Monday

Continued with Gene expression topic today. looked at polyploidy as well as completing a revision question about genetics on the monohybrid and dihybrid crosses. Next lesson will follow up the genetics with a review of the process of meiosis.

Wednesday

Looking through the LenScience seminar paper the term Epigenetic comes up a number of times. I followed a couple of the links to scientific papers but the clearest information I found was on Wikipedia. Here is the link: Epigenetics It fits right into the picture we have been developing about control of gene expression and looks like the science behind the extract I read to you from the book: Nature Via Nurture, Matt Ridley on Monday morning.

Even after looking through the background reading I'm not sure I can answer the question. What are some environmental situations that cause epigenetic responses? ( I'm thinking being infected with Prions may be one)

Tuesday

Spent today looking at mutations that lead to metabolic disorders in particular the Sickle cell mutation. This is quite a good example of a point mutation that by changing a single amino acid in a largish polypeptide results in significant health effects for the people that have the mutation.

Next seminar 25 March

On Thursday 25 March at Chilton St James the 1st LenScience seminar starts at 3.45pm. The seminar paper and the seminar discussion questions are both available in the links list on the right hand side of this blog.

Students who wish to join in with this weeks seminar should read the seminar papers and also visit the Lens website and create a login

Len Science

Went to the preliminary seminar at Chilton, Thursday afternoon. Looks like these may be very useful for scholarship and other interested students. This link shows the plan for 2010. You can view a copy of the seminar paper in the links box on the top right of this blog.

The next seminar is on Thursday 25 March at 3.45.

You Tube Clips

Here is our famous DNA song:



And the more serious view of DNA replication:

Welcome to Year 13 Biology

Year 13 Biology course

Topics for 2010:

• Gene Expression
• Biotechnology
• Plant responses and animal behaviour
• Research a contemporary issue
• Trends in human biological and cultural evolution