This blog is for teachers, students, parents, or anyone with a passion for science. Some of these ideas I have used in my own classroom, am in the process of creating and others I have collected from websites or books.
I would like to share them with you and receive your feedback.
We are wrapping up our unit on prokaryotes and today discussed the role of cyanobacteria in the environment. Current theory is that in our evolutionary history at one time cyanobacteria entered into a symbiotic relationship with another cell which eventually resulted in the first plant cells. Molecular data supports this theory of endosymbiosis for the origin of the chloroplast, as well as, mitochondria. In both cases these cellular components each have their own DNA encoding in proteins specific to these organelles.
The lesson included watching this video clip and then proceeding to carry out the lab that is described within it. The challenge is to try to get the photo down the body tube of the microscope. Some days I'm better at it than others.
Moss leaflet showing chloroplasts within the cells
