My AP Biology Thoughts

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 2 Cell Structure and FunctionWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Helena and I am your host for episode #55 called Unit 2 Cell Structure and Function: Function of the Cell Wall. Today we will be discussing the cell wall and its importance to living organisms.Segment 1: Introduction to Function of the cell Wall The cell wall is a unique structure to plants, fungi, and some prokaryotic organisms. This structure surrounds the cell’s plasma membrane and provides structural support and protection to the organelles and the cell against mechanical and osmotic stress. The cell wall provides strength, shape, and rigidity to the cell, it is responsible for transporting substances between the interior and exterior of the cell, it acts as a barrier, it functions as a storage unit by storing carbohydrates for use in plant growth, and it allows for turgor pressure which is exerted by fluid in the cell that presses the cell membrane against the cell wall. Segment 2: More About Cell wall So now that you know what the cell wall does, we can take a closer look at what exactly it is made off. The plant cell wall is mainly made of cellulose which, fun fact, is the most abundant macromolecule on earth. Along with cellulose the cell wall is also composed of microfibrils, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, and soluble protein. These components are arranged in layers. The first layer is the primary cell wall, and this is positioned closest to the inside of the cell. It mainly consists of pectic polysaccharides and structural proteins, and It is permeable and thinner than the other layers. This layer provides the strength and flexibility needed for cell growth. The next layer is the middle lamella which is the outermost layer. It primarily consists of pectic and it acts as an interface between the other neighboring cells. It also glues them together. The last layer is the secondary cell wall. It is formed inside the primary cell wall and it can consist of cellulose and lignin. It can provide additional rigidity and waterproofing. This layer also gives the cell the square/rectangular shape. It is the thickest layer and is permeable, along with the whole cell wall. In fungi the cell wall is primarily made of chitin. Fungi also have hydrophobins which gives the cell strength, helps it adhere to surfaces, and helps control the movement of water into the cell. In prokaryotes the cell wall is primarily composed of peptidoglycans. It contains an inner peptidoglycan layer and an outer layer composed of lipoproteins and lipopolysaccharides. A unique property of the cell wall is that it is fully permeable to smaller molecules while the membrane is selectively permeable.  Segment 3: Connection to the CourseThe cell wall is a vital component to plants, fungi, and some prokaryotic organisms. It provides unique properties that allow for these organisms to survive. For example, turgor pressure, as a I mentioned earlier, is the pressure of the cell contents against the cell wall. This is what allows for organisms to hold water and maintain a solid structure. Turgor pressure decreasing means that the plant has lost water. Visually, the loss of turgor pressure can be seen by a wilted flower or leaf. If a plant cell did not have a cell wall, turgor pressure would not be able to happen because the cell membrane cannot support a hypotonic environment, therefore the cell would burst. Another important property of the cell wall is that it provides strength and structure to the cell....

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit #: 8EPISODE TITLE: Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Ramit Dasika, Flavio D’Attilio, Samy Leroux, Landon Schafer, Colin Fahmy and we are hosting this episode called Unit 8 Ecology AND  Today we will be discussing The war between Ukraine and Russia has caused mass destruction to many ecosystems through bombings and other weaponry and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of Topic War The war between Ukraine and Russia has caused mass destruction to many ecosystems through bombings and other weaponrySegment 2: Evidence that supports It causes forest fires- SamyDuring the process of runoff, the harmful chemicals are collected in rivers nearby. This causes the  water sources contaminated due to chemical leakage from destroyed industrial plants-RamitDuring the Russia-Ukrainian War, the Russian soldiers damaged and looted fire engines, computers, and radiation monitoring equipment, while leaving mines and munitions spread across the exclusion zone.-Flavio“In the Donbas region, wrecked sewage works gush their contents into rivers and damaged pipelines fill wetlands with oil.”- Landon“Most of the exclusion zone was damaged by the invasion and may be contaminated with unexploded ordnance and mines,” according to Oleksandr Galushchenko, director of the biosphere reserve. The larger mammals that constantly move around the reserve – wolves, deer, brown bears, lynx, elk, and recently reintroduced bison – are at particular risk, he says.”-Samy“The forests in the zone remain a radioactive tinderbox that, in the event of fires, could send radioactive isotopes on the winds towards Kyiv. The risks of that happening are now much greater, says the UNCG’s forest campaigner Yehor Hrynyk. With fire-fighting equipment looted and much of the exclusion zone dangerous for firefighters to enter, some 65,000 acres has burned since the invasion, and fires continue to smolder in underground peat.”-Colin“Many industrial plants are damaged or abandoned;wrecked sewage works gush their contents into rivers; damaged pipelines are filling wetlands with oil; and toxic military scrap is spread across the land.”- Flavio“A particular concern is the many coal mines abandoned after 2014. With pumping of water halted, they have so far released some 650,000 acre-feet of polluted mine water into the environment,...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit #: 8- Disruptions to Ecosystems---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EPISODE TITLE: Single Use PlasticsJaiden: Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Jaiden, Adam, and Reena and we are your hosts for this episode called Unit 8, Human Stupidity and Single Use Plastics. Today we will be discussing how single use plastics cause disruptions to the ecosystem and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. The Podcast will be broken up into three segments. The first segment will show the general overview of single-use plastics and the second segment will show how these plastics impact the environment and why it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Finally, segment three will discuss how we can contribute and reduce single use plastics.Segment 1: Overview of TopicPlastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issuesAccording to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generated 35.7 million tons of plastic in the United States. Single use plastics are plastics that are used for a brief period of time, before they are thrown away. These include plastic straws, spoons, bottles, and bagsMicroplastics are extremely small pieces of plastic debris. They are generally about five millimeters, or approximately the diameter  an eraser on a #2 pencils,  in length to be considered microplasticsSegment 2: Just how much harm is plastic causing Some plastics such as Chlorinated plastics is harmful for the soil around it along with water sources making it harder for organisms to growIt takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. However, the plastic does not degrade completely but instead becomes microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment.An estimated 13 million plastic tons are thrown into the ocean each These small plastic particles may harm our health once they have entered our bodies. Plastic products contain chemical additives. A number of these chemicals have been associated with serious health problems such as hormone-related cancers, infertility and neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism.There are now 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces, weighing up to 269,000 tonnes. This is because every day, around 8 million pieces of plastic make their way into our oceans.Unlike some other kinds of waste, plastic doesn't decompose. That means plastic can stick around indefinitely, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Some plastics float once they enter the ocean, though...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Conservation of BeesWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Alex, here with Raelynn and Samiyah and we are your hosts for today’s episode, coming from Unit 8 - our Ecology unit. Today we will be discussing bee conservation.Why are bees important to the environment?According to the US Department of Agriculture: “One out of every three bites of food in the United States depends on honey bees and other pollinators. Honey bees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops each year, including more than 130 fruits and vegetables. Managed honey bees are important to American agriculture because they pollinate a wide variety of crops, contributing to food diversity, security and profitability.”Pollinators - support plant populationsFood crops as well as wild plantsWhy are bee populations declining? “Declines in bumble bee species in the past 60 years are well documented in Europe, where they are driven primarily by habitat loss and declines in floral abundance and diversity resulting from agricultural intensification.” (According to researchers from the University of Stirling)loss of habitats because of farming + urbanizationHabitat fragmentation can impact surviving populations through genetic isolation (which causes inbreeding and makes population less genetically diverse, making them more susceptible to diseases)University of London (an issue of Apidologie): habitat loss is the “most universal and high impact factor driving bee declines.”https://www.ehn.org/monoculture-farming-is-not-good-for-the-bees-study-2639154525.html https://abcnews.go.com/International/monoculture-farming-modern-day-agriculture-killing-bees-scientists/story?id=80536659 Climate ChangeUniversity of London (an issue of Apidologie): Change in temperature and weather patterns due to climate change can significantly impact bee populationsAdditionally, loss of habitat due to rising sea levels can also cause negative impacts statsUniversity of Maryland: October 2018 - April 2019:

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Chimps in Uganda Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is kyle along with my handsome cohosts Shrithik, saahtih and gabe and we are your hosts for this episode , Unit 8 Ecology-Chimps in Uganda. Today we will be discussing Chimps and how they relate to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of CHIMPS  Chimps in Uganda98% share dna with humans They move around and live in communities of individuals similar to humansDon't travel in groups like gorillas or other monkeysAround 1500 chimps in uganda live in 13 different communities inside the khabale forest with 5000 total in the country Type 1 survivorship rate K-selected species Segment 2: Evidence that supports CHIMPS“You can also track chimps in Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest and in the Semliki Valley. Most of our Uganda holidays focus on Kibale, which has a very high success rate for sightings, and the atmospheric Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, where sightings are less certain but the scenery is spectacular.” People have the hobby of following the chimps Watching these communities shows the similarities of our survivorship and how they are K selected -K selected mean long term babies taking care of infants  Type 1 species Population growth (exponential vs logarithmic)Natural limiting factors of population - Habitat loss, leopardsHow human activity affects chimp population - Hunting for bushmeat, pet trade and poaching and deforestationSegment 3: Connection to the Course These chimps relate to topic 8.3, population ecology in the AP biology curriculum.The chimps provide an example of organisms changing in order to respond to their environment as they have opposable thumbs like humans in order to help grasp and climb trees which indirectly helps them obtain energyThe fact that the chimps have large group sizes, small body sizes and dietary flexibility increases their adaptive capacity to contribute to the success of their population in their habitat.The chimps eat figs, fruits, nuts, insects and even barkThank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts. And another thanks to our sources, lonely plant.com, responsible travel, and worldwildlife.com.  For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: The Isle of WolvesWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Olivia, Anushka, Mea, and Hana and we are your hosts for the Unit 8 Ecology-the Isle Royale Study podcast. Today we will be discussing the Isle Royale Study and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of the Isle Royale StudyCamping —> DOCTAH guise —-> isle royale —-> us listening to him talk :)Segment 2: Evidence that supports the Isle Royale StudyWinter controls the ticks (kills them all if cold temperature) Provide ex of trophic cascading Predator prey talk abt itHuman interaction/interference (trails, being on/off) Coloring of the wolves Talk abt winter study (break island into quadrants and take populations #’s) Segment 3: Connection to the CoursePredator-prey relationship:  Trophic structure: a flow of energy between organisms in an ecosystem Energy flow Parasitic Importance of genetic diversityThank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. Music Credits:"Ice Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to our PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts   YouTube Connect with us on Social MediaTwitter

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Pacific Garbage Patch and Its Impacts on WildlifeWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Angelina and my name is Emily and we are your hosts for the Unit 8 Ecology podcast on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and Its Impacts on Wildlife. Today we will be discussing the Garbage Patch’s harmful effects on aquatic life and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ Segment 1: Overview of Pacific Garbage Patch and Its Impacts on WildlifeBackground info: The patch is a vortex of plastic waste and debris which is very calm and stable but surrounded by four currents that sweep debris into the center Two distinct collections of debris, the Western and Eastern Garbage Patches Pacific: Garbage is spun and linked together by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, where warm water ( South ) meets cool water ( Arctic )Much of the debris is not biodegradable and has taken a significant toll on the aquatic wildlife Most of the debris is plastic, which is not biodegradable but rather breaks down into microplastic particlesSegment 2: Evidence that supports how the Patch Harms Wildlifehttps://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ According to National Geographic, oceanographers and ecologists discovered that about 70% of marine debris sinks to the ocean floor, so the patch may also be an underwater heap of trash Marine debris is known to be harmful to wildlife Ex: Loggerhead sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish Ex: Albatrosses mistake plastic pellets for eggs and feed them to their chicks, which then die of starvation or ruptured organs Ex: Seals and other animals get entangled in abandoned nets and other waste hear about turtles a lot because of many companies movements to stop using straws, but we dont always hear about the other species being affected so it is definitely important to learn about these organisms as wellBIG ONE: Marine debris can disturb marine food websAs microplastics collect near the ocean’s surface, they block sunlight which prevents plankton and algae to...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: South African Rhino PoachingWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Keenan Wallace and I am your host for this episode called Unit 8 Ecology-Threatened Rhinos in South Africa. Today we will be discussing South African Rhino Poaching and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of Rhino Poaching numbers poached rising in recent years:13 Rhinos poached in 2007, peaked in 2015 1175 Rhinos killed in south africa in 2015 (more than 3 a day), number poached has since declined with 394 killed in 2020Rhino population has decreased from 1 million in the 1800s to only 27,000 in the wild today.Rhinos are a keystone species: They play an integral role in their ecosystem and many other species in the ecosystem depend on their presenceSegment 2: Evidence that supports dangers of rhino poaching Rhinos are so large that they actually Geo-form: change the land around themRhinos often wallow in mud to keep cool and ward off insects. This helps maintain waterholesWhen the rhinos get out they track the fertile, nutrient rich soil that accumulates in waterholes far and wide, distributing the nutrients. Rhino dung supports other species and food chainsRhino dung fertilizes soilDung beetles lay their eggs in rhino dung, which also supports species that eat the beetle larvaeA number of bird species rely on Rhino dung for insects and seeds. Rhinos support fly and tick species as well as animals that eat them, like terrapins (a kind of turtle) and oxpeckers (the iconic symbiotic relationship)Keep grass short, allowing plant species that can’t survive among long grass to thrive.Segment 3: Connection to the Course Without rhinos, all of these roles would be left unfilled and with its foundation gone the ecosystems would begin to collapse. (keystone species)When you hear about rhino conservation, this is why it matters. Thank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Birds of Paradise Mating RitualsWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Xavier and I am with Celine and Sofie and we are your hosts for Unit 8 Ecology-Birds of Paradise Mating Rituals. Today we will be discussing Birds of Paradise Mating Rituals and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. We want to thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which include National geographic and BBC Earth. You can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.Segment 1: Overview of Bird  The birds of paradise are some of the most fascinating birds in the world, from their wide range of behaviors and striking coloration of the males, I would love to ask you some specific questions about them. I have looked over many different species and their behavior, but I am particularly interested in the elaborate mating displays performed by male birds of paradise.Of course, let me begin with a bit of background on the species. Birds of paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae (Para-dice-see-a-die), which researchers think evolved on the island of New Guinea. The family is comprised of 43 species, most found on the island of New Guinea. Two species are found only in the Moluccan Islands to the west of New Guinea, and four others are found mainly in northeastern Australia. The family of birds includes astrapias, manucodes, paradisaeas, parotias, riflebirds, and sicklebills.Segment 2: Evidence that supports Animal Behavior within the Birds of ParadiseI know many species of birds are sexually dimorphic but what does this mean for the bird-of-paradise Yes, this means the males and females have different appearances. So the males have elaborate feather patterns that they use in their mating displays while the females of these species have a more dull and camouflaged appearance So while the females are watching the Males perform these displays what is their key concern when choosing which male to mate with? The female choice appears to be based on the vigor of the males’ display meaning their physical strength and health. Which can be seen in the condition and color of his feathers. So the female chooses a vigorous mate, ensuring that her offspring will also be relatively healthy. Exactly, the strongest, most brightly-feathered males have a better chance of attracting the females, while less attractive males may be overlooked. I was most interested in a species of male Superb bird-of-paradise with their dark black cape feathers and almost like a “psychedelic smiley face.” The way he snaps his tail rhythmically slowly, flashing a breastplate of iridescent like feathers. I’m sure the female’s prefer their beautiful feathers.Like I had mentioned it really depends on what the female wants to pass on to her children. This is their key concern...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Disappearance of Costa Rican Leatherback Sea TurtlesWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Beth Hooks, Emilie Sawicki, and Nick Bailey, and we are your hosts for episode # called Unit 8 Ecology-Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles. Today we will be discussing the disappearance of Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles Disappearing  Leatherback sea turtles are one of the most ancient reptiles, as well as the most endangered sea turtles. Their habitat spans from the North Atlantic to the south pacific. Their lifespan is estimated to be 50 years or more. They feed on open ocean prey such as jellyfish and salps (NOAA.org). Their nesting beaches are generally located in tropical latitudes, especially in Trinidad and Tobaago, the West-Indies, Gabon, Costa Rica, and on the Pacific coast of Mexico (NOAA.org).The greatest threats worldwide are incidental capture in fishing gear, hunting of turtles, and collection of eggs for human consumption. Climate change, loss and degradation of nesting and foraging habitat, ocean pollution, and vessel strikes also pose a threat to the population (NOAA.org).The Leatherback Sea Turtles are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (NOAA.org). Segment 2: Evidence that supports Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles Disappearing The turtles have had a 40% mortality rate in the returning adult population over the last 8 years. This data was obtained by fitting turtles with satellite transmitters and following their migration. Many disappear, and it is believed that mostly because they get stuck in fishing lines (World Turtle Trust). Projects that monitor nesting sites conduct nightly census work and fit nesting turtles with Passive Integrated Transponders. Projects that protect nests from poachers attempt to maximize the number of hatchlings that survive (World Turtle Trust). Segment 3: Connection to the Course The jellyfish population is increasing due to rising global temperatures. This suggests that energy sources are not the problem. The population curve of a predator generally follows the population curve of their prey, so if the jellyfish population increases, this means that the turtle population should increase. However, since so much ocean pollution is present in the form of plastic bags and turtles often mistake them for jellyfish, the jellyfish population may be increasing due to less predation (Lamb, 2017). Climate change has caused new predators to migrate to places where sea turtles are. This has begun to cause a trophic cascade in some environments that affects the phosphorus content of the sea grass (BurkHolder, Heithaus, Fourqurean, Wirsing, Dill, 2013). Additionally, the migration of these turtles is an innate behavior. An innate behavior...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Marine Life on the Catalina CoastWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Sofia, Addie, Gillie, and Diana, and we are your hosts for the episode called Unit 8 Ecology- Marine Life on the Catalina Coast. Today we will be discussing Marine Life on the Beautiful Catalina Coast and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. We want to thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which you can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.Segment 1: Overview of Catalina CoastHave you ever heard of the film Step Brothers? Perhaps… the Catalina Wine Mixer? While this is a great film in movie history, it does not correctly portray the true biodiversity of the Catalina Coast.Now that you’re speaking about it, I remember looking up the Catalina Coast a while back and getting really intrigued by all of the stuff I was finding. I went down a rabbit hole for like three hours. I didn’t even know there was that much to look at. I might have to plan a vacation there.I’m not going to lie I tend to stay away from the water because to quote Raven “I can’t swim” And not to mention all the animals…. The ocean is a mystery that I do not wanna exploreBut nonetheless, here we are today learning about the insane vastness of biodiversityThe Catalina Coast is located 23 miles off the coast of Southern California. If you’re taking a helicopter, you can get to the Catalina islands in 15 minutes. It is a part of the Channel Islands archipelago and is one of the four southern channel islandsSegment 2: Evidence that supports Marine Life on the Catalina Coast Catalina Coast is the home of the Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation AreaIf I remember correctly, Katy Perry says, “nothing comes close to the (I’m sure) Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Coast”, and that includes humans, as it is a conservationFor the record, Sofia is not remembering this line correctly, but the idea is there.More than 60 endemic species… meaning they are only found in the Catalina Coast regionConservationists are working to preserve these endemic species to maintain the genetic diversity of this regionEnsuring that each species can adapt to environmental factorsSince Sofia wanted to quote Katy Perry, I’ll quote a super underground artist that you guys definitely wouldn’t know…. They’re called the Four Preps…… They sang a song called 26 miles (Santa Catalina)So anyway, they talk about how it's only 26 miles from Cali baby and it's full of romance.span...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: One Skink, Five Skink, Egg Skink, Live SkinkWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Diana along with Sofia and Saahith and we are your hosts for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution-The Three Toed Skink- and I know what you’re thinking…. nope this is not derogatory or a slur. In episode 117, we will be discussing the species the Three Toed Skink and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. We want to thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which include Reptiles Magazine, National Geographic, Eurekalert.org, syfi.com, phys.org, and sciencedaily.com. You can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.Segment 1: Overview of The Three Toed Skink (Diana)The three toed skink, aka Saiphos equalis, is found in eastern Australia, primarily in New South Wales and Queensland. The three-toed skink is sometimes mistaken for a snake, eats crawling insects and worms, and is active at night. The three toed skink is a “bimodally reproductive species” WHATS THAT this means that some lay eggs and some give birth. Dr. Whittington, from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney School of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney in the article “Biologists observe a three-toed skink lay eggs and give birth to a baby,” says, “Put in the context of evolutionary biology, being able to switch between laying eggs and giving live birth could allow animals to hedge their bets according to environmental conditions." There are at least 150 evolutionary transitions from egg-laying to live-bearing in vertebrates. To elaborate on this, Sofia will share the interesting evidence of evolution of the Three Toed Skink.Segment 2: Evidence that supports The Three Toed Skink (Sofia)Thank you, Diana, for that beautiful introduction to our beloved skinks. In the article, “Which Came First, the Lizard or the Egg”, Dr. Camilla Whittington from the University of Sydney skink research team describes how the earliest vertebrates were egg-layers, but that over thousands of years, embryos remained inside their mother’s for longer, until some began live births. WHAAAAATTTT?? The Three-toed skinks are an example of a species that have evolved to perform both reproduction methods of egg-laying and live births. Get yourself a skink who does both. Direct observation studies have revealed that the skink species located on the warm weathered coasts of New South Wales lay eggs rather than performing live birth. On the contrary, the skinks located in the cold

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: Natural Selection of the Tomcod against PollutantsWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Celine, Xavier, and Sofie and we are your hosts for this episode called Unit 7 Natural Selection: Examples of Evolution-Toxic River Fish. In episode 120, we will be discussing the Toxic River Fish and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. We want to thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which include national geographic and NPR. You can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.Segment 1: Overview of Toxic River Fish To begin with the overview, the species of fish we will be discussing today are the tomcodThis species of fish lives in the waters of New Jersey and New York, usually found in the Hudson River where pollutants and chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyl was dumped between 1947-1976 by General Electric companiesTherefore they developed a gene the resulted in an immunitySegment 2: Evidence that supports Evolution Toxic River FishWe can see the evolution of Toxic River fish from the molecular Evolution that was changing in DNA sequences. When the pollutants entered the hudson river it resulted in 95% of the fish developing liver tumors.The toxins from the electric company entered the nucleus of cells and For some fish it caused a distortion of DNA instructions. This would cause some to most of the fish in the river to get sick and die.By chance, the Toxic River Fish had a version of that gene that tolerated the PCB and toxinsThe toxic river fish evolved to handle dangerous chemicals that were dumped in the river and Overtime the toxic river fish that had the resistant gene did better than the fish without itTechnically they’re not mutants, but the chemicals did give one genetic group an advantage over the othersThis is where survival of the fittest played a role, the fish that could resist toxins would have a higher rate of survival than those without out resistance The ability to resist the toxins caused the toxic river fish to lose some ability to cope with natural stressors like low oxygen or abnormally high temperatures but they still had advantage above other fishSegment 3: Connection to the CurriculumBiology is the study of biotic organisms, and focuses on the dynamic and behavior. Evolution is 1/12 characteristics of biology.It connects to the course because it distinctly shows evolution through natural selectionspan

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: Unit 7: Darwin’s FinchesWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Shrithik Sekar, Kyle Mason, Gabe Moriello, and I am your host for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution, Darwin’s Finches. In episode 116, we will be discussing this topic and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. “We want to also thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which include (Britannica, Galapogosisland.org, and Crash course Biology on Youtube). You can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.”Segment 1: Overview of Darwin's finches  What are Darwin's finches? Who is darwin? - Geologist and Biologist, who formed the theory of natural selection. Known for his contributions to Science of evolution. He studied many finches which were found in the galapagos islands located 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador What were the finches? - These finches were a Group of 18 different species found in the Galapagos island. Darwin found the finches were all closely related with small direct observations that he made during his time in the Galapagos islands What did he study? -During his studies while in the Galapagos islands, he concluded the speciation of the finches which is known as the experiment of Darwin’s finches  How does it relate to evolution? - It relates to evolution because it is an example of Direct observation Segment 2: Evidence that supports Darwin's finches  Connection direct observation evolution What is direct observation of evolution? - Through observation, in small population sizes, it can be found many changes of one species to then create many subspecies. Through direct observation of evidence in almost every species. THis idea had to do with the last universal ancestor, how all species are alike in many ways and all stemmed from the same ancestor. These finches dna is super similar, but these small differences of dna created a difference in appearance which was found ny darwin. ( This begs the question of ) Why are the finches an example of evolution? All 18 species of Darwin’s Finches were originally one finch species on the coast of south america. However, Darwin discovered that this species branched off into 18 different species on the Galapagos islands depending on the finches’ environment What Key pieces of evidence did darwin find? - Darwin found the difference, fruit eating finches had wide beaks, insect eating finches had narrow beaks, and based on different factors of each finches environment each species had a different characteristic change. - GO TO Image 

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: The Threespine SticklebackWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Beth, Gillie, and Addie and we are your hosts for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution- The Threespine Stickleback. In episode 119, we will be discussing The Threespine Stickleback and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of Threespine SticklebackThe Threespine stickleback fish live in the ocean and in lakes. The fish who live in the lake have been separated from the ocean sticklebacks for thousands of generations. Although there is a difference between ocean and lake sticklebacks, all freshwater sticklebacks can vary in shape and size depending on habitat. Scientists looked into the differences between lake and ocean sticklebacks by taking 50 fish from each population and comparing them.Segment 2: Evidence that supports Threespine SticklebackFreshwater sticklebacks and ocean sticklebacks have a number of different physical characteristics. For example, Ocean Sticklebacks are generally much larger. They also differ in body length, spine length (and number), fin shapes, number of lateral plates (​​Genetic Science Learning Center, 2017, August). The scientists observed that the average number of lateral plates for ocean sticklebacks was 33. On the other hand, the average number of lateral plates was 5 in the lake stickleback. Additionally, Michael Bell ran an experiment where he determined just how fast this evolution was occurring. He tracked the genes of stickleback fish in lakes in Alaska and determined the speed at which evolution occurred (in just a decade) (Robert Sanders, M. R., & Sanders, R., 2021, June 21). More interesting, however, is the fact that fish evolved convergently across the globe due to similar conditions, despite being isolated for decades (Shen, H., 2012, April 04). Segment 3: Connection to the CourseThe Threespine Stickleback demonstrates natural selection and adaptation in the environment, which directly relates to section 7.1 and 7.2. The data of how lake and ocean sticklebacks have adapted over time is a prime example of fitness. The environment of the lake and the ocean are different, and as a result, the lake stickleback has evolved to better suit this body of water. The evolution of the Threespine Sticklebacks caused by natural selection in different environments connects to 7.1 and 7.2.Thank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. See you next time!Music Credits:"Ice Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to our PodcastApple Podcastsa...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: Antibiotic Resistance Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, I am Emily Greenberg and I am Angelina Graf and we will be your hosts for “Unit 7 Heredity: Examples of Evolution-antibiotic resistance”. In episode 113, we will be discussing antibiotic resistance and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of antibiotic resistanceAntibiotics are drugs that fight infections that are caused by bacteriaAntibiotic resistance is when bacteria and germs build up resistance to the medications that are meant to kill themAntibiotic resistant germs are often very difficult to treat and dangerous infections can emergeA common misconception is that antibiotic resistance means that the body is resisting antibiotics, however it is actually the bacteria that is becoming resistant to antibioticsOveruse of antibiotics is one of the main causes of antibiotic resistanceSegment 2: Evidence that supports antibiotic resistance Antibiotics also kill good bacteria that help to protect the body from infectionAntibiotic resistant germs can spread throughout healthcare facilities, the environment, and other communities.The action of an antibiotic is an environmental pressure Species have to adapt and evolve in order to survive these pressuresWe know that evolution is happening because bacterial infections can continue to spread even with the presence of antibioticsPenicillin resistance: In WWI, penicillin treatment was used to treat the wounded and by some smaller civilian populationsBiochemists began reporting resistance to it before the war was over and found a penicillin-inactivating enzyme secreted from a particular bacteria.Over the next few decades, overuse and repeated exposure to antibiotics helped the selection and replication of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteriaSegment 3: Connection to the CourseAntibiotic resistance evolves as a result of natural selection and genetic mutationBacteria that develop mutations that are resistant to antibiotics are more likely to survive and reproduce; this means that they are more fitIf resistant bacteria reproduce with other resistant bacteria, their offspring will be fully resistant and this trait will become more frequent in the gene poolspan...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: The Evolution of CoywolvesKeenan: Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Keenan Wallace and I am your host for this podcast. In episode 115, we will be discussing the topic of Coywolves and how they relate to the AP Biology Curriculum. Keenan: For this episode, we’ve brought in Alex Profit and Serena Russel to discuss the evolution of coywolves. So, to start us off: what exactly is a Coywolf?Alex: Well, ‘Coywolf’ is actually just a nickname for what is known to the scientific community as an eastern coyote. Eastern coyotes are hybrids of coyotes, wolves and dogs, however they are still primarily coyotes and remain as coyotes rather than wolves. Keenan: So you say that the Coywolves, or eastern coyotes are a mix of several different species. Do you know the genetic breakdown?Serena: It’s difficult to say for certain since the coyotes’ genetic makeup varies by region and population, but according to a DNA analysis done by Evolutionary Biologist Javier Monzón, they are 64% coyote, 13% gray wolf, 13% eastern wolf, and 10% dog. Keenan: Wow, that’s some genetic diversity. So how do these new hybrids differ from their pure coyote ancestors?Alex: For one thing, they’re larger. Eastern Coyotes are 35-37% larger than their western counterparts. They also have larger and more powerful heads, their ears are more rounded like a wolf’s and they have wolf-like fur markings. There’s lots of variation within and between populations, but coywolves' features tend to match the midpoint between coyotes and wolves. Keenan: Fascinating! So from what I understand, this interbreeding is a fairly recent development. What led to it?Serena: This story started several hundred years ago with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. When Europeans colonized the East Coast of America they started cutting down forests and hunting large prey in the region, which threatened the habitat and food source of local grey wolves. At the same time, western coyotes, which are adapted to more open terrain, were drawn east by the expansion of their preferred habitat via deforestation. With shrinking numbers of grey wolves and a new thriving population of coyotes in the region, it makes sense that the wolves soon turned to coyotes as mating partners. Serena: From there, natural selection took over. With the right mix of coyote and wolf DNA, a new species was created that was the best of both worlds. These “coywolves,” as they are called, are larger than coyotes, but inherited the social nature of wolves, meaning they form packs to hunt, which allows them to hunt large animals like deer in addition to the small prey that coyotes usually feed on. On top of that, they possess the strong ability of coyotes to adapt to urban environments, and are comfortable in both open and forested environments. Keenan: I can see why this mixing would be beneficial, but is it considered evolution, or just hybridization? Serena: Both....

My AP Biology Thoughts Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: Babiana ringens Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Raelynn and my name is Samiyah and we are your hosts for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution - Plants and Birds. In episode 118, we will be discussing the plant Babiana ringens and how it has evolved to attract sunbirds.Segment 1: Overview of Babiana ringens and evolution to attract birdsThe Babiana ringens plant in South Africa evolved in such a way that increases the chance of  Nectarine famosa, or the malachite sunbird - their main pollinators- to stop by and drink nectar out of their flowers. In the certain region that these plants reside, most sunbirds avoid predators by staying away from the ground- as such, the Babiana ringens evolved to create a small perch, making it easier for birds to drink their nectar, and thus pollinate them, which in turn increased their evolutionary fitness. Segment 2: Evidence that supports the evolution of Babiana ringens to attract pollinatorsThrough a study conducted by botanist Spencer Barrett from the University of Toronto Canada, along with a team of researchers, they found that the sunbirds in the specific region of South Africa in which the plants with the perches reside used the perches to pollinate the plants, and were their main pollinators. They went on to study other Babiana ringens plants across South Africa and found that they didn’t have the perches, and after studying them for some time, realized that their main pollinators weren’t the sunbirds that require the perches to make pollination easier. As such, the perch was an adaptation to the environmental pressures (of their main pollinators having been sunbirds). Segment 3: Connection to the CourseThe interactions between Babiana ringens and sunbirds demonstrate the concept of evolution and natural selection. The flowers with the perch were more “fit” for the environment since it encouraged the birds to perch on them and pollinate the flower. As a result, the Babiana ringens with the genes for the perch were able to both outlive and outpopulate those without perches. Over time, the gene for flowers without this stem faded away from the gene pool, and it became characteristic of Babiana ringensspan...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 7 Natural Selection EPISODE TITLE: Butterflies and ParasitesAnushka Agarwal, Olivia Lundquist, & Hana Hamid Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Anushka, Olivia, and Hana and we are your hosts for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution-Butterflies and parasites. In episode 114, we will be discussing Butterflies and parasites and how they relate to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of Butterflies and Parasites  To start off, what is evolution? Evolution is the process by which different organisms develop from their ancestors to adapt to the environment they are living in. This idea was proposed by Charles Darwin to explain how species have the ability to evolve. We can look at the Blue Moon butterflies for examples and how they adapted to their environment to protect themselves from the killing parasite. The Blue Moon Butterfly, or Hypolimnas bolina, is an eggfly commonly found in New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, Solomons, etc. The blue moon butterfly’s mating season is normally in the spring and summer. Their name is derived from the 2 bright circular patches on the backs of the males. Natural selection occurring between the butterflies and parasites is an example of evolution happening in real time. This is because scientists discovered that the bluemoon butterflies developed resistance in a span of 10 generations (which lasted a year). Additionally, the peppered moth is a species of a night-flying moth which is most commonly found in the northern hemisphere in countries such as Europe, Asia, and North America. They are generally small moths (only 1.5-2.5 inches) and their eggs normally hatch during mid summer. While some moths are typically light in color, many have dark skins and normally have extra camouflage to protect them from their predators (which includes ​​flycatchers, nuthatches, and European robin). We can see a difference in the colors of the peppered moth due to the Industrial Revolution marked an era of industrial change in Europe and the United States from 1760-1840, which affected not only economy but the environment as well. Segment 2: Evidence that supports Evolution of Butterflies and Parasites  mutationthe changing of a structure of a gene that may result in a variant form → can have impact bc it has the potential of getting passed down that leads to evolutionmutation: males can survive the infection of parasite that kills male embryosnormally they cant(mutation allowed for them to live and complete term/live)Natural selection (blue moon butterflies) Since the parasites normally targeted male blue moon butterflies, their population was a staggering 1%. However, because these butterflies obtained immunity from the parasite, their population bounced back to 40% in less than a year! natural selectionli...

Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Stefanie Ribecca and I am your host for episode # 104 called Unit 5 Heredity: Chromosomal Inheritance. Today we will be discussing how inheritance occurs in the chromosomal level. Segment 1: Introduction to Chromosomal InheritanceChromosomal inheritance is an extension of Mendelian genetics. Chromosomes contain DNA which carry the genetic information that code for proteins. Chromosomes are found in pairs, and increase genetic variation during meiosis.Segment 2: More About Chromosomal InheritanceDuring meiosis, non sister chromatids in homologous pairs exchange information during crossing over.Certain genes may be close together on the chromosome and may appear to be inherited together. Segment 3: Connection to the CourseChromosomal inheritance allows for a combination of traits from both parents. Genetic diversity from chromosomal inheritance allows individuals in a population to adapt to the environment.  Thank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts.   For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com.  Music Credits:"Ice Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to our PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts   YouTube  Connect with us on Social MediaTwitter @thehvspn