Week 1: Introduction to Biology

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 - 4 | Lab | Weekly Quiz | Quizstar

Science Scientific method Biology Botany HTML Data Meter	Control group Graph X-axis Y-axis Independent variable Dependent variable SI prefix's	Laboratory safety Lab equipment SI measurement Herpetology Gram Liter

Take this Life Science Pre Test. The test serves two purposes. First - it gives an indication of how much you already know about the life sciences. Second - a comparison with the post test at the end of the year will show how your understanding of life sciences has improved.

Introduction to Biology Class

What's the purpose of an experiment?

Science can be defined as a never ending search for truth. Truth is based on a set of facts and our understanding of those facts. A good scientist must be ready to accept new facts as they are discovered and modify what is "true" in light of these facts. Science is science, no matter what general topic is involved. Science in school is usually taught in classes that are limited to a general area of interest, but the methods of science are a part of our daily lives.

All students of science should have an understanding of the basic science history timeline.

Biology is the second year science class at Desert Vista High School. Biology is a "Life Science". This class will be a little different then what most students are use to, being based around the concept of using computers and the internet to assist the student in learning. This class will cover a wide range of topics from the cellular basis of life, to Earth's environment. Biology concepts that the class learns about depends on the amount of time available during the school year. Students are expected to improve their work habits, skills with computer applications, and Internet researching skills during this school year.

Some of this class is self-paced with the curriculum divided into daily assignments on the website. Check the weekly outline for current assignments and pace of class. For the most part textbooks are used as a resource. Some biology concepts will be discussed together in class, but not all. Students' grades in this class are determined by the demonstration of their abilities.

Biology Notebook: Much like a scientist and other professions it is important to be organized and keep record of your work. When scientists make important discoveries, their work and experiments must be able to be reproduced by others. The only way to do this is by following the original records of the work. It is the students responsibility to keep a well organized biology notebook. Students will find that an organized notebook will benefit there success.

Very Important Student must have a username and password for internet access at school, without this students will be unable to complete this class.

Creating a new folder and Saving assignment files:

When working on biology assignments on your computer, save the files in the following way:

• First Create a directory (folder containing docs. & other files) on a disk (portable USB mini drives work great) and the school server called "biology".
• open drive where directory/folder will be created
• right click and choose "New" then "folder"
• folder will appear, type in name for folder "biology"
• Use this folder to store all biology assignment
• Name your assignment files in this way:
• Use only small-case letters when naming files.
• Begin each file name with the first letter of your first name.
• Follow this with your last name.
• Follow this with the name of the assignment (if name is long abbreviate).
• Follow this with the single digit day number.
• (example) If student Jon Doe is saving a file from the 2nd day of the 9th week on biochemistry, the file name would be - jdoebiochemisty2, plus the appropriate file extension (doc, ppt, gif, etc).
• It is ok to have files with the same name, as long as they are different file types - such as doc, ppt, htm, or gif. If you ever have to save more than one of the same type of file for one day's assignment, just add a letter at the end (a, b,).
• (example) jdoebiochemistry2a.gif, jdoebiochemistry2b.gif, etc.

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Day 1 Assignment - Intro to Bio
Scoring criteria

(Honors students complete both sections)

1. Each student must have their own username and password and demonstrate that they are able to log on to the school server. If this is not the case you must go to the library and set up your account. Do you have a username and password?
2. Use the directions provided on this web page and set up a directory/folder for biology on a disk (mini/thumb/portable drives are even better)and the school server. If you have a home computer you should do the same on that computer. What would the file name look like for this assignment?
3. Use the DV biology homepage (index page) to help you answer the following questions.

1. What is the class rule? Why is (a) so important?
2. Give 5 example of situations that would break this rule?
3. What are the goals for this class?
4. What must be done in order to earn 100% on an assignment?
5. What is a weekly outline and how is it used?
6. How might your biology teacher do things differently then other teachers? Explain
7. Name the different types of daily assignments. Find one on the web page and look it over.
8. Explain how scoring rubrics are used on this web page.
9. Briefly describe how the Bio web page is organized.
10. Starting from the DV biology home page (index page), list the "Mouse clicking" steps you would follow to get to, Day 4 DNA & Traits ?

4. The following problems relate to your knowledge of technology.

1. Anyone can put anything on the web. When first viewing a web page, how would you determine if the web page is a credible source to use?
2. Using a computer fill out the student information document Which is part of the class syllabus. Email to me, as an attachment (see next question), the first part of the student information (don't forget to include your head-shot picture). Get signatures on the last page and bring to class to turn in.
3. Send me an email introducing yourself, include your full name and class period (also attachment from question above). Answer: What is your most enjoyable memory? My email address can be found on this web page. Include your parent/gaurdians email addresses. (If you do not have an email address You can use your parents email)

Honors biology

1. Use the following information to answer the questions below the chart.

Your lab group has been given the task of determining the effect of alcohol on reaction time in humans. The test will consist of a computer program that presents an X in the middle of the screen. The participants must press the spacebar on the keyboard as soon as possible after the X appears. The computer's internal clock will measure the amount of time between the appearance of the X and the pressing of the spacebar. Your group decides to use 30 male volunteers, split equally into the three groups in the data table below.

Group #	Treatment	Average Reaction Time
1	no alcohol	2 milliseconds
2	3 ounces of alcohol	10 milliseconds
3	6 ounces of alcohol	35 milliseconds

1. Which hypothesis is best supported by the data presented?

1. Not everyone consumes alcohol.
2. Amount of alcohol consumed increases reaction time.
3. Age influences reaction time.
4. The decrease in reaction time is caused by the consumption of alcohol.

2. To correctly plot these data, you would place ___ on the X-axis and ___ on the Y-axis.

1. amount of alcohol consumed; age of the volunteer
2. amount of alcohol consumed; reaction time
3. reaction time; amount of alcohol consumed
4. reaction time; age of volunteer

3. Which one of the following represents the control group for this experiment?

1. Group 1
2. Group 2
3. Group 3
4. There is no control group in this experiment

4. In the described experiment ___ is the independent/experimental variable and ___ is the dependent/measured variable.

1. amount of alcohol consumed; age of the volunteer
2. amount of alcohol consumed; reaction time
3. reaction time; amount of alcohol consumed
4. reaction time; age of volunteer

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Week 1- Introduction to biology: Day 2

What is biology?

Laboratory safety is important in all science classes.

Life sciences use some equipment that other sciences do not. The proper use of equipment like microscopes will be covered soon; however, you should review the use of basic lab equipment.

It is important to understand how science develops the information that it has, this is done by a process known as the Scientific Method.

Practice your skill with the scientific method

Biology Class includes basic information from most of the life sciences.

Day 2 Assignment - Intro to Bio
This assignment must be turned in by the end of class today to receive credit.
Scoring criteria

(Honors students complete both sections)

1. Explain in your words what is meant by, "Everyone is responsible" on the lab Safety page.
2. When doing dissections, there is always a danger of being cut with a scalpel or any other sharp object. What safety procedures are you to follow if your lab partner is cut?
3. Where is the eye wash station located in the DVHS science lab?
4. How long should your eyes be flushed with water if a chemical is splashed into them?
5. Broken glass is the most common accident to occur in science labs. What are you to do if glass is broken at your lab station?
6. What type of fire extinguisher is located in the DVHS science lab?
7. What is a graduated cylinder use for?
8. What is a mortar and pestle used for?
9. What type of scientist specializes in the study of fish?
10. Why might a Pathologist research be important to you?
11. What are the basic steps of the Scientific Method?
12. Describe the three factors that are essential for good experimental design.
13. Compare and contrast the two types of experimental data?
14. How does a scientist experimental result finally make it into publication? Why is this important?
15. What does cytology mean? Complete this page: Language of Science

Honors biology

1. You have the chance to interview one scientist from the list of life sciences linked above, decide which one it will be and then write down 5 specific questions you would ask that scientist about his profession.
2. Using your communication skills and this link ask an expert to find an expert in your chosen life science and get answers to your questions. Your answers will be due in one week. Make sure to include the source information for tomorrows due date. Possible communication methods may include forums, email. Important: Use proper etiquette when corresponding. Do not give out personal information.

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Week 1 - Introduction to biology: Day 3 - 4

How many kilograms are in a pound?

Preparing for Science Careers

The International System of Measurement is used in all science measurements. (online conversions):

Graphing is an important skill needed in all sciences. Microsoft Excel is now available to you as a graphing tool. While you still might be asked to construct an occasional graph on paper, most of your science graphs will be made using Excel.

Day 3-4 Assignment - Intro to Bio
This assignment must be turned in by the end of class tomorrow to receive credit.

(Honors students: read honors section first)

1. Study this biological problem.

1. Use Microsoft Excel to construct a line graph of the experimental data.
2. Use a self-evaluation rubric to see if your graph is ready to print.

• Look at your graph on the computer screen. Go through all the scoring criteria on the grade rubric.
• Do not print the graph until your score on the rubric is at least 40.

3. Print the graph when you have reached the appropriate score.
4. Fill out the self-evaluation column of the rubric.

2. Answer the following questions about your graph. Review these links: Graphing and Scientific method

1. What is the control in this experiment?
2. Name some variables in this experiment?
3. What is the independent variable?
4. What is the dependent variable?
5. What conclusions could be reached from the data?
6. How do you think this experiment could be improved?

3. Complete these scientific measurement review questions with your assignment.

1. How many milligrams are in one gram?
2. How many centimeters are in one meter?
3. An animal weighs 20 pounds. How many kilograms is that?
4. A bird fly’s 100 miles. How many kilometers is that?

Turn in the assignment and the completed rubric and graph.
Always staple the rubric on top of the assignment (graph).

Honors biology

1. In place of the biological data above chose your own biological data to graph. First ask yourself a biological question such as the example below. Second, see if you can find the data, if not try again. Make sure to show the data to your instructor before you begin. Include a brief description of the data and cite the location of your data.

a. An example might be, "In phoenix, what month receives the highest amount of rainfall". Search for data on rain fall in Phoenix.

2. When completing part two above refer to the original biological problem in number one.

An experiment is conducted to test a hypothesis.

Biology is the study of living things.

There is about 0.5 kilograms in a pound.