Evolutionary Genetics

Homework Assignments

February 8, 2011 – March 11, 2011

(The homework is for the night assigned and due the next day unless otherwise noted)

Day/Date / Week 1 / Chester Class Period 4
2/7/2011 / Day 1 / Proposed Test on Transgenics and TEs. Lab Notebooks due on Tuesday at the latest!
2/8/2011 / Day 2 / Read the Time Article, “Why Genes Aren’t Our Destiny?” and answer the following questions:
1.  The article refers to nature (our genes) vs. nurture (the environment). In the field of epigenetics, more and more scientific claims are being made that DNA can be modified epigenetically! What are your thoughts on this potential paradigm shift in our understanding of mutation?
2.  According to this article, what is the definition of epigenetics?
3.  Give an example from the article of an epigenetic gene recently approved by the FDA.
4.  What is a methyl group, what is DNA methylation and how is it related to epigenetics?
5.  Explain the experiment done at Duke University on the agouti gene that clearly showed epigenetics at work?
6.  Why isn’t epigenetics the same thing as evolution?
7.  List a couple of insights that the ALSPAC data has offered with regard to pregnancy, infancy and environment?
8.  Towards the end of the article, a point is made about males making poor decisions during the pre-pubescent years and even into puberty and those decisions affecting offspring. What are your thoughts on this research?
Long Period
2/9/2011 / Day 3 / Drop Day
2/10/2011 / Day 4 / Delayed Start because of Snow . . . . so NO CLASS. But, please read background pages 33-43 in your course packet.
2/11/2011 / Day 5 / Define the bolded terms over the weekend from pages 33-43. Answer the following questions:
1.  What are the products of both mitosis and meiosis?
2.  What are the two main ways in which meiosis ensures genetic variation among gametes.
3.  How does sexual reproduction enable the diversity of species?
Day/Date / Week 2 / Chester Class Period 4
2/14/2011 / Day 2 / HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! J
Read Chapter 4 in Finding Darwin’s God, and expect to answer some more questions later in the week! It is a long chapter (page 81-128), so you I will post the questions on Wednesday, and they will be due on Friday! Remember, grades and comments are due next Monday, so you do not want to turn this in LATE!!!!
2/15/2011 / Day 3 / Drop Day
2/16/2011 / Day 4 / Since Chapter 4 is amazingly long, we will answer questions in chunks. Below are questions from Chapter 4 of Finding Darwin’s God, from about 81-110:
15.  Why does science work best when its workers “rock the boat,” as Miller mentions early in the chapter?
16.  What is phyletic gradualism and punctuated equilibrium and how do both relate to Darwin’s theory of evolution?
17.  What are the main differences between microevolution and macroevolution and how does Miller defend the point that microevolutionary changes are, over time, more than enough change to produce new species?
18.  Who are Stephen Jay Gould, Niles Eldredge and Philip Johnson and how has each of these man played a part in the science vs. faith debate?
19.  What is the explanation that evolution offers for the endemic species found on geographically isolated islands, like that of the Galapagos?
20.  Miller speaks of an experimental example using a protein enzyme, ProNADO. Explain what was learned from this experiment.
I would like for these to be uploaded to your google document by FRIDAY, February 18th!
Day 5 / Continue work on FDG questions.
2/18/2011 / Day 1 / FDG Questions due today.
Day/Date / Week 3 / Chester Class Period 4
2/21/2011 / Faculty Development Day
2/22/2011 / Day 4 / Read, Study and Review pages 43-53. Let’s start in these studies by defining the bold terms.
2/23/2011 / Day 5 / Explain the genotypes and phenotypes expected for Mu 1.7, MuDR, and Mu 1.7 in combination with MuDR (called a1-mum2).
2/24/2011 / Day 1 / What is a genetic cross? Give the expected and actual progeny of the genetic cross between MuDR and a1-mum tester. Give a description of MuK and explain how it differs from MuDR. Now, give the results of Genetic Cross I, which crosses MuDR with MuK.
2/25/2011 / Day 2 / We are going to be at the bench from this point forward . . . we hope anyway! Make sure you understand the theory behind what we are doing because it will make a lot of difference when we analyze results (and here is hoping we actually get results)!
Day/Date / Week 4 / Chester Class Period 4
2/28/2011 / Day 4 / Plan for Epigenetics Experiment
3/1/2011 / Day 5 / Extract and Isolate DNA for our experiment. You need to make sure that your notebook is up to date each day in lab!
3/2/2011 / US Conference Day
3/3/2011 / Day 2 / Read Chapter 5 in Finding Darwin’s God over the weekend. Be ready to answer questions over Chapter 5, which I will upload soon!
Long Period
3/4/2011 / Day 3 / Drop Day
Day/Date / Week 5 / Chester Class Period 4
3/7/2011 / Day 5 / Set up PCR for Epigenetics Experiment
3/8/2011 / Day 1 / Here are the questions to correspond to Chapter 5 in Finding Darwin’s God.
21.  Who is Michael Behe, and what is the concept of irreducible complexity?
22.  What is evolution’s main argument against the idea of irreducible complexity? Use the evolution of the eye as an example.
23.  On pages 145-147, Miller lays out a mechanism by which a complex system for the utilization of lactose evolves within a bacteria through mutation and natural selection. Do you think Miller’s explanation directly negates Behe’s claims for irreducible complexity? Why or Why not?
24.  Give several reasons why Miller assert that Behe’s claim that an “intelligent agent” packed a primordial cell with all the irreducibly complex systems, some to be used now, some to be used later, have to be flat wrong.
If you can get this finished prior to Spring Break, awesome. If not, then they need to be finished when you return! I will check to see that they are done on Monday after Spring Break! It is not a bad idea to read ahead if you want because we will finish this book quickly after the break!
3/9/2011 / Day 2 / Analyze gels, finish up unit and hopefully test on Friday!!!
Long Period
3/10/2011 / Day 3 / Drop Day
3/11/2011 / Day 4 / Proposed Epigenetics Test (pending results from Tuesday)!!!
Day/Date
3/14/2011 – 3/18/2011 / SPRING BREAK
Day/Date / Week 1 / Chester Class Period 4
3/21/2011 / Day 1
3/22/2011 / Day 2 / Drop Day
3/23/2011 / Day 3 / Long Period
3/24/2011 / Day 4 / Enjoy the Holiday! J
3/25/2011 / Day 5
Day/Date / Week 3 / Chester Class Period 4
Day 2 / Drop Day
Day 3
Day 4 / Long Period
Day 5
Day 1
Day/Date / Week 4 / Chester Class Period 4
4/12/2010 / Day 4
4/13/2010 / Day 5
4/14/2010 / Day 1
4/15/2010 / Day 2 / Long Period
4/16/2010 / Day 3 / Drop Day
Day/Date / Week 5 / Chester Class Period 4
4/19/2010 / Day 5
4/20/2010 / Day 1
4/21/2010 / Day 2
Altered Schedule / Cum Laude
4/22/2010 / Day 3 / Drop Day
4/23/2010 / Day 4
Day/Date / Week 1 / Chester Class Period 4
4/26/2010 / Day 1
4/27/2010 / Day 2 / Long Period
4/28/2010 / Day 3 / Drop Day
4/29/2010 / Day 4
4/30/2010 / Day 5
Day/Date / Week 2 / Chester Class Period 4
5/3/2010 / Day 2
5/4/2010 / Day 3 / Drop Day
5/5/2010 / Day 4 / Long Period
5/6/2010 / Day 5 / Will have several students absent this day for AP study
5/7/2010 / Day 1 / AP US History Final – several students will be absent
Day/Date / Week 3 / Chester Class Period 4
5/10/2010 / Day 3 / Drop Day
5/11/2010 / Day 4
5/12/2010 / Day 5
Altered Schedule / Senior Exit Chapel/BBQ Boogie
5/13/2010 / Day 1
5/14/2010 / Day 2
Day/Date / Week 4 / Chester Class Period 4
5/17/2010 / Day 4
5/18/2010 / Day 5
5/19/2010 / Day 1
Altered Schedule / Activities Awards Assembly
5/20/2010 / Day 2 / Long Period
5/21/2010 / US Review Day / Honors Day
Day/Date / Exams / Chester Class Period 4
5/24/2010 / US Review Day
5/25/2010 / Final Exams
5/26/2010 / Final Exams
5/27/2010 / Final Exams
5/28/2010 / Final Exams