Today, as a small revision and as a treat for your week long vacation, your work was to begin a cartoon that explains the lytic cycle of a virus. It must include all six frames, contain text, and be colored. It is due Monday when you come back to classes. Enjoy your week off.
Well, today we reviewed the structure of the cell before moving on to the process of viral replication. In doing this, we saw the two type of viral cycles: the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. Please know the differences and what happens in each of them. (The lytic cycle is the one that results in new viruses and the lysogenic cycle is the one that results in continuous infection of new generations of host cells without new viruses being produced.) The lysogentic cycle can lead into the lytic cycle. We also spoke a little about the second layer - the membrane envelope - that can form around some viruses. I gave you a worksheet to do on viruses.
Hello, all. I wasn't able to get all of your exams marked so I'll try to get them back to you tomorrow. Today, we started your new Biology 11 unit. This unit is Microbiology, which includes viruses and bacteria. Please refer to the WYNTK handout for information about the unit. If you need another copy, you can download it from the website here.
Today, we reviewed decomposers by reading the sheet on decay and decomposition. After answering some questions, we looked at the new and important topic of photosynthesis and cellular aerobic respiration. Photosynthesis is very important as it is the only way that we can get energy. Eventhough the sun is a large and endless supplier of energy, only plants (and a few other organisms) can capture this energy and convert it to useable matter. It is the plants' ability to capture light that allows animals to be present on earth. Without them, no one would be living on earth.
After yesterday, I didn't get a feeling that you all understood density independent and density dependent factors controlling population growth. So, we looked at it again with you reading about it in your books. Then, I introduced Decomposers, which are the organisms that return nutrients from dead things back to the soil so plants can use them to build more biomass. Homework is the worksheet.
Hello, all. Today we continued on with the stuff we did yesterday. We looked at Carrying Capacity to get to the Logistic type of population growth, which is the more likely way pattern of growth in nature. Then, we looked at density dependent and density independent factors that limit growth, with examples for each. (Fishing for cod as an example of density independent and cyclic fox and rabbit population growths for examples of density dependent.)
Hello, all. I'm sorry about Friday but I had to go see the doctor again. The good news is the doctor says I'll live. Today, we looked at the formula for calculating population growth. After that, we looked at two different types of population growth. One: Exponential growth, such as the human population grows or bacteria population grows. Please remember that this is not a common type of growth. It is usually only seen in situations where everything is perfect and provided. This happens in artificial environments but not often in the real world. The second type is logistic growth where there is a carrying capacity for the population. This results in a leveling off of population growth to a steady stated (death=birth). This is the type of growth that we more commonly see in nature since there is a limit to available resources that organisms in a population need in order to grow. When these limits are reached, population growth levels to a steady state/equilibrium phase. 
Hello. I know that today was somewhat complicated with all those pyramids but hopefully you got the idea that these pyramids are representations of energy flowing from one trophic level to another. Remember, energy pyramids show that only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level transfers to the organism that eats it.
Today, we went over the idea of scientific method. In doing so, we proved that our hypothesis that Thompson loves Dana is strong. Remember, the steps of scientific method and definitely make sure you understand the importance of the control. Obviously, the experiment must also be repeatable and consistent. Otherwise, you really don't prove anything at all.
Well, how do you do? Welcome to your website. On this website, I'll post all homework and other assignments, along with a brief summary of what we did each day. All handouts will be posted within this site so you can't say you didn't do your homework because you lost the assignment. Good luck and don't hesitate to email me with issues or questions.
