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=Boricua Science Class Student Work Space=

Student Name:
Michele Pellicane

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

The activities I enjoyed the most were the Genetic Diseases, The Birth and Death of Stars, and the Ionic and Covalent Bonds. I found these activities very stimulating for the mind and really held my interest. I really did not find anything difficult to understand there was times with the punnet squares that I found a little confusing in the beginning but with time and review I understood it better. Computer Class = No change needed Videos = I liked how for everything we discussed there was always a video to show and explain what you were talking about. Student Group Activities = No change needed. Very hands on, Evaluations = No change needed I enjoyed the class, i found it easy to take notes and learn new things. I was finding myself taking what I learned in class and sharing it at work the next day or looking up more information on the computer. I really enjoyed the Genetic Disease and how one trait is passed on.
 * 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
Duane-radial ray syndrome

Symptoms

 * 1) Bone abnormalities in the hands (ex: extra thumb,absent thumb)
 * 2) Unusually shaped ears, club foot, fused spinal bones
 * 3) Improper development of certain nerves that control eye movement

Genes

 * 1) Sal-like 4 (Drosophila) Symbol: SALL4
 * 2) [Type here]
 * 3) [Type here]

Cytogenetic Location
20q13.13-q13.2

Base Pair Sites
49,833,987 to 49,852,420

Community
Middle Village, New York

Evacuation Center

 * 1) Location – Middle Village, NY Christ The King High School
 * 2) Implemented Plan –We are not located in a flood zone; however, if you feel the need you can attend the evacuation center at the Christ the King HIgh School. The nearest subway is the M train located on Metropolitan Ave. It is easier to get on the Long Island Expressway towards the Brooklyn Queens expressway and take that towards the George Washington Bridge thru the Palisade Parkway back to the house upstate. If you are unable to get out of the house go to the lowest point of the house with no windows, remember the house is made of concrete so it will with stand the rain and windows. Your go bag should include the following: All medications that you are currently taking and hygiene products that you need bottled water,granola bars, power bars, meal replacement bars, an extra pair of clothing and all important documents (i.e. birth certificates,passport,drivers license,credit cards etc.) flash lights, extra batteries,juice packs,and cellphones. If you have an animal remeber to pack a go bag for them also that should include:bottled water, food, medication if the animal is on any, a leash and collar. If we should get separated the meeting place will be the house upstate. It's the safest place above sea level. When I contacted Christ the King High School, no one at the office knew of any implented plan and were unable to help me.

#1
This article discusses how Dr. J Craig Venter, the well-known scientists for sequencing the Human Genome Project is know trying to manufacture the entire genome of a bacterium by stitching together its chemical components. The experiment started in 2002 and cost millions of dollars. It consisted of a bacterial genome with 582,970 base pairs. The Venter team ordered 101 such sequences, which ranged from 5,000-7,000 bases long. They were then joined into bigger pieces and put in yeast that hooked them together using a natural gene repair mechanism. The experiment failed to achieve the full effect. Venter believes it is due to each pair of donor genome and recipient cells presented unique problems. It is also believed that they think it interrupted the functioning of one crucial gene, however, scientists think it can be corrected. The experiment created such controversy with activist groups saying Venter went to far and synthetic biology needs outside regulation to prevent the introduction of dangerous organisms. Dr Venter said however he took all precautions before starting the experiment and is continuing on with it. The article relates to page 471-472 in the book. It discusses the base pairs and the location of them. It is showing how technology is making scientist able to extract the base pairs and fuse them together to alter the sequences. It is also discusses the genetic code of A, C, G and T which is what we have been learning. I found this article interesting because I like to know what new capabilities scientists are able to try to achieve. I also liked how scientists are trying to mutate the chromosomes and see if they are able to change the genome of certain diseases. It is like almost liked what we talked about in class what the future of “designer babies.” From this article I learned that the longest base pair ever reported was 32,000 pairs and that how science is now able to expand those to which some companies have made them up to 50,000 pairs. I also learned that Dr. Venter has had a lot of accomplishments such as the Human Genome Project and that he is always faced with controversy. New York Times Article // “Researchers Take Step Toward Synthetic Life” // // January 25, 2008 // __ By: Andrew Pollack __
 * 1) Summary –
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#2
New York Times Articles “Science Panel Calls Global Warming ‘Unequivocal’ February 3, 2007 By: __Elisabeth Ronsethal and Andrew C. Revkin__ This article is about how in Paris, France the leading and international climate scientists concluded that global warming is “unequivocal” and that human activity is very likely causing the rise in temperatures since the 1950s. It discusses how since 1990 the causes and consequences of climate change. It talks about how they are more than 90% confident that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are from human activities which have been causing the warming over the past century. The article discusses about the Bush administration avoided accepting the fact that humans were the main responsilbility to warming the planet. The United States with about 5 % of the world’s populations contribute about a quarter of greenhouse emissions, that is more than any other country. A 20 page report was released summarizing the effects of global warming. It said that precipitation will fall at higher latitiudes, causing drought. The buildup of carbon dioxide and other gases released mainly by burning fuels and forest could influence the earths climate system in a momentous way. However, other scientists reported evidence that the glaciers and ice sheets in the Arctic and Antarctic could flow seaward more quickly causing more risks to coastal areas. The article informed the public of the effects happening around the world and the documentations that are happening to track the effects, although the article does not talk about the actions to take. This article is related to the Chapter which talks about the cause and effects of Global Warming. The article gives off the same information that the text book is predicting but only in a new light. Like in the chapter it discusses the polar caps melting and the effect of greenhouse gases and humans possibility of causing all of this. Now the report that was released show more indepth details from across the globe. I found this article interesting because it educates people that do not know anything about Global Warming. It tells the readers what is causing the warm I learned from this article that scientists have been studying the effects of humans and global warming for a while now and that they have finally concluded that human do have an effect on the warming. I also learned that the United States had a almost 5 billion dollars a year for the past six years in research in studying climate change, but at the same time our President and his administration did not want to accept the fact that human let alone Americans were the top 5% of people contributing to the warming. The article distrubs me to know that our government is spending all this money and are not implimenting a plan to slow down the process of global warming. ing and the effects it is having on today’s world not just in America but across the globe.
 * 1) Summary –
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#3
New York Times Articles “Europeans Genomes Reveal Their Geographic Origins” September 1, 2008 By: __Nicholas Wade__ This article talks about how in Europe scientists are testing a new gene chip that can test the DNA at specific genome sites to tell where in Europe the person came from. When they add all these difference together, a linkage emereges between genetics and geography. Oscar Lao and Manfred Kayser of the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands reported that European genetic structures are correlated with geography. A team of scientist in the United States also estimated that with the current technology they can place 50% of Europeans to within 192 miles of their reported origin and 90% to within 434 miles. However, this would only work on subject whose parents came from the same country, nothing is available for subjects with parents from two countries. Scientist are also hoping to be able to use this method at crimes scenes containing DNA to help in determining the geographic origin of the dead body. This article relates to the chapter in our book that talks about DNA and genes. It relates to pages 467-473. That chapter discusses Human genomes and the classifications needed to make up traits. The article talks about being able to test the genome sites that contains 6 billion pairs of DNA. It is kind of like the Human Genome project the book discusses where they mapped out every gene of the body. I found this article interesting because it is amazing with all the new technology how scientist will now be able to trace human origins in Europe. I especially like how they will be able to put in a mile range from 192 to 434 miles within your origin. I think with the discovery of people origins and the able to place them will be able to help people connect to their roots and learn about there history. I learned that there is no doubt what scientist can do or find in todays society and that they are getting closer to finding out peoples past.
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