VDA 4

An Arbor Embolism Questions:

1. What is an embolism, as it pertains to humans?

A human embolism is the blockage of an artery by an object that stops blood from flowing freely.

2. What is an embolism as it pertains to plants/trees?

An embolism pertaining to plants and trees stops the flow of water from getting to the leaves. This is because bubbles of gas gather in the plant's system leading to reduced photosynthesis, minimal nutrient production, and eventually death.

3. What implication does this discovery have in terms of global concern?

Temperatures around the world are rising, and with rising temperatures come droughts. As the global temperature continues to escalate, the probability of drought increases. Greater evaporation could worsen drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires, which can cause forests to die out.

DNA extra credit

1. DNA is an acronym. What is DNA's "real" name?

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

2. What function does DNA serve?

DNA holds information on how to create an organism & carries the genetic information that is required to construct cells.

3. How was DNA's shape discovered? Give me the name of three scientists who played a role in this discovery? (Hint: I'm looking for the names of two men and one woman).

DNA's shape was discovered with X-ray diffraction, and it was discovered by Rosalind Franklin, Francis Crick, and James D. Watson

4. DNA has nucleotide bases, what are the four bases? (Hint: C, G, T, A... what does each letter represent?)

The four bases are thymine, guanine, adenine, and cytosine.

5. In DNA, the four base nucleotides always pair up in a certain way; which letters bond with which?

Cytosine bonds with guanine and thymine pairs up with adenine.

VDA 3

1. What is algae? (Specifically, what kingdom does it belong to and where is it found?)

Kingdom protista, and are found in bodies of water or damp environments

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2. What is another form of biofuel that the article mentions? (Hint! "There's more than _______ in Indiana! Indiana Beach!")

Corn is another form of biofuel the article mentions.

3. When comparing algal biofuel to the biofuel mentioned in your answer to number 2, which one allegedly produces fewer polluntants?

Algae produces less pollutants.

4. How does the algae produce biofuel?

The algae are fed certain sugars, using the energy to produce burnable oils that can be used as fuel substitutes

 

 

Solazyme Video

1. How long does nature take to produce fuel?

Millions of years

2. How long does it take Solazyme to produce fuel?

A matter of days

3. Where is Solazyme currently located?

Peoria, Illinois

VDA 2

1. a) In what way does their research contribute to the greater good?
It helps us to think deeper about how animal's minds work and allows us to bond with them. If we are able to understand an animal's behavior, we may be able to find clues or warning signs that can tell us something about our environment.
  
b) What questions did the scientist pose that led to the research that s/he did?
Why do birds vary their calls?

When birds varied their calls, did that indicate they were giving a different meaning to each message?

Does the degree of danger the chickadees face affect how many "dee" notes they add to the end of their call?

c) What field of science does this fall into?  (Biology, chemistry, physics, etc.?)

It falls into biology.

2. Dear Dr. Templeton,
I think your research on this subject was very interesting and it caught my attention because I own two parakeets that constantly call to each other. I was wondering if other species pick up on the chickadee's alarm calls and know them for what they are. For example, there were some robins around at the same time, would they have been able to recognize them as alarm calls? Also, do male and female chickadees have different calls?
Thank you,
Heba

VDA 1

1) What was the title and URL of the article you read?

A slime with memory
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/a-slime-with-memory/

2) Do you have any questions about anything you read in the article? If so, what are the
questions?
No questions.

3) What did you find MOST fascinating about the article?

The fact that the Physarum polycephalum is capable of having a memory even though it is a one-celled organism.

4) What did you learn?
I learned that this slime mold can contain a thousand or more nuclei and it leaves behind trails of slime that are used as memories. This organism won't revisit a previous trail. I also learned that this organism is not classified as an animal, mold, or fungi.

5) Why was the science found in the article important, in your opinion?

In my opinion, the science found in this article is important because it leads to further study of these organisms, and scientists can find a use for them such as building maps of subway lines and highways.

6) Any additional comments?

No comments.