AP Biology was my first AP exam all of high school. The format was a little strange this year due to corona virus but luckily I was able to manage. I was nervous going into the exam because I wasn’t sure what to expect. As much as I reviewed I didn’t know what kind of material would be on the exam.

The first question I got was really difficult for me. I tried to be strategic with how much time I spent reading directions and answering each question. As helpful as the timer at the bottom was, it really stressed me out. I felt rushed and I wasn’t able to answer all parts of the question in 30 minutes. I took the last 5 minutes of the exam to properly submit my work.

The second question was much easier for me. I fully understood the topic and what each question was asking. Since we only had 20 minutes to answer this question there were less parts to answer so I was able to fully read the question and then answer. I spent about 18 minutes on this question because I knew how easy the submission process was from the last question.

Overall, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this test. As much as I love Biology, I think this was very difficult given the circumstances. There was also no direction on what the test would be covering so I only prepped a little bit for each subject and focused on the subjects that I was confused on.

Hey guys!! This past unit my AP bio teammates and I covered body systems. We also had the opportunity to virtually watch a fetal pig dissection done by our lovely teacher, Mrs. Girard. To learn more, check out my slides down below! 🙂 If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below.

Have you ever wondered how our immune system fights off bacteria, pathogens, viruses, etc? Check out my sketch notes below to learn more!

Happy earth day everyone!! Did you know that you can use coffee grounds as plant fertilizer? To learn more, watch the video linked below:)

My teammates and I recently watched a documentary on the symbiotic relationship between plants and humans. The first plant we learned about was apples. This section was fascinating because we learned everything from the history/origination of the apple to how they are genetically modified. Apples were originally used to make hard cider and are now used in many American foods. This became known as a universal fruit that has many health benefits. The next plant we talked about was the tulip which originated in Holland. People have spent fortunes on this flower because of its beauty and lifespan. A virus called “tulip bubble” hit which caused these flowers to turn two different colors. Tulips that were affected by this virus were worth millions of dollars and symbolized wealth. While this flower has no use for humans, it had such a huge impact on the world (especially with the Dutch). The next plant, cannabis, shocked many of us viewers for different reasons. One of the reasons was because of how nurture and nature play a role in how they grow and thrive. In this case, humans were able to pick and choose which characteristics were bred in the plants. The last plant we learned about was the potato which is now considered a superfood. This vegetable was originally domesticated in the Andes mountains nearly 8,000 years ago! To be able to produce and sell this vegetable they had to overcome a huge obstacle. This vegetable is poisonous if you let it sit in the sun, but if you pick them when they are ripe, it is okay to eat!

To watch the Botany of Desire refer to the following:

Have you ever wondered how doctors came up with vaccinations for certain viruses like the polio virus? The non-fiction scientific novel, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, goes into great detail on how one woman’s cells (commonly known as the HeLa cells) changed the dynamics of science. Henrietta was a cervical cancer patient who had come in frequently for radiation treatments. Without her consent, doctors removed two cervical samples from Lacks that were used for research. These cells went on to changing science for the better and eventually helping millions of people.

This novel raised a lot of questions in terms of ethics and if this is morally right. While Henrietta had no idea her cells were being used for research, this benefitted many people including you and I. While reading this novel, I put myself in her shoes and came to realize that I wouldn’t be so upset if this were to happen to me. Knowing that these doctors weren’t trying to gain profit off of these cells, I would be more than happy to donate them to help others. The Lacks’ story can help people from across the world because of the consent form that is required in any medical circumstance. This book really touched me personally given that one day I want to attend medical school. I hope this research continues to prosper with the safety of the people. I would 10/10 recommend reading this book.

Recently, school has shut down due to a nasty virus spreading like a wildflower. Our in-class plan was to look at different kinds of protists under a microscope. I know what you’re probably thinking, “what the heck are protists?!” Protists are a diverse collection of organisms that do not fit into the categories of bacteria, animals, plants, and fungi. They are primarily microscopic but do so much for our earth! My teammates and I split up into groups of 4 and researched 2 different kinds of protists. Take a look at the slides linked below to learn more about these fascinating creatures!

Hi Guys!

Yesterday my AP Bio Team and I went on a field trip to Baylands Nature Preserve with the organization “Save The Bay.” During this trip, I was able to see how field data was collected and how we can do our part to preserve the marshlands that are vital to all living organisms.

3 Pieces of Scientific Information I learned:

1. There are many invasive species that pose a threat to the native species in that area. For example, fennel (the plant used to make black licorice) took over many areas where trees and grass were planted to filter out waste and debris.
2. The San Francisco Bay is one of Northern California’s largest Estuary’s.
3. The bay needs 100,000 acres of wetlands in order to thrive.

Connection To The Classroom

1. Save The Bay’s mission directly relates to citizen science through the act of volunteering to better our earth. They truly believe that small acts can create meaningful changes to our environment. In class, I have been learning a lot about different organisms and how they all contribute different things to our earth. For example, most of the oxygen in our atmosphere comes from plants in the ocean that partake in the process of photosynthesis (phytoplankton being one of them!). Estuaries provide habitat for 75% of the US Commercial fish catch which directly impacts the lives of humans. Through the collection and analyzation of field data and biodiversity in the area, my teammates and I directly impacted the efforts to conserve these marshlands!

Final Thoughts: Overall, I had the most amazing experience going on this field trip with my AP Bio class. Not only was it fun learning in the sun but being able to stop and appreciate the little things we take for granted everyday was so peaceful. The SF Bay supports so much wildlife and we should all do our part to preserve it as much as we can! Coming back from this field trip motivated me to limit my use of plastic and order more reusable snack bags on amazon! Stay tuned for another blog post on my next field trip:)

Tomorrow my AP Bio teammates and I will be going on a field trip to Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, CA. During this trip, we will be collecting and analyzing data from the bay with the use of special tools! I’m really looking forward to this field trip because this will be a great way to learn about the San Francisco Bay outside of the classroom! Field trips are great tools for learning because you’re able to apply what you’ve learned at school to real world scenarios! I hope to learn more about the environment in which organisms flourish in while helping restore certain areas.

To learn more about Save The Bay and their volunteering opportunities, visit https://savesfbay.org/Tomorrow my AP Bio teammates and I will be going on a field trip to Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, CA. During this trip, we will be collecting and analyzing data from the bay with the use of special tools! I’m really looking forward to this field trip because this will be a great way to learn about the San Francisco Bay outside of the classroom! Field trips are great tools for learning because you’re able to apply what you’ve learned at school to real world scenarios! I hope to learn more about the environment in which organisms flourish in while helping restore certain areas.