Pig Dissection Reflection

The purpose of this lab was to study about the anatomy of a fetal pig, which also helped us learn more about human anatomy since there are similarities between the structures of pigs and humans. This dissection related to what we have learned in this unit by how we got to learn where the different systems are located in the animal and how structures function. My favorite part of the dissection was finding the structures and cutting the pig, because I never have done it before and it's something that I may not have the opportunity to do again. I think that this dissection was a valuable experience because I got to know more about the anatomy of a pig which is similar to a human's. Also being able to learn more with an actual organism is better than looking at a worksheet because you get to see and experience it in person.

20 Time Individual Reflection

I chose this challenge, because it seemed interesting when I learned about it in class, and I wanted to know more about genetically modified foods. For example, the pros and cons of genetically modified foods and how they are made. My goal was to see whether my prediction was correct about how people would prefer the genetically modified foods over the organic foods. My plan was to first research about the topics that I would need to conduct the experiment and learn more about the subject. After I finished researching I planned to start preparing for the experiment by getting the foods and then bringing it to school to have people rate the organic and genetically modified foods. Then after I finished my experiment I would analyze my results to see if my prediction was correct and then use my research to add more information about why my results ended up that way.

My partner and I were able to complete our project on time, but we had a few problems during the process. We were able to get results that showed that our prediction was correct, but we didn't have any information about why people preferred one food over another and what are the differences between genetically modified and organic foods. During this project, I learned that I should not procrastinate on things and that I should plan ahead when I want to complete things. If I had another chance to do this project I would spend more time on the experiment, because we were not able to have many people rate the foods and we didn't have many foods that people could try. I learned that I tend to do things later when I was supposed to do it earlier, and I tend to procrastinate because I think that I have enough time to do everything later on. 

I would not continue this challenge, because I think that I proved a point about why people prefer genetically modified foods, the advantages and disadvantages of it, and I also finished it already with m partner. If I did continue it I would add more to the experiment like using more types of food and having more people try the foods.

Unit 9 Reflection

This unit was on classification, which is to group organisms based on similarities, and taxonomy, the study of naming and classifying organisms. After we learned the five kingdoms, Monera, Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia, and the three domains which are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Then we learned about viruses, which are very small infectious particles and the three most common shapes of bacteria which are spheres, rods, and spirals. Next we learned about fungi whose cell walls are made of chitin, and absorb their food through hyphae which are long strands of fungi. After we learned the major plant phyla, which are Bryophyta(Mosses), Pterophyta(Ferns), Gymnosperms(Cone bearing plants), and Angiosperms(Flowering Plants).

Towards the end we learned about the major invertebrate phyla which include Phylum Porifera which have no symmetry and are sessile, Phylum Cnidaria which have two body forms, polyps or medusas, Phylum Arthropoda which have and exoskeleton made of chitin and a jointed appendage, and others. Finally we learned about the major vertebrate phyla which include Phylum Chordata, which have an endoskeleton made of bone or cartilage, Class Agnatha which are jawless fish with two groups, hagfish and lampreys, and others. Some things that I would want to learn about is how they came up with the names for classifying organisms.

Some parts of our unit is similar to our Geologic Timeline Project, because they both included how things changed and organisms evolved over time. I think that my presentation was okay, and I could have done better in some parts during the presentation. Some things that went well was how I was able to share all my information and include information that people probably wouldn't know. What could have been better was making eye contact during some parts of the presentation, slowing down while talking, and not reading off the screen the whole time. One lesson that I will take from this experience is that I should practice more before the presentation date, and I could apply this to other presentations by using it as an example of things like what I should do later on in presentations like slowing down when speaking and trying to make eye contact.

Link to presentation-https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wYvefkdyrS9zcmQhfDAA0s3xdJQe2Nk4F15gUqQFpAE/edit#slide=id.p