1.1.5 Journal: What Is a Biologist Journal

1.1.5 Journal: What Is a Biologist Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Points possible: 20 Date: 1. Based on what you have learned, what kinds of living and nonliving things do you think a marine biologist studies? What are some questions that biologists might ask about the living things they study? Make observations about the place where the scientist is and use what you already know about biology to answer the question. (5 points) 2. What are some questions that biologists might ask about the living things they study? Think about what the living things need and do. (5 points) 3. Describe two types of living things that biologists could study. Think about types of living things that are not in the ocean what categories of living things are on land? (5 points) 1 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

4. Pick one type of biologist, besides an ocean biologist, and describe what he or she studies. List three questions that biologist might ask about what he or she is studying. (5 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 2 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

2.1.5 Journal: Chemistry in Biology Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Points possible: 20 Date: Watch the video on page 1 of this activity. Then answer the questions below. When you are finished, hand your work to the teacher for grading. 1. In the video, the whale exhaled carbon dioxide, which is made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. List two things a scientist might ask about the movement of carbon dioxide through the whale and its surroundings. Make observations about the surroundings of the whale, and use information you may already know to answer the question. (5 points) 2. What things made of atoms do you see in the video? Think about what you learned about atoms and elements so far in the unit and information you already know. (5 points) 3. The whale shown eats other organisms. How does this relate to the information you learned about atoms in living things? 3 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

Think about the types of elements found in living things. (5 points) 4. Why do you think a scientist studying this whale and its surroundings would need to understand the structure of atoms? (5 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 4 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

3.1.5 Journal: Chloroplasts Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Points possible: 20 Date: 1. Describe two observations a scientist could make about the leaf, cells, and chloroplasts shown. Look for patterns or positions most of the chloroplasts are in. (8 points) 2. Waterweed grows near the surface of the water in lakes and ponds. It often grows in dense clumps. It has been observed that the chloroplasts in this plant move around inside the cell. How might this be an advantage and a disadvantage to the plant? Keep in mind the function of the chloroplast. (6 points) Reference two links on the main page of this journal. 3. Do the trees in your area have much chlorophyll in them right now? Do you think the trees in your area will have more or less chlorophyll in three months than they did now? Leaves usually change colors during the fall season. Keep this in mind as you think about questions. (6 points) 5 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

4.1.5 Journal: Your Sources of Oxygen Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Points possible: 20 Date: 1. Photosynthesis in the Earth s forests produces about half of the oxygen in the atmosphere. Photosynthesis in the Earth s oceans produces the other half of the oxygen in the atmosphere. Why do you think so much photosynthesis occurs in the oceans? Think about what type of organisms perform photosynthesis. (8 points) 2. The rain forests of South America are very active photosynthetic zones. Although plants around the world use photosynthesis, these areas are more productive than other parts of the planet. a) About half of the forests that covered the Earth in the early 1900s have been cut down. Discuss the impact this has on carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Support your answer. Look back at the reaction for photosynthesis. Trees that are cut down can no longer photosynthesize. (4 points) 7 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

b. Why might rain forests in South America and near the equator be so productive? List two reasons. Think about the climate and weather near the equator and in a rain forest. (4 points) 3. Where near your home do you think the highest level of photosynthesis is happening? Think about where in your area photosynthetic organisms are growing. (4 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 8 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

5.1.5 Journal: Your Contribution Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Points possible: 20 Date: 1. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps heat. Scientists are concerned that too much carbon dioxide is being released into the air by human activity. Using your knowledge of the carbon cycle, where do you think this carbon dioxide is coming from? List at least three possible sources of human-related carbon dioxide production. Carbon dioxide is produced by the burning of fossil fuels. (10 points) 2. Based on your answer to question 1, what do you think could be done to reduce levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? What could people change that would reduce the burning of fossil fuels? (10 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 9 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

7.1.5 Journal: Your Traits Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Date: 1. Each person's DNA contains certain genes that code for specific traits. List at least 15 traits that make up your body's appearance. Your traits are things like eye color, arm length, or foot size. (15 points) 2. If someone had the list of traits you provided in question 1, do you think he or she would be able to find you in a group of 1000 people? Why or why not? If not, what other information encoded in your genes might distinguish you from the others in the group? What are other traits that are encoded for by DNA? (5 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 10 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

8.1.5 Journal: Nucleic Acids Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Date: 1. Do you think it is fair that Watson and Crick were credited with the discovery when so many other scientists were involved? Why or why not? Think about your opinion and then back it up with at least one fact. (10 points) 2. Scientists often work together with other scientists. If you were working in a scientific laboratory, how could you help people in your laboratory work together in a way that is effective, and help make sure that people got fair credit for their work? What is needed for people to work together in an effective way? (10 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 11 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

9.1.5 Journal: Your Ecosystem Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Date: 1. The world has many different biomes. A biome is an area that can be described by its weather or climate. What type of biome do you live in? Do you live in a desert or a rain forest or a different type of biome? (3 points) 2. An ecosystem is made up of communities of organisms along with abiotic conditions. a) What are three of the abiotic conditions in your ecosystem? Abiotic factors are nonliving things like sunlight and rainfall. (3 points) b) What are at least four different populations of organisms that live in your ecosystem? Plants, insects, and pets are all different types of organisms. (4 points) 12 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

3. The organisms that live in an ecosystem interact with abiotic factors and with other organisms. What are some ways that the organisms in your ecosystem interact? Chose one organism and describe three different interactions it has. Think about how the organism gets food and water. (3 points) 4. How does energy move through your ecosystem? Think about the producers (plants) and how energy moves from producers to other organisms. (3 points) 5. If a scientist were to study the organisms in your ecosystem, what questions might they ask? Propose two questions. Think about the organisms that live in your ecosystem and what things about them might be interesting to study. (4 points) 13 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

10.1.5 Journal: Theories and Laws Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Date: 1. A scientific law is a statement of fact that describes an action or set of actions. Laws are accepted as fact because they are always observed to be true. Examples of scientific laws are Newton's laws of motion. These laws describe the motion of moving objects. a) Give an example of a scientific law have you studied or heard of. (Think about what happens when an apple falls from a tree.) (2 points) b) How do you know that this is a law in scientific terms? Read through the definition of law in the question above. (2 points) 2. A hypothesis is an educated guess based upon observation. It is an explanation of a single event based upon what is observed. A hypothesis has not been proved but can be supported by experimentation. a) Suppose that out of 10 trees planted in a yard, only five survived. What kind of hypothesis could you make about this observation or event? Remember that a hypothesis needs to have a certain format. (2 points) 15 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

b) How could you test this hypothesis? What type of experiment could you perform? (2 points) c) How would this hypothesis be different from a scientific law? Review the definitions of law and hypothesis to help you. (2 points) 3. In science, a theory is more like a scientific law than a hypothesis. A theory explains a set of observations or events. It must be verified multiple times by many different scientists. One scientist cannot create a theory on 16 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

his or her own. a) Look back at your hypothesis from question 2. Could this hypothesis become a theory if you repeated your experiment 100 different times and got the same results? Can a theory be created by just one person? (2 points) b. What two things would need to happen for your hypothesis to eventually become a theory? Look back over the definition of a theory. (2 points) c) What is the difference between a scientific theory and a scientific law? Look closely at the definitions of theory and law and try to see what is different. (2 points) 17 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

4. Think about the concept of evolution. a) Would you say this is a hypothesis or a theory? Think about the difference between a theory and a hypothesis and try to apply it the concept of evolution. (2 points) b) If the concept of evolution is defined as a scientific theory, what must be true about the concept of evolution? Look over your answers in question 3 and try to apply these ideas to the theory of evolution. (2 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 18 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

11.1.7 Journal: Diet and Your Body Journal Biology Core (S1142419) Name: Date: 1. Your body needs calcium to build strong bones and teeth. Calcium is also used for nerve function and muscle contraction. Most growing teens need about 1,200 mg of calcium each day. There are about 300 mg of calcium in one glass of cow's milk. a) What foods have high levels of calcium? Look at the USDA pyramid and see what foods are high in calcium. (2 points) b) In general, do you think you get enough calcium in your diet? What foods from the food pyramid do you eat regularly? (2 points) 2. Iron is an essential nutrient, especially for teenagers. It is a component of red blood cells and is needed to carry oxygen to growing muscles and tissues. Teenagers need around 12 to 15 mg of iron each day. Luckily, many cereals and baked goods are fortified with iron. This means that iron is added to them. 19 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

a) What foods have high levels of iron? Look at the food pyramid; items in the meat group generally have a lot of iron. (2 points) b) Based on the pyramid and what you know about iron, do you think you get enough iron in your diet? c) People who lack iron in their diets are at risk of anemia. This condition causes weakness in the body and a decreased capacity for learning. Why would a lack of iron cause anemia? Think about the function of red blood cells in the body to help you answer this question. (2 points) 20 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

3. Your body needs protein. Protein is broken down into amino acids that are then used to build the proteins your cells need to function. What is the primary source of protein in your diet? Use the food pyramid to see what types of protein-rich foods you eat on a regular basis. (2 points) 4. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health. a) How many servings of fruits and vegetables does the USDA recommend getting every day? Look at the food pyramid and add up the servings of fruit and vegetables. (2 points) b) Think about what you ate yesterday. Did you consume the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables? Make a list of what you eat in a typical day and compare this to the recommended amount. (2 points) 21 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM

5. The USDA recommends eating fats, oils, and sweets sparingly. Do you think most people in the United States follow this advice? Foods like chips, candy, and fast food contain high amounts of fats or sweets. (2 points) 6. Overall, do you think your diet provides your body with all of the nutrients needed to be healthy and strong? Use information from the pyramid to support your answer. Think about your diet for the last few days and compare it to the foods listed in the pyramid. (2 points) Copyright 2010 Apex Learning Inc. (See Terms of Use at www.apexvs.com/termsofuse) 22 of 22 9/30/10 10:07 AM