Ellyn Paris

3/12/20

AP Biology

Current Event 19

J.B. Pfaller et al. Odors from marine plastic debris elicit foraging behavior in sea turtles. Current Biology. Published online March 9, 2020. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.01.071.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sea-turtles-smell-plastic-ocean-food

In his article, Jonathan Lambert discusses the issues turtles have distinguishing the smell of food from the smell of plastic. He explains that when drifting in the ocean, plastic releases a chemical that resembles the smell of food to sea turtles as well as marine birds. The gas is called dimethyl sulfide, and is the same gas release by phytoplankton, “a key food source for many marine animals” (Lambert, 1). Recent studies have shown that this is unfortunately the case for the loggerhead turtle. Studies down on captive loggerhead turtles drew the conclusion that plastic has the potential of inducing foraging behaviors, which would explain why many turtles end up eating the plastic or entangling themselves in it. It should be noted that the turtles only responded to plastic that contained traces of food or were ocea-stewed.

This article is highly relevant to our present society. Humans destroying the environment and endangering marine life is a prominent topic that is important to discuss. As human impact on the planet increases in forms such as climate change and plastic production, the environment will continue to degrade. Studies like those mentioned in Lambert’s article are important in convincing the public as well as lawmakers that it is crucial to take steps in order to reduce our negative impact on Earth. The oceans make up a large part of our planet, therefore polluting them is ruining the balance that ecosystems desperately need to survive and thrive. 

This article was very interesting to read. The language was simple to understand which made it much more pleasant to learn about. Furthermore, the studies that were described were cited and a link as added to their website. This would allow the reader to pursue further information if they wished to do so. However, this article was short and did not expand enough on the impact the research will have on our modern society. To improve his article, the author could develop more on the importance of the results on loggerhead turtles found will have.

Beaches are shrinking, and its already too late

Caroline McGrath

3/03/20

Current Event 18

Kann, Drew. “Half of the World's Beaches Could Disappear by the End of the Century, Study 

Finds.” CNN, Cable News Network, 2 Mar. 2020, 

www.cnn.com/2020/03/02/world/beaches-disappearing-climate-change-sea-level-rise/index.html 

The article written and published by CNN goes into detail about the extent Climate Change has on our ever loved beaches. The study found that “Even by 2050 some coastlines could be unrecognizable from what we see today, with 14% to 15% facing severe erosion.” The coastlines’ disappearances will vary, with the most severe coming towards areas of highest density-like the East Coast of the US, South Asia, and Central Europe. The article states that by 2100, the coastline could retreat by nearly 330 feet in some cases. The scientists use 100 meter (330 feet) to measure this erosion, because after this measurement, if any more of the beach is lost, it is likely lost for good. The beaches support more than just the tourism economy, they house countless animals. The biggest reason for this change is climate change, but the article suggest that development near and around coastlines also impact the beach’s ability to move and halt: a natural process for seas. The scientists in charge fear that we have already lost this battle, and the lasting effects are immeasurable at this time. 

I think the article did a good job of summarizing the effects and causes of the receding beaches, but lacks statistics. Except for one or two sentences, the article has very little numbers to back up their findings, and even less about the possible effects in the near future. I also think the author needed to state specific studies, they mostly spearheaded the issue as an overview of all beaches, without providing certain areas that were observed and analyzed. 

This article relates to our society for obvious reasons: climate change is ruining our world. In a few years the world’s most popular destinations for vacation may be gone, without any replacement. It also made me more aware of our impact on the beaches aside from the classic global warming. It mentioned development near the beaches, a popular trend that seems to be only growing, and this is something I had never thought about before. But after reading more about it, it makes perfect sense, and it is also something that might not be too late to change.

"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.