"Bumble bees can experience an object using one sense and later recognize it using another"

Ava Chiang 

1/24/20

AP Biology 

Current Event 17

Queen Mary University of London. "Bumble bees can experience an object using one sense and later recognize it using another." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 February 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141742.htm>. 

The article “Bumble bees can experience an object using one sense and later recognize it using another” published by Queen Mary University of London is about how bees are able to “recognise objects across different senses.” This ability is called cross-model recognition and it is a revelation because scientists have previously not anticipated this ability being present due to the small brains bees possess.  Professor Lars Chittka, head of the lab at Queen Mary University of London, said that “ bees can conjure up mental images of shapes.” She and Dr Cwyn Solvi, as well as other researchers, conducted an experiment where bees learned to find quinine and sugar-water on different shapes in the light but were unable to touch them. Then, when released in the dark, the bees went straight for the objects they knew had the sugar-water. They have learned to find things they learned from sight by using touch. 

Right now one of the biggest social movements in the US is lifestyle-veganism which preaches that humans should not use animal products or animal related products in their life. The results of this study shows that contrary to expectations, bees have complex brain activities. They are also similar to humans in that they have cross-model recognition, which shows that humans and insects like bees have a mental similarity. The results from this lab showing this connection may help convince more people that life on Earth is not that different from each other. Bees are also one of the animal species that are most impacted by industrialization and pollution, with circumstances including entire colonies being drugged and their honey taken, and pesticide killing them. 

Overall, this article was an interesting read with a unique topic that is worth exploring. I enjoyed how the author included a lot of quotes from the head researchers; this adds authenticity and mixes up the reading process to make it less stagnant. However, I wished the article talked more about the relevance and importance of the study and how that would impact the world. For example, how might this help conservation efforts of certain species of bees? The article only mentioned trivial facts such as how cross-model recognition is impressive in bees because of their small brains but I’m sure there are other areas to explore as well.

A Distant Cousin of Jellyfish May Survive without Working Mitochondria

Mariana Apostolatos
AP Biology Even C
Mr. Ippolito  
Current Event 17
February 24, 2020

Lambert, Jonathan. “A Distant Cousin of Jellyfish May Survive without Working Mitochondria.” Science News, 24 Feb. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/jellyfish-cousin-may-survive-without-working-mitochondria.

According to a recent article by Jonathan Lambert, a distant cousin of jellyfish may survive without working mitochondria. While a few single-celled eukaryotes have adapted to low-oxygen environments by ditching their mitochondrial genomes, rendering their mitochondria useless, scientists had assumed that more complex animals couldn’t get by without them. However, parasitic cnidarians, a group of animals that includes jellyfish and coral polyps, may challenge biologists basic assumptions about what animals can do. Lambert continues his article by describing a study conducted by Dorothée Huchon, an evolutionary biologist at Tel Aviv University in Israel, along with her colleagues. They analyzed the genomes of members of a large and peculiar group of microscopic, parasitic cnidarians called Myxozoa and found that one species’s mitochondrial genome was missing. Microscopy revealed mitochondria-like structures within Henneguya salminicola, though the researchers doubt they are capable of aerobic respiration. Lambert stated that the loss may be an adaptation to H. salminicola’s low-oxygen environment. In addition to shelter, the parasite also may be able to rely on its hosts for energy, instead of its own mitochondria. Shedding unnecessary and cumbersome DNA through evolution might have helped the parasite save energy, giving H. salminicola a leg up over its mitochondria-filled Myxozoan cousins.

Prior to this study, biologists believed that mitochondria were the essential powerhouses behind eukaryotes’ more complicated lifestyles and scientists had assumed that more complex animals couldn’t get by without working mitochondria. However, this study shows that things may not be so simple and proves that evolution can be unpredictable, challenging biologists and their basic assumptions about what animals can do. In today’s society, it is important that we don’t assume scientific theories because as a result of this article, there may be more different species that can potentially thrive without certain organelles. The fact that mitochondria could be unnecessary for some animals is revolutionary. Scientists must continue researching eukaryotes because this can lead to further discoveries that can potentially help humans or other animals in the future. 

I decided to read this article because I was intrigued by the title and the fact that a distant cousin of jellyfish may survive without working mitochondria. This article was very well written and informative. It was very easy to read and follow, even providing an image of the parasitic cnidarian Henneguya salminicola after infecting salmon as part of its life cycle, releases microscopic spores, which are then eaten by worms, the creature’s other host. All of the information was introduced in chronological order and the author was very straight-foward and to the point. However, I felt that the article was lacking some information that could have helped deepen the reader’s understanding. The article was very short and I wished the author went more in depth about the impact this discovery has on society.

A Distant Cousin of Jellyfish May Survive Without Working Mitochondria

Rory Christian
AP Biology
Mr. Ippolito
Current Event 17
2/24/20

Lambert, Jonathan. “A Distant Cousin of Jellyfish May Survive without Working Mitochondria.” Science News, 24 Feb. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/jellyfish-cousin-may-survive-without-working-mitochondria.  

         A distant cousin of jellyfish that thrives without working mitochondria, the energy-producing part of cells thought to be the foundation of animal life, was recently discovered. The ancestor of all eukaryotes, a large group of organisms with complex cells, engulfed a bacterium, creating a mutually beneficial relationship; this bacterium evolved into mitochondria, which is key in the process of aerobic respiration. Although there are a few known organisms that have lessened their dependence on aerobic respiration by abandoning their mitochondrial genomes, it had never been proposed that complex animals could do the same. Recently, researchers reported that a parasitic cnidarian has this ability - a group of animals that include jellyfish and coral polyps. To dig deeper, Dorothee Huchon, an evolutionary biologist at Tel Aviv University in Israel and a few of her colleagues analyzed the genomes of members of a large group of parasitic cnidarians called Myxozoa and found that one species' mitochondrial genome was missing. The possible theories for this are endless. For one, the loss of the mitochondrial genome would be an adaption to the low-oxygen environment, therefore not needing to rely on aerobic respiration. The parasite might also be relying on its hosts for energy, rather than its own mitochondria. Finally, shedding unnecessary DNA through evolution might have helped the parasite save energy. Scientists have always viewed the mitochondria as the powerhouses of the cells of eukaryotes; this study shows that things may not be that simple. 

         This research is tremendously surprising for the scientific community and therefore extremely valuable in enriching the knowledge we already have on this topic. The mitochondria, because it is considered to be the powerhouse of the cell, is a very important organelle that is involved with the many processes that keep us alive. Realizing that such a valuable organelle could potentially be unnecessary for some animals, is revolutionary. It is important that we continue to produce more research on this topic and in other areas of the cell because we rely so heavily on the processes that our cells carry out. 

         Overall I found this article to be very helpful in describing the overall summary of the research. It described the history behind mitochondria and how they formed and the type of animals affected. In addition, the article provided multiple possible theories for the results of the experiment, which were all very well described and explained. Despite these positive aspects, I would have liked the article to have gone deeper into what a missing mitochondrial genome is, and whether this could have effects on aspects outside just the reliance organisms have on it. In addition, I would have liked for the article to dig deeper into the implications for society as this could even have some relevance to humans in some way. 

"The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Spread Much Farther than Once Thought"

Olivia Conniff

AP Biology

Mr. Ippolito

Current Event 17

2/14/19

Temming, Maria. “The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Spread Much Farther than Once Thought.” Science News, 12 Feb. 2020, www.sciencenews.org/article/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-extent-simulation.

For my 17th current event, I chose to read the article “The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Spread Much Farther than Once Thought” by Maria Temming. The article explains how, even 10 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists are finding out from computer simulations that the spill expanded much farther than they originally thought. At the original time of the spill, satellite images were taken in order to determine which areas needed to be closed for fishing but recently scientists have done additional analysis, “which considered ocean currents, oil evaporation, and other factors to map the spill’s true expanse” (Temming). Scientists realized that the original analysis missed over 30% of the pollution caused by the spill. What happened was that the concentration of some of the oil, while it was still strong enough to harm marine life, it was dilute enough to be missed by satellites.

The included diagram shows the extensive area of oil that was labeled as “invisible and toxic”, clearly indicated how much oil was actually missed.

The fact that toxic substances in the ocean were completely missed and fishing carried on in those areas is extremely detrimental to the marine life of the Gulf of Mexico. This missed oil is just one example of how we, as a society, are becoming complacent with the harm being caused to the ocean and the environment as a whole. Environmental emergencies are taking place all over the world, and while they are covered in the news for a bit, people quickly lose interest and they stop being covered. 

I think overall this was a good article, because it was concise and clear, and did not drag on with unnecessary information, however, there are certainly a few ways it could be improved. Temmings did not include any quotes from experts on the subject, which I felt definitely weakened the effectiveness of the article. Also, I wish Temmings included more details on how exactly the oil spill, especially the sections that went undiscovered, affected the marine life of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Students completed the birth heredity exercise by determining their individual genotypes and phenotypes. Students were then paired off to exchange their alleles and see what phenotypes would be expressed in their children. Having only two males in the class, some of the girls also used XY chromosomes and shared their genetic information as males.

Amanda Troy 

2/7/20 

AP Biology 

Current Event 16

Rettner , Rachael. “How Does the New Coronavirus Compare with the Flu?” LiveScience, Purch, 

5 Feb. 2020, www.livescience.com/new-coronavirus-compare-with-flu.html.

In recent weeks, the outbreak of the Corona Virus has produced a global panic. However, there is another viral epidemic hitting countries across the world: the flu. I read the article, “How Does the New CoronaVirus Compare to the Flu?” by Rachael Rettner. In her article, she compares these two viruses and suggests which one is more worrisome. According to the article, new coronavirus has led to more than 20,000 illnesses and 427 deaths in China, as well as more than 200 illnesses and two deaths outside of mainland China. However, according to the CDC, In the U.S. alone, the flu has already caused an estimated 19 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths this season. However, despite the danger of the flu, scientists have been studying this virus for decades, so there is a certainty of seasonal flu despite the morbidity and mortality. Since the Corona Virus is new, very little is known. Rettner states, “the 2019-nCoV is something of a wild card in terms of how far it will spread and how many deaths it will cause” (Rettner). Rettner then compares the symptoms of the two viruses. Both viruses are highly contagious and cause respiratory illnesses. Rettner discusses the death rate. She states, “So far this flu season, about 0.05% of people who caught the flu have died from the virus in the U.S., according to CDC data” (Rettner). The death rate for 2019-nCoV is still unclear, but it appears to be higher than that of the flu. According to the article, the death rate for 2019-nCoV has been about 2%. Rettner then compares the risk of infection, pandemics, and prevention methods. 

This virus is currently an extremely relevant topic across the globe. It is important for the public to read articles such as these in order to learn more about the virus and the prevention methods. Since this virus is so contagious, learning about the proper prevention methods is vital. This article also raises awareness to the misconception that we shouldn’t be worried about this virus since the common flu is just as deadly. However, this article proves the true severity of the CoronaVirus as its danger derives from the little knowledge scientists have about it. 

I chose to review this article because I find this new virus very fascinating as new statistics are constantly released and new information behind the virus continues to be discovered. I like how the author compared and contrasted the flu virus and the coronavirus in all aspects in order to highlight the new virus’s true severity. The author’s choice to compare and contrast the viruses also clears up any common misconceptions pertaining to the corona virus’ severity and its relation to the flu. Something I wish the author would have done is discuss the Corona Virus’s origin and how it started to spread. Other than that, I found this article very interesting as I learned more about a very relevant topic to our society. 

Sarah Whitney

AP Biology

Current Event 16

2-7-20

Pierre-louis, Kendra, and Nadja Popovich. “Climate Change: It's a Buzzkill for Bumblebees, Study Finds.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Feb. 2020, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/06/climate/bumblebees-extreme-heat-weather.html.

With the climate rapidly changing, bringing on heat waves and other extreme events, bumblebees are experiencing a decline as a species. “Researchers found that bumblebee populations had recently declined by 46 percent in North America and by 17 percent across Europe” …  “The biggest declines were in areas where temperatures spiked well beyond the historical range, which raises concerns that climate change could increase the risk of extinction for bees, which are already threatened by pesticide use and habitat loss.” This has got scientists extremely worried as bees are a crucial piece in wild landscapes and agricultural regions. This is likely not due to gradual temperature increases but instead the rapid and extreme weather events such as heat waves. This study not only studied the decrease in specific populations, but also areas where populations have increased despite the weather changes. ““We can go to these bright spots where things are going well, and we can see what it is about those regions and those areas that’s allowing species to persist under climate change,” Mr. Soroye said.” Bumblebees are crucial as they carry pollen and move from plant to plant that aiding in plant populations. 

This topic is extremely relevant as climate change becomes a bigger issue every day. Without bees, plant populations will most likely have a very difficult time surviving naturally. If bumblebee populations continue to decrease, humans may have to intervene with artificial pollination or help modify the genes of bees to allow them to better survive against climate change.

This author (and I’m guessing a technology team) did a fantastic job with this article - especially as they had multiple interactive visuals representing the bee populations. I do wish the author would have discussed the reasearcher’s plans to combat this species’ decline and what ideas they’ve come up with to help bumblebees survive.

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