CSI Project
Project Summary For the CSI project we were each given a crime scene. My partner and I were assigned crime scene two. Crime scene two involved solving the crime of skeletal remains found in San Juan National Forest. To identify if the victim was male or female some of the remains were measured and then later determined the victim was male. To determine how long its been since the death of the victim forensic entomology was used. The bugs around the remains were collected and determined that the body had been dead for three years or more. To determine the suspect we did blood typing and also compared the DNA left under the victims fingernails to the suspects DNA. In the end it was determined that victim was not any of the suspects.
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Project ReflectionThis project was by far my favorite biology project all year. It provided a great balance of fun and a challenge. Since I found the project very interesting I tried my hardest to participate as much as possible. The part that interested me the most was the forensic entomology. I had no idea that insects of anything can determine when and where the victim died. The project engaged me quite a bit since it was somewhat morbid. My partner and I collaborated very well ,and each of us produced an equal amount of work for our final product. As partners we were also great at catching each other up to date ,and explaining confusing subjects to one another. All in all this project was right up my alley. The project made me extraordinarily excited to go to biology every day.
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Community Connection
For my community service I chose to spend time with older people at four corners health care center. I was assigned to speak to a women named Helen who was 96. Her perspective on life was so different than mine her life was almost ending and mine is just starting. We sat down and she told me her life's story, which was very interesting since she has been alive for so long. She seemed very happy to have company and told me how she loved to paint, but she can't anymore because she is blind in one eye. This was such an amazing experience and I will be coming back to paint with her. Also I will hopefully be able to get to know more of the residence there and befriend them.
Dissection Lab
For the dissection project I chose to dissect a male spiny dogfish. Our objective for this project was to become familiar with the internal and external anatomy of whichever creature we chose. Before cutting open the shark we had to learn the external anatomy. After we opened the shark and became familiar with internal anatomy, we took a quiz on the location and the function of the sharks anatomy. This was the first large scale dissection I have taken part in. Although throughout the weeks of dissection the shark began to put off the rancid smell it was still one of the most difficult and my favorite project I have done yet in a science class. |
Monkey Meal Planning
For this short project we researched the eating habits of chimpanzees and monkeys. We then made recipes and sent them to an primate rescue center. Since primates have very specific diet we had to calculate how much nutrition, fat, calories, etc was in the meal we created. While creating the recipe we also had to take into account the preferred taste of each animal and the supplies available at the primate center. The recipe I created was chimp quesadillas, which I calculated the healthy amount of nutrition and other proteins for the chimps.
Durango Nature Studies Habitat Assessment
The purpose of this project was to help Durango Nature Studies analyze their ecosystem and figure out solutions for their bullfrog troubles.
For this project, we wrote an executive summary of the ecosystem of Durango Nature Studies. We went to the Durango Nature Studies property to capture frogs and figure out the population of leopard frogs and bullfrog , test the water quality, and to figure out the macroinvertebrate populations. We started this project by learning how to identify frogs and macroinvertebrates. Then we went to Durango Nature Studies to do various tests on the water quality in the pond and the Florida River and figure out the population of multiple macroinvertabrate species and bullfrogs and leopard frogs. The next step of our project was to learn what our results meant. We used Excel to figure out the average biodiversity of each species using the Shannon-Weiner equation. In the end, we put all of this together by using technical writing to complete a multi-page executive summary.
In the end, I was very satisfied with my project, because I worked on it for about fifteen hours total. I tried my hardest. I was also very independent with the whole process of writing my paper!
For this project, we wrote an executive summary of the ecosystem of Durango Nature Studies. We went to the Durango Nature Studies property to capture frogs and figure out the population of leopard frogs and bullfrog , test the water quality, and to figure out the macroinvertebrate populations. We started this project by learning how to identify frogs and macroinvertebrates. Then we went to Durango Nature Studies to do various tests on the water quality in the pond and the Florida River and figure out the population of multiple macroinvertabrate species and bullfrogs and leopard frogs. The next step of our project was to learn what our results meant. We used Excel to figure out the average biodiversity of each species using the Shannon-Weiner equation. In the end, we put all of this together by using technical writing to complete a multi-page executive summary.
In the end, I was very satisfied with my project, because I worked on it for about fifteen hours total. I tried my hardest. I was also very independent with the whole process of writing my paper!
My executive summary and DNS excell sheet are linked below !
dns_final_draft_ | |
File Size: | 103 kb |
File Type: | dns final draft |
dns_final_excell_sheet_ | |
File Size: | 57 kb |
File Type: | dns final excell sheet |