Thinking Allowed

kidney by kidneynotes on flickr

OK – this is the last section of the syllabus before we begin our options.  Here are some of the key points we’ll learn:

• What is excretion? (And what isn’t)
• How to draw and label a diagram of the kidney.  We’ll dissect one too.
• What a nephron is, how to annotate a diagram of one to help explain the processes of ultrafiltration and reabsorption.
• What is osmoregulation, and what role do hormones play in it?
• What are the differences between concentrations of various components in blood and urine, and the reasons for those differences.

We’ll again use this wonderful presentation from Mr S Taylor as well as our textbooks.  In addition, once we’ve completed this topic, you could watch this video.  It’s a little complicated, so I wouldn’t recommend watching it at the start, but after we’ve covered some of the theory.

Another useful review powerpoint from Mr Hobbins: 11.3 The Kidney

Enjoy!

Sertoli cells from google images

We covered the basics last semester – now on to the detailed HL stuff to do with reproduction.  Check out this presentation, which has good information and some great links to explore.

We’ll start by reviewing the stucture of egg and sperm. then look at how they are produced.  You can read up on the processes of spermatogenesis and oogenesis in your textbooks on pages 265/6.  We’ll take a more detailed look at the process of fertilization, pregnancy and childbirth.

You can also use this powerpoint from Mr Hobbins Reproduction Higher

calendar card - January by Joe Lanman on flickr

Our calendar is jammed, so we can’t be very flexible with dates for this test.

B Block – THURSDAY 3rd DECEMBER

G Block – THURSDAY 3rd DECEMBER

F Block – FRIDAY 4th DECEMBER

(Caitlin and Synnove – we will make arrangements for you to sit it during your study halls on THURSDAY 3rd due to clash with English Orals)

Topics covered will be Nervous System, Endocrine System, Reproductive System – and for HL students Muscles and Movement as well.  That is Topics 6.5 and 6.6 for SL, and Topics 6.5, 6.6 and 11.2 for HL. Come to tutorials armed with questions if you need to

Sarcomeres in myofibrils of relaxed skeletal muscle from images.wellcome.ac.uk

In this unit we will be looking at the following key questions:

Why do muscles work in pairs?

What is a sarcomere and what does it have to do with muscle contraction?

How do muscles contract?

A great presentation on this can be found here.

Good animations to help explain what’s going on can be found here.

Here are a couple of useful websites to cover topics 6.3 and 11.1 on the immune system.

The Biology Project has problem sets, tutorials, resources and interactive activities.  I particularly like the HIV/AIDS simulation one.

The Cells Alive site has a number of useful links and animations.  Click on the immunology tab on the left hand side and go from there.

We will be having a test next week. For SL that means topics 6.3 and 6.4 – Disease, immunity and gas exchange.  For HL that means 6.3 and 11.1 - Disease and immunity.  Topic 11 syllabus guide here: Topic 11

B Block – THURSDAY 22nd OCTOBER

F Block – WEDNESDAY 21st OCTOBER

G Block – THURSDAY 22nd OCTOBER

Come and see me in tutorial time if you need help with any of this.

antibody from bindingsitesera.com

Our bodies remain healthy despite coming into contact with germs and microbes many times a day.  This is due to the fact that we have a pretty efficient defence system that protects us from disease.  See here for a presentation on this topic.  For Higher Level students, you need to go further, so here is another useful presentation.

You will be required to make notes for yourself and your classmates on some aspect of this topic.  You may choose to create a podcast, slideshow, prezi or simply a set of written notes.  Get creative!  To see your assignment, please click on the following links. 

Defense groups – BLOCK B

Defense groups – BLOCK F

Defense groups – BLOCK G