Antigens and Antibodies

Hi all,

Tomorrow we will be doing a classroom model of what's called the specific immune response - the way your immune system creates long term immunity to specific diseases.  For example, you may have heard that you can only get chicken pox once - you get sick once, but if you are ever exposed to the pox virus again your body has a very specific set of defenses built up to deal with that virus.  This is long-term, specific immunity - but how does it come about?  Stay tuned to find out.

Homework
Using p.638-40 in your text, you will:

1) Do flashcards for "antigen" and "antibody"
2) In your class journal, explain how antigens and antibodies interact.  A drawing might be useful to show their binding.

Additionally, you may want to preview the diagram on p.639, as this will be the focus of our model tomorrow.

Thanks,
Mr. Hill

Nonspecific Immunity!

Hi all,

Today we did assessment statements 6.2.6 and 6.2.7 describing the elements that make up the blood; tomorrow we will be looking at your body's first round of defenses against infection, many of which are mediated through the actions of the blood and circulatory system.  Exciting!

Homework
Please read textbook pages 636-638 about nonspecific defenses, and answer the following questions in your class journal or on looseleaf:

1) What is the difference between nonspecific and specific defences?

2) Summarize what’s happening in figure 35.3 (the inflammatory response)

3) Summarize what’s happening in figure 35.4 (action of complement)

4) From the reading, list some of the nonspecific defenses your body has and briefly state how they defend you from infection.

Thanks and see you tomorrow,

Mr. Hill

A Closer Look at Blood

Hi all,

Tomorrow we will be taking a closer look at the composition of our blood.  Blood is both a nutrient rich medium for bacteria and parasites to nourish themselves in and a route around the body for these little invaders.  Accordingly, blood is the place where your body has concentrated its defenses.  In the war between your body and its pathogens, the rivers of your veins and arteries are the battleground and your blood cells are the soldiers and citizens caught in the balance.  So its important to understand its parts!

Homework
Please read textbook pages 626-8 in your text and use the information within to answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. Create flash cards using our new system for words 2-6, all of which describe components of the blood.  The vocab words can be found on the right side of the blog, under "Vocabulary Heads-up."  Bring these with you tomorrow!

2. Referencing the components above, describe some of the transport functions of the blood.  How does your blood serve as a transport medium, what components are involved, and what is transported?

3. Now describe some of the immune functions of your blood.  What role does your blood play in defending your body from pathogens, what components are involved, and how?

Negative Feedback Loops

Today, we finished discussing the circulatory system and started our last topic for this unit, homeostasis.  We discussed a specific example of a negative feedback loop that maintains a constant temperature in your body.

Homework
For homework, you will read about the negative feedback loop that maintains a constant blood glucose level in your body.  Please read p.768 in your text and answer the questions that follow in your journal:

1) What is glucose and why is it in your blood?

2) Insulin and glucagon are hormones.  Flip to page 758 and read the section "Hormones are Chemical Signals."  Referring to figure 42.2, explain what a hormone is and how it works.

3) Copy the diagram of the feedback loop on p.768 into your notes.  Using the terminology we discussed in class, label the SENSOR and EFFECTORS.

4) What does it mean that insulin and glucagon are antagonistic hormones?

Blood Vessels of the Circulatory System

Today, we looked at an overview of the circulatory system.  Tomorrow, we will be comparing the three types of blood vessels - arteries, veins, and capillaries.

Homework
For homework, please research  these blood vessels and complete three structure / function charts - one for arteries, one for veins, and one for capillaries.  You may do this in your notebook, and we will discuss it first thing tomorrow - make sure you come to class ready!

You may uses the text reading handed out in class, and in addition the following web resources are available.  Do consult all of them for maximum comprehensiveness.

Merk Manual - Veins
The Human Heart at the Franklin Institute
http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/HumanBody/Blood/Blood_Vessels.php

Lab #3 Due Tomorrow

Hi all,

Make sure to complete Lab #3, a Design and Data Collection section, for tomorrow.  E-mail me a single word document by tomorrow or bring a paper copy to class.

Missing DBQs

The following discipuli owe me take-home DBQs from Friday.  Hand in tomorrow, or it's a zero!

AMIR
MRIDUL
JAVIER
SHANIQUE
PEDRO