Discovering Darwin

Hello BTEC L3 Yr 1 class,

Here is the link for some information about The Beagle voyage.

The Beagle Voyage

and here is the link you need for the flow diagram (P1 of your assignment). Finish this during half term break please and hand it in first lesson back.

Development of Darwin's theory - flow diagram template

See ya!

Laura :)

A2 Biology past paper questions

Hi gang,

Check the A2 biology documents page (tab on right side of blog) for revision material.

Have a good half term and I wish a very happy Eid to those who celebrate it.

Laura :)

A2 Anne's half term revision

Hi to all you A2s


Here is a revision checklist for the topics you have covered with me and Izabela:
Checklist

You need some exam question practice

Quick multiple choice online questions


And for ecology stuff (make sure you try the agroecology stuff - AQA are dead keen on it)

Unit 4 general revision stuff

Don't forget S-cool etc.

Also, there are questions and past papers on the AQA A level Biology website

Cheers,
Anne

Biological molecules

Hello all,

Here is a link to a question sheet about biological molecules.

This is mainly relevant to the BTEC Level 3 Yr 2, but would make useful revision/extension work for any biology students.

Biological molecules

Have a good Tuesday!

Laura :)

AS Half term revision

Hi All

After half term hols you will be given an assessment. This is really important and you need to revise thoroughly for it. Here is a revision checklist of what you should know so far. You can download it and check off what you know.

Checklist

These are some questions you can download and print. They are not all totally relevant (they were written for Edexcel) but most of them overlap and they are useful practice.

1 Cell components

2 Cell membranes

3 Food tests

4 Enzymes

5 Bio molecules

Make sure you check out all the usual revision sites - Get Revising, S-cool etc.

Anne

Quiz deadline extended

Hi, 

I've had some emails from people saying they really wanted to enter the competition quiz but were really busy with maths / science assignments yesterday. 

I understand you're all under a lot of pressure, so I've re-opened the quiz and you now have until 8pm on Monday (22nd) to email your answers to:

biologyh6fc@gmail.com

Thanks to the people who already got their entries in.

Laura :)

Quiz of the week

Link to competition quiz 

Good luck!

Email your answers to biologyh6fc@gmail.com by 8pm this eve.

Laura :)

Competition now open!!

Hi all.

We have the opportunity to attend a free event on Thursday 29th November, at the Royal College of Surgeons (Hunterian Museum) focusing on some of the ethical issues within biomedical science.

There are only 4 places available for this fantastic event.

Here's what you need to do to be in with a chance of coming along:

1. Register your interest by emailing me: biologyh6fc@gmail.com

2. Keep an eye on the biology S2 noticeboard and the biology blog (better still, subscribe for email updates!).

There will be 3 opportunities to win a place at this event.


COMPETITION - round 1. Quiz of the week via the Bio blog Friday 19th Oct

The quiz will go live at 8am on Friday morning and close at 8pm Friday evening. Email your answers to biologyh6fc@gmail.com


COMPETITION - round 2. News editorial to be submitted by Monday 22nd Oct

Write an editorial piece about any biology-related current news story, including a neutral discussion of any associated ethical issues.

Email your editorial piece to biologyh6fc@gmail.com by 6pm on Monday 22nd Oct.

Your editorial will be published on Wednesday 24th Oct. NO MORE THAN 500 WORDS please.

COMPETITION - round 3. Prize draw Thursday 25th Oct

Any unsuccessful applicants will be automatically entered into a prize draw on Thursday 25th October for a last chance to win a place at this amazing event.

Good luck!

Laura :)

More biology in the news

Genetic mutation and toxins entering the food chain

Could biological pest control save the farming industry millions of pounds?

An old news story, but still fascinating and raising some uncomfortable ethical issues:

Hybrid robotics using rat brain cells


Comments, as always, very welcome!


Laura :)

Nada's first blog post!

Let's boost it!

Hello!

This is my first post for the biology blog and I decided to base it all around boosting your memory! 

5 top tips for memory boosting (especially useful for exams)

The most important thing to remember:

 

You are not computers so do not stress yourselves out! 

I found this picture interesting!

enjoy!

Leave any comments if you have any more tips for improving memory!

Nada <(")

Fertility levels - Distinction data

Distinction data

Fertility hormones

This post is for the BTEC Level 3 year 2 class

Useful weblinks for tasks 3 and 4 of your current assignment.

Female hormones (click on the "infertility" tab)

Fertility hormones


And here is a link to your case studies:

Rushone, Yordanos and Malody

Luzia, Caroline and Luciana

Gulbahar, Victor, Dahir and Shamsa

Abdi, Levent, Nada and Mayur


I can't wait to see these role plays tomorrow afternoon!

Laura :)

Everything is ok...

Magic button

Laura :)

Well done BTEC Level 2 students!

Well done to the BTEC Level 2 class who stayed behind after their

lesson UNTIL AFTER 5pm TODAY to finish their assignment work up to Distinction level!! Wow! Excellent attitude guys! You're superstars!

Anne and Zabed will be VERY proud of you. Keep up the good work and I think we'll see some excellent grades achieved in your class!

Laura and Izabela

:)

Fertility and reproductive systems PPT

Fertility hormones and reproductive systems

Remember - love safely! ;)

Laura

Science in the media

This post is mostly relevant to the BTEC Level 3 Yr 1 class, but other people may find it interesting too.

Dr Andrew Wakefield

Measles and the MMR vaccine

How much do you know about Dr Gillian McKeith?

Space technology could save lives on earth

Surgeon who operated in a cellar during wars

GM crops in California

GM study on rats



A useful website to check the facts about "scare stories" in the media:
NHS behind the headlines

Invasion of the crayfish! Eek!

Ooh-er! Sounds a bit painful...

Crayfish in Hampstead Ponds

worrying for swimmers and even more threatening to the local wildlife. It's not just happening here...

Crayfish elsewhere in the UK

and crayfish aren't the only invading species impacting on native wildlife...

American mink

Grey squirrel

Parakeets in London

Bambi!


What do you think about these issues?

Laura :)

A2 Biology - exam question resources

F.A.O: A2 Biologists

Further to our discussion in today's study session, here is the link to the AQA website. You have probably all used this before to search for past papers, but here it is anyway...


AQA exam past papers


Don't forget you have the exam-style questions in the textbook too.

I will try to get together some topic-specific example questions, but that's going to take me a bit of time. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks again for your patience, make sure you read over your notes and textbook/revision guide.

Your first mock exam will be after half term break.


Laura :)

Student contributor to blog and a link to make you smile!

Happy Wednesday!

Nada from our BTEC Level 3 year 2 class has agreed to be our first regular student contributor to the blog! Hurray!

Watch this space for reviews and interesting science-related stuff that she has found on the web. I'm looking forward to her first post, coming soon.

If anyone else wants to contribute to the blog on a regular basis, let me know. Remember you can email me with any "one-off" contributions if you stumble upon an interesting website or hear about something cool that's going on in the world.

Here's a link to Liz Climo's comics. Lovely and vaguely biology-related (sometimes)! Liz Climo comics

Laura :)

A successful (though soggy) A2 fieldtrip on Friday and we welcome Izabela Martin!

Hello people,

A very BIG thank you to the A2 biologists who made it down to Walthamstow Marshes for fieldwork on Friday. You were great and kept smiling, even as the rain ran down your faces! I am impressed!

We extend a warm welcome to Izabela Martin, who has joined the Bio team to fill-in for Anne over the next few weeks. Izabela has a really interesting background in Biology which she's happy to speak about, so ask her lots of questions!! 

Have a good week everyone!

Laura :)