Friday, June 19, 2009

The earth is all we have

Hi,

On June 3, I was at Commonwealth Secondary School for the "Just One Earth Environmental Seminar 2009".

The first half of the seminar consisted of presentation by various speakers on importance of maintaining a green environment and sustainability of our resources. the second half of the seminar consisted of visits to various places related to the sustainable energy and waste management. I chose to visit the Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple for the excursion.

Mr Derrick Ho from MEWR (Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources) spoke on Sustainable Development Blueprint for Singapore and its Implications for Schools. It can be viewed in detail by clicking this link. Here is a more direct link to a list of actions that individuals can take in support of sustainable development.

You can see the pictures I took below.






















Edwin Khew, CEO of IUT Global Pte Ltd

Commonwealth Secondary students

Mr Edwin Khew, CEO of IUT Global Pte Ltd, a global environmental waste technology company taking us through how organic wastes are treated in his Tuas Factory, methane gas is collected, and the then the wastes are incinerated into ash and sent to Pulau Semakau for landfill

Sec. One students of Commonwealth Sec. Sch. explain their project on sustainability

wetland planter

pandanus

Cattails, sedge, reeds, bladderwort growing in clean water from the school's washbasins

Pandanus growing luxuriantly in the marsh garden created with waste water from the school toilets




At the Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple,you can meet volunteer Mr Lee Boon Siong. He is very committed to greening the temple. Many of his technologies are applicable to residential buildings too. You may want to read about the temple at the Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple website before visiting it yourself.

Cheers






















































Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple

skylight

Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple, off Pasir Panjang Road, is the "temple of the future". It is designed to harness solar, hydro and wind energy for its energy needs

Mr Lee Boon Siong, a volunteer at Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple, explaining how even diffused light in the shade can be directed with a series of mirrors in a tunnel to light up the floor below

Mr Lee Boon Siong - Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple

Mr Lee Boon Siong

Diffused light is captured in the shade of the temple to direct to the lower floors


This skylight channels daylight through a winding tube using internal mirrors to deliver light to the temple interior

temple atrium


The hall is lighted by the sunlight coming from the atrium and ventilated by the mesh-like design of the walls

Solar panels come in this size. Mr Lee experiments with different types of panel. He found the "amorphous panels" to be the best for Singapore's cloudy skies.




Harvesting wind power is not so effective as Singapore is not windy enough.

There are more than 3 types of solar panels being experimented with by Mr Lee. There is much R&D in this field of technology.









Solar power is harvested to heat up water for the temple's use.


Look at the panel. Today 23 KWH has been harvested from the sunlight


bamboo table




Table cum bed cum cupboard at the temple is made of bamboo, a fast growing, sustainable alternative to the usual hard wood used in making furniture







To listen to some songs on the environment by Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil, click on the link below:

http://asal-sakti.blogspot.com/search/label/Peter%20Garrett

Cheers

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

350 -The Most Important Number in the World

Hi,

I was listening to Bill McKibben recently. He is the author of "End of Nature", a book he wrote in 1989. It seems he was was the first to warn of global warming, 20 years ago!

View the short video below, which is deliberately wordless so that it needs no translation. It has proved very effective in mobilising the communities around the world into taking responsibility for their actions. Now they can go out there and make the necessary impact. They can do something to change the course and momentum of the global warming. Activists like Mr McKibben are calling for changes in attitude, cultures, efficiencies in energy consumption in homes, production lines to becoming central parts of our lives.


He first raised an alarm about global warming in 1989 but, he says, he never dreamed the crisis would come as soon as it has. Even 18 months ago the scientific view was not as bad as it is today. Click on the link below to learn about the movement Mr McKibben and 6 of his friends founded.

An increase of 10C so far has already caused the following:
  1. new diseases in some countries. eg dengue fever in Bangladesh

  2. changes in hydrological cycles arid land experiencing drying out faster and wetter areas, getting inundated with frequent heavy rainfalls and flooding

  3. rivers drying out and bigger and more frequent forest and bush fires

  4. tens of millions of pine forests killed off by pine bark beetles as they did not die in the cold winters as winters are so warm nowadays

  5. 80% of sunlight energy falling on polar ice caps is reflected. But no more now. when sunlight is absorbed, it melts the permafrost (permanently frozen ice, ie ice that does not melt in summer). This releases millions of tons of methane which usually lies below the permafrost. Methane is many times more powerful green house gas than carbon dioxide.

  6. For 10,000 years, since the civilisation of man, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has remained at around 275 ppm. In Jan 2008 it has been found to be 350 ppm. Anything above this concentration will not be tolerated. It means the planet is "sick". The symptoms are already seen in Arctic ice melting, rivers drying up etc.

  7. Global warming and cooling are not new to the planet. However, this time it is caused by man and it is happening way too fast. This does not allow the organisms (plants and animal species) to adapt to these changes as it is happening too fast.

The tipping point is - or was - the number '350'. This is the level in the atmosphere of CO2 in parts per million that will cause global warming to go beyond our control. And we are reaching this number... just... about... NOW! This is why McKibben calls 350 The Most Important Number in the World

Watch this space around October 24 this year, and look out for events focused on 350 that you can get involved in between now and then - or organise an activity of your own.

To listen to songs on the environment by Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil, click on the link below:

http://asal-sakti.blogspot.com/search/label/Peter%20Garrett



Cheers

Monday, June 15, 2009

Repair our eyes and do it cheaply and safely?

Hi,

I found a fascinating article that will interest most of us in Singapore, given the prevalence of myopia or short-sightedness here.

It is about restoration of good eye-sight using stem cells. It take less than a month to restore sight. It is cheap, non-invasive, only takes a couple of hours to complete.

Sounds too good to be true. The new procedure has been performed in Sydney, Australia. Scientists think this technique can be used in skin grafts as the cornea is the skin of the eye. It has the same physiological functions as other skin.

Watch the video below to 'see' for yourself.




Cheers

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Earth Day 2009

Hi,

On April 24 2009, our school celebrated Earth Day.

The whole school was assembled in the Hall. All staff and students were kept engaged by the four Environment Ambassadors and Mdm Preetha during the first half of the period. The lower secondary pupils kept the school engaged with their presentation on Recycling.

The second half of the assembly was on "Carbon Zero". Randal, Elizabeth and Deborah encouraged and cajoled the staff and students to think about how we can reduce the carbon footprint we leave behind with subtle changes in our attitude. The school was also invited to take part in the Carbon Zero competition, which started in May, and spread the message of conserving electricity in our daily use of electrical appliances at home and in school and office.







































Mdm Preetha introducing the 4 trained Environment Ambassadors of the school.

What better issue to discuss on Earth Day than recycling and care for the environment?




The students and staff wait in anticipation for the programme to start

Randall speaks on "Carbon Zero"



Audience participation is what everybody looks out for

Prizes for right answers always gets everyone's attention





What really is recycling?

Besides Randal, Elizabeth and Deborah were engaging the audience on how to reduce wastage of electricity in our homes. Their tips on the many ways to conserve energy are easy to follow



Cheers

Friday, June 12, 2009

Earth Hour 2009 celebrations

Hi,

Our school joined many groups and individuals around the world to mark Earth Hour 2009 on 28 April. Although it is now June, this post is not untimely as the point of Earth Hour was not to raise awareness of global warming only to have it forgotten as swiftly as the next hour. So, a reminder of what we did in our school...

Form teachers and Co-form teachers of each class were asked to spend time during their Form Teacher periods to speak about the event.

They were to show the two videos below to their students:
2.2 million people in Sydney ( about 3 minutes only)



Blue Man Group


Blue Man Group on global warming.

Our students were encouraged to join millions of people around the world and celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday 28 March by switching off all lights in their homes.

They were encouraged to find out that many government agencies (e.g. community centres), educational institutions (e.g. the polytechnics and universities), hotels (e.g. Royal Plaza hotel), businesses (e.g. Singtel, Golden Village), shopping malls (e.g. Junction 8, Bugis Junction), and many others were all coming up with interesting ways in which to carry on with their business as usual but with the lights switched off!

Some teachers also found time to view the video below with their classes.

Earth Hour news

Form teachers spent time to reflect on the following question:
“How do you think the Earth Hour Celebration may change your attitude towards conserving energy?”

Coloured paper in the shape of a large green leaf was given to each Form teacher to collate the responses from your class. These leaves were entered for a competition. Prizes will be awarded to the classes with the most original and innovative responses. The responses were displayed outside the Staff Room.

To listen to some songs on the environment by Peter Garrettt of Midnight Oil, click on the link below:

http://asal-sakti.blogspot.com/search/label/Peter%20Garrett


Cheers

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Lesson 38: Digestive and excretory systems

Hi,

Hopefully these Powerpoint slides will go some way in helping you in your revision.

The large ppt covers:
  • classes of food and their functions
  • balanced diet
  • parts of the digestive system, their digestive enzymes, peristalsis
  • absorption and villi structure
  • excretion, structure and function of the urinary system
  • nephron system and production of urine
  • water and salt balance
  • dialysis machine
  • short quiz






Cheers

Lesson 37: Ecology, food chains and populations

Hi,

Everybody enjoys ecology and food chain studies. Here is more for your enjoyment.

This set of powerpoint slides contain the following which are relevant to your biology syllabus:

  • energy flow, sunlight energy being converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis
  • autotrophs(producers), heterotrophs(consumers), decomposers(soil bacteria and soil fungi)
  • food chain (flow of energy through organisms)
  • food web, examples of food webs
  • pyramids of numbers, biomass, and energy
  • carbon cycle
  • quiz.

You can ignore the nitrogen and other mineral cycles as well as population studies as they are not in the biology syllabus for this year.





Cheers

Lesson 36: Leaves, roots and stem

Hi,

Plant physiology is not so exciting for most students. Hopefully this will add some zest for you.

I find this set of powerpoint slides very vivid. It covers the following parts of the syllabus in clear crisp slides:
  • functions of roots, leaves and stem in a plant
  • root hair cell and its various functions
  • xylem structure and its functions
  • phloem structure and its functions
  • active transports and use of energy (ATP) to transfer molecules and ions
  • osmosis and simple diffusion
  • structure of vascular bundle, its location in the plant organs
  • transpiration, transpiration pull, capillary action
  • stoma and how it functions in gaseous exchanges

The parts about secondary growth, bark formation are not in our syllabus.





Cheers

Lesson 35: Keeping the internal environment in the body constant

Hi,

The keeping of internal environment in the body constant is of utmost importance. Upset of this fine balance would lead to major physiological changes which could lead to multiple organ failure and death.

This set of powerpoint is wholesome. It covers everything that we need to learn for the exams. Check out the following concepts in the slides:
  • definition of homoeostasis
  • control of water potential, sugar conc in blood, temperature of body, urea conc in blood
  • structure and labels of urinary system
  • quiz on urinary system
  • kidney structure
  • nephron structure, its functions and processes that occur in filtering the blood
  • kidney dialyis machine and how it mimic the kidney functions
  • ADH, its functions and processes involved in controlling the volume and conc of blood
  • skin sturcture, labellling, its fucntions as sense organ and temperature control
  • how raising the hair, shivering, blood supply to skin and sweating are related to temperature control



Cheers

Lesson 34: Excercise and how it affects gaseous exchanges

Hi,

Everyone know that exercise increases the heart rate and the breathing rate among other changes. Find out how and why these changes occur.

With the aid of this set of powerpoint slides you will revise the following concepts:
  • structure of the respiratory system, its labelling
  • alveolus and its structure
  • gaseous exchanges at the alveolar surface
  • scanning electron micrograph of the cilia cells, the goblet cells of the trachea and bronchi
  • pulse rate and heart rate
  • heart structure and heart cycles/cardiac cycles
  • blood pressure changes
Gaseous Exchange And Exercise

Cheers

Lesson 33: Gaseous exchange at the lungs

Hi,

These cheerful Powerpoint slides are more suitable for the Pure Biology students. It deals with details of how oxygen and carbon dioxide travel in the blood.

The details of how carbon dioxide enters the red blood cell and form carbonic acid which later dissociates to form hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions. The bicarbonate ion then diffuses back into the plasma and travels to the lungs and then enter back into the rbc. This reaction occurs in the reverse order to form carbon dioxide which then diffuses into the alveoli. This concept is well explained with large diagrams.




Cheers

Lesson 32: Kidney-an excretory organ

This is not in the syllabus for the Science Biology students but you are welcome to go beyond that. Of course the Pure Biology students know that Kidney and its excretory functions are an important part of their syllabus.
This set of powerpoints slides are very good in enhancing your understanding of this topic. It covers details of the following:
  • definition of the term excretion
  • urinary system, annotated diagram
  • kidney, L.S., annotated diagram
  • nephron, annotated diagram
  • step by step, urine formation, annotated
  • quiz






Cheers

Lesson 31: Circulatory and Respiratory systems

Hi,

This set of powerpoint slides covers two chapters. They slides are clear and useful in understanding difficult concepts such as how skeletal muscles move blood upwards (against gravity) in the vein.

Here is a list of salient points to look out for in this lesson:
  • parts of the circulatory system
  • heart structure and the path of blood flow within it
  • how the heart functions as a double pump
  • functions of the systemic and pulmonary circulations
  • how the kidney is involved in regulating the volume of blood and blood pressure
  • the components of blood and their functions
  • definition of respiration
  • cellular respiration and breathing/gaseous exchange between lungs and the environment
  • parts of the human respiratory system
  • breathing mechanism
  • components of cigarette smoke and the harmful effects of these components
Lymphatic system and its functions are not in our syllabus.

Functions of the brain in regulating the breathing rate is also taken out of our syllabus. However, the effect of increased carbon dioxide concentration in blood triggering increase in breathing rate is very much in our syllabus.



Cheers

Lesson 30: Biological catalysts-enzymes

Hi,

These Powerpoint slides make learning key concepts easy.
The coverage includes the following:
  • definition of catalyst
  • definition of enzyme
  • what is active site
  • lock and key hypothesis
  • synthesis and hydrolysis type of enzyme reactions
  • what is denaturing of enzyme
Cells And Enzymes


Cheers

Lesson 29: Organic molecules are produced by plants and animals

Hi,

This set of powerpoint slides cover more on organic molecules in organisms.
  • the polar nature of water molecule giving rise to many uses and properties in organisms
  • high heat capacity, high latent heat of vaporisation, solubility, capillary action and transpiration pull in xylem vessels
  • magnesium ions in plants for making chlorophyll
  • nitrate ions in plants for making amino acids from glucose
  • uses of carbohydrates, mono-, di- and polysaccharides
  • uses of lipids in body and their structures
  • uses of proteins in body and their structures
The detailed chemical structures of the many types of carbohydrates, fats and proteins are not in the syllabus.




Cheers

Lesson 28: Homeostasis - maintaining a constant internal environment

Hi,
This is an important part of the pure biology syllabus.

This set of slides cover the following points to remember for exams:
  • definition of homoeostasis
  • water, salt, blood sugar, body temperature, controls
  • kidney, skin involvement in homoeostasis
  • urinary system, labels, annotations
  • kidney, labels, annotations
  • nephron labels, annotations
  • nephron, in detail, how it works
  • glomerulus, convoluted tubules, loop of Henle, collecting ducts
  • kidney dialysis in detail
  • anti diuretic hormone, how it controls volume of urine and blood pressure
  • skin, labels, annotations
  • responses to temperature
  • vaso dilation, constrictions, hair erector muscles, sweat glands involvement in homoeostasis
  • quiz, short questions




Cheers

Lesson 27: Sense organs

Hi,

More on the nervous system and the eye. Please remember that only the eye and skin are in the syllabus now. The other sense organs are still very interesting, but they will not be tested in the exams.

This set of slides contain the following:
  • sense organs eye and skin, and nervous system and reflex actions
  • stimulus, receptor, coordination, effector, response sequences
  • nerve cell, labels, annotation
  • how synapse works
  • pupil reflex, blink reflex, cough reflex
  • labels in reflex actions, annotated diagram
  • eye, labels, annotations
  • compare eye with camera in its functions
  • short and long-sightedness
  • short questions
Remember not to dwell too much on the ear, tongue, nose, other parts which will not be tested in your examinations.



Cheers

Lesson 26: Coronary heart disease and heart attacks

Hi,

Coronary heart disease may lead to heart attacks. Find out how.
The powerpoint slides explain the following:
  • coronary heart disease is caused by fatty deposits or plaque in coronary arteries
  • causes of coronary heart disease
  • how blot clot occurs in coronary arteries
  • atherosclerosis, plague narrowing of arteries in body
  • ballooning technique
  • vascular stent
  • coronary artery bypass, vein grafts from aorta to the coronary artery



Cheers

Lesson 25: Circulatory system and blood (2)

Hi,

The following set of powerpoint slide cover theses concepts:
  • components of circulatory system, blood cells, vessels, heart
  • components of blood, cells, plasma, volume of blood
  • red blood cells, functions, shape and adaptation
  • white blood cells, functions, types
  • platelets, functions
  • arteries, veins and capillaries, descriptions and functions
  • features of heart, valves
  • cardiac cycle, annotated
  • aerobic respiration in mitochondria
  • anaerobic respiration, producing lactic acid and oxygen debt
  • atherosclerosis
  • sickle cell anaemia and its problems
  • immune responses of body
  • phagocytosis
  • antibodies and how they work
  • short questions/quiz



Cheers

Lesson 24: Circulatory system and blood

Hi,

This set of 29 slides is by far the best I have seen. they are simple, colourful, vivid and concise.
They cover the following relevant aspects of our syllabus:
  • components of blood, a liquid tissue
  • red blood cell, adaptations and functions
  • types of white blood cell, adaptations and functions
  • platelets, functions
  • quiz and cloze passage
  • vivid diagrams of the circulatory system
  • heart cycle
  • arteries, annotated
  • veins, annotated
  • capillaries, annotated
  • contents of plasma
I hope this will help in your revision of this important topic for all classes taking biology with me.



Cheers

Lesson 23: Dissection of sheep's heart

Hi,

You may still remember our sheep's heart dissection. here are slides that may help recall our lesson and more. Recall the following concept when viewing these 38 slides:
  • blood circulation in body
  • blood flow through the 4 chambers of the heart
  • sheep's heart cut open,showing relative thicknesses of the atria, left ventricle and right ventricle, aorta, vena cava and pulmonary arteries and veins
  • diastole and systole, Wigglers diagram
  • cardiac cycle, about 0.7 sec, showing pressure changes in aorta, left atrium and left ventricle
  • large, diagram to show aorta and its supply to all organs of the body
  • pulmonary artery and how it supplies the alveoli
  • detailed annotated diagrams of arteries, veins and capillaries
  • some X-ray pictures to show path of blood in major blood vessels
(Mitral valve is the old name for bicuspid valves that you find in your textbooks.)



Cheers

Lesson 22: Nervous system and reflex actions

Hi,

This topic is quite difficult for most students. I hope these Powerpoint slides will be of help.
Coverage includes:
  • details of neuron, detailed explanation of its parts and how it functions
  • spinal cord being a link between the brain and the other parts of the body
  • reflexes being processed at the spinal cord
  • definition of reflex action
  • eye, its labels, processes involved in sight
  • quiz

Please ignore the following parts that will not be tested in your exams as they are no more in your syllabus: sodium-potassium pump, details of brain and how it works, details of synapse, ear and tongue.




Cheers

Lesson 21: Endocrine and reproductive systems

Hi,

This rather large file consists of 158 slides, contain many interesting parts which may not be important for your exams, but interesting enough to learn more about your physical growth and development.

The parts that are examinable are the following:
  • functions of endocrine system
  • hormones, co-ordination
  • definition of hormone
  • exo and endocrine systems
  • hormones that you need to know, insulin, glucagon, adrenaline, oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, anti diuretic hormone
  • pituitary gland, master endocrine gland all other endocrine glands
  • pancreas is both endo and exocrine gland
  • male reproductive system, structure and labels, hormone production
  • female reproductive system, structure and labels, hormones produced
  • menstrual cycle, how it is controlled by the hormones produced by the ovaries
  • STDs
  • process of fertilisation
  • development of zygote over the first 6 days into embryo and implantation
  • functions of amnion
  • development of placenta, organ for respiration, nourishment and excretion of foetus
  • quiz
You need not bother to remember facts about all other hormones not listed above and details of embryo development after implantation. The rest are relevant in your exams.

Enjoy the Powerpoint slides and clear some doubts that you may have on this topic.




Cheers

Lesson 20: Cells reproducing themselves-mitosis and meiosis

Hi,

This set of 43 slides are very good in explaining the 2 types of cell division. The following points are precisely and concisely explained:
  • all cells of the body are not the same, importance of cell specialisation
  • copies of cells are made for growth, repair, reproduction etc
  • mitosis occurs almost everywhere, 2 identical daughter cells are produced
  • meiosis occurs in gonads only, 4 non-identical daughter cells are produced
  • mitosis for growth and repair, almost all body cells produced in this way
  • meiosis for sexual reproduction, occurs for reproductive purpose
  • photomicrograph and line diagrams of different stages of mitosis
  • photomicrograph and line diagrams of different stages of meiosis
  • interphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
  • differences between mitosis and meiosis,
  • importance of meiosis is sexual reproduction
  • comparing ageing process with cancer formation




Cheers

Lesson 19: White blood cells and other defence systems

Hi,
Here are 16 slides to help you along in your revision of immunity and defence. Revise the following concepts covered in these slides:

  • passive immunity- skin, mucus and cilia in trachea and bronchi, hydrochloric acid in stomach,enzymes in tears
  • active immunity-white blood cells
  • phagocytes or macrophages and how they defend the body
  • lymphocytes and how they defend the body
  • antibodies, antitoxins
  • vaccination and how to teach lymphocytes to recognise and kill pathogens
  • antibiotics and how they kill bacteria
Defending Against Infection


Cheers

Lesson 18: Specialised cells

Hi,
More colourful slides for your learning experience.
The 12 slides are very useful in learning the following concepts:
  • shape and size of specialised cells are related to their adaptation for their functions
  • guard cell, unevenly thickened wall, to open and close the stoma
  • long finger-like shape to increase surface area to volume ratio in root hair cell
  • hollow cell with thick lignified walls in xylem to conduct water upwards
  • ciliated lining cell in trachea to waft dust and germs upwards the air passages
  • long tail and plenty of mitochondria in sperm cell to swim
  • plenty of yolk and large in egg to store nutrients for growth
  • ability to move about in tissue fluid and ingest bacteria in phagocyte
  • ability to contract and relax thus change length in muscle cell
  • biconcave disc shape with haemoglobin in red blood cell to absorb and transport oxygen
  • long, myelinated axon in nerve cell to transmit nerve impulses over long distances
  • cell, tissues, organs, systems, organism-order of complexity




Cheers

Lesson 17: Proteins, fats, carbohydrates,water & nucleic acids

Hi,

This powerpoint slides show beautiful models of organic molecules. I am sure it will enhance your learning experience.

Revise the following concepts covered by this set of slides:
  • lipids- structural formulae, functions
  • water-polar molecule, functions in organism due to its high solubility, heat capacity, high latent heat of vaporisation, capillarity, surface tension
  • carbohydrates-mono-, di- and polysaccharides
  • condensation of monosaccharides to form the larger di- and polysaccharides
  • starch, glycogen, cellulose
  • protein-condensation of amino acids to form polypeptides
  • functions of proteins
  • nucleic acids and DNA
  • nucleotide-phosphate, pentose and base
  • cytosine, thymine, adenine and guanine
  • DNA replication, triplet code in genetic codes
  • protein synthesis- mRNA formation in nucleus
  • mRNA in cytoplasm attaching to ribosome
  • tRNA and formation of amino acids




Cheers

Lesson 16: Cell, tissues, organs, systems and organism

Hi,

This beginning chapter of biology is relevant to all classes.
Enjoy the following 21 slides and revise the following concepts:
  • plant and animal cell structure
  • cell organelles-mitochondria, chloroplasts, nucleus, cell membrane
  • specialised cells-red blood cells, nerve cells, sperm cells, muscle cells, root hari cells, xylem cells, pollen cells, guard cells
  • cell organised into tissues, organs, systems and organisms
  • examples of various systems in plants and animals
  • short questions



Cheers

Lesson 15: Energy flows

Hi,

These slides cover an important part of express classes' syllabus. The coverage includes:
  • flow of energy and minerals through the environment
  • producers carry out photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy
  • glucose is sunlight energy in the form of a molecule
  • primary consumers in a food chain, examples
  • secondary consumers in a food chain, examples
  • biomass, respiration, wastes
  • energy efficiencies of consumers
  • trophic levels
  • decomposers, examples, functions in recycling minerals
  • examples of food webs -marine, woodlands
  • loss of biomass in food chains due to respiration and wastes
  • pyramid of biomass
  • pyramid of energy
  • pyramid of numbers
  • pesticides, toxic chemicals, bio-accumulations
  • predator-prey cycles
  • carbon cycle
  • carbon dioxide and greenhouse effect
  • effects of global warming
  • very good short questions on topic




Cheers

Lesson 14: Hormones and endocrine system

Hi,

This set of 33 powerpoint slides covers most of the hormones that will be tested in your syllabus. The coverage includes:
  • pituitary gland-anti diuretic hormone
  • pancreas- insulin and glucagon
  • adrenal gland-adrenaline
  • ovaries-oestrogen and progesterone
  • testis-testosterone
  • compare co-ordination of nervous system with hormonal system
  • AHD-water level, kidney functions, feedback mechanism
  • how body gains water, how it loses water
  • urine volume, blood pressure, osmo-regulation
  • adrenaline-responses during stress, effects on heart, lungs and brain
  • blood glucose balance-glucagon and insulin
  • effect of glucagon and insulin around body cells and tissues
  • 24 hour graph to show levels of insulin and glucose
  • type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  • risk factors for people living with diabetes
  • annotated diagram of female reproductive system
  • ovulation and menstrual cycle, oestrogen and progesterone involvement
  • 2 graphs and annotation on menstrual cycle
  • contraception methods, barrier type, hormone type
  • condom, femidom-barriers, protection against STDs
  • AIDS, gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia
  • Pills-hormonal contraception
  • cap- only barrier contraception
  • fertility treatments-IUI, IVF and egg donation
  • sex of baby is determined at time of fertilisation
  • designer babies
  • cloning, surrogate mother
  • Molly and Dolly, first cloned sheep
  • short questions
Enjoy.



Cheers

Lesson 13: Genetic engineering- artificial selective breeding

Hi,

Something for the Pure Biology pupils to view. The 23 slides cover the following concepts:
  • human genome project
  • genetic engineering-artificial selective breeding
  • designer babies, designer drug treatment, DNA banks
  • new drugs designed for individuals based on their DNA
  • gene therapy for people with inherited diseases eg sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis
  • artificial selection of dairy cows that yield better quality milk, larger yield per day
  • pig farming for higher pork production, less fatty meat
  • race horse breeding for speed and agility
  • beef cattle for lean and better quality beef
  • wheat plants that are resistant to pests, not killed by herbicides
  • high yielding rice that need less water, is faster growing
  • corn that is high yielding and fast growing
  • plant tissue culture in growing vegetables and fruit plants
  • artificial insemination in breeding cow, beef cattle, race horses
  • embryo transplants and cloning in farm animal breeding
  • human insulin from genetically engineered bacteria grown in bio-reactors
  • Genetically modified corn, cotton, tomato
  • gene therapy for treating inherited genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis
  • process/steps involved in genetic engineering, involvement of plasmids in bacteria
  • production of seeds with bits of genes from other organisms,
  • GM seeds- new genes for pesticide production, vitamin A production, resistance to herbicides, production of toxins to kill pest insects,
  • flavour savour tomato-GM tomato that takes longer to ripen, longer shelf life, antibiotic to kill bacteria that cause rotting, no change in taste and appearance
  • human insulin production in bio-reactors instead of pig insulin
  • cloning of sheep, chimpanzee
  • identical twins form when a fertilised egg splits itself into two and grows independently
  • designer babies
  • short questions






Cheers

Lesson 12: Variation and inheritance

Hi,

These powerpoint slides will definitely help you understand the topic better. the 30 slides are very relevant in covering the following concepts:
  • variation, continuous and discontinuous
  • chromosomes-consists of genes in a linear arrangement
  • DNA-chromosomes are made of this acid molecule
  • gene-a section of chromosome that carries a coded info for controlling a trait
  • allele-one 2 or more alternative forms of gene
  • replication-process of making identical copies of chromosome/gene
  • mitosis-duplication of cells for growth, repair and asexual reproduction
  • meiosis-producing haploid gametes for sexual reproduction
  • gametes-haploid sex cells such as sperm, ovum
  • fertilisation-joining of a male and a female gamete during sexual reproduction
  • zygote- a diploid product of fertilisation
  • diploid cell-cell with 2 sets of chromosomes
  • haploid cell- cell with only one set of chromosomes
  • genotype-description when both alleles are present for a particular trait
  • phenotype- a visible trait shown by an organism
  • heterozygous-having 2 different alleles for a particular trait
  • homozygous-having 2 identical alleles for a particular trait
  • dominant-a type of allele that is expressed even when there is only one copy present
  • recessive- a type of allele that is only expressed expressed when partnered with another like itself
  • monohybrid cross-simple breeding experiment to study the inheritance of a single gene
  • differences between continuous and discontinuous variation
  • short questions




Cheers

Lesson 11: Photosynthesis- nutrition in plants

Hi,

Here are some 31 colourful and cheerful powerpoint slides to zest up your revision of this topic. the concepts covered by these slides include:
  • organisation of plant-cells, tissues, organs, systems and organism
  • specialised cells, adaptation for their functions
  • palisade cells-contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis
  • root hair cells-have large surface area to volume ratio for quick absorption of water and dissolved mineral ions
  • guard cells- bean shaped, have unevenly thickened wall for gaseous exchange with the environment
  • pollen cells- sex cells for adaptation for pollination, used for sexual reproduction
  • annotated plant cells
  • mitochondria-site of cellular respiration
  • chloroplast-site of photosynthesis
  • plants are producers in the ecosystem- change sunlight energy into chemical energy aka glucose molecule
  • glucose- a carbohydrate which the plant will use to change into proteins, fats and other forms of carbohydrates
  • uses of glucose in plant-respiration, 80% efficiency in changing it to other froms and for storage
  • cross section of leaf, annotated
  • equation for photosynthesis, models to illustratae the synthesis from water and carbon dioxide
  • short questions




Cheers