1. Suppose you found the bones of an unidentified animal. How could you learn about what the animal ate? What specific structures would give you clues about the creature’s diet? An animal’s diet can be discerned by taking a look at its skull. The rest of the bones are not as relevant to an animal’s … More Biology, Week 28 – Skulls and your Digestive Organs

1. What does it mean to say a creature is “intelligent?” Describe some of the intelligent behavior of various animals, and compare it to human intelligence. Animals are considered intelligent if they can demonstrate certain cognitive abilities such as casual and logical reasoning, deception, symbolic communication, the ability to recognize itself in a mirror, foresight, … More Biology, Week 26 – Animals

1. It has been proposed that life consists of many variations of a few basic themes? Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Cite some facts or examples to support your point of view. I agree with this proposal because it is easy to see how everything in the natural world is made up … More Biology, Week 24 – Nature and Arthropods

1. Compare and contrast the ways that fungi “eat” with the ways that animals digest, and absorb their food. Do not refer to hunting or methods of catching prey. Instead, focus on what the animal and/or fungal body does after it has secured a food source. Fungi and animals eat and digest their food differently. … More Biology, Week 22 – Plants and Animals

1) Someone says, “Soil is just dirt to hold the plant up.” Would you agree or disagree with this statement? (Note: It is possible to do either one.) Back up your opinion with facts taken from the video lessons, readings, or other sources. I disagree with the statement “soil is just dirt to hold the plant up” … More Biology, Week 20 – Plants

1. Fruits are “expensive” for a plant to produce, in the sense that the plant must use a lot of nutrients, sugars, water and space to create something that the plant will ultimately “throw away.” Is it worth it (from the plant’s point of view)? Explain why. Although fruits are expensive for plants to make, … More Biology, Week 17

    3. The Calvin Cycle is not part of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Nevertheless, it is possible to argue that the Calvin Cycle is indirectly dependent on light. Explain how and why this is true.     Most things in the world depend on something else, even if it is not obvious. The Calvin Cycle is a … More Biology, Week 16 – How the Calvin Cycle Indirectly Depends on Light When it Thinks it Doesn’t

    3. Joking aside, why are men far more likely than women to be colorblind?     When a child is conceived, both parents contribute a set of chromosomes. The mother always provides an X chromosome, while the father provides either an X or a Y chromosome. The second X chromosome conceives a female, and the Y chromosome … More Biology, Week 6 – Colorblindness in Men

3. Someone sneaks up behind you and shouts, “Boo!” For a few seconds your heart beats faster. You did not run or do any physical activity that would increase your heart rate. What caused your heart to beat so fast?     Have you ever been home alone when you heard a creak somewhere in the house? … More Biology, Week 4 – Why Does Your Heart Beat When You Get Startled

Describe some of the properties of water that make it so critical.     Water is essential to life on earth. Without it, there would be no plants, animals, humans, and any other living organisms. Water is made up of one oxygen molecule covalently bonded to two hydrogen molecules. Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon are considered the … More Biology, Week 2 – Properties of Water