and tomorrow students worked on making their study guides to review for the Cell Cycle/Mitosis and Cancer quiz on Friday.

Here's what you need to know:
All the stages of the cycle cycle, the order and what the stages of mitosis look like
The differences in cytokinesis between plant and animal cells
Information from the cancer packet (the questions you answered)
What angiogenesis is and how it is related to cancer.

In addition to the content, you will be tested on your microscope skills.  I will ask you to find one of the stages in Mitosis using slide of plant cells.  You will have two attempts to do this successfully. Each attempt can take no more than five minutes.  This will count as a pass / fail laboratory grade.

Cancer & The Cell Cycle

Today we started to learn about Cancer & the Cell Cycle.  Students worked in co-operatively in groups to come up with answers to questions about Cancer.   Students complied a list of questions (see below) as a class. 

Many of these questions will be answered in the reading you do over the weekend, and the questions you answer.  The remaining unanswered questions will be addressed next week.

Questions we have:
1. What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
2. Is cancer genetic?
3. What happens to your cells when you have cancer?
4. How do the number of deaths from cancer compare to other diseases?
5. How makes a cell sick?
6. How does cancer spread?
7. How quickly can cancer grow?
8. Can your emotional health impact your battle with cancer?
9. When do you call it cancer and when do you call it a tumor?
10. Are all types of cancer treatable or curable?
11. Which type of cancer causes the most deaths in the U.S.?
12. Which type of cancer is the most deadly?
13. What is the chance that a person gets cancer?
14. What does chemo involve?
15. Are all types of cancer malignant?

Mitosis & Microscopes Day 2

Today students worked on using microscopes to identify the stages of mitosis in onion cells and white fish blastula. 

C period homework for Monday: You have been emailed a four page reading on cancer.  You need to read this and answer the questions on the last page.  You should bring your answers to class on Monday.  The answers do not need to be typed.

G period:  You have no homework.

http://kvhs.nbed.nb.ca/gallant/biology/mitosis_phases.jpg

Mitosis & Microscopes

After completing the reading quiz on 10.1 / 10.2 and reviewing the open notes test from Friday, students used light microscopes to look at slides of plant cells under going mitosis. 

Onion root tip cells undergoing mitosis (http://tinyurl.com/c42amb3)

There is no homework for tonight. 

Next Topic: The Cell Cycle & Cancer

Yesterday you had an open notes test on Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration.  Next week we will be starting the Cell Cycle & Cancer.  How do our cells divide?   Is there a link between how our cells divide and cancer?  These are just some of the questions we'll be addressing next week. 

C period classwork:

Mr. Schiff is your sub and he knows that you need to read sections 10.1 and 10.2 as well as take notes. There is a worksheet to help you review these sections.  You will have a reading quiz in class on Wednesday.

Cancer Info

Today (or tomorrow) students have a choice on how they would like to learn about Cancer.

Option A:
Go to The A-Z List of Cancers and choose a cancer to research. You should create a public service announcement or flyer on one type of cancer. You have been emailed a template that contains all of the information you need. You may either create your flyer on the computer or by hand.

Option B:
There are two readings and discussion questions. The first reading is general information on cancer and the second reading is a case study that asks you to put yourself in the shoes of someone who is having genetic testing for breast cancer.

Mitosis & The Cell Cycle

Today students had a reading quiz on Chapter 10 and practiced using the microscopes again.

For homework: Play the cell cycle game here and answer the questions on the worksheet.

Mitosis & Microscopes

Today in class we used microscopes to look at the stages of mitosis.

Homework: Bring your book to class tomorrow. You will be taking notes on Chapter 10. On Monday in class, you will have a reading quiz on all of Chapter 10.

Cell Cycle & Cancer Test

Today students had their test on the cell cycle and cancer. Yesterday and on Wednesday students presented their cancer flyers and we all learned a lot about different types of cancer, such as:

Kaposi Sarcoma
Bone Cancer
Leukemia
Eye Cancer
Brain Tumors in Adults and in Children
Melanoma
Lung Cancer - Small Cell
Liver Cancer
and many others.

After the test students were given review questions for the final exam. Can you believe we only have 17 more class periods until the final exam?! These review questions are due on Monday.

Mitosis & Microscopes

Today students had a "fake" quiz on Mitosis to see how well they know the material. After going over the quiz and last night's homework, students continued to practice finding the stages of mitosis using whitefish blastula and onion root cells.


Homework: None! Enjoy the night off :)

Microscopes, Limits to cell size, stages of mitosis

Today students took notes on the three types of microscopes, limits to cell size and the stages of mitosis.
Homework: Complete "Mitosis Homework #1."

Starting Mitosis

Today students examined cells undergoing mitosis. Here's what happens in the cell:



Homework: Read pages 246-248. Draw the stages of mitosis, in order, with labels (centrioles, nuclear envelope, chromatin, centromere and spindle -- where appropriate).