Monday, December 10, 2012


VDA #5


1. Find a reliable website that can offer pregnant women information about mercury in seafood and will give suggestions as to serving sizes and frequencies that are safe for consumption.

Http://www.epa.gov/hg/advisories.htm



2. Using what you find in the website that you research and what you've read in the article, write a paragraph of at least 6 sentences that explains what mercury is, what it can do to pregnant women and how they can prevent these problems while pregnant.


Mercury is a naturally occurring element (Hg on the periodic table) that is found in air, water and soil. It exists in several forms: elemental or metallic mercury, inorganic mercury compounds, and organic mercury compounds. Elemental or metallic mercury is a shiny, silver-white metal and is liquid at room temperature. If heated, it is a colorless, odorless gas.    
     


Health effects of mercury. Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages. Research shows that most people's fish consumption does not cause a health concern. However, it has been demonstrated that high levels of 
methylmercury in the bloodstream of unborn babies and young children may harm the developing nervous system, making the child less able to think and learn. 



 The FDA/EPA Fish Consumption Advisory informs women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the parents of young children about how to get the positive health benefits from eating fish and shellfish lower in mercury (for example, shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish), while minimizing mercury exposure by avoiding types of fish that are higher in mercury (for example, shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel).


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

1. "real" name?DNA is an acronym. What is DNA's
Deoxyribonucleic acid
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_real_name_of_the_DNA

2. What function does DNA serve?
DNA contains information that determines the characteristics of an organism and directs its cell activities.
 

3. How was DNA's shape discovered? Give me the name of three scientists who played a role in this discovery? (Hint: I'm looking for the names of two men and one woman).
Dr James Watson who, along with Professor Francis Crick, Dr Rosalind Franklin (and Professor Maurice Wilkins), discovered the double helix structure of DNA. in 1953 the info below will help too.
 Created by Rosalind Franklin using a technique called X-ray crystallography
 
 

4. DNA has nucleotide bases, what are the four bases? (Hint: C, G, T, A... what does each letter represent?)
 
  • A is for adenine
  • G is for guanine
  • C is for cytosine
  • T is for thymine
  • http://www.blc.arizona.edu/molecular_graphics/dna_structure/dna_tutorial.html
  • 5. In DNA, the four base nucleotides always pair up in a certain way; which letters bond with which?
    A and G
    T and C

    vda 3

    1. What is algae? (Specifically, what kingdom does it belong to and where is it found?)
    large group of simple nonflowering plants containing chlorophyll but lacking true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular
    2. What is another form of biofuel that the article mentions? (Hint! "There's more than _______ in Indiana! Indiana Beach!")
    corn
    3. When comparing algal biofuel to the biofuel mentioned in your answer to number 2, which one allegedly produces fewer polluntants?
    biofuel
    4. How does the algae produce biofuel?
     
    Special algae are grown in bulk; when fed certain sugars, they produce combustible oils that can be used as fuel additives.
     
     
     
     
     
    Then, watch Solazyme's video on biofuel production and answer the following questions, according to what the video presented:
    1. How long does nature take to produce fuel?
    millions of years
    2. How long does it take Solazyme to produce fuel?
    days
    3. Where is Solazyme currently located?
    all over the world

    Monday, November 5, 2012

    1) What was the title and URL of the article you read?

    Exhaled air: A problem in buildings.   http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/exhaled-air-a-problem-in-buildings/


    2) Do you have any questions about anything you read in the article? If so, what are the
    questions?


    Is it good to have  olots of  kids in the class  or bad

    3) What did you find MOST fascinating about the article?

    Less kids help them to breath better because there is less carbon dioxide. Then their bran thinks better.


    4) What did you learn?

    It is good to have less kids 

    5) Why was the science found in the article important, in your opinion?
    It is important because kids spend haif of their time in school.



    6) Any additional comments?