Traits And Heredity (Genetics Homework)

While reading "What is Heredity?" and "What is a trait?", I learned two very important facts. I already knew what a trait was, a notable feature in a person that makes them unique, but I learned something else. I never knew that there were only three types of traits. There are physical traits, characteristics of one's body(hair color, height...), behavioral traits, characteristics of how you act, and finally predisposition to a medical disease, a risk of a child getting a certain disease that can be passed on. From "What is Heredity?", I found out that humans have two sets of 23 chromosomes. When parents conceive a child, they each give a set to the child. Therefore, the child gets some of the same traits as the parents.

Robotic Clam

Mechanical engineers are working on robotic clams that one day will help dig up and detonate buried underwater mines. They could also serve as robot subs or deep-sea oil drilling. The robots are being designed after the razor clam because it is one of nature's best diggers. The clam digs with two motions. One is pushing upwards with its foot and a synchronized push down. Inspired by this, researchers have created a simple robot about half the size and are testing it in the salt water of Cape Cod. The experiments show that it digs as fast as the real one. It is small light weight and does not use a lot of energy. The clam equally works as well in sand, mud, and cohesive soil. As well as exploding mines, it was suggested that it could serve as a light weight anchor that could dig itself into submarines.
          I think that this idea is really good. This clam will help detonate mines and even help with underwater scientific research. Also, it is good that they designed it after another clam because it would make it easier to build the robot. They would have to just rebuild the parts on the clam. All in all, i think that the RoboClam is a good idea and will help scientists to complete research.

Class Response-Owl Pellets

On Monday, November 9, we started dissecting owl pellets. We did this to find out what owl's ate and how it is connected to a food web. One thing we learned is an owls diet. Owls mostly eat shrews, mice, moles, and most rats. I got this information from the papers we got giving us basic information about owls. Most animals have something that owls don't, a crop, which allows animals to store food for later consumption. Since owls don't have this, their food goes directly to their digestive system. I also learned that when owls swallow their pray whole, the bones and fur get stuck in their gizzard for 10-20 hours. After that, they are regurgitated into pellets. Owl pellets are masses of bone, teeth, hair, feathers, and exoskeletons from the prey the owl ate.
I think that this activity was fun and helped us learn about owls. We learned many facts about them. Also, this activity is related to food webs, habitat's, and parasitism. All in all, doing this lab was productive and a fun way to learn about owls.

The Truth About 2012 Doomsday Hype

             December 21, 2012. On this day, scientists predict that the world will end or at least cause some type of destruction. There might be cataclysmic volcanism or a great flood. One reason that they think this will happen is because of the Mayans. Apparently, their calender ends exactly on the 21st of December 2012. The Mayans never said that the world will end, but that is what people infer. They don't know what other meaning it could have. Another reason is that a non-existent planet supposedly discovered by the ancient Sumerians, called Nibiru will encounter the Earth and wreak havoc. So, will doomsday really happen or is it just another failed prediction?

             I think that all of this is untrue and nothing will happen in 2012. I say this because I have learned that before there have been many doomsday predictions, 10 to be exact, and they all have failed. Also, in the article, it states that the Mayan calendar ends like our calendar and probably just starts all over again. All in all, I think that nothing will happen.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/091105-2021-doomsday.html

Summer Reading Question

Question: What connections were you able to make while reading the novel?

While reading The Thief Lord, I made connections with another book called SCORPIA. Both books take place in Venice and involve a mystery in them.

Bullying (Man's Inhumanity to Man)

Society or our school can't put an end to bullying because even if they make a rule, people will break that rule.

Welcome Scientists

My favorite subject is Literature because Mr. Kokopelli is very funny.

The best book i ever read was The Last Olympian.

My favorite food to buy in the cafeteria is Pasta.

On the weekend when my chores are done, i like to go outside.

If I won a free airline ticket to any place I wanted, I would go to France.

My favorite color is orange.

If i had a dog i would name it Tom.

This year, if I work hard enough, I hope i get straight A's