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Experience in General Education Biology Class

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Experience in General Education Biology Class

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Just like mathematics, biology education is very important and vital for the educational development of any student. Biology class is mandatory to understand the existence, development and different points of view of the study of life. When people see a butterfly, they are surprised to learn the process that the insect must go through to become art. The complexity that leads to a butterfly becoming art can be easily explained step by step with biology.

Before starting biology class, I considered it a basic and simple subject. However, it was much more interesting than I thought. I have always loved biology, always considered it one of the most interesting classes that ever existed. When people hear the word biology, they only think of nature, but they do not take into account the complexity that exists beyond nature. That is why there is a biology class, to be able to explain what it is really about. "Biology is the science that is studied from an ecological, systematic, evolutionary, molecular and genetic approach, through which differences and relationships between different types of life forms can be established" (UVG, 2023).

The general education class in biology has been one of the most interesting and interactive classes I have ever had. It has been a rewarding and highly educational experience. One of the things I liked the most about the class was having the opportunity to do the activities during class hours. The class is very creative and interesting. My experience with this class has been very fun, no class was the same as the others. In each class we have had the opportunity to learn a new topic in a different and interactive way.

In conclution, I thought I was going to take a boring biology class, that it would be a lot of boring reading and exams, however my experience was very different from what I had thought. I was very motivated since the beginning of the biology classes as they have been very creative. Creating my portfolio was one of my favorite activities in class. There you will find a summary of everything learned in the previous classes, as well as images and designs that we could add. This made biology class seem a lot more fun and interesting than I thought. I was able to learn about the many species that are in danger of extinction, as well as the damage caused to them by climate change. Researching about the species in danger of extinction made me think about the damage we do to nature and the environment and that it is better to start making a change now than waiting until later.

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My name is Soashley Espinal, I am twenty-four years old and I am from the Dominican Republic. I moved to the United Stated in 2020 during the Pandemic. It was quite an uncomfortable experience to be in another country in the middle of a pandemic. I started studying in 2021 at the MDC North Campus and then I moved to the Padron Campus where I currently take most of my classes. I am majoring in architecture. I have always had a passion for architecture and interior design. I love the way different buildings can be designed and built, whether it be for housing or commercial purposes. In my free time, I like to design small places or objects, such as chairs, doors, gardens, or kitchens. I also like listening to podcasts and watching documentaries. I feel very proud of where I am now in my life, and of all that I have been able to achieve in a country very different from mine.

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Miniaturization, or the evolution of a dramatically reduced body size compared to related lineages, is an extraordinarily widespread phenomenon among metazoans. Evolutionary biologists have been fascinated by miniaturization because this transition has occurred numerous times, often among close relatives, providing a model system for studying convergent evolution and its underlying mechanisms.

In the present study, we examined patterns of shape change in the plastron (the ventral part of the shell) over the course of ontogeny in a small clade of turtles (Emydinae) aiming to investigate whether two independently evolved diminutive members of the clade (Glyptemys muhlenbergii and Clemmys guttata) should be considered as miniaturized. We employ geometric morphometric methods to quantify the patterns of shape change these potentially miniaturized species and their relatives undergo during ontogeny, and use molecular phylogenetic trees to reconstruct ancestral conditions and provide information on the polarity of shape changes.

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How did my species evolve?

Many turtle species, bog turtles have a life history strategy that balances low fecundity, high egg and hatchling mortality, and relatively late maturity, with the potential long reproductive lifespan of the adults. While populations can increase and thrive in ideal habitat, this reproductive strategy limits the ability of a turtle population to recover quickly if faced with a natural or human-caused disaster or unusually high mortality in older juveniles and adults. In addition, isolation of bog turtle habitats may increase the dangers of limited genetic exchange and inbreeding.

The evolution of turtles: About 110 million years ago, the land-dwelling stem turtles started to live semi-aquatic lives, eventually evolving into fully aquatic freshwater and saltwater turtle species. Most of these turtles would continue to develop the armour plating of their Proganochelys ancestor, streamlining it. The earliest turtles known date to the Late Permian Epoch (the Permian Period lasted from 298.9 million to about 251.9 million years ago). Whereas living turtles are toothless, many ancestral forms possessed teeth. Many of the oldest and most primitive forms not only lacked a shell but also lacked a plastron and a carapace. However, early turtles did possess precursors to these structures.

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I chose this species because I really like turtles, and this one, in particular, has a yellow design on its neck that makes it look very peculiar.

Bog turtles are extremely sensitive to the effects of global warming. The turtle’s survival is closely tied to its delicate habitat. Erratic weather patterns resulting from global warming will disrupt the fragile balance key to the turtle’s survival. By altering hydrological cycles, global warming will either dry out or flood the turtle’s habitat.

In addition to bog turtles needing a very specific habitat, much of the remaining habitat in the Northeast has been fragmented apart by roads and development. As the changing climate alters the availability of the turtle’s current habitat, they will have very limited ability to migrate to places that could be more suitable.

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Osmosis is defined as the spontaneous movement of solvent molecules from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration through a semipermeable membrane in order to equalize their concentrations on both sides of the membrane.

When two solutions of different concentration are separated by a semipermeable membrane, the water molecules tend to move from the region of low solute concentration (high water potential) towards high solute concentration (low water potential), to equalize their concentration on both sides of the membrane or attain a state of equilibrium.

Source: https://www.sciencefacts.net/osmosis.html

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The bog turtle-Glyptemys muhlenbergii  is North America’s smallest turtle, growing only to 4.5 inches in length. Easily recognized by the orange patch on either side of its head, the bog turtle favors open, groundwater-fed wet meadows and bogs dominated by tussock sedge and grasses.

Bog turtles thrive in mountain bogs, or isolated wetlands with acidic, wet soil, thick moss and deep layers of mud. These deep mucky soils, fed by groundwater, provide protection from predators and other elements. Short clumps of vegetation let in plenty of sunlight for incubating eggs and basking. If any of these conditions change, a bog turtle population can decline and may eventually disappear from the area. The bog turtle  is classified as federally-threatened on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species List.

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Enzymes are proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies. They build some substances and break others down. All living things have enzymes. Our bodies naturally produce enzymes.

One of the most important roles of enzymes is to aid in digestion. Digestion is the process of turning the food we eat into energy.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21532-enzymes#:~:text=What%20are%20enzymes%3F,Our%20bodies%20naturally%20produce%20enzymes.

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Suitable bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), habitat consists of calcareous (containing calcium carbonate, calcium, or lime) wetlands, such as open sphagnum bogs, wet meadows and wet pastures. In Connecticut, these special habitats only occur in the western part of the state. Bog turtles rely on an abundance of grassy or mossy cover and high humidity. Open, sunny areas where the turtles can bask to raise their body temperature also are important.

During winter, bog turtles hibernate underwater in deep areas of bogs in about 6 to 18 inches of mud. Immature turtles do not hibernate in deep mud until they are 2 to 3 years old. The turtles emerge from hibernation in late March through April and may migrate short distances to feeding and breeding sites.

Bog turtles rely on an abundance of grassy or mossy cover and high humidity. Open, sunny areas where the turtles can bask to raise their body temperature are also important. The turtles feed during the daylight hours; however, they are seldom active during the hottest part of the day and are inactive on chilly mornings. Adult turtles are preyed on by raccoons, skunks, foxes and dogs.

Source: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Bog-Turtle#:~:text=Habitat%20and%20Diet%3A%20Suitable%20bog,wet%20meadows%20and%20wet%20pastures.

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“Mitochondria are not just batteries, they are exquisitely sensitive environmental sensors – constantly tuned in to whats going on in your body, receiving input from the external as well as the internal environment; infections, toxins, inflammation, immune activation and psychological stress” – Ari Whitten

Mitochondria are traditionally described as the ‘powerhouse’ of the cell, and are responsible for cellular energy production. Basically, food intake plus aerobic respiration (oxygen) are broken down inside our cells to make ATP, or energy. Mitochondria are found in every cell in the human body which require energy to function. They produce energy for organs, and are involved in over five hundred enzymatic reactions in the body.

Source: http://www.theconsciouspod.com/optimising-mitochondria-in-down-syndrome-2/

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What caught my attention in the mini-lecture was that a caterpillar has groups of cells inside its body that will eventually become its butterfly parts. Something very interesting is that as the caterpillar grows, it usually molts four times.

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The life cycle of the butterfly - Franziska Bauer

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The mini lecture that called my attention was that the biggest single celled is called Caulerpa taxiofolia. Also that is native to tropical Australia. Something else i learned it was that the Caulerpa taxifolia can grow very rapidly, Which makes its invasive potential a real worry. they are a notorious scourge among aquarium enthusiasts, who say that if you pop one, you’ll end up with many, many more.

Source:

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/creatura-blog/2019/04/this-bizarre-bubble-creature-is-a-single-living-cell/#:~:text=The%20biggest%20single%2Dcelled%20organism,invasive%20potential%20a%20real%20worry.

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COLLAPSE

What does the pink sister love the most about science?

1)She thinks science is simple

*2)Science helps her to be able to explore something that interests her

3)She doesn't need to study much

4)She thinks science is essential to almost everything

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In my personal opinion, I do believe that we can use the "Claim, Evidence and Reasoning method" in our daily life when dealing with friends and family. Since the video explains that "claim" can be used to answer our questions, which we often have depending on the situation. We usually have questions in advance that we try to look for the most real and logical answers.The evidence helps us with the responses to the claim and to be able to understand the process. Generally, without evidence, we do not always have a valid or safe conclusion, so having a linear process of asking questions, looking for evidence, and then getting answers in problems from family or friends is the right choice to get a sure result. And then we have the reasoning that helps us understand the whole process from the beginning, either drawing up a hypothesis with the evidence and thus supporting our statement.

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Cell vs. virus: A battle for health - Shannon Stiles

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Glyptemys muhlenbergii - The Bog Turtle Ecosystem 

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Glyptemys muhlenbergii - The Bog Turtle Ecosystem 

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Why is it so hard to cure the common cold?

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Will there be another Pandemic? This video shows graphs of how over time there have been different diseases that emerged from 1980 to 2020 and that have caused pandemics worldwide. Something in this video that really caught my attention was that over the last four centuries, the longest period of time without a documented outbreak that killed at least ten thousand people was just four years. Looking back on history, we could estimate whether we might have another major pandemic. I think that the probability of another pandemic could be very realistic considering the different diseases that scientists have not even investigated and are continually looking for and even experimenting with. However, we can be positive and prepare now to prevent another pandemic from happening by taking steps to prevent any spread that appears highly contagious. Covid 19 is an example that has taught us to prepare to prevent something similar from happening in the distant future. On the other hand, governors must also prepare to better manage a similar situation.

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Will there be another pandemic in your lifetime?