Bacteria and Viruses and Diseases. OH MY!

Biology students were still finishing up their Ecology Projects last week.  Students researched various topics of their choice such as, "How has the decline of the bee population affected the ecosystems in Michigan?" and "How do factory farms impact the environment?"  The classes have enjoyed hearing about all of the local and global environmental issues that scientists are currently working on.

After Thanksgiving break we began a new unit on populations.  After introducing students to population characteristics such as density, spatial distribution (patterns in spacing) and growth, students are now digging deeper into the concept of how populations are limited by certain factors such as predator-prey relationships and disease. There isn't a better way to talk about bacterial and viral diseases but to look up close at those tiny bacteria through a microscope!

This week students are working through a discovery lab, where they learn the functions of each part of the microscope and how to focus it properly.

After practicing this lab technique, they will have a chance to focus in on the details of several types of bacteria to view the different shapes that bacteria takes. They will also view penicillin, a type of antibiotic, and learn how an antibiotic works as well as the problems associated with antibiotic resistance.