Students will be able to analyze critically and apply the major principles of organismal biology.
Organismal biology is the discipline of biology that investigates the structure, function, ecology, and evolution of life at the organismal level of biology. This principle of biology is key to an understanding of ecology and evolution. How organisms evolve and interact with their environments is dependent on their structure and function.
Organismal biology is key to an understanding of biological concepts because it relates to an understanding that organisms adapt and respond to their environments. In my introduction to genetics and cell biology class, I was able to learn how to apply this to research. In this class, we conducted an experiment to investigate the microbiology of soil in the Prince Edward County area. The entire class split into lab groups and collected soil samples from different parts of the county. We attempted to learn about different colonies of bacteria that live in different environments. The class compiled an “e-Portfolio” of our data, which is linked below. This project allowed us to practice collaboration in a large group. It also helped me learn how to participate in an experiment that surveyed a large portion of a particular location. I was able to again do this during my developmental biology class, where I gave a presentation on axolotls and their regenerative abilities. I was very interested in axolotls at the time, and I felt that I did a very good job presenting as a result. The link to this presentation is below!
I chose to take comprehensive human anatomy and physiology as my organismal goal requirement. This course was an in-depth look into the physiological functioning of the human body. In this course, we covered topics such as the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems. We studied how they worked and different features that each system and component of these systems had. Then, as a group, we identified one of these systems and conducted an experiment on it. My group chose to investigate facial muscles and their changes with different emotions. We wanted to know if it would be easier for people to recognize happy emotions like joy and surprise, versus unhappy emotions such as sadness or anger. This course allowed me to see how intense and complex that the human body truly is. It also showed me how physics is integrated with the entire body, as the bones, muscles, and nerves all function based on physical principles. This project was helpful to me because it allowed me to learn how to conduct an observational study using human subjects. After conducting this study, I became more confident in the scientific method, as well as conducting observational studies. The link to this project is listed below.
During this class, we also had a number of lab practicals, or exam based one the material we learned in lab. Lab practicals have more of a practical, hands-on approach. These exams can be quite difficult, especially since it is hard to study something as versatile as the body over the computer or through flashcards. While I entered each of my lab practicals somewhat confident, I left feeling defeated. Before enrolling in anatomy and physiology, I had no idea that each bone has its own unique features, and that each feature has its own name and function. However, towards the end of the class, I was able to learn how to study for each exam. I truly had to be mentally present in each lecture and lab in order to absorb information. I had to learn to ask more questions than I was comfortable with, and I had to ask the rest of my group members to move through the labs slower than they would have liked so that I could understand every part of the lab. This class allowed me to find my own method of studying information that is more application based. I learned that practice truly helps, and that cramming for tests isn’t an option for a class as rigorous as anatomy and physiology. Looking back, I’m glad that I learned these lessons when I did. Learning how to study the way I had to in that class reflected on the classes I took following, and helped me earn better grades in them.
Microbial Diversity e-Portfolio link
Axolotl Presentation
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OIN3C-mCiB292ZHMvIl_yyo4XvNAG0C3/view?usp=sharing
Facial Recognition
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lcHzLLofwVjId3ssKdrurdJwCQTn9VonIydAN26D2Jg/edit?usp=sharing