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A.P. Biology
Biology-4
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Getting Started
During the first cycle of
the marking period students
will begin identifying their research projects. Background material
should
be researched using the materials in the biology lab, books in the
library,
and resources found on the Internet. A hypothesis should be formed, and
the student should see me 1) for approval to procede, 2) for
discussion/suggestions,
and 3) to determine if additional materials must be secured from
outside
sources (loan or purchase).
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Projects
In Progress or Recently Completed
Students may enroll in
Independent Study Biology
for one or two semesters. Students are encouraged to pursue research on
a topic and perform individual, replicable experiments. In some
instances,
students might perform this research in small groups, but that is the
exception
rather than the rule.
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Projects
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Descriptions
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| Cloning |
In
Progress: The process
of cloning becomes more refined and difficult as one moves up the
phylogenetic
ladder. the level of sophistication of procedure needed to clone
violets
is higher than that of protists and bacteria. Sudy of asexual
reproduction
and cell differentiation, with an attempt to relate to the recent human
cloning controversy. |
| Embryology of Japanese Medaka |
In Progress:The
intent of this
investigation is to study the anatomy of Medaka in general, and the
reproductive
process in particular. A goal is to determine the most conducive
environmental
conditions for healthy population growth. |
Effects of Nitrates on Chlorella vulgaris
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In
Progress:A unialgal
culture of chlorella is grown in varying concentrations of nitrate. The
intent is to correlate the population, counted on a hemocytometer, with
the concentration of nitrate. This lab has been conducted
sequentially
by students over the past three school years. |
| Genetics of Drosophila
melanogaster |
In Progress: Drosophila
is a genetically
straightforward species, with only four pairs of chromosomes. Starting
with three genetic mutant strains (white eye, ebony body, vestigial
wing),
the goal is to produce a true breeding population that has all three
traits. |
| Joint Project: Transpiration in
Plants. |
Completed: Lab
performed
to study plants' rates of transpiration and conditions that affect it.
Tree cuttings placed into transpirometers, devices that can measure a
plant's
rate of transpiration. Plants were subjected to varying conditions,
including
wind, light, humidity, and darkness. Results confirmed hypotheses that
plants subjected to high air movement and light would have higher rates
of transpiration, and those in the dark and high humidity would have
lower
rates. |
| Biological Oxygen Demand |
In Progress: The
biological oxygen
demand (BOD) of an aquatic environment can help shot the health of the
environment. This study examined the speed of oxygen depletion in two
aquatic
systems by taking daily oxygen concentration measurements. |
| Water Quality |
In Progress: When
determining water
quality, there are many physical and chemical measurements that can be
performed. this experiment will four measurements: temperature,
dissolved
oxygen concentration, pH and total dissolved solids. |
| Photosynthesis |
In Progress: The
photosynthesis
lab is multi-faceted. It involves many little experiments which all
test
photosynthesis rates. Much of the experiment is based on limiting light
waves available to the plant. Light wave restriction/isolation was
accomplished
by covering polycarbonate boxes in colored plastic wrap. These boxes
covered
the plants and a carbon dioxide probe was used to take samples. |
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If you have any questions or comments for Mr. Vavala,
telephone (302)
654-2495, VoiceMail 213, or...send
an e-mail.
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