BIOL 1012 by

Padlet Assignment 1

kzacher1_1 — 2025-08-26 02:19:15 UTC

Giraffes evolved their long necks through natural selection. Millions of years ago, all giraffes had short necks. Some giraffes were a little bit taller than others, which meant they had variation. Because the taller giraffes could reach leaves that were higher on the trees more easily, they had the advantage of eating more food. Since the shorter giraffes couldn't reach the leaves from the tall trees, they weren't getting enough food, which resulted in them dying. The taller giraffes survived and allowed their offspring to inherit their slightly longer necks. As the years passed, all the giraffes had slightly longer necks, but because of the variation between them, some still had longer necks than the others. Eventually, their offspring inherited the longer necks. This process of natural selection repeated itself, causing a gradual evolution. After millions of years, all the giraffes had very long necks.

Padlet Assignment 2

kzacher1_1 — 2025-09-05 03:17:17 UTC

Euglena is a unicellular organism that is found in the aquatic habitat. It is generally green in color due to the presence of chloroplasts. Euglena's internal structure is similar to that of a typical plant and animal cell, containing major parts such as cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, and a nucleus. Euglena moves forward and backward using a structure called a flagellum. Because of its eyespot movement, it's able to detect sunlight and produce food through photosynthesis. Euglena eats by having a mix of both autotrophic and heterotrophic modes. Euglena can also reproduce during the free-flowing stage by the asexual method, which is known as binary fission.

Padlet Assignment 3

kzacher1_1 — 2025-09-28 18:23:03 UTC

Daily, we encounter both monocots and dicots. We encounter monocots daily in the form of grass and grains, which are commonly found in lawns and fields. Monocots have a fibrous root system and parallel-veined leaves, which play a crucial role in the photosynthesis process. Monocots also only contain one cotyledon. These plants are essential for agriculture and landscaping. For dicots, such as roses, daffodils, and sunflowers, they are mainly found in places like parks or gardens. Dicots contain two cotyledons. These plants are known for their taproot systems and branched, veined leaves, which also contribute to the photosynthesis process. Some of these plants play a vital role in our daily lives by providing food and shelter, as well as enhancing our surroundings.

Padlet Assignment 4

kzacher1_1 — 2025-09-28 19:39:03 UTC

Echinodermata include species such as sea stars and sea urchins. These organisms have spiny skin. They are symmetrical and are bilateral, sharing early embryonic stages with other organisms. Echinodermata have three germ layers. They have complete digestion, meaning they have a separate opening, one for the mouth and one for the anus. Because they have two openings, they can be classified as either a protostome or a deuterostome. All echinoderms move through a water vascular system, utilizing tubes to navigate through seawater. For example, a sea star suck in water through a sieve plate, filtering out anything bad. The water then travels through the radial canal, going down each arm of the sea star and filling the tubes, which are called impula. The muscles squeeze the water, and that gets pushed out, allowing the sea to move in any direction. Radial symmetry requires a lot of work to move in a particular direction, since there is no forward, backward, or side-to-side movement; it's equal in all directions. As a result, it causes them to move slowly, yet with equal momentum in any direction.

Padlet Assignment 5

kzacher1_1 — 2025-10-26 01:29:07 UTC

Homeostasis is your body's way of maintaining a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment. It ensures that temperature, blood pressure, hydration, and pH remain within a healthy range. The hypothalamus in the brain acts as a command center that communicates with organs and glands to release hormones or trigger responses that restore balance. It works based on negative and positive feedback loops. Negative loops are the primary mechanism that reverses changes, such as sweating when hot or shivering when cold. Positive feedback loops are less common but occur in processes such as having contractions during childbirth. Positive feedback loops amplify changes until a goal is reached. Homeostasis is essential for survival, and any disruptions can lead to an illness or disease.

Padlet Assignment 6

kzacher1_1 — 2025-10-26 19:18:37 UTC

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organ systems and is often difficult to diagnose due to various symptoms. In the article, lupus, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus, is a case study of a 12-year-old girl whose unusual presentation of splenic infarction led to her diagnosis. The patient suffered from fevers, nausea, body aches, and left abdominal pain for several weeks. Lab tests showed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and proteinuria. Further testing later confirmed SLE and antiphospholipid syndrome. The patient underwent treatments such as steroids, hydrochloroquine, mycophenolate mofetil, plasmapheresis, and cyclophosphamide. After the intensive treatments, the patient stabilized and showed no significant symptoms with normal lab values. Splenic infarction in children should prompt evaluation for serious systemic diseases, such as SLE.

Padlet Assignment 7

kzacher1_1 — 2025-11-12 03:50:57 UTC

The savanna biome is one of the most fascinating and diverse ecosystems on Earth. The savanna biome is a warm, grassy biome with scattered trees and two distinct seasons of wet and dry. During the wet season, plants thrive while the dry season brings droughts and fires that help renew the land. Both are essential for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. The vegetation is mainly tall grasses and drought-resistant trees, such as acacias and baobabs, which have adapted to survive harsh conditions. The savannas are home to iconic wildlife, including elephants, lions, and giraffes, as well as birds, reptiles, and various insects. Savannas are found in Africa, South America, India, and Australia, each with its own unique species and adaptations. Despite their differences, all savannas share the common thread of being ecosystems built on adaptation, balance, and survival.