Classical Genetics: Meiosis, Fertilization and Marriage Lab

         In their recent study of classical genetics, the AP Biology classes examined their phenotypes and genotypes for a number of different genetic traits. They then used them to prepare chromosomes to be used to determine the traits they would pass on to their offspring. The students in the class were randomly paired up and given "marriage certificates" allowing them, for one day only, to share their chromosomes (bearing their genes) to see what traits would appear in their children.  

   

    This exercise asked the question "How does gametogenesis and fertilization determine the phenotype of a human?".  Each student cut out chromosomes simulated the segregation of alleles and homologous chromosomes in the meiotic production of monoploid gametes followed by the return to the diploid state as the homologous chromosomes from a male and a female are recombined in the process of fertilization.  

   

     The lab helped illustrate to the students the various ways genetic information of parents is recombined in human offspring. There were examples of dominant and recessive traits, sex linked traits, polygenic inherited traits, and epistatic genes in their chromosomes. 

    

     As part of their lab reports, students were asked to produce a birth announcement for one of their children. They were also to render a representation of the child as a teenager.

Birth Announcement for the K. Bianco and P. Gordon baby girl touting her unique traits.

 

A very creative birth announcement for the daughter of H. Bothwell and B. Davies.

Eighth Grade Study of Freezing and Melting Points of Solids

New laptops purchased with the Government Grant allow the students to upload the data from their temperature probes directly for immediate analysis.

You have to position the temperature probe correctly for good readings.

Do you remember the old adage, "A watched pot never boils?" Is there a similar adage for melting?

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Fifth Graders Variables Unit

Fifth Grade students learn about dependent and independent variables while studying pendulums.

Earth Science Students Visit AMNH and Planetarium

Here are some photographs of exhibits one of our students, Kyle, found interesting during the Core Earth Science course field trip to the American Museum of Natural History on November 4th.  Unfortunately the inclement weather prevented the classes from visiting the rock outcroppings that exhibit the characteristic marking of glacial movement, folding, and the other interesting geological phenomena the classes usually visit in Central Park on this field trip.

More Students At the Lab Bench

Catherine, Katherine, and Paige are keeping a close watch on their potometer, which is used to measure transpiration through a plant's leaves. In this second of two runs their group did, they are interested in the affect a incandescent light has on the evaporation of water from the leaves of this coleus shoot. They have already determined a baseline for evaporation in the room in general.

A potometer, used to measure the evaporation of water from a plant shoot's leaves.

Alliso, Claudia, and Emily are building 3D representations of the periodicity of electronegativity.

Henry measures a length of straw which is being used to represent the electronegativity of an element.

Natasha and Max are aligning their straws in to the proper positions their elements would occupy in the periodic table.

AP Biology Students' Second Project on Bioenergetics

Students in the AP Biology class were allowed to chose a topic of their own choice on Bioenergetics. They were to illustrate a pathway or process from either Photosynthesis or Respiration. It seems as if glycolysis was an inordinately popular topic. Why did no one try to tackle one of the pathways/processes of photosynthesis?



E. Delany and C. Grealy teamed up to produce this Respiration Rap using a Lady GaGa melody (oo la la).

R. Faselt prepared this neat poster on glycolysis.

B. Davies was all gaga over glycolysis.

C. Louka tackled the way ATP synthetase functions in the inner membrane of the mitochondrion.

B. Mattes clearly understood how glycolysis splits glucose to form pyruvate.

H. Bothwell captured the essence of the electron transport system of the mitochondria in this poster.

G. Sargent chose to illustrate Kreb's Cycle.

N. Carpenter put together this neat poster describing Krebs' Cycle (a.k.a. Tricarboxcylic Acid Cycle, Citric Acid Cycle).

R. Grunseich was very ambitious, he included both photosynthesis and respiration on his poster.

Additional projects in the form of Powerpoint Shows are available on the Edline Class Page. Click these links to view them.

R. Amboss Glycolysis Project

C. Bianco Glycolysis Project

S. Blessing Glycolysis Project

K. Bopp Chemiosmosis Project

A. Cody Glycolysis Project

J. Colvin Glycolysis Project
E. Detwiler Glycolysis Project

L. Florek Krebs Cycle Project

J. Gray Glycolysis Banner

S. Monaco Respiration Project

K. Noonan Glycolysis Project
J. Pennoyer Glycolysis Project 
 T.Tao Pathway Project

Forensics Student's Celebrate First Unit Test

Molly was up to the challenge!! She baked individual cakes for each student in the class.

Ally chose one of the chocolate cakes and gives Molly a big thumbs up!

Close up of these professionally decorated and delicious cake gift packages.

Kathleen also appreciated Molly's hard work!!

All in all the cakes were a big success.......the students appreciated the tasty cakes......as for the test itself however......the verdict has yet to come in.