by Miss Baker
I hope everyone has had a fantastic summer! The blog’s home base has moved from the southeast to the northeast and because school starts later in the north the blog will not repopen until September 15th. I look forward to all the fantastic posts this year’s biology students will create and hope that previous students and visitors also submit posts/comments.
Most of all, I hope everyone has an incredible year!
by Miss Baker
I’ve been hearing a lot about Spore, a new game invented by the SIMS creators. The game involves a unicellular organism that the player will control as it evolves into a more complex organism. There’s a lot of buzz about it in the science world, although many scientists don’t like it.
As with any popular take on a scientific concept, there’s bound to be some good science coupled with bad science in the game. From what I saw in the video sample, the player controls the evolution of physical appearance, mating behaviors, inter- and intraspecific competition, and more complex social behaviors. Whether or not the science behind it is any good, it does look like fun.
You can already download a trial of the Creature Creator. The competition on youtube sounds pretty fun, too. The game will be released September 7, 2008.
Take a bow. Everyone thinks you’re a Rock Star, photo source
by Miss Baker
Congratulations to the winners and to all who were nominated! Winners may write an acceptance speech in a comment to this post.
Best Medical Post
WINNER: Why are Babies Born With Blue Eyes by Kelsey
Shorter Height = Longer Life by Matt
Singing the Blues, Feeling Blue, But Turning Blue? by Caroline
Genetic Disease With a Cure by Emily R.
P is for Pain by Anna
Best Classroom Connection Post
WINNER: The Motivational Donut by Peter
Shark Attacks by Alex
Octopus vs. Shark by Connor
Can Pollutants Change a Bird’s Song by Michael
I Once Was Blind But Now I See by Jacob
Best Positive Post
WINNER: Rubber Sidewalks = More Trees to Save Our Earth by Sarah
Nocturnal Beauties by Codie
There is Still Plenty to Save by Danielle
Hot Stuff by Michael
Recreating Coral Reefs in Bali by Monica
Best Real World Post
WINNER: Tanning Beds by Rachel S.
Could You Be Gaining Weight Just Sitting Here by Taylor
Video Gamer or Cocaine Addict by Lauren O.
Morality Quiz by Rose
Halo 3: Is it Possible by Connor
Best Ecology Post
WINNER: Imagine Turning the Faucet…and Nothing Coming Out by Emily R
Humans, The Silent Killer by Connor
Disappearance of the Bees by Codie
Should We Fear the Same Fate as the Dinosaurs by Matt
What I’ve Done by Amanda
Best Endless Forms Most Beautiful Post
WINNER: The Lyrebird by Richie
The Rock Hyrax by Will
The Chimaera by Codie
The Giant Panda by Mary Claire
The Manatee by Bryant
Best AP Biology Post
WINNER: I Once Was Blind But My Offspring Might See by Jacob
Sickle Cell Anemia Isn’t Half Bad by Stevie
Why Do Babies Have Blue Eyes by Kelsey
Is Intelligence Inherited by Lauren K.
Like Father, Like Son by Jackie
Best Post Overall
WINNER: Imagine Turning the Faucet…and Nothing Coming Out by Emily R.
Killing for Kicks by Graham
Why Do Men Have Nipples by Kelsey
Singing the Blues, Feeling Blue, But Turning Blue? by Caroline
Should We Fear the Same Fate as the Dinosaurs by Matt
Best Post Writer
WINNER: Connor
Matt
Emily R.
Anna
Michael
Best Comment Writer
WINNER: Bryant
Ali
Katie O.
Evelyn
Grant T.
by Miss Baker
Do you use Facebook* to keep up with your friends? Want another way to check what’s happening here on Extreme Biology? Add the Extreme Biology Facebook application by clicking here.
*This is in no way a promotion of Facebook. There is no requirement for students to join Facebook or use this application for this class. I do not benefit from your use of this application. I just thought it would be something fun to add to your Facebook page if you have one! Do not attempt to “friend” me. I have to reject you. 
by Miss Baker
The second group to go on the biology class field trip enjoyed a beautiful, but cold day. You can view photos from their trip by clicking on the Pictures link on the right. If you went on the trip and have any photos to add please email them to me.
We’ll be putting all of our data online over the next couple of days. A link to the data will be provided when that happens. We may even make a Voicethread for all the pictures. So stay tuned!
by Miss Baker
The first group to go on the biology field trip had a great time. Click on the PICTURES link to your right to see more pictures. After the second group goes on the trip April 15th, I’ll post their pictures as well.
Thanks 4th & 6th period for being so good-spirited even in light of the cold, dreary weather. I definitely feel very blessed to have you as my students!
The ability to tongue roll is a genetically inherited trait! Photo source
by Miss Baker
Click here for the answers to the pedigree practice problems. If you are having trouble downloading this file you will need to stop by the classroom tomorrow and check your answers.
Honors students: Go here to work on the more difficult problems. When you are attempting to answer these problems you must first answer the following questions:
a) Is this a sex-linked trait or a non-sex linked trait?
b) Is this a dominant trait or a recessive trait?
Please note that it will take a lot more time to answer these questions then your typical pedigree problems. It took me about 5 minutes per question and I have been doing this considerably longer than you have. So expect each question to take between 15-20 minutes. Good luck!
by Miss Baker
In addition to commenting on scienceblogs.com, students may comment on Mr. Bird’s Biology blog for the blog project.
by Miss Baker
An interesting taxonomy quiz has been posted over at scienceblogs.com. Check it out. The author is going to post the “official” answers on Monday so make sure you check back then.
by Miss Baker
I just had to pass this on. Mrs. Delgais told me about a website called Free Rice. On the site you can practice your SAT vocabulary and for every correct vocabulary word you get, a donation of 20 grains of rice is made to help end world hunger! There are a few science terms in the list. I spent some time there and managed to donate over 5000 grains. How many will you donate?
In honor of this great website, I’ve posted the We Are the World music video on our video page. You’d have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this song. If the video looks familiar that’s because the PCR video was a spoof of this video! Ask your parents if they remember the original.
by Miss Baker
Click here to see the video. Click here to see our data.
The Birds on an Island Lab is a simulation of Peter and Rosemary Grant’s research on the Galapagos Islands. A husband-wife team, the Grants spent over 30 years researching finches on the islands. Their research is the main focus of the Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time. You can view some of the actual data collected by the Grants here. The data shows that what we experienced in our lab activity matches closely with what the Grants noticed in wild finch populations.
by Miss Baker
A common argument against evolutionary biology is that it promotes racism. This argument persists even though scientists have smashed it to bits repeatedly. There are many reasons why biology cannot promote racism. Here is my favorite:
Biology Can’t Promote Racism Because…
Science is amoral - neither moral or immoral. Racism is the application of morality to race (e.g. whites are morally superior to blacks). Therefore, it is impossible for science to promote racism. Certainly, someone can take a scientific concept, twist it, and configure it to serve their own purposes, however, when they do this they are no longer practicing science.
Biology Can Help Destroy Racism
Modern genetics has shown that there are only minor differences between races. In fact, most geneticists don’t consider race at all. They believe race is a myth. Here are some reasons why:
1. There are more genes involved in the expression of height than there are in the expression of observable racial differences. In other words, a tall black man and a tall white man are probably more similar genetically than a tall black man and a short black man (source).
2. According to one article, the American Anthropological Society has stated, “The concept of race has no validity…in the human species.” Yes, there are some slight physical differences among people, but these are due to different environmental pressures.
Luigi Cavalli-Sforza, a Stanford Univ. geneticist said,
…the environment, literally, works only on the surface, changing skin and hair a little bit…Underneath, there has been little change.
3. “Not one characteristic, trait or even gene distinguishes all the members of one so-called race from all the members of another so-called race” (source).
I’ve only touched on three reasons here, but you can find dozens upon dozens more on the website, “Is Race Real?” as well as on the fantastic PBS website, “Race”.
Unfortunately, some biologists like Jonathon Marks, a Univ. of California-Berkely anthropologist, are a bit pessimisic of their ability to convince people that the concept of race has no basis:
Teaching that racial categories lack biological validity can be as much of a challenge as teaching in the 17th century that the Earth goes around the sun.
Where is the Martin Luther King, Jr. of science?
