Eggs, Potatoes, and Cell Membranes

What do these pictures have in common?  The egg and potato act as great models of the structure and function of the cellular membrane.  This week we will be talking about cell membranes, and we will be using the eggs to show how the process of osmosis and diffusion occur.  We will also be working with potatoes to observe the effects that passive transport has on cells. The cell membrane is an important structure for the cell because it protects the cell from outside materials.  However, the membrane is able to do so much more, including:

- *active transport (endocytosis, exocytosis)
- *passive transport (osmosis)
- channels materials through proteins
- communicate with other cells 


*Topics this week: active transport, passive transport, endocytosis, exocytosis, osmosis, diffusion, structure of the cell membrane.


Homework: HW #6 is due on Wednesday (10/12).  Must be signed by a parent.  HW #7 will be assigned this week and is due next Wednesday (10/19).


Quizzes/Tests:  Unit B: Quiz #2 on Friday (10/16)

Test Week!

It's test week!  Time to put all of the knowledge that you have acquired together.  The Unit 1 test will be Wednesday (9/28) and will include all of the topics that we have explored in class since the beginning of school.
Topics like:

• scientific investigations 
• controlled experiments 
• data
• quantitative versus qualitative data
• observations versus inferences
• independent and dependent variables
• data collection and analysis
• and reading/interpreting graphs and charts
• Metric Conversions
• Microscopy Identifications

  A good practice would be to go back over all Unit 1 quizzes and ask questions about items that remain unclear.  Good Luck! And please let us know how we can best help you to prepare!
Homework: Homework #4 is due Wednesday (9/28).  HW #4 must be signed to receive credit.  HW #5 will be distributed also and will be due next Wednesday (10/5).

Quizzes/Tests: UNIT 1 TEST - WEDNESDAY (9/28).  NO QUIZ FRIDAY!

Microscope Mania!

It's time to bring out the "scopes" in biology this week.  We will become efficient users of the compound light microscope this week.  We will use each day to familiarize ourselves with the microscope.  By the end of the week, students will be able to identify all of the parts of the microscope, create their own slides, and effectively use the three objective lenses.  During this week's quiz, the students will be assessed on their knowledge of the microscope, the scientific method, and data analysis (including conversions).

Homework: Homework #3 due Wednesday (9/21).  Must be signed to receive credit.

Quizzes/Tests: Unit 1: Quiz #4 FRIDAY (9/23).