A Level Powerpoint presentation: Membrane structure and function

This is a teaching Powerpoint presentation for AS level Biology (see link to file at bottom of post or click on image).

The presentation contains animations and questions. I have been playing around with trigger animations at the moment so the questions have the answers hidden behind clickable boxes and can then be covered up again. To move to the next slide you click on the main background or the forward arrows bottom left hand of corner. If the reveal boxes annoy you then you can simply add an extra slide and put the answers on these.Other animations occur when you click on background.

There are a couple of prompt/instruction slides to book or practical activities and of course you can add more. I will do a video version of this soon.

membranes-in-cells

AS Level Biology: cystic fibrosis videos

I had a good look at the range of available videos and these very short ones seem to be the most informative:

Video 1: Very short introductory video explaining what CF is

Link to video on About.com (1.25 minutes)

Living with CF videos:
1: This video 8.22 minutes. I found this a very useful video to show the students so the appreciate the seriousness of the disease. It is quite emotional.

Dying Young

2. This video lasts about 9 minutes and outlines the treatments and medications required in one day for a 10 year old girl. Again it is useful to show as it highlights to the students all the medications, and the reasons for them.

Day in the Life

This video lasts for 3 minutes 30 seconds and is an excellent overview of  how CF is inherited, symptoms and treatment:

AS Biology Coursework Idea: Hebridean Hedgehogs

Here is another good topic for the AS essay. Hedgehogs, originally introduced as a biological control, have themselves become a pest. Lots of prickly issues around whether to cull or relocate. Again from the Guardian Environment pages:

Hebridean Hedgehogs: A prickly issue

AS Biology coursework idea: Asian “Terminator” Carp

Asian carp are an invasive species in the American Great Lakes that is causing widespread devastation to the indigenous species. Below is a link to an article in the Guardian (and scroll down for other associated links) plus an audio file.

News article: Terminator Carp

Audio:

gdnenv100224tmed-pilkington

AS level coursework essay: Use of CT scans in general health checks

Recently in the UK there has been a growth in private health care companies offering CT and MRI scans as part of general health checks. However, there has been some doubt as to whether thse are beneficial to healthy patients. Indeed that the suggestion of increased risk of cancer due the high radiation experienced has certainly raised suggestions as to whether the risks, if these are used regularly, outweigh the benefits for otherwise healthy individuals.

A sensitive topic as obviously these are very useful diagnostic tools and one wouldn’t want to frighten people from having scans if their doctor deems it important. Obviously the coursework criteria must be checked closely to see if this is a suitable topic and whether it provides enough for an essay. However, it just occurred to me as I was popping up the videos for CT scans and thought I would suggest it. Some useful links are below:

BBC news “Scan may increase cancer risk”

USA today report: Radiation from CT scans