Natural Selection - Science

We are currently in lockdown, during this time we learnt a few more things about Natural Selection from home. The task was to answer some questions that were given to us on the teacher's website, including a video and a diagram to help us learn more about Natural Selection and other areas around that. 

Our first activity was to read through this diagram and give us a simple example of what Natural Selection is, afterwards the task was to make our own scenario just like the one shown in the diagram. I have not drawn the diagram but I have written my scenario down to explain how it works in my own words.

Let's take a Caterpillar for example:

So we have multiple caterpillars on a single tree or a specified environment, the amounts of caterpillars on that single tree or within the environment have different variations and traits individually amongst them all, some have a green colour to them and some have a brown colour to them just like how it shows in the diagram above. 

The environment can't be overpopulated with caterpillars otherwise it would limit the resources for other animals and insects living in the area. 2 variations of a caterpillar came out (green & brown), one variation is more likely to survive than the other depending on which habitat or/and the environment they are in. Meaning that one variation can adapt well with the environment and the others are at a disadvantage meaning less likely to survive making it hard for them to reproduce their own variation also meaning it can't pass down its genetics to its relatives. (Brown caterpillars are eaten by its predators more often resulting to making or reproducing less brown caterpillars, while on the other hand, the green caterpillars are eaten less which makes it easier for them to reproduce and pass down its genetics making more green caterpillars)

This video explains more in-depth about Natural Selection and got given 2 more questions which will be answered below the video...

Myths of Evolution

Why wouldn't the giraffes grow longer necks just because the trees were tall?

Individual organisms don't evolve but random genetic mutations cause some giraffes to be born with longer necks, giving them the better chance at survival than the giraffes with shorter necks. This all sums up to saying how well-suited they are to their environment, meaning how well the creature (the giraffe in this case) adapts within its habitat.

What needs to happen in order for a gene to become more common?

Keep in mind that Natural Selection happens at the genetic level if the same gene that exists in one organism will also exist in its relatives which were mentioned before, this happens when it is passed down when reproducing. Random genetic mutations affecting the creatures organisms who carry it develop & behave differently from others with non-identical traits, resulting to make copies of the mutated gene being passed down(reproducing).

Language of Film | English

Body Language: A way of giving signals a nonverbal way to communicate, can be shown to the

opposing by posture, facial expressions & hand gestures

Costumes: A style of dressing up, used to describe its characteristics, meaning able to tell how old the character is and its various personalities

Hairstyles: Another way of describing and telling the audience the personalities or how old he/she/it can be

Make-Up: Used to match/give the actor similar characteristics as the character being played as

Back Lighting: A lighting technique where light is placed behind or angled from behind an object, scene, person to give out dept and different effects. Commonly used in theatres & photography

Props: An object used for a performance or play, using such objects make the scene look more realistic whether its the item held by the character or used by them

Settings: Use of different types of sceneries, to show the audience the different surroundings and, definitely seen in movies to tell a story or/and the storyline

Dialogue: A conversation between two or more people, verbal communication or discussion to another, used to change the way we watch and observe the movie/film or a play

Ambient Sound: Background noise used such as birds chirping, traffic noise, rain and etc, to show what is happening around the character and the type of setting he/she is at, also lets the viewer know a given location of the space or area of where the scene takes place

Music: To change the mood of the observer/viewer/audience or/and to illustrate the continuous scene & storyline

Silence: To grow suspense or to elevate the tension or change of emotions within the scenery, change of atmosphere or seriousness

Symbols: Often appears within or throughout the film which represents something such as an object, person, animal, specified colour. Used to help give or describe a given concept that usually does not get spoken verbally

Special FX: Used to make the scene or the movie itself more realistic from anyone's point of view and allows to do such things that can't be done within this period or if it's fictional

Cross-cutting: A editing technique used to switch back and forth between scenes, used if multiple actions are happening in different settings or locations from one another

Flashback: Used to take back to what has occurred in the past, can expose the characters more, to take the reader/audience back into the characters life and show the past events the character experienced

High Key Lighting: Reduces the lighting rate in the scene meaning less diversity between the dark and bright tones, makes the scene easier to see and the shadows visible

Threnody: An sentimental poem or song that is used to mourn for someone who has passed on, simple meaning, a song or poem of grief for the dead

What am I learning? Currently learning the different languages used in films and having a full understanding of what the languages mean

How does this work show my learning? Proof of my completed work is shown on my post and published onto my blog for others to view and see-through

What am I wondering as a result of this learning? I have no thoughts or questions on the topic

DNA Extraction | Science

Aim: To extract DNA from kiwifruit

Equipment: Water, Beakers, Sand, Spatula, Ethanol, Kiwifruit, Sandwich bag, Bunsen Burner, Heat mat, GauzeMat, Tripod, Test Tube, Dishwash Liquid, Glass Rod, Cloth

Method:

1. Squish kiwifruit with sand + water and pour through cloth to collect juice in beaker.
2. Use beaker to warm water, pour juice into test tube with 2 drops Dishwash, rest in warm water.
3. Add Ethanol, watch the DNA separate and collect with spatula.

Results: