Author: Ella

Midterm Self Assessment and Goal-Setting

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Content Strengths and Weaknesses:

My strength in the reaction kinetics unit was that I was an active participant in the whiteboard activities. This made it easier for me to apply my knowledge when the test happened, as I had had practice with application questions already. My weakness and something that I could work on was seeking help when I had questions. Although I asked questions eventually, seeking help right away when I did not understand something would have made this unit much more straightforward.

My strength in the equilibrium unit was that I did well working in groups in labs. I was able to be an active group member, and this allowed me to increase my learning significantly. I was able to see real-life scenarios of the formula questions and being active in the group allowed me to fully understand what was happening. My weakness in this unit was not completing all the extra practice that was offered until the rewrite. Had I completed the extra studying questions, I may have gotten a better grade initially and not had to do a rewrite of this test.

My strength in the solutions unit was being engaged and asking questions when I had them right away. Rather than waiting to ask my questions, I asked them right away so that I could ensure that I had the correct understanding of certain parts of the unit. My weakness in this unit was that I was away for many of the lessons due to vacation and competition, and I should have gone in to see what I missed, rather than filling in the blanks on the notes and leaving my learning there. In the future, I will fill in the notes and watch videos on the lessons that I have missed, as I believe that will help me to increase my learning significantly.

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A&P12 Goal Setting

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Which of your suggested growth areas are you going to work on improving? How?

I am going to improve my study habits and strategies because it will benefit me in the future and in university. I will try different ways of studying in order to find my ideal learning methods. I will also keep myself accountable with planning and charts. This will help me keep on track and as I move out to go to university, will be a good habit. Starting this will allow me to start a good habit and continue it for my future learning. I will also try different ways of understanding and memorization. I can do this by creating my own cue cards to fully understand what I am writing down. This will be a good strategy for my future courses in my learning.

CRISPR-Cas9 Edublog

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In class, we have been learning about the biotechnology tool called CRISPR-Cas9. This accessible tool is used to alter the DNA within a variety of cells and organisms. To understand CRISPR-Cas9, we worked with paper models to demonstrate how this form of biotechnology operates and alters DNA mutations.

The CRISPR-Cas9 is a type of gene editing technology that can remove and input different DNA sequences to enhance genes. CRISPR stands for “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats” and Cas9 is the enzyme. The enzyme is scissor-like and is responsible for severing the DNA to make way for the new sequence. The RNA component, guide RNA, is designed to bring the enzyme to the target DNA sequence.

Each CRISPR-Cas9 is programmed to seek out a specific three-nucleotide DNA sequence called PAM (protospacer adjacent motif). When it bonds to the sequence through complementary base pairing, CRISPR-Cas9 unwinds the DNA. In order for the CRISPR-Cas9 to cleave DNA, it first bonds with its respective RNA pair. Once this occurs, the Cas9 nuclease is activated, initiating the precise cut that is made to both strands of the DNA double helix.

CRISPR-Cas9 can repair defective DNA via a “knockout”. This can be done in two different ways. The first is done by nonhomologous end joining or NHEJ, which is a repair mechanism. When correctly used, it can send the Cas9 into a repeating cycle of cleaving and repairing. Unfortunately, this can eventually cause a mutation in the gene. CRISPR-Cas9 will then “knock out” the mutated gene. The second way that CRISPR-Cas9 can repair DNA mutation is through homology-directed repair (HDR). The HDR is used as a template that the CRISPR-Cas9 uses to repair mutations. This strategy is less error-prone than the NHEJ, as the CRISPR-Cas9 is using a template to achieve the repair.

The CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to benefit us in many different fields, such as agriculture and medicine. There are also benefits in the cost-effectiveness of biotechnology, as CRISPR-Cas9 is more affordable and more precise than others like it in the past. CRISPR-Cas9 can be used in agriculture to create food that is more pest-resistant. It can also be used in the world of medicine to create more personalized cancer treatment.

The paper CRISPR-Cas9 model accurately showed the process of said biotechnology. It was able to simplify the process for us to see the basic steps and get surface-level knowledge of CRISPR-Cas9. Unfortunately, the model lacked the ability to show more detail and did not show the unzipping and unwinding steps involved at all. Improving this portion of the activity could be done by having students cut the double helix to showcase the unwinding and unzipping that CRISPR-Cas9 does.

This was an effective way to show students the basic level of knowledge of the CRISPR-Cas9. It gave us the ability to do the process with our hands and visually see what was going on throughout. It was a good way to get basic information and building from the activity was easier because of the background knowledge this activity gave us.

 

Works Cited:

https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/genomicresearch/genomeediting/

https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-crispr-cas9/

https://www.idtdna.com/pages/research-area/clinical-diagnostics/crispr

Moon of the Crusted Snow Bento Box

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This is an interactive image which discusses different elements of the novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow. The novel is about a northern Anishinaabe community that becomes cut off from power and must rely on themselves and those around them to survive. Each object that surrounds the book in the image symbolizes to a topic being discussed that relates about the novel.

Editor | Moon of the Crusted Snow Bento Box (genial.ly)