Investigating the effect of trampling on salt marsh
A2 BIOLOGY COURSEWORK Investigating the effect of trampling on salt marsh vegetation? RESEARCH AND RATIONALE- The saltmarsh I used for my experiments (sample taking) was the RSPB (Royal Society for Protection of Birds) reserve of Freiston Shore. Aim of the investigation- I am aiming to compare three different aspects when investigating the effect of trampling on salt marsh vegetation. * Population density * Species diversity * Types of species found Two areas in close vicinity will be compared; one area is non-trampled (Area 1) and the other trampled (Area 2). Justification for the investigation- I was interested in the affect humans have on different environments, how they interfere as anthroprogenic factor. In the context of this experiment they can be classed as biotic factors. People explore the marsh in wellington boots this tramples some areas heavily and greatly irritates plant life. This can be measured through looking at the population density of the area, one of the aspects I am going to compare. I chose this marsh specifically because it is a RSPB reserve which means it has been protected by government and other organisations for its diversity in wildlife. We have to remember that there are plenty of other animals (that are sustained by plants) involved in a bird's food chain therefore; Freiston shore has a diverse variety. Biology behind the
Genetics Assignment
Anatomy & Physiology Genetics TASK 1 DNA is a nucleic acid formed from nucleotides. Individual nucleotides are comprised of three parts: a. Phosphoric acid (Phosphate H3PO4). This has the same structure in all nucleotides. b. Pentose sugar: These are of two types - Ribose (which occurs in RNA) and Deoxyribose (which occurs in DNA). c. Organic bases: There are four different bases which are divided into two groups - Pyrimidines - these are single rings with six sides, are cytosine and thymine in DNA. Purines - these are double rings comprising a six-sided and a five-sided ring, are adenine and guanine in DNA. The three components are combined by condensation reactions to give a nucleotide. By a similar condensation reaction between the sugar and phosphate groups of two nucleotides, a dinucleotide is formed. Continued condensation reactions lead to the formation of a polynucleotide. DNA is a double stranded polymer made up of two polynucleotide chains (known as a Double Helix), where the pentose sugar is always deoxyribose and the organic bases are adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine, but never uracil. The amount of guanine is usually equal to that of cytosine and the amount of adenine is usually equal to that of thymine. It is in the form of a double helix whose shape is maintained by hydrogen bonds. Each chain has a sugar phosphate backbone on the outside
Can relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) be prevented?
Can relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) be prevented? Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): Leukemia is cancer of the bone marrow, affecting the cells that produce white blood cells. The cause is not yet known, but it is understood that leukemia starts when one cell acquires a defect its gene and begins to grow and divide uncontrollably. Leukemia falls under four sub-categories that refer to the type of white blood cell they affect. 1,2,12 White blood cells are made in the bone marrow, the soft inner part of the bone, starting as stem cells and are produced as they are needed. In ALL the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells called lymphocytes, they are not fully developed and do not work properly. The diagram shows how the stages of development, from stem cells to mature lymphocytes. 1, 2, 12 In a health person the amount of immature morrow lies at 1-2%, in a leukemia patient it is usually between 40-90%.13 The large amount of abnormal, immature white blood cells (B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes), means that the body is more prone to infection, and healthy red blood cells and platelets cannot be produced. The abnormal cells can get into the blood stream and can accumulate in the lymph nodes, and spleen, affecting the liver, spinal cord and/or brain. 12, 14 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is one of the few cancers that are most common amongst children.
GCSE Biology Revision
GCSE Biology Revision: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS: Movement: change of position of whole or part of an organism controlled by the organism. Respiration: the production of energy by chemical reactions with the organism. Sensitivity: the response by an organism to stimuli inside or outside itself. Growth: increase in size of an organism by increase in size or number of cells. Reproduction: producing offspring like themselves. Excretion: getting rid of waste produced by the organism. Nutrition: obtaining and utilising food. NECESSITIES OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET: Light, Water, Carbon Dioxide, Oxygen, Minerals, Warmth. CELLS: Cells make up living things. New cells form when old cells divide into two. They are similar in structure and basic functions but become specialised to perform particular tasks. The nucleus is the controlling the centre of the cell. It contains all the information to make new cells and to tell the cell how to behave. This information consists of chromosomes made of DNA, which pass on information from generation to generation. The Nuclear Membrane is a thin layer that surrounds the nucleus but has pores through which chemicals can enter and leave. The Cell Membrane is a thin layer that surrounds and contains the cell contents. It is Selectively permeable and controls the entry and exit of chemicals to and from the cell. Cytoplasm is a
Study the increasing cases of food allergies and intolerances in an attempt to establish what factors could be responsible for the rising number of sufferers.
Diabetes Mellitus By Hollie Scorer Introduction & Hypothesis (1.0) My original research proposal was to study the increasing cases of food allergies and intolerances in an attempt to establish what factors could be responsible for the rising number of sufferers. Whilst conducting my initial research I found resources such as scientific studies were very limited, which would have considerably impaired my investigation. I took the decision to change my research subject to diabetes mellitus as this subject is of personal interest to me and the resources and literature on diabetes is vast. Firstly I will give a medical explanation as to why we get diabetes, what it exactly is, the symptoms it causes and how scientists discovered the treatment. I will be using two diabetes sufferers as case studies, conducting in-depth telephone interviews. Initially I distributed questionnaires to be completed by the general public in order to gather information, my findings were inept and I was unable to use my results to prove or disprove my hypothesis. I therefore have made the decision to conduct two in depth case studies. Although my case studies will provide me with detailed information, case studies are time consuming so I will only be able to perform two, which will reduce my comparison availability. Case study one suffers from insulin-dependent diabetes and case study two suffers
An Investigation into the effect of caffeine on reaction times
An investigation into the effect of caffeine on reaction times and short term memory Aim To investigate the effect of varying doses of caffeine on performance in simple reaction time and short term memory tests. Research and Rationale Having carried out the core practical on the effect of caffeine on the heart rate of Daphnia, I wanted to investigate the effect of caffeine on other functions of the body, and how this effect comes about. Caffeine is a natural pesticide, found in the leaves, beans and fruit of over 60 plants1, however in humans it acts as a central nervous system stimulant, reducing fatigue and restoring alertness2. It is said to be the most widely used drug in the world, with an average intake of 241mg per person, per day according to a Bristol survey3. I therefore decided to explore how it could affect reaction times and the extent of short term memory, as these are two factors involved in alertness. It has a similar structure to adenosine, meaning it binds to adenosine receptors in the brain. Caffeine and adenosine - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Caffeine_and_adenosine.svg - 22.10.08 When a nerve impulse travels through the synaptic knob, opening the Ca2+ channels, it triggers the release of adenosine, which is synthesised and stored inside the synaptic knob. Normally, the adenosine acts as a neurotransmitter when it is released into the
Investigate patterns of inheritance for a single characteristic such as body colour of Drosophila Melanogaster and examine Mendel's laws of dominance and segregation.
Contents General Introduction 3 Monohybrid Cross 3 Aims and Objectives 3 Introduction 3 Materials and Methods 5 Results 7 Discussion and Conclusions 10 Aims and Objectives 11 Introduction 11 Materials and Methods 12 Results 12 Discussion and Conclusions 16 X Linked Cross 17 Aims and Objectives 17 Introduction 17 Materials and Methods 18 Results 18 Discussion and Conclusions 21 References 22 Appendix 1 23 General Introduction The following report investigates Mendel's Laws and patterns of inheritance using Drosophila Melanogaster in 3 types of crosses. Monohybrid Cross Aims and Objectives To investigate patterns of inheritance for a single characteristic such as body colour of Drosophila Melanogaster and examine Mendel's laws f dominance and segregation. Introduction Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk whose work on the inheritance of traits of pea plants in the 1860s, although not initially recognised, sets the foundation of genetics. Mendel developed what are now known as Laws of inheritance. Mendel examined specific characteristics of the pea plant, Pisum sativum. Such variations of characteristics are known as traits. Over many generations of selective cross pollination of this pea plant Mendel discovered that certain traits would show in offspring without, what he called, blending of parental characteristics. For example with flower colour,
Explain how DNA fingerprinting works.
Mr. Miller Biology 401A Biology Essay BEGÜM COGAL Explain how DNA fingerprinting works. DNA fingerprinting is a technique used to identify individual organisms based upon the uniqueness of their DNA pattern. No two people (except for identical twins) have exactly the same DNA base sequence. 99% of DNA in all humans is the same. However, the 1% that is highly variable allows scientist to distinguish identity. The DNA alphabet is made up of four building blocks-A, T, C, and G called base pairs. The order in which these are linked together determine the meaning or function of the genes they code for. However, not our entire DNA contains useful information. A large amount of it is 'junk' which is not translated into useful proteins. In the non-coding regions of the genome, sequences of DNA are frequently repeated giving rise to variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs). The number of repeats varies from one person to another and can be used to produce their genetic fingerprint. For example one person might have the bases CCCT repeated four times, while another person may have the same bases repeated seven times. Researchers can determine the number of VNTR repeats in order to come up with an individual's DNA profile using a method called Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The first step is to collect DNA sample. DNA must first be recovered from
Investigation as to whether the aspect of a wall affects the growth of lichens
Investigation as to whether the aspect of a wall affects the growth of lichens Contents . Plan 2. Abstract 3. Introduction 4. Method 5. Results 6. Analysis of Results 7. Evalutation 8. Improvements & Conclusion 9. Bibliography Investigation of the effect of aspect on the growth of lichens on a wall Plan Aim Investigate the effect of aspect on the growth of lichens on a wall. Null Hypothesis The aspect has no effect on lichen growth on walls. Alternative Hypothesis The aspect does have an effect on lichen growth on walls. Alternative Directional Hypothesis There will be more lichen growth on the south side of the wall as this gets more sunlight due to the suns orbit as it rises in the east and setting in the west via the south. Independent Variable . Light intensity - this can be controlled by only minimally by carrying out the experiment quickly as over the course of the day light intensity changes, and also by keeping the photometer out of light directly as its value will then be too high as lichens are not directly in sunlight all day due to shading by objects and clouds. 2. Aspect of wall on upon which lichens are growing. 3. Quadrat positioning on the wall. Dependant Variable Lichen distribution and growth on the wall. Apparatus . Compass - this is needed to know the aspect of the wall. 2. Gridded Quadrat - this is needed for estimating lichen
The cloning of Dolly.
Contents Subject Page No. Introduction 2 Definitions of Terms 3 - 4 Arguments for and against 5 - 10 What the law states on the subject 1 Case studies 2 - 14 Islamic Perspective on Cloning 5 - 17 Personal Evaluation 8 Bibliography 9 Introduction Cloning On the 23 February 1997, the world woke up to news of a new technological advance. This advance was embodied in a "little lamb" going by the name of Dolly. At first glance, one could be forgiven for wondering what was so special about this white-faced sheep. Dolly looked like hundreds of the other lambs that dot the hills and fields of Scotland; and indeed for six months this lamb had grazed quietly and unnoticed among them. Dolly appeared positively ordinary. However, Dolly, despite appearances, had a most unusual conception. She was not the end result of a fusion of sperm with egg, which had been cloned from a single cell taken from the breast tissue of an adult sheep. It was the idea that this technology could be applied to humans. The cloning of Dolly raises serious ethical questions, particularly with respect to the possible use of this technology to clone human embryos. Religious groups across the world wondered if this is a miracle was to which we can thank God for, or to ignore it as an ominous way of playing God ourselves. Ethical choices must also have to be made. The public response to
