Genetics is the study of genes and heredity and the differences in organisms that arise from their genes. The genetic traits passed on to us from our parents determine how we look, influence what diseases we have, and may also affect our behavior. By studying genes and how they are inherited, researchers can understand many diseases and learn how to treat and possibly prevent them. In this activity, you will discover the history of the science of genetics and learn simple tools that will help you understand how genes are passed on from one generation to the next. |
Genetics
SOME More fun animal facts: *
- Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives.
- The blue whale can produce the loudest sound of any animal. At 188 decibels, the noise can be detected over 800 kilometres away.
Gorillas
Gorillas are endangered species that are constantly under threat from disease and commercial hunting. Their importance is further enhanced by the fact that they are close relatives to humans, sharing around 98% of the same DNA. Learn more by reading our list of gorilla facts. |
Giraffes
Giraffes are the tallest land animals on earth thanks in part to their distinctive necks which alone can reach almost 2 meters in height. Find out more about their habitat and other |
Wolves
Living and hunting in packs, wolves are wild dogs that come from the same group as the dingo and coyote. They can reach speeds of 65 km/h (40 mph) when chasing prey and include a number of species such as the gray wolf (also known as the grey wolf or timber wolf), red wolf, arctic wolf, mexican wolf and white wolf. Read on for more interesting information and enjoy our full list of wolf facts. |
Cheetahs
Learn more about the cheetah by reading these fun cheetah facts. Cheetahs are part of the big cat family and while they can’t climb trees, they can run faster than any other land animal. Read on for more interesting cheetah information. |
Lions
Enjoy these fun lion facts for kids. Learn about lion behavior, how fast they can run, where they are found, how many lions are usually in a pride, the male’s mane, lioness differences and more. Check out the wide range of interesting facts about lions. |
Frogs
Frogs are fascinating animals that feature unique behaviors and characteristics. Keep reading for more interesting information and frog facts. |
Whales
Whales are huge, warm-blooded, air breathing mammals that live in the sea. There are many different species including the blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale, orca and minke. Learn more about whale conservation, their habitat, migration and other interesting information with our fun whale facts. |
Sharks
Although sharks have a reputation as destructive beasts that attack almost anything that enters their water habitat, the actual number of shark attacks is probably lower than you imagine. There are many different types of sharks including the great white shark, hammerhead shark, bull shark, tiger shark and mako, they all offer varied and interesting information so read on and enjoy our cool shark facts. |
Dogs
![Dog
facts](http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/images/facts/animals/dog.jpg)
a variety of information about interesting
breeds, puppies, guide dogs such as
Labradors and much more. As the
famous saying goes, dogs are man’s
best friend. Whether it’s as reliable
workers, family pets or loyal companions,
dogs are wonderful domestic animals
that offer a number of qualities that
are put to good use by humans.
Leopards
animals, hunting at night and often drag their food up trees for safe keeping.
Read on for more interesting information and leopard facts.
![Leopard facts](http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/images/facts/animals/leopard.jpg)
HUMAN BODY PICTURES
This diagram shows the anterior muscles of a fully extended adult human body from a front on perspective.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
SENSES
SMELL
NERVOUS SYSTEM
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
SKELETAL SYSTEM
BODY SYSTEMS
GROWING UP
REPRODUCTION
COURTSHIP
LIFE CYCLES
MAMMALS
![BROWN
BEAR](http://www.factmonster.com/images/ESCI304MAMMAL008.jpg)
BIRDS (100TH POST)
REPTILES
![GREEN
IGUANA](http://www.factmonster.com/images/ESCI302REPTIL004.jpg)
AMPHIBIANS
![FIRE
SALAMANDER](http://www.factmonster.com/images/ESCI301AMPHIB006.jpg)
FISH
ECHINODERMS
![LONG-LEGGED STARFISH](http://www.factmonster.com/images/ESCI299ECHINO005.jpg)
MOLLUSCS
ARACHNIDS
INSECTS
![AGILE
DRAGONFLY](http://www.factmonster.com/images/ESCI297INSECT008.jpg)
CRUSTACEANS
WORMS
CNIDARIANS
SPONGES
ANIMAL ANATOMY
![INTERNAL SKELETON](http://www.factmonster.com/images/ESCI292ANIANA003.jpg)
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Classifying Animals
Five Kingdoms of Life
Blood Pressure Explained
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers—the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as “120 over 80.”
The Five Senses
Each person has five sense organs that take in information from your environment and send it to your brain. Your brain then processes the information and tells your body how to respond. The sense organs are your eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin.
Sense | Organ | Job |
---|---|---|
Sight | Eyes | Detect color and light |
Hearing | Ears | Detect sound |
Smell | Nose | Detects scents |
Taste | Tongue | Detects tastes: sweet, salty, sour and bitter |
Touch | Skin | Detects pain, pressure, heat and cold |
Blood Types
The Rh Factor
The Female Body
The Reproductive System
- At birth, a girl baby has about 400,000 immature eggs, or ova, in her ovaries.
- During puberty the eggs begin to mature. Each month one egg ripens and leaves the ovary. It passes through a fallopian tube where, if not fertilized by a sperm, it disintegrates. The uterus, which has built up tissue and blood to make a nourishing nest for the egg, sheds its lining about a week after the egg disintegrates. This is the event known as menstruation, or the menstrual period.
- Gestation begins when an egg that has been released from the ovary is fertilized by a sperm. The result is pregnancy and the eventual birth of a child.
- Lactation is the production of milk in a woman's breasts to feed her newborn child.
- Menopause is when a woman's ovaries gradually stop functioning. Menstruation ceases, and this marks the end of the years that she can bear children.
Body Shapes
Bacteria vs. Virus
What's the Difference?
Bacteria are tiny, one-celled living organisms that can only be seen with a microscope. They live and breed in warm, moist environments in the body and elsewhere, growing quickly and causing infection. Bacterial infections can usually be treated with an antibiotic.Viruses are smaller than bacteria and cannot be seen with a microscope. They grow inside the body and produce toxins (poisons) that can cause rashes, aches, and fevers. Viruses cannot be killed with antibiotics.
Your Body's Systems
Circulatory System
![]() |
Cell Biology
Introduction
Vitamins .......
The Brain
Here is a diagram of the human brain. For your GCSE biology you should be able to label this diagram and explain what the various parts do. There are three main regions of the brain: the fore-brain (green), mid-brain (red), and hind-brain (blue).
Central Nervous System
CNS
Muscles
Here is some simple information for GCSE biology students about the different types of muscle tissues and why muscles work in antagonistic pairs.
Striped Muscle | |
Smooth Muscle | |
Cardiac Muscle | |
Antagonistic Muscles | |
Diagram of Biceps Contracting | |
Diagram of Triceps Contracting |
Mammoths and Mastodons: All American Monsters
Elephants' Legs Work Like Four-Wheel Drive
![Elephants Elephants](http://news.discovery.com/animals/2010/03/30/elephants-278x225.jpg)
iStockPhoto/Thinkstock
- Elephants get around much like a four-wheel drive vehicle.
- Power is applied independently in each leg, likely a unique trait in the animal kingdom.
- Each limb is used for braking and acceleration, unlike other four-legged animals.
Laughter: It's No Joke
Understanding this primal form of communication is no laughing matter for scientists.
![Laughter Laughter](http://news.discovery.com/human/2010/03/31/laughter-278x225.jpg)
Tay Jir/Digital Vision
- Laughter is a primal form of communication that is not unique to humans.
- Only 10 to 15 percent of laughter is the result of someone making a joke.
- Laughter itself hasn't been proven to be the best medicine.
China Powering Up First Offshore Wind Farm
The nation's offshore wind power will equal all existing onshore wind farms by 2020
![](http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/Sinovel.jpg)
Exotic 'Electroweak' Star Predicted
Space Shuttle Discovery Launches in Pre-Dawn
The mission to stockpile the space station also brings a record number of women (four) to space.
![space shuttle discovery launch space shuttle discovery
launch](http://news.discovery.com/space/2010/04/05/shuttle-launch-278x225.jpg)
Associated Press
- Space Shuttle Discovery launched into orbit early Monday.
- The mission will stockpile supplies to the International Space Station.
- Once combined, the shuttle and station crews will number 13.
Shuttle to Launch 'Plug and Play' Micro-Labs
On Monday, Space Shuttle Discovery will carry equipment and experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). However, one payload is particularly exciting.
As part of a joint venture between Kentucky Space (a non-profit space research collaboration based in Kentucky) and the Houston-based company NanoRacks, a new type of standardized micro-laboratory will be launched and installed on the space station during the 13-day STS-131 mission.
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Proteobacteria |
Class: | Gamma Proteobacteria |
Order: | Enterobacteriales |
Family: | Enterobacteriaceae |
Genus: | Escherichia |
Species: | E. coli |
Binomial name | |
Escherichia coli (Migula 1895) Castellani and Chalmers 1919 | |
Synonyms | |
Bacillus coli communis Escherich 1885 |
In my next life I will be
![Universe; Kim D.
French/Shutterstock.com Universe; Kim D. French/Shutterstock.com](http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/universe.jpg)
Now, I know that in the usual understanding of reincarnation one is not given a choice. Somehow or other one’s behavior in the present life determines, or at least strongly influences, what one will be in the next. This entails the possibility of coming back as a lesser being rather than as a greater one.
The Last Wild Camels
Wild Bactrian, or two-humped, camels are extraordinary creatures. They also are very rare—at most, 950 remain in the wild, though this number may be much lower, since their broad habitat has made obtaining accurate population counts difficult. A number of human factors have contributed to their decline, including hunting for food and sport and nuclear testing and illegal mining activity within their native habitats in Mongolia and China. These human-induced reductions have resulted in an increased risk of further decline of wild Bactrian populations from natural causes, such as climate change and predation.
Wolf-Dog Hybrids: Man’s Best Friend?
Wolf-dog hybrids are becoming increasingly popular as household pets. But the rise in their sales in the United Kingdom and recent reports of escaped hybrids killing small dogs and threatening humans in the United States have renewed concerns about whether these animals should continue to be bred and sold to the public.
![Wolf-dog hybrid---Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources](http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/wp-content/uploads/wolfdog5.jpg)
Insulin & Blood Sugar
The Kidney
What you need to knowRegions of the kidneyHow the kidney works
Osmoregulation
Osmoregulation is the control of the levels of water and mineral salts in the blood. It is a homeostatic mechanism. There are three important homeostatic mechanisms: osmoregulation, thermoregulation and regulation of blood sugar levels. Homeostasis is important because it results in our cells being bathed in tissue fluid which has the correct amount of water, mineral salts, glucose and temperature.
INDEX
Dehydration
Waterlogging
What happens if you drink too much beer?
Water gain
Water loss
Glossary
Hormones
Hormones are chemical messengers. They are secreted into the blood by endocrine organs. They are carried around the body in the blood system to "target organs" which are controlled by specific hormones. Insulin is produced by the islets of Langerhans (small groups of cells in the pancreas); these islets (little islands) are endocrine organs. Insulin has an effect on the liver: it makes the liver convert glucose into glycogen. The liver stores glycogen.
Respiration
You need to know about three things:
Tissue Respiration getting energy out of glucose. |
Ventilation of the Lungs getting air in and out of your lungs. |
Gaseous Exchange swapping Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide. |
Enzymes
Enzymes are biological catalysts: this means that they speed up the chemical reactions in living things. Without enzymes, our guts would take weeks and weeks to digest our food, our muscles, nerves and bones would not work properly and so on - we would not be living!
Nicotinic Acid
Index
|
Vitamins
Sugars
This is just a beginning: some information on glucose, fructose and sucrose. More sugars will be added to this page in due course.
Structural Formulae:
Glucose | |
Fructose | |
Sucrose |
The Mouth
Here is a diagram of a vertical slice through your mouth. You should be able to label the diagram and explain what the various parts do.
Labels
- nasal cavity
- hard palate
- soft palate
- pharynx
- tongue
- epiglottis
- oesophagus (gullet)
- trachea (windpipe)
- salivary gland
- lower jaw
- mouth
- nostril
Teeth
You should be able to label this diagram. You should also know about the different kinds of teeth and how they are used. You will certainly know about plaque, dental decay and toothpaste from all those adverts, parents and dentists, so I will not bother with that part of the syllabus.![]() |
A Balanced Diet
- Carbohydrates: these provide a source of energy.
- Proteins: these provide a source of materials for growth and repair.
- Fats: these provide a source of energy and contain fat soluble vitamins.
- Vitamins: these are required in very small quantities to keep you healthy.
- Mineral Salts: these are required for healthy teeth, bones, muscles etc..
- Fibre: this is required to help your intestines function correctly; it is not digested.
- Balanced Diets: we must have the above items in the correct proportions.
Blood Plasma
Blood
The Heart
There are two stages in a heart beat. They are called systole and diastole. For your GCSE biology exam you should be able to label a diagram of the heart, put arrows on the diagram to show how blood flows through the heart, and explain how the muscles and valves force blood through the heart. You should also know that the left hand side of the heart pumps blood from the lungs to the rest of the body and that the right hand side pumps blood from the body back to the lungs.
Mitosis
Mitosis is a special kind of cell division used by eukaryote cells. You will probably find a series of diagrams in your biology text book to show the stages of mitosis; these are:
- prophase
- metaphase
- anaphase
- telophase
Plant Cells
You might get asked how this cell is specialised for its function. Well, this kind of cell is found in a leaf and it has many chloroplasts for photosynthesis.
Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts contain photosynthetic pigments. You have probably heard of "chlorophyll" which is needed for photosynthesis. If there was only one kind of photosynthetic pigment you would expect all green plants to be exactly the same shade of green, but they are not. This is because there are several different photosynthetic pigments and different plants have different amounts of each one and they are not all the same colour.
Animal Cells
![Click the underlined
words to jump.](http://www.purchon.com/images/liver.gif)
Kids now getting 'adult' diseaseKids now getting 'adult' disease
![]() |
After they’re diagnosed and for the rest of their lives, type 1 diabetics need to regularly test their blood sugar levels with a pinching tool that draws a little blood. They also have to give themselves shots of insulin several times a day to control blood sugar levels. |
Make Your Own Rainbow
![Prism rainbow](http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/images/experiments/prismrainbow240.jpg)
- A glass of water (about three quarters full)
- White paper
- A sunny day
What is the Volume of Your Lungs?
![What
is the volume of your lungs?](http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/images/experiments/lung.jpg)
- Clean plastic tubing
- A large plastic bottle
- Water
- Kitchen sink or large water basin
Test Your Dominant Side
- A pen or pencil
- Paper or a notepad to write your findings on
- An empty tube (an old paper towel tube is good)
- A cup of water
- A small ball (or something soft you can throw)
Learn about plants by growing your own!
- Talk to the students about the type of flowers and plants they might see in the spring and summer time. Let the kids know that today they will be making plants for their very own summer garden to take home and look after.
- What kind of things will our garden plants need to survive? Sunlight, nutrients, water etc
Investigate the causes and effects of moisture
- Ask the students if they think there city is particularly damp, why are some cities damper than others? Why do they have more moisture in the air? The reason often comes down to location and geography, where the city is located can make a big difference. If a city is built on or near a swamp area, moisture comes through the ground and eventually into people’s houses. Home owners might need to buy a dehumidifier to help improve this kind of situation.
Extract DNA from a banana!
- Found in the shape of a double helix, DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid as it is otherwise known, provides the blueprint for various forms of life. This includes humans, monkeys and even things like bananas. Let's try a fun activity that involves extracting DNA from a banana.
Learn about your brain and senses
- It is said that as far back as 10000 years ago people had a strong awareness of the importance of the head and brain.
- The word ‘brain’ originated from the ancient Egyptians.
- Early philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle wrote and made theories regarding the human brain although Aristotle also believed that the heart played a crucial role in human intelligence.
- The human brain interprets the world around us in many different ways. These processes are researched in the study of neuroscience.
Getting Under Your Skin
It’s bath-time. The perfect moment to teach your child about her skin! While you’re drying excess water off and sprinkling on some powder, you can ask your child if she knows what part of her body holds in her insides. Tell your child that this is just one function of our skin but that it has other jobs as well. Skin has a protective function, preventing us from infection and also contains cells that produce hair, sweat and oils and other substances that are important for our health and appearance.
Leaping into a Frog's World
Nothing beats watching your kids learn about something by direct observation. The wonder in their faces as they see a process unfold and “catch on" to principles that you have talked about is worth the time it takes to think about how to fashion the lesson! Along that line, in order to teach your children about frogs and their life cycle, why not let them actually watch a tadpole grow up?
Shoo Fly - You Bother Me!
How many kinds of flies are there? Well that depends on who you ask. Most people would say, “one kind…the annoying kind!” But if you asked a scientist, they’d tell you there are over 40,000 known species of flies. |
8 Harsh Truths that Will Improve Your Life
How to Finally Overcome Shyness
I used to be a very shy person. Whenever I was around other people I would stress out. When in the company of more than one person, I was generally very quiet, and speaking to a group of even two or three friends was a difficult thing for me to do.
How to Get Back Into Your Routine After a Break
Five Ways to Get Started Making Money Online – With Insider Tips
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/S1M1E8MtR8I/AAAAAAAADyg/eFCOqOJ4D20/s400/money.jpg)
Are you as sick as I am of blogs, ebooks and gurus all promising to teach you how to "make money online"? In many cases, they're people flogging a product that they swear any idiot could use to make a fortune … overnight … on the beach … in just two hours a day…
How to Discover Your Life’s Purpose – 7 Questions to Ask
“Everything created solves a problem.” – Mike Murdock
Your eyes see, your ears hear, your nose smells. Doctors solve medical problems, lawyers solve legal problems. Your shirt keeps you warm; your watch tells you the time. Everything created solves a problem.
Amazing Life Lessons You Can Learn From Albert Einstein: Part Deux
Given the great response to the article “10 Amazing Life Lessons You Can Learn From Albert Einstein,” I’ve decided to publish the other seven lessons that I originally intended to include in that article. These were cut out because I feared the article was too long. However, I now believe that these seven lessons are even more profound than the original ten.
15 Awesome Tutorial Websites You Probably Don't Know About
![](http://bp1.blogger.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/SHI4AXDQN7I/AAAAAAAAB6U/9lO8ocxqFWQ/s400/diy.jpg)
14 Simple Ways to Super Charge Your Brain
Have you ever felt exasperated when you bumped into someone at the store but absolutely couldn't remember their name? Sure, it happens to all of us.
Seven Ways to Create More Time In Your Day
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dH0q9hvpVHg/SwPq4FfmdGI/AAAAAAAADqc/DIclnhXcqCU/s400/time.jpg)
Do you ever feel like you have way too much time on your hands, and far too little work and life to fit into it? Unless you're a teen on summer break, I reckon it's unlikely! Most of us would love to have an extra couple of hours in each day. With two more hours, we could find time to exercise, to read some of the books that are gathering dust on our shelves, to spend time with the kids...