Micro "Selfies"

For week two of our unit on Microscopes, Cells and Cell Transport, we are going to have a little contest.  Your challenge is to find the coolest electron microscope image and decide if it is from an scanning electron microscope or a transmission electron microscope.  Be sure to give the image URL and tell which type of microscope was used in taking the image.

Below is an image of a scanning electron microscope image of the head of a human flea taken by retired scientific photographer, Steve Gschmeisser.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/picture-galleries/7397841/Creepy-crawlies-Amazing-Scanning-Electron-Microscope-pictures-of-insects-and-spiders.html

Here is a transmission electron microscope image of a human liver cell taken by Dennis Kunkel.  He even offers electron microscope calendars...how cool is that.

http://www.denniskunkel.com/

I will keep track of the favorites.  Whoever posts the image first gets credit for finding the image and will get a vote for their image to win the prize.  Good luck.

Here is a link to the Cell LibGuide that Mrs. Nelson and I created.  It has some links to microscope images, but there are tons of cool images out there.  In order to get full credit, include the link, what the image is and if it is a SEM microscope picture or a TEM microscope picture.

http://d155.libguides.com/cell_structure_function

Sugar Sugar

November is National Diabetes Month.  When you think about it, National Diabetes month is nestled between Halloween (candy, sugar and treats...oh my) and the holiday season (hello cookies, pies and candy canes).  Even the month of November has Thanksgiving which is synonymous with over-eating and sitting on the couch to watch football.  This week in class we will be learning about the liver and pancreas and blood sugar homeostasis.  It is one of my most favorite cycles that we learn about in biology.

Over 8.3 percent of the population in the United States has diabetes.  This week I want you to "de-bunk" a diabetes myth.  Below, I have attached several links to sites that have information about diabetes, but there are a plethora of other valuable sources out there.  Feel free to find your own information, but make sure that it is scientifically reliable and legitimate.  Start your post with the site that you used and then explain the myth and why it is a myth.  Do you know anyone with diabetes?  Do they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes?  Why do you think type 2 diabetes is on the rise in the United States?  How can we reverse this trend?

American Diabetes Association

What is diabetes? What causes diabetes?

WebMD Diabetes Center

Mayo Clinic Diabetes Definition

CDC/Diabetes

Understanding Diabetes and Busting Myths

8 Diabetes Myths from A Healthier Michigan