1.5 Students will be able to integrate physics and chemistry concepts into relevant biological contexts
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Integrating chemistry and physics into the biological curriculum isn’t easy. Chemistry can go hand in hand with biology, but requires more procedures, calculations, and steps to get to the data. In my genetics class we were required to evaluate Salmonella isolates. In order to do this, you have to preform DNA fingerprinting, sequencing techniques, trimming, and cleaning of the isolate. This take multiple chemicals and functions to do so and wouldn’t be able to be done without chemistry. We personally did not have to do the chemistry part for the class instead we used an online database that did everything for us, but in order for the database to run our information, another scientist had to do all of the chemistry background work to retrieve our data.
The next class that we integrated chemistry in as well as physic was my ecology and evolution class. We had to compare the periphyton found in two different locations. We used different dies to analyze the specimens under a microscope as well as different chemicals to preserve the specimens collected. For the physics aspect we had to calculate the flow of the water as well as the velocity. This was important to the experiment because the flow of the water determined the abundancy and diversity of organisms.
The last class that we used chemistry in was my genetics class. We had to preform DNA extractions, PCR amplifications, purification, restriction digest, and gel electrophoresis. All of the processes would be impossible without chemistry. This is primarily due to the fact that these processes require certain chemical compounds to preform, and these compounds were made by the students. If you mixed them correctly, then your data proved you were successful. If you mixed the compounds incorrectly, then your experiment couldn’t be performed.
I do wish that Longwood would have offered more biology classes that related physics to its disciplines. I only took roughly two biology classes that required background knowledge in simple physics. All of my biology classes though have required some form of chemistry. With these classes though I did learn valuable in field and in lab techniques and skills. I probably won’t need the chemistry knowledge as much as I will the physics knowledge because I do plan on working in a conservation-based career.