Taking AP biology was one of the best decisions I made in high school. It has truly been one of my favorite classes in high school, and I have learned so much that I can apply to a variety of different classes. Here is some advice that helped me get a great grade in this class and genuinely understand the subject:
Watch the preview videos and take notes: This helped to prepare me for class the next day and allowed me to either find the answers for my questions or be able to ask Mr. Landry questions the next day relating to the lecture.
Do the extra credit reading guides: These will help you understand the content and information the test is on and also help your grade since it is extra credit!
Start reviewing for the AP test as soon as possible: It will be so much easier to learn the content and prepare for the test during the winter than cramming for it the week before. Practicing the test and knowing the layout of it helped me immensely and prepared me for the actual AP test.
This past year, I have learned so much about the world we live in and about the different processes and reactions that we are made of. This class has helped me think more critically about the environment and I am able to connect things I learned in anatomy, physics, and chemistry to the things I learned in biology. From topics such as photosynthesis to the different properties of water, I really deepened my understanding of basic ideas and this class caused me to really think about all the different processes that make up life. I truly got excited to come into AP biology on A and C days since Mr. Landry was so excited to share his knowledge with us and have discussions with the entire class that related to the lesson. This class was so beneficial to me at this point of my life since I am headed off to college and most likely be taking a biology class that I will be prepared for since I took this class. Thank you Mr. Landry!
Chloroplast's are so important. They are found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis. Indirectly, they help us as humans survive since the plants that conduct photosynthesis which converts the suns energy to other forms. The chloroplast's absorb the sun's light and energy and combine that energy with water and carbon dioxide to undergo photosynthesis. They convert the light energy to chemical energy. This process provides the plant with food for the organism. The chloroplast is very similar to the mitochondria, but are found only in plant cells. The chloroplast contains chlorophyll which is essential for photosynthesis and causes the green color in most plants. Other functions of the chloroplast include storing energy, fighting off diseases, and making amino acids for the cell. The chloroplast is surrounded by a double celled composite membrane that has a inter-membrane space. It also has it's own DNA and many infoldings that fill the space inside the organelle. Without the chloroplast, human life would most likely cease to exist because there would be no way to convert/harness the suns energy. It truly is the energy factory in the plant cells.
A disease that is associated with the chloroplast includes the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). It can affect over 350 species of plants. The virus itself is small, rigid, and rod-like. It causes the protein coat to fall away and nucleic acid portion and makes the plant cell produce more virus nucleic acid and virus protein. This process disrupts the cell and its process of photosynthesis. Some of the symptoms plants will show when infected by TMV include smaller plant growth, a pattern of different yellow and greens on the leaves, yellow streaking or spotting on the leaves, and also yellowing of the veins on the plants. This disease is associated with the chloroplast because it can affect plant cells where the chloroplast is found and can disrupt the photosynthesis process which is the main function of the chloroplast.
Fun facts about the chloroplast:
Only one or two chloroplasts will be found in simple cells like algae, but there will be hundreds in more complex plant cells
Chloroplasts have the ability to move around inside the cell to position themselves to where they can best absorb sunlight
There are around 500,000 chloroplasts in a single square millimeter of a leaf
There is more than one type of chlorophyll- Chlorophyll A is common and is green. Chlorophyll C is more golden or brownish
I would want to be the chloroplast over other organelles because of how important they are to life. They provide plants with food and since they conduct photosynthesis, help provide humans and other organisms with energy. They are the only organelle that can convert the suns light energy to usable chemical energy. That is a pretty amazing and important thing to be able to do.
Acid precipitation, otherwise known as acid rain is when the pH of rain is unusually low. The hydrogen content of the rain is higher causing the acidity. Acid rain can come from natural sources like volcanoes and different decaying vegetation, but also can come from man made things like factories and fossil fuel combustion emissions. Once these emissions are released into the atmosphere, the SO2 gasses react with other gases like water and oxygen to form things like sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
Some of the biggest effects acid rain can have on life on earth is how it can impact the water. The acid rain causes the water to be acidic and causes the different water environments to absorb the aluminum that comes from the soil into the lakes and streams. The combination of the acidity of the water and the aluminum make the waters very toxic to the life that lives there. Eventually, things higher up in the food chains, like the birds, are affected because the lower levels in the water are being impacted so negatively by the acid rain. Forests are also affected because the acid rain takes away many of the nutrients which impacts the water intake of the different plants.
The effects of the acid rain can definitely be reduced. The biggest thing that would reduce acid rain would be to reduce the burning of fossil fuels; or better yet stop burning them completely. Alternative fuel sources need to continue to be developed and improved. However, the effects of the acid precipitation would take years to disappear. Each individual can help reduce the acid rain by conserving energy. By doing simple things like taking the bus, riding a bike, and reducing ones dependence on cars, the effects of acid rain can begin to be reduced!
Homecoming week is now past us! It is a week full of friendly competition and lots of fun. Sparta's homecoming is the best in the state. All week, the different classes compete for the red apple through things like penny a point, the canned food drive, and dress up days. Each of these competitions earn points for each grade to help them in their journey for the red apple. This year, the theme was different decades. The seniors had the 80's, juniors had 20's, sophomores had 70's, and the freshman had the 90's. On Friday, the games began and the mock rocks were performed after the court gave their speeches. Each grade wants to win and the competition is tough. The seniors and juniors were close the entire time. After the mock rock's and floats were judged the seniors won the red apple! Each year, I am so excited to get out of bed on Friday knowing that the whole day is so much fun and the homecoming game is that evening. Even though the grades are pitted against each other, homecoming week brings us together as a school and a community and gets everyone excited for the big game!
Hi! My name is Olivia Tilli. Science is definitely my favorite subject to study in school. Some of my favorite classes I have taken include biology, chemistry, and Science Olympiad. After high school, I hope to attend either Michigan State or Michigan Tech to study environmental engineering. I hope that AP Biology helps to further my knowledge of science and prepare me for the college level classes I will take. I am taking AP Biology so I can learn more about the world around me and hopefully change it for the better one day! I really hope to gain better study habits from this class. I know that this course will be challenging, so I know I won't be able to slack off and skim through my notes the day of a quiz. I look forward to learning in this class!
