ScienceSource 8 - Unit A

Mosquitoes and Illness - before microscopes and knowledge of cells, diseases like malaria and West Nile were almost impossible for people to understand:

• West Nile Virus in Canada - information from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
• The West Nile Virus in Ontario - prevention tips from the Ontario government.
• West Nile Virus - from the Centre for Disease Control in the USA.

Arthropod Viruses - how insects help to spread disease.

Unit Task: Learning About Cells - we are all made of cells, but how can you teach others about these tiny building blocks of life?

• Cell Models - click on the models and explore the cells.
• Cells Powerpoint Presentation - an example of how you might teach someone about cells using presentation software.

Sizes Under the Microscope - it can be difficult to understand just how small microscopic objects really are.

• How Big Is A ... - keep this activity in mind as you learn about microscopic things.
• Cell Size and Scale - slowly drag the slider at the bottom of the window to zoom in and get an idea of the relative size of different cells.

Magnifying Things Too Small To See - to understand, we observe, but how do you understand something you cannot observe?

• The History of the Microscope - van Leeuwenhoek and Hooke were the first to use a microscope.
• Introduction to Microscopy - a very complete collection of microscope information.
• Antony van Leeuwenhoek - a "father of the microscope", he used a single-lens microscope to discover micro-organisms.

Microscopic World - amazing images from a world that we live in, but can only see with a microscope.

• Molecular Expressions Photo Gallery - scroll down to see the long list of images taken though microscopes.
• Microscopy Images - although this is a site to buy images, you can look at these amazing photos all you want.

The Cell Theory - what is true about the cells found in all living things?

• The Wacky History of the Cell Theory - a well-done animated video.
• Studying Cells Tutorial - a timeline of cell discoveries made by scientists.

Spontaneous Generation - how could early scientists explain mould on food, tadpoles in the river, or maggots on meat?

• The Slow Death of Spontaneous Generation - the hypothesis that some vital force contained in or given to organic matter can create living organisms from inanimate objects.
• Spontaneous Generation - clear information on spontaneous generation.

The Compound Light Microscope - by using two lenses and a good light source, a tiny world is revealed.

• How Light Microscopes Work - an amazing technology available in many science classrooms.
• Compound Microscope - learn about it in context with other microscopes.

The Light Microscope - learn more about this powerful classroom tool.

• Virtual Microscope - take the controls of this virtual scope, and observe a virtual world too small for the virtual eye to see.
• Virtual Urchin Microscope Tutorial - excellent interactive activity.

Section 1.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Living Things and Cell Theory - living things are made of cells, but do you know more than that?

Comparing Plant and Animal Cells - all living things are made up of cells, but how different are plant and animal cells?

• Cell Differences - this is a very informative site with excellent illustrations.
• Plant and Animal Cells - a different approach to comparing plant and animal cells.

What is Magnification? - cells are revealed to us through magnification, but how can we imagine these tiny structures?

• Secret Worlds: The Universe Within - take this amazing tour that shows how changing your perspective and magnification changes the world you are in.
• Cell Size and Scale - slowly drag the slider at the bottom of the window to zoom in and get an idea of the relative size of different cells.

Living Cells - observe cells in action.

• Inner Life of a Cell - an amazingly beautiful tour through a cell.
• Organelles in the Cytoplasm - read and watch about cells and their organelles. (Free registration may be required)

Cell Structure - - select a plant or animal cell and use the microscope to see how it is made up (ExploreLearning login is required).

Special Techniques for Studying Cells - if most organelles are colourless, how can we see them under the microscope?

• Microscope Slide Staining Information - so many stains, what are they used for?
• Basic Cellular Staining - how to get cells ready for staining.

Why Do Geologists Use Microscopes? - rocks also have very small details that cannot be seen without a microscope.

• Polarized Light Microscopy - did you know that different mineral crystals give off different colours of polarized light at different angles?
• A Grain of Sand - show these images to your friends and ask them if they know what they are looking at.

Preparing Slides - how to get slides ready to view under the microscope.

• Wet Mount Slides - the careful placement of the cover slip is probably the key to the wet mount technique.
• How to Prepare Microscope Slides - several techniques are explained here.

Comparing Plant and Animal Cells - do you know how animal and plant cells differ?

Section 1.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Cell Membranes - these activities will help to understand permeability.

• Diffusion - an excellent diffusion simulator.
• The Big Eggshell Breakdown - an interesting activity illustrating a semi-permeable membrane.

Diffusion - - observe the motion of particles in an enclosure with an adjustable partition in the middle (ExploreLearning login is required).

Bottled Water - the movement of particles from high concentration to low concentration.

• The Truth About Tap - we buy it for health and convenience, but do we know what we are really getting?
• Mineral Water - many bottled waters are called "mineral water" because of all the mineral particles they contain.

Diffusion and Osmosis - the movement of particles from high concentration to low concentration.

• Diffusion and Osmosis - illustrations and explanations of these two high-to-low concentration movements.
• Transport in Cells: Diffusion and Osmosis - an excellent video overview.

The Artificial Kidney - by using a dialysis procedure, wastes can be removed from the blood of patients whose kidneys do not work well.

• How Haemodialysis Works - by using osmosis and diffusion in a dialysis machine, wastes are removed from a kidney patient.
• How Peritoneal Dialysis Works - this special procedure actually filters the blood inside the body without involving the kidneys.
• Kidney Transplant - some patients undergo surgery to replace one of their kidneys.

Osmosis - - adjust the concentration of a solute on either side of a cell membrane and start the timer to see what happens (ExploreLearning login is required).

Cherry Osmosis - In this excellent video, osmosis is explained and discussed, with the use of cherries as an example.

Section 1.3 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

The Flow of Materials into and out of Cells - do you know how matter moves in and out of cells?

Solving the Mystery of Viruses - viruses are so small an electron microscope (which uses tiny electrons instead of light) is needed to view them.

• The Transmission Electron Microscope - learn about this amazing microscope, see some objects viewed with it, and practice with a virtual version.
• Scanning Electron Microscope - learn about the scanning electron microscope.

Reverse Osmosis - making water move from low concentration to high concentration has benefits, such as removing harmful particles and cells.

Unit Task: Learning About Cells - all cells share certain characteristics, but plant and animal cells differ in some fundamental ways:

• Cells Powerpoint Presentation - an example of how you might teach someone about cells using presentation software.
• Animal Cell vs Plant Cell - this table presents a handy side-by-side comparison of these two types of cells.

Blue Whales - find out more about the largest animal on Earth, and watch the video of this amazing mammal.

Unicellular Organisms - living things, made up of a single cell, are everywhere, and are important to all life on our planet.

• Unicellular organism - a listing of the eukaryotic cells (eukaryotic = "with nucleus"), including protozoa plus lots more information.
• Bacteria - these unicellular organisms may be harmful or helpful.

Observing Paramecia - these unicellular organisms use cilia for movement, and are active feeders.

• Paramecia Movies - these movies show paramecia in a variety of activities.
• Even More Paramecia Movies - a series of four videos showing paramecia in action.

How Unicellular Organisms Move - these single-celled organisms often have special parts that allow them to move on their own.

• Cilia and Flagella - cilia (like tiny oars) and flagella (think of a cross between a tail and a propeller) help unicellular organisms move.
• How Bacteria Swim and Tumble - bacteria "swim" and "tumble", using animation to show these movements.
• Cilia and Flagella - a detailed description of how cilia and flagella themselves actually move.

Unicellular Organisms Movies - it's easier to understand them if you can see them in action:

• Paramecium Movies - cilia; these speedy little unicellular organisms can be observed moving, feeding and reproducing in these movies.
• Amoeba Movies - pseudopods; watch amoebas as they move and eat.

Examples of Unicellular Organisms - meet the organisms we know as the unicellulars.

• Diatoms - this website has lots of information about diatoms, as well as many links to other diatom websites.
• Studies on Paramecium - a paramecium is unicellular, but can be large enough to see without a microscope.
• Amoebas Are More Than Just Blobs - amazing information, and photos of amoebas 3 mm in size.

Amoebas - look above to see other amoeba information, or check out these websites for more.

• Amoeba - this Wiki summarizes what an amoeba is, and what it does.
• What is an Amoeba? - see in-depth information about amoebae here.

How Unicellular Organisms Obtain and Digest Their Food - some make their own food, while others must eat to survive.

• Diatoms - more facts and images about these unicellular photosynthesizers that live in water.
• Bacteria - lots of great information, including how bacteria "eat".

Cooking and Freezing - there are many methods that we use to minimize unicellular organism growth on our foods.

• Food Preservation Basics - a tour of food preservation techniques.
• How Food Preservation Works - descriptions of many food preservation techniques.

Cooking and Freezing - these activities can help you preserve your new knowledge.

• National Center for Home Food Preservation - there are tons of food preservation tips you can try here.

Section 2.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Unicellular Organisms - did you know there are living things made of just one cell?

Specialized Cells in Multicellular Organisms - like a community, multicellular organisms have different functions performed in different places.

• Animal Cells - animal cell structure in detail.
• Plant Anatomy and Structure - an overview of plant structure.

Cells of the Immune System - like a community, multicellular organisms have different functions performed in different places.

• The Immune System - you can find killer and helper T cells, and B cells (antibodies) discussed here, and memory T-cells here.

Pond Water - a tiny drop of pond water can hold far more than you might think.

• A Virtual Pond Dip - click on the organisms to learn more.
• Pond Life Identification Kit - what the investigators on CSI:Pond use to identify their microscopic subjects.
• The Smallest Page on the Web - examine a virtual drop of pond water for life.

Multicellular Organisms and Cell Specialization - different cells do different jobs, do you your cellular specifications?

Section 2.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Processing and Transporting Materials - the endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus and lysosomes.

• Endoplasmic Reticulum - partly for protein creation, and partly for storing materials in the cell.
• The Endoplasmic Reticulum - advanced information about the endoplasmic reticulum.
• Golgi Apparatus: Packing Things Up - like the endoplasmic reticulum, the golgi apparatus is involved in storage and packaging.
• Lysosomes - created in the golgi apparatus, lysosomes are involved in digestion.

Transforming Energy - the mitochondria is the "engine" of the cell, where molecules like carbohydrates are broken down for energy.

• The Powerhouse of the Cell - information about the mitochondria, and a movie illustrating its purpose (free PBS registration may be required).
• Chloroplasts - the special molecule that transforms sunlight into energy usable on Earth.

Cell Analogies - cells can be compared to many everyday things to help explain the functions of its parts.

Muscles and Mitochondria - using your muscles builds more mitochondria, giving your muscles more energy.

• What Do Mitochondria Look Like? - huge amount of info on mitochondria and muscles.
• Mitochondria The Powerhouse of the Cell - a look at muscles and the role of mitochondria (free PBS registration may be required).

Cell Division - - begin with a single cell and watch as it divides into many more (ExploreLearning login is required).

Reproducing - simple cell division occurs when one cell (the parent cell) splits into two identical daughter cells which are exactly the same as the parent.

• Mitosis - great video overview of mitosis.
• The Cell Cycle & Mitosis Tutorial - also includes a nice animation.

Careers in Microbiology - there are many career paths when it comes to working with the smallest organisms.

• Medical Microbiologists - studying microorganisms and human health.
• Virology - lots of information about studying viruses.

Section 2.3 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Plant and Animal Cellular Processes - do you know your cellular processes?

Helping Cells, Harming Cells - new cells are produced all the time, but cancer occurs when the body loses control of the production of certain new cells.

• What is Chemotherapy - chemotherapy is explained very well on this site.
• Treating Cancer With Chemotherapy - a detailed explanation.
• Radiation Therapy for Cancer: Questions and Answers - great information about radiation therapy.
• Radiation Therapy - information written for patients receiving radiation therapy.

Unit Task: Learning About Cells - all cells share certain characteristics, but plant and animal cells differ in some fundamental ways:

• Cells Powerpoint Presentation - an example of how you might teach someone about cells using presentation software.
• Animal Cell vs Plant Cell - this table presents a handy side-by-side comparison of these two types of cells.

Skin Cuts and Abrasions - a simple explanation of how skin heals.

Plant Tissues in Organs - specialized cells form tissue, and these tissues form plant organs such as leaves, roots and stems.

• Plant Tissues - look for the three basic types of tissue; protective, transport , and photosynthetic.
• Plants Body Organization - plant organ systems and tissues.

Animal Tissues in Organs - specialized cells form tissue, and these tissues form our organs.

• Animal Tissues - every type of animal tissue is discussed here.
• Connective Tissue - special tissues that connect and support.

Hair Covered Animals - hair can be an important method of identifying animals.

• Animal Hair Images - a large list of animals and what their hair looks like under a microscope.
• A Practical Guide and Manual for Animal Hairs - from the FBI, a huge collection of images and information.
• Animal Hair - interesting information on hair from the Animal Diversity Web.

Design an Alien - choose the planet your alien is from, then think what the cells of the alien would be like as a result.

• The Nine Planets - great information about our solar system.
• The Grace of the Worlds: Beautiful Planets - a very cool solar system explorer.

Section 3.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

How MRI Works - this powerful medical tool is not always available when it might be needed most.

From Cells to Tissues to Organs - what are your organs made of?

Organ Systems - how well do you know the organ systems of the human body?

• Human Anatomy Diagrams - fantastic images of the organ systems.
• Organ Systems Exploration - a fun group activity aimed at learning the importance of organ systems.

Human Organ Systems - specialized cells and tissues form organs, which often perform together to accomplish specific tasks.

• Organ systems - links to detailed information on all the organ systems.
• How the Nervous System Interacts with Other Body Systems - with a description of the nervous system, too.

Organ Transplants - many of our organs can be replaced if failure or disease occurs.

• How Organ Transplants Work - descriptions of the many organ transplants available, and how they occur.
• Organ transplantation - explains tissues and organs that can be transplanted.

Section 3.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Interdependent Organ Systems - just how does everything work so well together?

How Loud is Too Loud? - just be glad you can still hear adults complaining about how loud you listen to your music, then stop before it's too late.

• Hearing Impairment in Teens - general information about hearing and hearing loss.
• Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) - noises around us can cause hearing loss, either suddenly or over long periods of time.
• Loud Music and Hearing Damage - compare noises, and read about people who lost their hearing because they listened to loud music when they were young.

The Surprising History of Handwashing - a fascinating history of hand-washing.

Handwashing - along with many fancy medicines and treatments, one of the best ways to prevent microorganisms from attacking you is to keep yourself clean.

• Information about Hand Hygiene - bet you didn't know there could be this much advice about hand washing!
• The Benefits of Hand Washing - Health Canada advice on hand washing.

Preparing for New Infectious Diseases - new diseases and infections are continually challenging cell biologists.

• The Public Health Agency of Canada - current news, and information about infectious diseases affecting Canadians.
• The Infectious Diseases Society of America - current information and research about diseases affecting Americans.

Repairing Damaged Spinal Cords - spinal cord injuries causing paralysis affect thousands of active people every year.

• Spinal Cord Injuries - from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
• Spinal cord injury - superb information on spinal cord injury.

Working to Stop Cancers - learning about cancerous cells helps in the prevention of new cancers and treatment of existing cancers.

• CancerQuest - a huge website full of resources and recent developments in the fight against cancer.
• Cancer Treatment - excellent information from the Canadian Cancer Society.

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention - podcasts alerting listeners to disease information.

• Malaria and Tropical Travel - malaria is still a dangerous disease that can be caught when we travel.
• Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Swimming Pools - swimming pools can be a source of infectious diseases.

Organic Foods - instead of using chemicals, alternate methods are utilized when growing and harvesting organic foods.

• How Organic Food Works - a nice introduction to organic food, and how it is different than "normal" food.
• Organic Products - regulations and information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Improving World Food Production - food shortages and poor quality have scientists attempting to produce better food.

• Biotechnology - general information about biotechnology.
• Biotechnology FAQs - good questions and answers about biotechnology.

Stopping the Spread of Infectious Disease - how would you feel if you were quarantined, and couldn't leave your home?

• Quarantine - information on when quarantines are needed
• The Most Dangerous Woman in America - imagine being quarantined... for life! Read of the events in "typhoid Mary's" life, and see a timeline of quarantines through history.

Bt-Corn - by modifying corn, microbiologists have allowed it to become stronger.

• Bt Corn: Health and the Environment - from Colorado State University.
• Bt-Corn: What It Is and How It Works - chances are very good you have eaten foods produced using Bt-corn.

Taking Suffering Out of Science - It is a difficult realization that many of our health and safety inventions have come as a result of animal testing. The Humane Society of the United States has created a fair and balanced site discussing animal testing.

Section 3.3 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

The Impact of Research in Cell Biology - Find out why it is important to study cell biology.

Wow! Bacteria - bacteria can mean more to us than simply being "germs" that we wash off of our hands.

• Bobtail Squid - learn more about the bobtail squid.
• Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis - an amazing collection of websites about the bobtail squid.

Unit Task: Learning About Cells - all cells share certain characteristics, but plant and animal cells differ in some fundamental ways:

• Cells Powerpoint Presentation - an example of how you might teach someone about cells using presentation software.
• Animal Cell vs Plant Cell - this table presents a handy side-by-side comparison of these two types of cells.