Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Summer Assignment Update


Hello!  Hope you are all enjoying your summer so far!   We have decided to adopt the new 9th edition Campbell Biology Textbook (AP Edition).   ISBN-10: 0321558235   This is a textbook that is commonly used in university biology courses throughout the United States.   If you are planning on majoring in biology you may consider purchasing a used book on amazon, however, they are 105$ used.   Science college textbooks are pricey!   You will be able to borrow a textbook this year - if you choose not get your own copy.  They run about $165 to replace if lost.   


Everyone needs to purchase a study guide for the AP Biology exam.   Be sure to get one that has been matched for the new AP Biology curriculum for 2013.  I was looking on Amazon and saw only one new 2013 version that won't be out until September,  so it will be fine if you don't have the new study guide until this Fall.   This will be the first year that the new curriculum and test will be run.   The new course contains challenging content as usual and more inquiry and lab experience.   Due to the additional lab time, your prior knowledge of biology and chemistry will become even more important.


If you haven't read "Survival of the Sickest" by Dr. Sharon Moalem be sure to get a start on that.  I found it to be a very interesting read and finished it in only a couple of days.  The book really got me excited to be teaching AP Biology this year.  I saw some great examples of the biology collections posted on the blog.  Keep up the great work!  This summer is a great time to get a head start on learning and reviewing some vocabulary for next year.  Try to stretch yourself and use some of the vocabulary words you may not already be familiar with.  


I took a vacation to Washington D.C. over the last two weeks and had a fantastic time, but now I will be around and checking both my email and blog on a regular basis.   

Monday, July 9, 2012

Ashley N., Photos 11-20

CAM plant. CAM: Crassulacean acid metabolism, and this is when only at night carbon dioxide is taken up.

Flower Ovary: the green end of the pistil. The function being holding the ovules, waiting to be fertilized by pollen.

Frond, a leaf-like and non vascular plant.

Gibberellins, a growth regulating plant the advances cell and stem elongation.

Gymnosperm cone, the seeds are surrounded by the ovary wall. The seeds grow inside the cone, which makes it non visible.

Gymnospern leaf, the pine needles have recessed stomata and a thick cuticle which slows down water loss.

Lipid used for energy use a fatty or waxy liquid that is insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar organic solvents

Long-Day plant, needs to be exposed to sunlight much more than an average plant

Modified root of a plant. The carrot acts as a storage structure.

Modified stem of a plant, transfer water and nutrients to the leaves.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Brooke (gator54), photos 1-18

Animal with a segmented body: Ants are one of the many animals with segmented bodies 

 Picture of the anther &filament of stamen in the center of the pedals

the cuticle layer of a plant is the waxy/waterproof coating on the leaf


Frond: a plant like a fern that has many divisions

gymnosperm leaf: example of this would be the pine tree needles

gymnosperm cone: this is an example of a male cone. a vascular plant having seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary;


a small example of lichen, it grows on trees along with fungus

Pollen: this isnt a good picture, but the pollen is located in the center of this flower and is used to pollinate other flowers

adaptations of animals: dogs have sharp teeth to eat meats, and dogs like mine have coats that repel water


my horse is a heterotroph because he cant make his own food to eat, he has to eat what is present

autotroph: this plant makes its own food

Epithelial tissue: the outer most layer of tissue-skin

Territorial behavior: my dog gets protective of our house and will get agressive twards anyone that goes near the door

Seed dispersal: one way seeds gets dispersed is through animals. my dogs love to do that by eatting apples

Bilateral symmetry: my dog has bilateral symmetry since both sides of her face are the same

Xylem is in the stem of the plan and carries water


Phloem: transports nurtients to the plant


Calvin cycle: this plan uses photosynthesis to produce glucose, this is part of the Calvin cycle