DNA Structure

Yesterday (or today for H period), we started 3.3 finished DNA structure.   After finishing 3.3  we spent the last 15 minutes of class reviewing 3.2.

Image from Wikimedia

Click the picture below to link to a game to build your own DNA molecule.

Building Molecules & Wrapping up 3.2

On Friday students used molecule kits to practice building amino acids, triglycerides and glucose.  Amino acids were linked together to form dipeptides and students acted as enzymes removing water for a condensation reaction. 

Over the weekend please study for your test on Topic 2 on Wednesday.

Topic 3.2: Carbohydrates, Lipids & Proteins

Today we learned to:

distinguish between organic and inorganic compounds
identify amino acids, glucose, ribose and fatty acids from diagrams showing their structure.
outline the role of condensation and hydrolysis creation/breakdown of macromolecules.

Tonight for homework complete 3.2.3 and 3.2.4 from the syllabus.  In the notes box on your syllabus you will see 3.2.3 already listed for you, just put these in your notes.

For 3.2.4, consider using a chart like the one below to organize your notes.

Name	Found in	Function
Glucose	animals
Lactose	animals
glycogen	animals
Fructose	plants
sucrose	plants
cellulose	plants

Tomorrow we will spend time in class working with models to build the structures of various macromolecules.  We will also wrap up Topic 3.2

Properties of Water

Today students had a short quiz the importance of water's high specific heat and how ice floats.  We discussed the thermal, cohesive and solvent properties of water.

Tonight you should review 3.1.4, 3.1.5 and 3.1.6.  The PowerPoint from class today can be found in the post below, additionally click on the pictures to link you to helpful animations.

Properties of Water (text and animations)

Homework for Wednesday

Tomorrow we will finish 3.1 by learning about the properties of water.  Take notes using this animation on the properties of water.  You will have a short (10 minute) quiz on the information.  Any notes you take you can use. 

The properties of water are so important, you can even buy a book about them here!

Elements in Living Things

Today we started Topic 3: The Chemistry of Life.  The most common elements in living things are C, H, N, O, P and S.  Mr. T's PowerPoint below has the information we talked about in class as well as upcoming information on the properties of water.

Chemical Elements and Water

View more presentations from Stephen Taylor
 

Mitosis, Microscopes and Cancer

Reminder: Your rewrite of the Design Lab is due on either Monday or Tuesday depending on when you have class.

Yesterday H period worked with microscopes to look at mitosis in onion root tips, today E period students had the opportunity to work with microscopes.

After identifying the stages of mitosis, we wrapped up Topic 2 by learning about cancer.

Both classes watched William Li's Talk "Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?"





H period also watched Jay Bradner's talk "Open Source Cancer Research."



Imagine how you much more informed you could be if you watched even just one TED talk per week.  Find all of the talks at www.ted.com