Classroom Activities
Designing a Controlled experiment
-Activity 2.2.1:food testing
This activity meets the criteria for designing a controlled experiment because we actually had to design and test our own experiments. In this specific activity we had to design an experiment in where we had to find out what certain foods contained in them such as lipids, glucose, and starch. We also had to determine what our variables were going to be in this lab. For the food testing experiment we concluded that our independent variable was the same samples were used throughout the experiment, our dependent variable was the results of the food testing experiment, and our control was that we used the same amount of samples throughout the test. I had no prior experience in designing my own lab, but after doing this activity I really learned from it and now I can design a lab with ease.
Comparing and Contrasting Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
-Activity 2.1.1: Diagnosing Diabetes
The objective in this activity was to figure out information about the different types of diabetes and finding similarities and differences between them. This activity meets the criteria for this section because within this lab we actually had to make ven diagrams and compare and contrast type one and type two diabetes. We also had to find out different ways to go about treating the different types. We concluded that Type one diabetes is contracted from genes and a person diagnosed with it must go through insulin injection treatments because their bodies cannot produce insulin at all. Type two diabetes is contracted from living an unhealthy lifestyle and becoming overweight, Type two diabetics can produce insulin but their body cannot use it. Treatment for type two diabetes includes exercise, healthy diet, and possibly even insulin injection therapy. Before doing this activity I know the different types of diabetes, but I did now know anything in depth about them. After doing this lab it really taught me more about the different types and how to go about treating them.
Insulin in transferring glucose from blood into cells
- Design Process Example Worksheet (insulin function model)
The objective in this activity was to create a 3-D visual model that properly demonstrates the function of insulin in the body. The criteria for this activity was met due to the fact that we properly demonstrated how insulin functions within the body. We had to explain everything from how it travels through the blood stream to how transport proteins work inside a cell. We concluded that insulin in the blood stream attaches to insulin receptors on the cell which then tells glut4 to come and open the cell up and take in glucose and transport it into the cell. Then it gets turned into atp and used as energy. Before this activity I knew absolutely nothing about the function of insulin. After creating this model and doing this activity I know much more about how insulin works within the body now then I did just a few months ago.
Dehydration Synthesis and Hydrolysis
-Activity 2.2.3: The Biochemistry of Food
The objective in this activity was to demonstrate the process of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis. By doing this activity we found out that dehydration synthesis is the process in which two macro-molecules have to give off two hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom in order to bond together, which then creates H2O. Hydrolysis is the process of breaking apart two macro-molecules in which water is needed to achieve. This activity meets the criteria for the objective because the goal was to clearly figure out what the processes of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis were and how they work. Before doing this activity I had no previous knowledge on what these were and now I know exactly what they do and why they do it.
Regulation of blood sugar/Diabetic emergencies
-Activity 2.3.2:Diabetic Emergency
The objective for this activity was to recognize that the regulation of blood sugar is necessary to avoid sever and life threatening diabetic emergencies. From this experiment we concluded that it is essential to regulate and monitor blood sugar levels because if a diabetic leaves them unchecked then they can become hyper or hypoglycemic. Hyperglycemia is the medical term to describe a person with very high blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia is the medical term for a person that has dangerously low blood sugar levels. A diabetic needs to monitor their blood sugar levels so they don't get too high or too low. This activity meets the required criteria for this objective because we had to learn about why it was important that diabetics have to monitor and regulate their blood sugar. We concluded that eating healthy and exercising are some ways to help regulate blood sugar levels. Before this activity I had no idea what any of this was until I actually had to write down the definitions and research different ways to help with maintaining a stable blood sugar level.
Symptoms/Treatments of Sickle cell anemia
-Activity 3.1.3: Sickle cell diaries
The objective for this activity was to learn about the different symptoms of sickle cell anemia and look at patients with all different ages and also determine effective treatments for those people. We had to make charts of patients that varied from 17 months to 15 years old and describe the different symptoms that they were experiencing and also the treatment that they were undergoing. The criteria was met for this objective because the goal was to learn about different treatment options and also different effects of sickle cell anemia. Being able to diagnose a specific problem concerning sickle cell anemia and also knowing what treatment should be done is knowledge that can become very helpful in the future of a heath professional.
-Activity 3.1.3: Sickle cell diaries
The objective for this activity was to learn about the different symptoms of sickle cell anemia and look at patients with all different ages and also determine effective treatments for those people. We had to make charts of patients that varied from 17 months to 15 years old and describe the different symptoms that they were experiencing and also the treatment that they were undergoing. The criteria was met for this objective because the goal was to learn about different treatment options and also different effects of sickle cell anemia. Being able to diagnose a specific problem concerning sickle cell anemia and also knowing what treatment should be done is knowledge that can become very helpful in the future of a heath professional.
Changing Nucleotides
Activity 3.2.3: Does Changing One Nucleotide Make a Big Difference?
In This activity we had to go through a virtual model of a sequence of amino acids and how they create a protein. We also had to define what hydrophobic and hydrophilic was. We then had to also see what would happen if just one nucleotide was changed in an amino acid chain. we came to the conclusion that if one nucleotide is changed then it can alter the whole protein that the specific amino acid chain is creating. There are two types of mutations that can make this happen, a point mutation and a frame-shift mutation. These mutations can occur naturaly, but due come with consequences do to the change of the protein. Knowing these skills and this information is crucial to biomedical sciences because everything starts at the molecular level and by knowing how proteins are made you can then learn how different genes are coded and so on. By doing this activity we learned all of these things.
Activity 3.2.3: Does Changing One Nucleotide Make a Big Difference?
In This activity we had to go through a virtual model of a sequence of amino acids and how they create a protein. We also had to define what hydrophobic and hydrophilic was. We then had to also see what would happen if just one nucleotide was changed in an amino acid chain. we came to the conclusion that if one nucleotide is changed then it can alter the whole protein that the specific amino acid chain is creating. There are two types of mutations that can make this happen, a point mutation and a frame-shift mutation. These mutations can occur naturaly, but due come with consequences do to the change of the protein. Knowing these skills and this information is crucial to biomedical sciences because everything starts at the molecular level and by knowing how proteins are made you can then learn how different genes are coded and so on. By doing this activity we learned all of these things.
Probability
Activity 3.4.2: What is probability?
In this activity the goal was to determine what probability was and what the chances were that a mother and father pass down different diseases to their children. In this activity we read an article and defined what probability, phenotype, genotype, recessive allele, and dominant alleles were. By taking pedigrees and doing a simple box equation we could determine which people in a family would be infected, be a carrier, or just be free of a disease completely. The goal of this lab was very much achieved and this skill is used by genetic counselors to determine if a couple should have children or not. Knowing this skill is very important in science and especially in Biomedical sciences.
Activity 3.4.2: What is probability?
In this activity the goal was to determine what probability was and what the chances were that a mother and father pass down different diseases to their children. In this activity we read an article and defined what probability, phenotype, genotype, recessive allele, and dominant alleles were. By taking pedigrees and doing a simple box equation we could determine which people in a family would be infected, be a carrier, or just be free of a disease completely. The goal of this lab was very much achieved and this skill is used by genetic counselors to determine if a couple should have children or not. Knowing this skill is very important in science and especially in Biomedical sciences.
Identifying and isolating bacteria
-Activity 5.1.3 Isolating Bacteria
In this activity we were given a sample of bacteria that Anna Garcia had. We then had to compare her bacteria to other bacteria that were given to us and see how they are different and how they are similar. We had to smear the bacteria onto a sterile auger plate and then let it sit for 24 hours. We then came back the next day and took a look at it under a microscope. We had to find what size, margins, elevation, and color the bacteria were. After we got some general information we had to decide what the next step was in the process of identifying the bacteria. We concluded that the next test that needs to be done is a gram stain to see what color the bacteria turn so we can categorize them as positive or negative bacteria (pink is positive) (purple is negative), then we could narrow down the bacteria even more by performing an entrotube test which would ultimately give us the answer. We very much achieved the goal of this activity and it is a very important skill that can help a lot of people. If you are able to narrow down a patients bacteria then it is very possible to see what is ailing them and also how to go about treating it. So knowing how to identify bacteria is a very important skill to learn in the bio medical field.
-Activity 5.1.3 Isolating Bacteria
In this activity we were given a sample of bacteria that Anna Garcia had. We then had to compare her bacteria to other bacteria that were given to us and see how they are different and how they are similar. We had to smear the bacteria onto a sterile auger plate and then let it sit for 24 hours. We then came back the next day and took a look at it under a microscope. We had to find what size, margins, elevation, and color the bacteria were. After we got some general information we had to decide what the next step was in the process of identifying the bacteria. We concluded that the next test that needs to be done is a gram stain to see what color the bacteria turn so we can categorize them as positive or negative bacteria (pink is positive) (purple is negative), then we could narrow down the bacteria even more by performing an entrotube test which would ultimately give us the answer. We very much achieved the goal of this activity and it is a very important skill that can help a lot of people. If you are able to narrow down a patients bacteria then it is very possible to see what is ailing them and also how to go about treating it. So knowing how to identify bacteria is a very important skill to learn in the bio medical field.