honors biology 2014-2015 dr. thornton office: room 125 561-972-9672 tthornton@oapb.org...

Honors Biology2014-2015

Dr. ThorntonOffice: Room 125

561-972-9672tthornton@oapb.org

Drthorntonscourses.webs.com

http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-biology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

Advanced Placement Exam

Biology SAT II

http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-subject-test-preparation-biology-em

Why Science?

What is one of the greatest threats to human-kind?

Why Biology?

• A virus like Ebola?

Why Biology?

• BSE causative agent (called a prion) is a protein that is folded in the wrong way

Why Biology?

MRSA

• Staph infection that has morphed over time making it resistant to the most used antibiotics

• Most people contract MRSA in the hospital, also a problem in other confined setting such as prisons, daycare centers, nurseries and also in athletes who share locker rooms and gyms

http://akorra.com/2010/10/13/top-10-most-dangerous-germs/

Thalidomide- 1950’s-1960’s • Given to expectant mothers for morning sickness • A sedative and tranquillizer• Used for 12 years before taken off the market

WHY Biology?

What do you know about BPAs?

One generation ingests, two

generations “feel.”

www.niehs.nih.gov/recovery/critical/docs/bpa-signature-project.pdf

Bisphenol A(BPA)

• Used for more than 40 years• Hard plastic food containers – Baby bottles – Reusable cups – The lining of metal food and beverage cans

(including canned liquid infant formula) – Trace amounts of BPA can be found in some foods

packaged in these containers.

http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa/

Biology

• Study of life• Includes– Physics– Chemistry

• All systems– Habitats– Cells– Atoms

Characteristics of Living things

• Uses energy• Respond to their environment• Maintains a relatively constant internal

environment• Information base in the form of DNA• Composed of One or more cells• Evolved from other living things• Highly organized

MYSTERY!

How did 500 people, in 10 days, get Cholera?

What is Science?

Science is based on “knowledge” or “skill”Debate of what science is: Is it mathematical?

Who has the knowledge?• Scientist? Laymen?• Does it depend on what the general population believes?• Does science change?

How is that knowledge verified?Scientific Method: Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

“Baconian Method”

PseudoScience

Scientific Method“Baconian Method”

• Hypothesis• Prediction and testing• Experimental Design• Rigorous Testing• Duplication

Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626

Lab Period One: Appropriate Scientific Sources

First Lab Period: Who determines what is valid scientific results?

1. What are primary, secondary, and tertiary sources?2. How do you read a peer reviewed journal article?3. How do you find appropriate sources (library)

Homework:

• Find peer reviewed article and write a summary in electronic journal (2-3 sentences)

How do you discern between good and poorly performed science?

Acceptable Resources

• Primary Original source or evidence Peer reviewed journal articles

• Secondary Cite, comment on, or build upon

primary sources Books, scientific magazines

• Tertiary Compilation of primary and secondary sources

How you do discern acceptable resources?

• In a small group check the resources on your desk.

• Which are acceptable for scientific research?

The Nature of Science

• Ethics in experimentation • Science Changes