Beyond Mendel

This post is for Friday and Saturday (12/1)
We continued with Chapter 14 with the following concepts:

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Codominance

•Multiple Allelic Traits

Polygenic Traits

•Pleiotropy

•Environmental Effects on Phenotypes

•Genetic Disorders

•Testing for Genetic Disorders

•Tracking Genetic Disorders with Pedigree Charts

High blood pressure is a polygenic trait.

The phenotype is an interaction between a person's weight (one or more obesity genes), cholesterol level (one or more genes controlling metabolism), kidney function (salt transporter genes), smoking (a tendency to addiction).

Homework: Complete the rest of the genetics problem set and work on your genetics mini project.

Genetics Mini Project

Read about your assigned topic and do research to present a concise report to your classmates. You will write no more than half a page, typed, single spaced on your topic and give a 2-3 minute presentation during class on Monday. This will be worth a quiz grade. Remember to keep this concise and informative.

You must have a works cited at the bottom of your paper with at least THREE sources referenced.
Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source. Below are links to potential starting points for your research:

Understanding Genetic Disorders -- Utah Genetics

Human Genome Project

Genetic Disorders from MedLine

Mendelian Genetics (Chapter 14)

Today we reviewed incomplete dominance as well as Mendelian genetics principles (law of independent assortment, law of segregation, dominance, recessiveness). We also learned how the rule of multiplication and addition can help us solve complex genetics problems, rather than write enormous punnett squares.

Would you rather do this to find the probability of getting YYRR:Or this... YY = 1/4 RR = 1/4
1/4 x 1/4 = 1/16, is the probability of getting YYRR

Homework: Genetics Practice Problems, answer the questions at the top of the page (explain...what is...). Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper and use complete sentences. Complete problem numbers 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8.

Meiosis (see below)

For the winter term, all posts from Tuesday's class will apply to Wednesday as well.
In addition, since it was long block today, D block started chapter 14 with the basics in Mendelian genetics.

Homework: read 14.1-14.3 for Thursday. You will not have a quiz, but taking notes would be to your benefit.

Meiosis

So today we learned a valuable lesson: Check your email, especially before you go home for break. Students had a quiz on meiosis today and took notes from a powerpoint. We are only going to spend one day on meiosis because we covered it in detail last year. There are some key points to remember about meiosis:



1. It occurs in gametes
2. It increase genetic variation through crossing over, independent assortment and random fertilization.
3. It creates 4 daughter cells that are NOT identical to the parent cell.

Homework: Read sections 14.1-14.3 for class on Thursday.

Nothing says welcome back like...

a Quiz.

'Tis the season get back to work. Just a reminder that you needed to read chapter 13 over break and that you have a quiz your first class back. Any notes you took on the chapter you will be able to use.

Need to know...

There are 12 questions out of 75 on Chapter 6 on the test.

You should know…

1. in what type of cell you’d find large numbers of ribosomes.
2. what type of RNA and proteins can move through the nuclear envelope
3. the direction of how DNA/proteins move through the endomembrane system
4. the cell part that makes proteins
5. where you would find hydrolytic enzymes
6. the functions of the following cell parts: lysosomes, vacuoles, mitochondria, golgi apparatus, peroxisome.
7. the components of a chloroplast.

Review Sheets

Here's who is doing what review sheet:

Chapter 2: Dana & Andrea
Chapter 3: Jun ALONE
Chapter 4: Nicoya ALONE
Chapter 5: Sammy ALONE
Chapter 6: Ms. Saxe
Chapter 7: Terrance
Chapter 8:Tak and Jae Ro
Chapter 9: Ji
Chapter 11: Rachel and Mike
Chapter 12: David

Your review sheet should at, a minimum, have the vocabulary (and definitions), key concepts and images which help explain concepts.

Final Exam Review

Please sign up for one of the following chapters. 5 people will need to work on their own. If you choose to work on your own, you will get extra credit. Your partner may be from the other class.
You will create a study guide for your peers to use.

This is due Monday in Class. Please make 14 copies of your review sheet, before you come to class.

Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12

Use the post a comment feature to write you First Name and Last Initial and the chapter you will be doing.

Cancer & the Cell Cycle

Today we talked about cancer & the cell cycle. We watched a video clip on the development of tumors from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and discussed the frequency of various types of cancer around the globe.

Notebook Check & Mitosis

Today B Block had their notebook check and we reviewed the basics of mitosis. Tomorrow we will have visitors to class from the headmaster's council.

Homework: Start studying for the final exam

Reminder: Notebook Check

B block you will have a notebook check on Tuesday.

D block you will have a notebook check on Thursday.

Why have a notebook check?
Your final exam is coming up and if your notebook isn't organized, it's pretty difficult to study. Anything from the first day of class is fair game. I suggest you use the blog to help you get organized. You will only have 20 minutes to complete the notebook check. Questions will be in chronological order.

Mitosis Homework

Mitosis Homework: Read Chapter 12 and please use your own lined paper to complete the following assignment. This activity will count as two homework assignment grades.

Here are some links to help you with the homework:

Review of Mitosis

Cell Cycle and Mitosis Tutorial

Cell Cycle Game

1. How can there be 46 chromosomes in a human cell at metaphase and also 46 chromosomes in each daughter cell?

2. Describe the events in each of the following phases of the cell cycle; G₁, S, G₂, and M.

3. Briefly describe how prokaryote chromosomes differ from those of eukaryotes.

4. Explain the difference between a chromatid and a chromosome, using a diagram with
your explanation.

5. List the stages of mitosis in proper order.

6. Diagram the stages of mitosis and give the major events in each stage.

7. How does cytokinesis differ in plants and animals.

8. How does mitosis ensure that each daughter cell has the same genetic makeup as the parent cell?

9. List and briefly discuss at least two factors that control and regulate cell division

Cyclic AMP disucssions

Today in class we discussed how cyclic AMP can impact how our bodies function at the molecular level. Here's what we learned...

1. Cells of alcoholics have lower levels of cAMP.
2. Researchers have found in that reduced cAMP induction may be an underlying cause of fragile X syndrome, a leading cause of mental retardation.
3. cAMP can effect erythroblasts (which are nucleated red blood cells, found in bone marrow).
4. cAMP responds to liver disease
5. A possible cause of Alzheimer's disease is low levels of cAMP.

Cell signaling continued

Today D block caught up with B block in cell signaling. Also, the chapter 11 PowerPoint is available for download for seven days (until Nov. 8) by clicking here: http://download.yousendit.com/98A18084708E0D7D


Today our goal was to look at the big picture when it comes to cellular communication and signal transduction. Also, there has been a change of plans: You do not have a quiz on chapter 11 tomorrow.

Instead, your homework is to find a disease, condition or poison that is related to the function of cyclic AMP.

What is cyclic AMP (cAMP)? cAMP is a secondary messenger that is produced from ATP by adenylyl cyclase. As a second messenger, cAMP initiates a series of additional reactions in the cell such as phosphorylation and activation of enzymes.Where can you look for information:
Science Daily
PubMed

What should you search for? Try looking up, "genetic disorders cyclic AMP" "toxin cyclic AMP" etc..