VDA #5

Mercury is the 80th element in the periodic table (GreenFacts, 2002). It is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the environment in different chemical forms (GreenFacts, 2002). It is also a potent neurotoxin pollutant that leads to many health problems when it is in our food (EPA, 2012).  An organism that contains mercury is fish. When pregnant women have fish in their diet it can affect their unborn child's development by letting the child possibly have deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD (EPA, 2012). The child can also have severe disabilities and problems in their nervous system (EPA, 2012). Pregnant women or any kinds of people are exposed to mercury by touching it, breathing it through the air, or by eating of drinking food or water contaminated with mercury in it. Ways pregnant women can stay away from mercury during pregnancy are by not eating high amounts of mercury, especially fish and seafood. Studies show that people should have about 1 to 2 servings of seafood a week (EPA, 2012). Pregnant women should also throw away any broken thermometers or florescent light bulbs, which may contain mercury (EPA, 2012). Pregnant women should also avoid changing cat litter, lead exposure from old pipes and faucets, and pesticides or other certain chemicals, which also may contain mercury (EPA, 2012).

VDA #4

VDA #4

1. An embolism as it pertains to humans is a blockage that plugs up an artery in the body and slows or even stops blood flow to the area of body supplied by the artery. People might not be able to get the sufficient oxygen in their blood. It can cause blockages in blood vessels which disables blood to pass freely. They also may cause tissue to die if they prevent blood flow in a certain area. If it continues it leads to thirst, starvation, and eventually death. 
http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/E-Ga/Embolism.html#b

2. An embolism as it pertains to plant/trees is when they have more and more gas accumulating in their bodies and they can't get enough water to their leaves when they pump or suck for it in their roots. It results in reducing photosynthesis and eventually leads to death. Also, when there is dry soil, the tree has to suck harder for water which increases the risk of drawing air bubbles into the tree's plumbing.

3. The implication this discovery has on global concern is that droughts temperatures are rising around the globe, which is making droughts more likely and intense. This can harm and effect plants by lack of water, too many air bubbles in their plumbing or embolism.

Extra Credit

1. DNA is an acronym. What is DNA's "real" name?

DNA's "real" name is Deoxyribonucleic Acid. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_full_form_of_DNA

 

2. What function does DNA serve?

DNA contains information about the characteristics of an organism and directs its cell's activities. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_function_does_DNA_serve

 

3. How was DNA's shape discovered? Give me the name of three scientists who played a role in this discovery? (Hint: I'm looking for the names of two men and one woman).

Francis Crick and James Watson found out DNA's shape, Rosalind Franklin had a large part in their discovery with her  x-ray crystallography images. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_scientist_discovered_the_shape_of_the_DNA_molecule

 

4. DNA has nucleotide bases, what are the four bases? (Hint: C, G, T, A... what does each letter represent?)

The four nucleotide bases of DNA are Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine.

Science Notebook

5. In DNA, the four base nucleotides always pair up in a certain way; which letters bond with which?

Cytosine always pairs up with Guanine. Adenine always pairs up with Thymine.

Science Notebook

VDA #3

1. What is algae? (Specifically, what kingdom does it belong to and where is it found?)

Algae is classified in Kingdom Protista. http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Algae
Algae can be found in damp, moist places. It is also found in bodies of water. http://answers.ask.com/Science/Biology/where_is_algae_found

 

2. What is another form of biofuel that the article mentions? (Hint! "There's more than _______ in Indiana! Indiana Beach!")

Another source of biofuel is corn.

 

3. When comparing algal biofuel to the biofuel mentioned in your answer to number 2, which one allegedly produces fewer polluntants?

The algae produces fewer pollutants.

4. How does the algae produce biofuel?

When fed on certain sugars the algae produces fammable oils that can be used as fuel addictives.

Then, watch Solazyme's video on biofuel production and answer the following questions, according to what the video presented:

1. How long does nature take to produce fuel?

Nature takes millions of years to produce petroleum from fossilized algae.

2. How long does it take Solazyme to produce fuel?

Solazyme shortened this process to a matter of days.

3. Where is Solazyme currently located?

Solazyme was founded in Peoria, Illinois, and is expanding all over the world.

VDA #2
1. a) The scientists research contributes to the greater good by learning how different animals communicate. I think this is important because it shows people the different ways organisms can communicate other than the ways humans do. It also shows us the ways that animals use their minds to warn one another about danger.
 
    b) The questions the scientist posed to the research he did was that he first focused on how different species of birds styled their songs. Then the question he asked himself  was, when birds varied their calls did that mean that they were giving a different meaning to each message?

    c) The field of science that this experiment falls into is biology.


2.  Dear Dr. Chris Templeton,
   
      I read about your amazing experiment on how you tested the different calls and warnings of the chickadee to see what meanings they had. I was really interested in your experiment when you tested different kinds of predators and saw what calls the chickadee made to each one. When you recorded and studied the chickadee's sound and pitches, I was found out that your results were that the chickadees' calls reflected the degree of danger each one one had experienced. It was incredible to learn how clever and smart these birds are and how they can communicate with many different species of birds too. Are the warnings and calls of the chickadee different based on the experience of danger they had with the animal? Your experiment was very informative, interesting, and fun to read. Thank you!

                                                                       Sincerely,

                                                                         Jenna
                     
                                                         
       

VDA #1
1) What was the title and URL of the article you read?
The URL of the article I read was http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/the-teenage-brain/.
2) Do you have any questions about anything you read in the article? If so, what are the questions?
I didn't thoroughly understand how the brain changes as you grow.
3) What did you find MOST fascinating about the article?
The most facinating thing I learned is that as people grow their brain works differently too. As we grow we tend to make more decisions on our own and think differently. Our thinking also become more independent.
4) What did you learn?
I learned that as we grow our brain reduces the amount of neurons and synapses that are not that aren't useful as we grow, and strengthens the ones that are important for us to use as an adult. As a result, when we grow we become more proficient to the native tounge, but it might be more difficult for us to learn a language that we don't know.
5) Why was the science found in the article important, in your opinion?
It was important because our brain thinks differently as we grow and it is important to learn how it works because of the different decisions and thinking ways we use from a child to an adult.
6) Any additional comments
As a growing teenager, I enjoyed learning about how my brain works differently as I grow!