Epigenetic Evolution

On pages 155-157, Dr. Moalem introduces the idea of epigenetics and its relation to Big Idea 1 (The process of life drives the diversity and unity of life). He uses it when discussing overweight children as an effect of their mothers’ possible eating habits.

First, explain the process of evolution and the inheritance of DNA. Be sure to explain adaptation and specific how this plays into evolution. Then, briefly explain epigenetics. How does epigenetics differ from the traditional evolutionary cycle?

Next, find research from outside sources that supports epigenetics. How does this research support epigenetics (explain why the experiment would be proof of epigenetics)? Also find research that shows possible implications of epigenetics. Can epigenetics be used and manipulated to benefit humans? Can it be harmful?

Finally, try to connect previous AP Biology units together using epigenetics. For example, how would epigenetics affect gene expression? What does epigenetics mean for inheritance patterns? How do ‘tags’ affect genotype and phenotype? What does this do to protein synthesis? Create a paragraph or so that connects these ideas (and any others) that can be followed like a flow-chart, relating each idea together and to epigenetics in a constructive and logical order.

(Morgan Eisenstot – meisens4@students.d125.org) 

Adaptations to Malaria

On page 63, Dr. Sharon Moalem talks about adaptation to disease (specifically malaria) and how humans near high counts of malaria tend to have the densest hair. He thus makes connections to the first AP biology big idea, that “the process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.”

However, why are Africans not prone to dense leg and arm hair, since they were and are highly exposed to malaria. What other diseases are they prone to in order to protect them from Malaria? What harmful effects could dense hair have on human populations in areas with high cases of malaria, and what protection to malaria does having dense hair offer? If malaria is not as common today, why is dense hair still prevalent in Mediterranean areas, is such a trait expected to phase out of populations? Use scientific terms from the evolutionary unit to answer the preceding questions. In addition please provide an example of a similar disease in which two separate adaptations arise based on geographical location. 

Madeline Merageas (mmerage4@students.d125.org)

Wood Frog Cold Response

In page 40-41, Dr. Moalem describes how the wood frog reacts to the winter by literally freezing solid during wintertime, with no heartbeat, no breathing and no brain activity; basically dead. According to Big Idea 3, the frog's system reacts to the cold by freezing solid, therefore responding to information essential to its survival. In page 42-43 of the book, Moalem describes how high sugar or glucose content lowers the freezing point in frogs and organisms, allowing the frogs to use the little water in their bloodstream and the high glucose content as antifreeze from the cold.

Why do you think the wood frog differs from all other hibernating mammals in that it literally freezes solid, instead of going into a deep sleep? Why does the wood frog release water from its system and increase sugar levels to deal with the cold? How do you think the wood frog used to live for them to evolve in such a different manner?

Why is sugar and glucose a good antifreeze from the cold? In what disease in humans have we seen that sugar content is high in the body that may help against the cold? How, if possible, can humans use this newfound use of sugar to help our organs revitalize and keep them working?

Rudy Viswanathan (aviswan4@students.d25.org)

Solanine

On pages 85-87, Dr. Moalem talks about the relationship between plants and their resistance to consumers or lack there of. This connects well to BIG Idea 1, which states "The process of life drives the diversity and unity of life". He talks about potatoes and their use of solanine.

Discuss why it would be beneficial for a potato to have solanine and why some high levels make it bad for humans to eat. Connect to the evolution unit as to why potatoes would reproduce potatoes that would have low or high solanine levels and the environments that would cause each type of evolution. Finally, research why solanne is harmful for humans to eat in high levels, as well as what "Blight" is and how solanine protects potatoes from it,  and make sure to discuss any enzymes or proteins that are found in solanine.


Patrick Austin (email at paustin4@students.d125.org)

DNA and Obsolescence

 

Big Ideas 1 (the process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life) and 3 (living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes). On pages 189-191, Sharon Moalem talks about the correlation between size and life expectancy. He states that “the bigger you are, the longer you live.” Explain what he means by that. What does bigger refer to (being fat or larger)? How may this help a species survive? Dr. Moalem says that repairing DNA is how species live longer. Describe how a cell replicates DNA and the enzymes it needs to complete the process. Explain the process of repairing DNA. How does the cell repair, damaged or mutated DNA?

What is planned obsolescence (pg. 190-191)? How does is affect species and thus populations? Provide two examples of planned obsolescence: one must be relating to a species, one that relates to the human lifestyle. The biogenic obsolescence is the biology version of planned obsolescence. How does the biogenic obsolescence drive evolution? Explain what Dr. Moalem means by “a species gets upgraded.” What variations lead to adaptations that over a long period of time cause evolution (hint: the natural selection flow chart)?

Sigal Sasson (ssasson3@students.d125.org)

T. gondii and the Effects on Humans

As Dr. Moalem stated on page 107 in the chapter “Of Microbes and Men,” it is believed that T. gondii is “largely benign in humans.” While it is in most cases, it is not true for everyone. However, let’s focus on influences has on humans. Firstly, Dr. Moalem states that T. gondii may “trigger schizophrenia” is some. Additionally, he goes on to talk about how T. gondii can affect human behavior tendencies for those who are “more likely to be exposed to T. gondii.” For example, women become more materialistic and outgoing. They, in addition, have weaker relationships with friends and significant others. Men, on the other hand, are the opposite. They are poorly groomed, more independent, and more aggressive/rebellious. Relating to Big Idea #4 (Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties), use the internet, book, and previous knowledge learned in class to answer the following questions. Look into both E. Fuller Torrey’s (the man who made the claim on schizophrenia relating to T. gondii) and Professor Jaroslav Flegr’s (the man who made the claim on human behaviours relating to T. gondii) journal articles for guidance as well.

What is T. gondii? How is T. gondii accessible to humans? What is schizophrenia? Looking at the journal articles and the book itself, how is T. gondii and schizophrenia related? Additionally, how do you suppose T. gondii could have an affect on human behavior? Why does it cause two different types of behaviour (almost opposite of each other) for both males and females. Are there cases in which T. gondii doesn’t cause a behaviour change in humans? Use complete sentences to answer the previous question.   

Noella James

noellajames@gmail.com

Virulence and Antibiotics Arms Race

On pg. 117-123, Dr. Moalem describes how bacteria have changed over time to resist stronger antibiotics and draws references from the work of Paul Ewald to explain the idea of the virulence of an organism. This relates to Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life because antibiotics might actually be harming people by creating stronger bacteria through natural selection.

Use the historical context provided on pg. 117 about penicillin to explain why Dr. Moalem refers to antibiotics as an "arms race"; be sure to address how evolution and natural selection play a role and what advantages the bacteria have. Next, summarize what the virulence of an organism is and identify and explain what Ewald thinks causes various levels of virulence among different organisms by referring to two specific organisms analyzed in the text. Finally, relate Ewald's findings to evolution in the antibiotics arms race, and explain how Dr. Moalem uses his findings to hypothesize how we can overcome the antibiotics arms race; also research what are some current methods to fight bacteria that are in line with his hypothesis.

(Posted by Raymon Cao, racao4@students.d125.org)