NOTES: a summary of what we learned about protein synthesis
A diagram worksheet summary
More practice generating mRNA, tRNA and Amino Acids in this link here
.
Monday, September 28, 2026
the Genetic Code
how evolutionary change occurs
WRITE A SUMMARY OF HOW SPECIATION OCCURS, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
review these intro notes on evolution, and read the notes on
2. NEXT, write a summary of the human evolution video
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/video/human-origin-101/
Monday, September 21, 2026
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
BIRD NEST lab
This bushtit nest is extremely fragile. It was collected from a Vancouver sidewalk more than 5 years ago prior to the outbreak of the current mammalian variant of highly pathogenic avian flu. Also Flu viruses are not viable for the time that has elapsed. It is not advisable at this time to collect any bird nests due to potential exposure to HPAI.
Do not take it out of its container. Instead, use the petri dishes which contain parts of this nest to answer the questions.
FYI if you are working from home, I will upload clear pictures of the bushtit nest here on this blog and on TEAMS, so you may do this assignment.
Investigation: Write a report as a document or slide show.
1. a. Here is some info on Bushtit biology right here: an excerpt from the website:
"Bushtits need to eat 80% of their body weight each day to keep up with their speedy metabolisms when weather is warm- they eat even more when it cools down. According to a study from 1907, bushtits in California had diets that consisted of 81% insect matter through most of the year, and which increased to 100% insect matter in the spring. "
write 10 points which characterize bushtit biology
1. NEST SAMPLE (shared microscope) : Observe the tiny sample of the nest under the microscope and report what you see. Can you see the spider silk? The moss? feathers? Take a picture with your camera if you can.
2. COLLECT YOUR OWN SAMPLE OF a similar species of MOSS and LICHEN that is NOT from the nest from outside and examine this magnified either under the microscope ( OR using your camera to take a really close shot ) and draw your sample. Answer this question: What properties of moss make it suitable for nesting material?
3. Listen for the sound of a bushtit around our school. Observe for bushtits over a few days. Draw a map of where and when you hear this sound and include it in the report.
4. Optional extra observations: Some of you began looking at other interesting specimens in our class and using our microscopes. If you looked at other specimens and photographed them, include them here too. If you did not, no worries, number 4 is optional.
Evaluation GROUP ACTIVITY
17-20 - This is a beautifully presented assignment with clear observations, photos, drawings and observations. It is insightful and excellently done. It is typed or written in ink and in colour
13-16 - This assignment is complete and very well done with great photos and observations. It is in pencil
5- 12 - This is a good start with some good observations but it is incomplete
Monday, September 14, 2026
NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION
Read these notes on classification
please correct the following in these notes: the notes show the old classification. today the new classification is:
Kingdoms archaea , bacteria (formerly monera ) and eukarya
and under the eukarya kingdoms kingdom animalia, fungi and plantae
Answer these questions
1. What is classification? Who invented it?
2. Explain the term binomial nomenclature
3. What are the taxons of life, in order of largest to smallest?
4. Define species.
5. Cell respiration is a universal energy equation. Where does it happen? Write the equation.
6. What is ATP, ADP. Give an analogy for how this works
7. Define Heterotroph and Autotroph
8. ACCORDING TO THESE NOTES, What is the definition of
a. Animal
b. plant
c. Fungus
d. Protozoa
e. Monera
Hey Eu! Eukaryotes vs Prokaryotes
watch this intro video on Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes
This video is an intro to some of the similarities and differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. It is meant to accompany our class notes.
Vocabulary words and ideas in the video:
Eukaryote Prokaryote DNA nuclear membrane protozoan multicellular organisms unicellular organisms cell membrane, cytoplasm, DNA, RNA, ribosome, protein, endoplasmic reticulum vacuole mitochondria Plant cell chloroplast cell wall made of cellulose cell wall made of peptidoglycan Bacteria in the environment and the gut
MAKE a model of the cell out of lego: Make one eukaryotic cell and one prokaryotic cell
Make a creative summary of these notes. The summary must cover all of the points below:
1. What are the 4 criteria to life?
2. What are the two main types of cells on earth?
3. Give an example of a. UNICELLULAR organism b. MULTICELLULAR organism
4. I gave an example of the cell as a chocolate factory. Make your own analogy of the cell and include EVERY ORGANELLE. You may choose a plant cell or an animal cell.
5. How are plant cells different from animal cells?
6. What are four ways that cells can interact with each other. below
evaluation: 20 points
Classification Activity
1. Read 196-199 in the Biology Textbook
and make point form notes on these pages, copying fig 7.2 an 7.3. Write all the definitions of words in bold: binomial nomenclature, species, dichotomous key, Taxa, phylogeny.
2. Examine all the specimens in class
a. draw the specimen using a half page per drawing
b. Identify the Kingdom or phylum and include as many taxons as possible
c. What are the adaptations?
d. What is your evidence for your answer for b?
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
parasitic worm assignment
PARASITIC WORMS ASSIGNMENT:
Several Children in Vancouver were sent to your clinic with the following symptoms: In each case:
Examine the specimen and attempt to identify the organism. What phylum of parasitic worm do you think this is? Furthermore, give evidence for your diagnosis and offer a course of action to cure the patient and prevent further infestation: Also, devise a method to contain any possibility of outbreak.
Kitty Pride is a young woman who lives in a mansion in Southlands in a special School for gifted youth. She was experiencing abdominal symptoms of bloating and cramping, and enteritis in general. She also noticed that she has been feeling unusually anemic, lately. Blood work indicates an elevated white cell count. Sample C was found in her stool sample
Walt Chan is a two year old boy, with two sisters and a pit bull . He is an active toddler who likes to play in the outdoors. Walt has recently developed enteritis of unknown origin. His symptoms included bloating, cramping (which made him cry at night) and mild “car sickness” symptoms. When Walt went in for blood tests, his white blood cell count was found to be elevated, particularly his eosinophils. Furthermore, a stool sample yielded the specimen A.
Vince Man is a two year old boy who lives in Kerrisdale. Vince is an active toddler who loves to play in the outdoors. He lives with his parents but is cared for by his grandmother who loves to cook traditional northern Chinese food for him. Vince goes to a daycare part time where he plays with other children ranging from age 1-3. Vince began getting unusual enteritis with an elevated white blood cell count. His grandma was horrified one day to find sample Z in his stool.
Sebastien Slartibartfast is a two year old boy who lives in Kerrisdale. Sebastien has been complaining of an itchy bum for several weeks. His scratching is beginning to damage his skin and rectum.He is an only child with many pets: a hamster, a cat and two zebra finches. Sebastien also attends a daycare that admits children ages 0 to 3. Sample E (sample D) was found in Sebastien’s stool sample. Sebastien’s Dad has noticed that he has similar symptoms as Sebastien. (itchiness). Sample B was found in his stool.
Another view of sample C is here the ruler is in cm
DIAGNOSE THE PARASITE ASSIGNMENT
Marks:
Drawing of your specimen is clear, labelled 10
Write up is logical and you back up your claims with evidence: 13-15 out of 15
You correctly identify your specimen but it appears that you guessed, because you offer only some evidence 8-10/15
You correctly identify the specimen but offer no evidence 5/15
Total : 25
Pick a worm, any worm
Pick a specimen to look at from our collection . Draw and label the parts and describe the life cycle
Many images can be found on this website for labeling
https://www.k-state.edu/parasitology/625tutorials/index.html
images are copyright Steve J. Upton, Kansas State University
Have a look at a trematode
https://www.k-state.edu/parasitology/625tutorials/Trematodes08.html
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Platyhelminthes Lesson
Platyhelminthes
Review my slideshow on flatworms and parasites
And take a look at this video of a liver fluke:This liver fluke parasite was found inside a 20 year old man who complained of abdominal pain
Assignment 20 marks
Summarize the key ideas (see vocab words) in a one page drawing or poem or interview a flatworm.
Watch the Shape of Life Video on flatworms. Platyhelminthes,
the first hunter:
https://www.shapeoflife.org/video/flatworms-first-hunter
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Cnidaria Lesson
Cnidaria
Read the Cnidaria section of these notes
Read the Cnidaria notes on these slides
These notes and slides will be the subject of an open book quiz.
Monday, January 6, 2025
You Animal!
I would like you to watch some intro videos on animalia and then do the assignments.
Your notes introducing you to Animalia are here. Please watch these introductory videos which will try to explain a few of the concepts. I still need to make the one on the primary germ layers though.See the assignment below:
Assignment 1: Answer these questions and submit your answers. Add some creativity to your answers.
12-15 points: assignment is brilliant, it stands out, it summarizes the main points in a creative format, it is inked and in colour
10-12 assignment is excellent and includes all the main points. inked and in colour
5-10assignnent is complete it may not be inked or in colour
1-4 this is incomplete
Sunday, January 5, 2025
PORIFERA: SPONGES
Porifera
Watch this intro video on how sponges filter feed with their collar cells
Here are your Notes on sponges
Sponges slide show
ASSIGNMENT : Create at least three pages out of the following material. Each page will be evaluated for 5 points for a total of 15 points. You may use more pages if you want for each section. Please upload a picture (jpeg) or pdf of your work on microsoft teams
PAGE 1.
Draw a one page cartoon or write a rhyming poem/rap song on the Sponges slide show.
PAGE 2
Sponges are the earliest animals:
Watch this video and give me a cartoon or poem about the main points of this Shape of Life video
https://www.shapeoflife.org/video/sponges-origins
PAGE 3
IF YOU PUT A SPONGE THROUGH A BLENDER AND TRY TO MAKE BOBA OUT OF IT...
the sponge will survive! Sponges are capable of reassembling themselves. Watch this cool video to observe this phenomenon and summarize the main points in a cartoon or a poem
https://www.shapeoflife.org/video/sponges-time-lapse-sponge-cells-recombining
Evaluation for the cartoon
5. your cartoon stands out from all the rest. it is well thought out and work has been put into it. It is in ink or colour. it includes all the major points.
4 your cartoon is excellent and it includes all the major points
3 your cartoon is quite good. it may be missing a few details but it is well done
0-2. your cartoon is a good start but it is incomplete
Evaluation for the rap or rhyming poem
5. your writing includes all the major details of the content. it has good rhythm and it is very clever
4. your writing is excellent and includes all the correct details. it rhymes
3. your content is really good, it is missing a few details but still very entertaining
0-2. your writing is incomplete.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Looking at Histology slides
We have some human lymph node slides. Examine these under the microscope and make a drawing under low power and high power. Label the parts of the lymph node as described in this excellent website
https://histologyblog.com/2012/04/30/histoquarterly-lymph-node/\
These are numbers 16, 19 in the slide A box
Examine Human blood smear and identify the RBC and WBC , try to identify WBC's using the
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Articles on H5N1
Dr. Filiatrault was a co-author of this article . Read it and summarize it
Opinion: Gambling with bird flu is asking for trouble — and another pandemic
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Interview with the Dr. who stopped SARS
read the following newspaper article written by Pete McMartin in 2010, in the Vancouver Sun :
A VANCOUVER DR WHO STOPPED SARS COLD
By Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun May 15, 2010
On March 7, 2003, at 1:55 p.m., Dr. Lyne Filiatrault was nearing the end of her shift when a 55-year-old man was wheeled into the emergency department of Vancouver General Hospital. He was turning blue.
That day he had returned from a visit to Hong Kong, where he and his wife had stayed on the 14th floor of the Metropole Hotel. Staying on the ninth floor of the same hotel was a physician from mainland China, who, the week the man and his wife were there, developed symptoms so debilitating that he had checked himself into a Hong Kong hospital on Feb. 22. There he was put into an intensive care unit. He died on March 4.
The illness the Chinese physician died of was so new to the medical community it did not yet have a name, but within days it would come to be known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. SARS.
From that ninth floor of the Metropole, the disease spread outward, like ripples from a stone dropped in water. A second Metropole guest died on March 13 after travelling to Vietnam. Health care workers there were infected, as were medical staff in Hong Kong, probably because they had not taken the correct respiratory precautions. Cases were reported in Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and China. Fears grew that a new global pandemic was gaining momentum.
But on March 7, no one in the emergency department of VGH knew what SARS was. The BC Centre for Disease Control had sent out universal e-mails warning hospital staffs to be on the lookout for a new strain of avian flu, but SARS is not avian flu, and e-mails can go unread.
Filiatrault, however, was the kind of doctor who read all her e-mails, especially those from the BCCDC. She has a reputation for a fanatical sense of duty and hard work, often working hours past her shift's end.
"She works so hard and is so dedicated to her work," said her husband, Dr. David Haughton, an emergency-department physician at Children's Hospital, "that she'll wake up in the middle of the night because she's worried she forgot some detail, and then she'll phone the ward. She's done it so many times, they'll just pick up the phone and say, 'Lyne, go back to sleep.'"
So while Filiatrault did not know exactly what the man who came through VGH's doors on March 7 ailed from, she knew enough from reading the BCCDC's e-mails that a patient recently arrived from Asia who was having such trouble breathing that he was turning blue warranted medical care of extraordinary caution.
Often, emergency-ward patients in a teaching hospital will first be examined by students or interns, but Filiatrault, who had worked in VGH's emergency department since 1997, examined the patient herself. She summoned a respirologist. The patient was immediately put on oxygen and blood work was done. She, the attending nurse and the respirologist hoisted the patient into bed.
"Initially, when he came in," Filiatrault said, "we didn't have any protective gear, so we were lucky we didn't contract the disease. I came down with a mild flu that weekend, which freaked my family out, but I was tested, and I never developed any antibodies."
Within minutes, it was decided that the man, who would soon become known as Patient Zero, should be placed in isolation. It was a group decision made by the department personnel, Filiatrault said, not her alone.
"I don't care to, or want to, take sole responsibility for the decisions that were made concerning the patient," she said. "I can't stress enough that this was a group effort."
It should be interjected here that Filiatrault is so self-effacing she originally did not want to do an interview, and had to be persuaded to do so by her husband and VGH media-relations staff. The part she played in containing the SARS outbreak in Vancouver, as far as I could discern, had never been told in the media before because she had never spoken to the media about it. Only her peers knew of it. Even in talking to us, she played it down.
"Like I said, the stars were aligned and it just worked well. We were lucky. It could have gone the other way. We could have been infected but weren't. And in 2003, we had the luxury of no crowding and an isolation room that was immediately available."
Her peers have a different view. Dr. Roy Purssell, who was head of the emergency department at the time, wasn't surprised at her version. "She played it down, didn't she?" he asked, as if he expected her to. "But what was done ... she handled it with just an incredible attention to detail. It all got handled just as it should be, with meticulous care and great communication between staff. Lives were saved, and the economic impact that this could have had in B.C. was avoided. In Toronto, it cost the city ... what? ... over a billion dollars? I'm very proud of her, and proud to be working with her."
In Toronto, where another infected patron of the Metropole Hotel returned on Feb. 23, infecting her son before dying at home on March 5, the SARS epidemic breached the hospitals' first line of defence, to disastrous results.
Ontario did not have an equivalent to the BCCDC, and so did not have a centralized warning system for communicable diseases. When Ontario's Patient Zero presented himself to an emergency ward on March 7, the same day our Patient Zero arrived at VGH, he was thus not recognized as a special threat and was placed in general observation in an emergency room for 18 hours. He was not placed in isolation until 21 hours after arriving at the hospital.
By then it was too late. Fortyfour people would die in Ontario from SARS, thousands would be placed in quarantine and the cost just to the Ontario business economy was estimated in the billions.
Here in B.C., there were five reported cases of SARS. All of them recovered, including Patient Zero.
Filiatrault, however, counselled caution. (And it was the following that she insisted the story concentrate on.)
"In 2003, as I said, we had the luxury of an isolation room that was immediately available to us.
"Nowadays? The number-one complaint in patient surveys? Wait times. And the wait times are too long. Nowadays, what happens with the overcrowding in emergency departments is, people wait for hours in triage. If somebody has a sprained ankle, fine, they can sit there for five hours. But if somebody has a serious communicable disease, they can sit next to people for hours without us knowing it, and expose them."
This is a complaint emergency-room doctors have been taking public. There has been a recent campaign to get the provincial government to pony up another $10 million, to hire another 35 emergency physicians to cope with the 25-per-cent increase in emergency-room traffic at our larger hospitals.
"We're the safety net," Filiatrault said, "and really, if there are not enough strands, it affects your care. In the future, I think we're at the risk of potentially having people infected."
A postscript to this story:
For its work in containing the SARS outbreak in those first days of March 2003, the VGH emergency department received a special award from the province. Filiatrault was asked to speak at the award ceremony to describe the events that day when Patient Zero came through the doors.
She declined, and asked Purssell to speak in her place.
She worked her shift, instead.
pmcmartin@vancouversun.com 604-605-2905
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/...#ixzz0o0sVGGUt
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