Spring Break 2012- All Aboard

This year for spring break I went on a cruise. The cruise left from New Orleans and stopped at three ports before returning to New Orleans. The cruise was a total of 6 days; 3 days at sea and 3 days at port. My favorite part of a cruise is the days at sea because I can relax all day and lay out in the sun.

 

The first port we stopped at was Cozumel, Mexico. At this port, my family and I went scuba diving.

The second port was Grand Cayman. Here we took a boat to a shallow sandbar, miles out into the ocean where there were hundreds of stingrays. We fed, pet and kissed the stingrays. It is said that if one kisses a stingray, it will bring them 7 years of good luck.

The third port was Jamaica. Jamaica is the home of the famous Dunns river falls. My family and I climbed over 900 ft up the falls.

Overall it was a great vacation. I was able to see some of my extended family that I usually don’t get to see a lot. Also, any excuse to leave the bipolar Michigan weather is okay with me. 

Monkey Business

Everyone knows that humans are supposedly evolved for apes, but prior to last Friday, it was believed that humans are most closely related to chimpanzees. Researchers have recently completed the genome sequence for the gorilla, which is the last of the living great apes to have its genome decodes. Now for the first time, scientists have been able to compare the genomes of the four great apes: humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. This study shows that humans are actually more closely related to gorillas than any other ape.

What sophomores need to know…

Diffusion:
This is the movement from a HIGH concentration to a LOW concentration.

                HIGH à LOW

Simple Diffusion:
- Passing through the cell membrane into or out of the cell
- No energy needed

Facilitated Diffusion:
- Diffusion through protein channels
- Channels move SPECIFIC molecules across the cell membrane
- No energy needed

Osmosis:
- The movement of WATER across the cell membrane

 

Active Transport:
- Diffusion AGAINST concentration gradient

                LOW à HIGH

- Uses an protein pump (like a protein channel) that moves it across the cell membrane
- Needs energy (ATP)

Nucleus: Help Wanted

If I had to do the job of any cell organelle I would want to perform the job of the nucleus. I would want to be the nucleus because it has the most important job in the cell. The nucleus protects the DNA. Without the DNA, proteins could not be made. Without proteins, a living organism could not function because proteins do everything.

Enzyme Lab

The lab we did this week on enzymes was a good lab to start with. I was a great way to understand enzymes better and also to familiarize ourselves with the lab supplies. The lab was a little rough at the start when we could not get a reaction but once the problem was fixed, we had no more difficulties. I think the lab reports will give me a needed review on what they should look like at how they are set up. Over all I think this lab prepared the class and gave us a look at what future lab expectations will be.

Like and dislike.

The subject I am looking forward the most is ecosystems because it is easy to understand and is very interesting.

The subject I am looking forward the least is the cell unit. I don't understand it at all and I find it hard to learn when I can't physically see it.

About Me.

Hello, my name is Shelby Fitzpatrick and I am a senior at Sparta High School. I enjoy Cheerleading, Gymnastics, and any kind of water sport. One day I aspire to become a high school science teacher or a Geologist.
I am taking this course because it will help me prepare for college and give me a head start on my future career field.
I hope I get a better understanding of Biology and what colleges classes will be like. I also hope that this course will teach me the basics so that I will be ready for harder science classes in college.