Spring 2022 Block 1 Recap

As we approach the ending of block 1, we celebrate our students and their creativity throughout the semester. Here is a friendly recap of what was done thus far, and what was shared by our students. Great job guys!

"Microbiology is the study of very small living organisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae, and protozoans. Robert Hoke and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek were two great scientists who discovered the existence of microorganisms using microscopes in the 1600’s. We have learned that there are harmful and beneficial bacteria that are found everywhere. Bad bacteria can cause diseases, illness, and spoil food. Good bacteria keep us healthy and digest food, make vitamins in our bodies, help scientists make medicines and are often used in gene therapies.

Two main themes of microbiology are basic (cellular processes) and applied (agri., industry, health). We use the Linnaean System (2 names-binomial) to name microorganisms. Microbiology helps scientists to certain prevent diseases, food from spoiling, and develop aseptic techniques for medicine and labs. Overuse of antibiotics by doctors has led to antibiotic resistance in sick patients. Diseases like MRSA, VRE, VRSA, and MDR-TB are examples of drug resistant strains of bacteria”-BG

“The principles of mindfulness are the practice of non-judgmental observations, interconnectedness, compassion, and gratitude. For example, you have to be aware of the present, not the future and the past, it is okay to focus sometimes on the future and the past, but the present is the most important, it makes you more aware of what is happening at that moment.

We are not mindful when we do obsessive thinking, judgmental thinking, or behaving, getting distracted, and speeding/rushing. Getting distracted can take you away from the important thing that you have to do. Speeding/rushing can make you make a mistake more easily since you are in a rush to do something. Mindfulness can be a way of living. We don't look but observe, we don't taste but swallow, we don't think but feel, and we don't exist but live. Mindfulness can reduce anxiety and depression and help aid better sleep”.- NP

“In Biology, cells contain the genetic material of an organism, and are the basic membrane-bound unit of a living organism. Eukaryotes have genetic material within the nucleus, and Prokaryotes have genetic material outside of the nucleus. A human cell is an example of a eukaryotic cell. An organelle is a membrane-bound structure within a cell that carries out a particular function.

One example of an organelle is the nucleus, it controls all activities, and it is a eukaryotic cell. The cell is in summary the basic unit of a living organism. Cells are made up of organelles, organelles perform specific functions. The mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the cells, it makes energy”.- NP