You will use the Molecular Workbench software to explore protein structure and the processes of transcription and translation.

The homepage of the molecular workbench software is: http://mw.concord.org/modeler/

You can run/install the software from that page.  After you install and run the software, sign in and you should see a list of activities for my class.  The protein structure activity is number 12.  The DNA to Protein activities are the top two items.  You should answer the questions throughout each activity and submit a report online to me at the end of each activity.

1. Molecular Workbench – Four Levels of Protein Structure (#12)
2. Molecular Workbench – DNA to Proteins Part 1 (#1)
3. Molecular Workbench – DNA to Proteins Part 2 (#2)

Due:  Monday, 3/26/12

Read the book The Structures of Life.  You should type the answers to all the “Got It” questions at the end of each chapter.  Afterward, read page 86 in your textbook (in chapter 3) and summarize the cause of cystic fibrosis in 2-3 sentences in the same document as the “Got It” answers.   Remember, you can view the book online or download a free pdf version of this book or order a free print version from the NIGMS website.

Due: Wednesday, 3/21/12

Complete the following two assignments:

1. Read and complete the activities associated with the ‘external links’ at my wiki Cell Cycle page.
2. Complete the 10 steps of the microscopy lesson at my microscopy lesson wiki page.  This will take you a fair amount of time so do not put it off to the last minute!

Due: Friday, 2/24/12

Go to my wiki page located here.  You will see two links (Exploring DNA and DNA Structure).  You should visit these pages in the order presented and view the JMOL interactive models at those sites.  These are very cool 3-D models that you can manipulate to understand the structure of DNA.  After you view the first site (Exploring DNA) and while you are viewing the second site (DNA Structure), you should answer the questions from the Question Sets you received in class.  A copy in pdf format can be found here.  Please don’t just rush to answer the questions.  Take your time to investigate and appreciate the beauty of DNA and of these modeling programs.

Due:  Monday, 1/30/12

Your task is to create a DNA model. You may use any materials you wish when constructing your model, except food items. The model should be at least one foot long and be as realistic as possible. It should show the sugar, phosphates, and bases, the anti-parallel nature of the two strands, the 3′ and 5′ ends (structurally correct), the number of bases per turn, the correct base pairings, the hydrogen bonding between bases (2 or 3 as appropriate), etc… At least part of the model must be twisted in the helix shape.  You also must include a ‘key’ that explains what each item is.  There are examples in class for you to view.

Due: Friday, 2/3/12

You will have a test on Carbon chemistry, carbohydrates and lipids on Thursday, 1/12/12.

You should go to the Intel Science Fair website located here: http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document.  Once  there, you should read the Student Handbook and look at the Category Descriptions.  After reading those two items you should think of a project for which you would like to research and conduct an experiment.  You should then type a proposal.

The proposal must be typed and include the following things: Problem, Hypothesis, Independent and Dependent variables, the purpose of the experiment, and a brief procedure.  The purpose of the experiment should be two or three sentences on why this is an important problem to study.  The problem, hypothesis and variables must be something that can be measured.

1. Problem or question

2. Purpose (why are you doing this project? How does it affect society?)

3. Hypothesis (this must be measurable)

4. Independent variable

5. Dependent variable

6. Complexity
• Complexity of science fair project is very important.  Your project cannot be a lab experiment you did in high school or middle school.
• Your project should not be a simple music oriented behavior problem.
• Your project must not be a race or gender based behavioral experiment.

7.  Brief procedure

Things to note:  The most important thing is to choose a project that interests you.  Think of the the things you have read about or learned in school and which of those seemed to excite you the most. Try to design a project around one of those topics.  It is also important that your project be important and deep enough to be worthy of not just a high school science project but a Charter School of Wilmington high school science project.  Consider that as you determine your project.

Due: Monday, January 9, 2012