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=Boricua Science Class Student Work Space=

End of Term Reflection
Here are some of the activities we did in class this term: Harper's Magazine ("Boots on the Ice"), Hurricane Evacuation Plan, Designer Babies (GATACA), Genetic Diseases, Evolution Movies/Research, NYT Science Reviews, Punnett Squares, Chemical Bond Diagrams, The Periodic Table, The Birth and Death of Stars

I really enjoyed Designer babies,the Hurricane Evacuation Plan, and The periodic Table. I would have to say the "Boots on the Ice" because it was the first thing and I just didn't get it. the Punnett Squares, and The birth and death of stars. Computer Class = More I liked it very much when we worked in the computer especially because it was there for me to go back and see it again. I really like the web site because there is so much information and quick access to more. Videos = some of the videos helped, others confused me, but I am a visual learner and I think I understood it better when i saw it. Student Group Activities = More, sometimes I didn't get something and others in the group explained it to me and I was able to get it and I was able to return the favor. Evaluations = are necessary and help you determine how you are doing, but i don't think anyone likes them. It's been about 20 years since i graduated from high school and i really felt like i was starting from the beginning because i could not recall anything from then. However i enjoyed the class, because i felt like i caught up somewhat to what i should know about science and the world around me. =Take home Midterm Component=
 * What 2-3 activities did you enjoy/learn the most?
 * What 2-3 activities topic did you find the most difficult to understand?
 * Describe how could we improve this course in the future
 * Explain why you enjoyed, or why you struggled through, this class, offering whatever insights you may feel are valuable:

Name of Disease
=Diastrophic dysplasia=

Symptoms

 * 1) downward twisted thumbs
 * 2) short arms and legs
 * 3) twisted spinal cord

Genes

 * 1) This gene gives instructions for making protein that transports ions across cell membrane.
 * 2) The protein appears active in body tissue, like developing cartilage
 * 3) Cartilage makes up the skeleton in early development and later becomes bone.

Cytogenetic Location
[5q31-q34]

Base Pair Sites
[149,320,638 to 149,347,155]

Community
Lower East Side Manhattan **A** zone

Evacuation Center
350 Grand Street New York, N.Y. 10002
 * 1) Seward Park High School

Your Evacuation Plan
Whoever is home at the moment will grab the **go bag** and go to **Grandma Margie’s** (let us know you have it) If not dad will get the go bag before he goes to Grandma’s house. **Everyone** will meet at Grandma Margie’s. She is also the contact person **212 555-2535 or 917 555-2535** (Immediate contact) If we need to **evacuate** we will leave from Grandma Margie’s house to the center. We can **walk** to the center. We will leave food and water for the cats and put a sign on the door and window. Our **out of state** contact is **Grandma Miriam 215 555-4565** call her if you can’t reach anyone else. **Our go bag** is located in the broom closet by the exit door. It contains:
 * An Extra set of keys for home and car.
 * Money $100.
 * Water, can food, and granola bars.
 * A Flashlight
 * A radio (batteries)
 * A first aid kit
 * A copy of our I.D.’s and important papers
 * Clothing
 * Toiletries
 * Nina’s asthma meds and other relief medications
 * A list of contacts and emergency plan

#1
The article is about discoveries that lead scientist to believe, Neanderthals not only liked seafood but also hunted for it as they would for land animals. The evidence to this claim lies in the two caves on Gibraltar beach and two other caves on the side of the rock, the evidence is in the form of bones of monk seals and dolphins. The bones have damage from stone tools like the ones used by Neanderthals. The evidence also tells them that the Neanderthals hunted when it was breeding season for young mammals, because the bones were of young seals. They even found a fireplace (hearth) where they prepared seals and other remains making it easier to break the bones.It also says they used these caves during three eras. Proving that they meant to hunt for seafood. In the chapter of Evolution, I read more about Neanderthals and when they existed. On page 527 in the chapter it says that Neanderthals walked stooped over and that people use the term Neanderthal to mean stupid. I think this article shows that they were not stupid at all. It seems that they knew what they liked and went after it. I chose this article because it complimented what we have recently been studying in class. It is one more thing that I had not previously learned. In studying Evolution I learned a lot about Neanderthals. Something like this gives validation to evolution. They found things to survive on and liked some of the same things we like today. I learned they are more like us than I thought. Especially since it is said that they are a different species than Homo sapiens.
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#2
The article is about Hurricane Ike and the affects it has had on, Ship Island. It also talks about other places and the possibilities of what may happen to them in the future. Although the scientist were out looking for changes, they were surprised at how much they found. When they found it all they saw was sandy banks (shoals) and foaming waves; where once there was land. They had to find their way by following the waves foaming over the sandy banks. The reason they were out looking is because they go out to identify areas are risk. Because of Global Warming many areas are at risk. Many islands are named, some which have already had devastating damage. Katrina and other devastating storms are mentioned. The article also speaks about the wildlife that lives on these islands and of its foundations. They believe that the out look for these islands to recover is not good, because there foundations have weakened. As for Ship Island they would need to get more sand and that is difficult. It ends by saying that this is a big deal. In the chapter for ecology we learned about hurricanes and how they form and about their strength. This also connects to what we discussed about Katrina. It also connects to what we learned about global warming in chapter 19, because the sea level is rising as a result. I learned about those island on the verge of extinction. I knew that things had changed over time, but to see it happen in my time is more real. I found this article interesting because of all the things we have covered in class and now I feel like I have a better understanding of why they happen and how. As devastating as they are, you have to be in awe of how they come about.
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#3
The article is about a fossil discovery. In the report of a fossil in Guizhou Province, China a species that they named Odontochelys Semistestacea, which they now believe lived 220 millions years ago. That is 10 million years older than the oldest fossil found in Germany.Although the oldest living fossil of a turtle had a full shell; this fossil does not. So this half shell Turtle proves what route evolution took. There are some other changes according to the article. It has teeth instead of a sharp beak. It has a half shell and bony extensions of the backbone. They believe it evolved from skeletal changes, because the shell of turtles are formed in the development stage(embryo). We discussed some of these changes in the chapter about Evolution. I don't know exactly if this is connected but i recall talking about vestigal structures ,when we discussed Ecosystems. It may seem like a silly reason but I have a pet turtle named Mr. Twaddles. I have had him for about four years and I really like turtles. I think they are very interesting especially their shells, they are so mysterious. I had picked several articles about turtles, but liked this one the most because of the shell part. Not to mention the fact that they have been around for so long.
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