The Food Chain and The Food Web

Energy for our planet comes from the sun.  Only plants and other photosynthetic organisms can convert solar energy into food for animals.  The food chain and the food web show how energy moves through the ecosystem.  The food chain shows one path for energy to flow. The food web shows more interactions and the food web is continuous.  To learn more, visit the following links.

FOOD CHAIN/FOOD WEB1

FOOD CHAIN/FOOD WEB2

FOOD CHAIN/FOOD WEB3

Quiz

1-What does the arrow represent in food the chain/web?

2-Why are plants at the bottom of the food of the food pyramid?

3-What happens to energy as it moves through the ecosystem?_____  Explain.

4- What happens when you remove one organism from the ecosystem?

5- How are autotrophs different from heterotrophs? 

6- What role do decomposers play in the ecosystem?

Nuclear Power Plants, Pros and Cons

With global warming threatening the stability of our planet, the use of nuclear power plants seems to be an attractive alternative.  To learn more about the pros and cons in using nuclear energy, click on the following links:    

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, PROS AND CONS   

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS(SOVIET UNION)

Quiz

• List two advantages of using nuclear power plants.
• List two disadvantages of using nuclear power plants.

The Immune System

The immune system protects the body from bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders.  To learn more, click this link.  

IMMUNE SYSTEM

IMMUNE SYSTEM2

THINK

• List five ways your body can react when it comes in contact with pathogens.  (The answer is in the "Cheat Sheet".) 

Acid Rain

ACID RAIN  

 

Acid rain is any precipitation with unusually high acidity.  This acid precipitation is due to the release of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide by factories burning fossil fuels.  Acid rain damages buildings, kills plants and aquatic organisms. To find out more, click on the link above.

• What is the cause of acid rain?
• What can students do to minimize acid rain?
• List some consequences of acid rain.

Test Taking Skills and Study Tips

Students can improve their test scores by 15% by using the the proper test taking skills.  Also, students who use good study techniques will be better prepared for their exams.  For tips on how to improve your test taking skills and study tips, click on this link.  TEST TAKING TIPS AND STUDY SKILLS

Quiz

• List three things that you can do to improve your test score on multiple choice exams
• List three note taking skills
• List three study skills

Websites for Regent Review (all subject areas)

Edusolution  This site features NYS regent reviews.  It has full length regents and the answer keys.  Additionally, it has interactive quizzes, which allow you to see the correct answers at a click of a button.

STATE ASSESSMENT  This site also features full length regents in all subject areas and the answer keys. 

Animations of Different cellular Processes

This link is an excellent educational tool, designed to help you understand multiple cellular processes such as diffusion, osmosis, how enzymes works, receptors, sodium potassium pump, comparison of mitosis and meiosis and others.  Each presentation is followed by a short quiz that will test your knowledge. Indulge yourself  by clicking on the following link.  

CELLULAR PROCESSES

The Female Reproductive System

The purpose of the female reproductive system is to produce a female gamete or egg and   provides a safe nutrient rich environment for the zygote or fertilized egg to grow.  Eggs are produced in the ovaries.  During ovulation or when the egg is released from ovary, the egg travels through a tube called the oviduct or fallopian tube which connects the ovaries to the uterus.  The oviduct or fallopian tube is also the site of fertilization (union of sperm and egg).  After fertilization, the new cell migrates to the uterus where it remains for the gestation period. (humans 9 months) 

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM ANIMATION 

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Quiz

• What is the purpose of the female reproductive system?
• Where are eggs produced?
• Where does fertilization take place?
• In what structure does development and specialization take place?

The Male Reproductive System

The purpose of the male reproductive system is to make and deliver a male gamete or sperm to the female reproductive system.  Sperms are produced in a structure called the seminiferous tubules which is located in the testes and than migrate to the epididymis (also located in the testes) where they are stored and attain maturation.  During ejaculation, the sperms leave the epididymis and proceed into the vas deferens.  While traveling through the vas deferens, the sperms pick up secretion from three sexual glands.  The prostate gland provides an alkaline or basic fluid which help neutralize the acid in the vagina. The seminal vesicle provides a fluid that is rich in fructose, which will serve as energy source for the sperm, and the bulbourethral gland provides another fluid which works as a neutralizing agent for the acidic environment of the vagina.  

MALE REPRODUCTION 

MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Genetic Engineering

Restriction Enzymes are bacteria enzymes that cut double stranded DNA at specific base sequences.