PROJECT FOR BIOLOGY
205/206:
Either: 1. Adopt an Organism, or: 2. Service
Learning (please speak to Dr. Wilkin if this is your choice)
1. Adopt an Organism
Describe
the biology of one species of organism that lives in or migrates
through northwest Indiana. Lake Michigan is
included. A species that lived here until the
arrival of settlers is also ok, but not humans.
Infectious subcellular things like viruses and prions are ok, if they
occur in this area. Please let
Dr. Wilkin know
when you have made
your choice, as only one student per species is allowed.
Making your choice: use the textbook to learn about the diversity of
life,
this figure is from Online
Biology Book:
A survey in Lake Co. IN (BioBlitz)
in 2002 yielded 1815
species. The list does not include
prokaryotes (see figure above),
and has 91 pages, so refine
search by using "Types" button to find a particular kind
of organism. If you plan to adopt a prokaryote you must find
it at another source. E.g. search
DNR (top
right): animals, plants, fungi, protista,
bacteria or archaea. Can
also search:
GLERL,
IISGCP, GreatLakes,
e-nature, or Nature
Conservancy,
IN Dunes.
More: Cricket
frog. Lake MI Fish
or
Diporeia
(2).
Fungi.
Protista.&.cool site. Troublesome
bacterium. Invasives like Emerald
Ashborer,
etc.
Endangered.
Last & least?, an Archaea
is
here & 2.
What to describe: Once
you have found an organism to adopt, inform your instructor, and google
it for more information. The idea is
for you to apply in detail to your organism what you learn
in the courses. Biology 205:
First
classify
your organism = click
taxonomy (textbook p 287/8).
Translate & explain every word in
the
classification, show you know the meanings. Then do
information for
ch 18-20 & 2-12: describe your organism's
ecology, including
descriptions at population, community
and ecosystem levels; and describe the human impact on the
organism (e.g. see each item on the heron page, but find
links and write about your choice of organism). Also
describe the life cycle of your organism. You can Google
your choice + keywords in Ch 18, 19 & 20. BIOL 206 topics: evolution,
structure &
function, are not
done until next semester (ch 13-17 &
21-29).
Molecular & Cellular
information (Ch 2-7). At the molecular level all living
organisms are in general
simillar. But the three Domains
have some molecular
differences (textbook ch 1) & here...are...three
comparison
sites. If you chose a unicellular organism, either prokaryote or
eukaryote protist, you have to put some of its cell structure and
function in BIOL 205 & some in 206. Whatever your organism search for
molecular/cellular pathways which are special to it. If
you chose a spider, how does it make silk (a protein)?, if a wasp, how
does it make venom? etc. Animal behavior is often determined by
chemicals, and so are both plant defenses and attractants. The
pharmaceutical industry began centuries ago in monastery
gardens. Think at the
cellular level of your organism's
uniqueness, and google the unique adaptations with chemistry or
molecular or cellular
also in the search
string. Tissues (cell
types), is a BIOL 206 topic: so in 205 please seek special biochemical
pathways (e.g. scroll to list of hyperlinks) found in (some of)
your organism's cells. Another, easier description
of biochemical pathways, or click here for same. More difficult example of biochemical pathways is
cell
signaling.
Genetics (ch 8-12). Cytogenetic Resources.
Chromosome Hunt (K-12).
Chromosome
#. Google: e.g. hummingbird genetics
chromosomes karyotype genes, or deer etc.
If nothing, use your
organism's taxonomy to search larger groups e.g. aves genetics
etc., or Artiodactyla
etc. Most information is on evolutionary
distance between organisms (a BIOL 206 topic), while what you want is
information about genes,
chromosomes & inheritance, 2, 3, If still
nothing, then report on the model
organism (scroll), 2,
3, 4, 5, (check all) closest
to your adopted organism. Links may
include genetic, cellular &
metabolic information. Ask for
help, and try textbook genetics ch links.
Submit your
project: Please do NOT write your project using Power Point. Use either WORD
with hyperlinks to resources you found, or HTML:
I use Netscape Composer. In Explorer click FILE & Edit in Front Page or what
is available. Up to 9 pages including
illustrations, 12 point, single space (like
this). It is better to write in your own
words, but if you cut and paste information you must put it inside
"..", and give the source. Please present your report using a computer & video
projector
to your
lab class during one of the two lab periods following
Thanksgiving. Most presentations given
last year:
I:\Cheruvelil\Student presentations December 2004
Biology 206:
Textbook chapters
13-17 & 21-29 (you can choose another organism but please let me
know). Use your organism's taxonomy to describe its
evolution - look for information from the fossil record. Then
describe its structure
and function (anatomy and physiology), look for information on the
organ-systems that you study in the textbook. All organisms have
some
commonalities (i.e. all animals are in the same
kingdom, all plants have chloroplasts, etc.); so focus on the
unique aspects/adaptations of your species. If you have
problems finding information, please ask me for help
(prior to the weeks of project presentations). See textbook
chapter links. Most
presentations last year:
file:///I:/Cheruvelil/Student%20Presentations%20May%202005