Biology

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

*Why no, the science teacher isn't following a set theme. And this should make the students who were complaining about no chemistry much happier.*

Today, we will be discussing the chemicals one would find in a cell. If you would open your notes to page 24. And don't forget to sign the roll sheet--two consecutive absences will earn you detention. I will post lists later on this week.

Reductionism is an assumption that underlies much of contemporary science. The central premise: To understand a complex system, break the system down into its parts. This has been a very successful program for many areas of biology (though not for all). It can, if applied overly dogmatically, lead to an overly mechanical view of the cell. But it is a useful approach, and one that generates an extraordinary volume of research.
* Hierarchic view of life: to understand life fully, need to study it at different levels
* The cell is a chemical machine; its parts and its language are chemical
* Need sophisticated tools to analyze the components: chromatography,electrophoresis, etc.
* Biochemistry is study of these parts

Comments

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

*Doesn't press the issue.* Calm down, it's all right.

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

*swallows hard and nods* Yeah, yeah it is. *Picking back up her notebook she begins to write down notes again fuming at herself for loosing control like that. "she'll think your insane. she'll not want to come around you again if you act this way" Maia stares down at her paper, trying to keep her hand steady and keep her tears from falling as she finishing labeling parts of the cell.

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

*on her way past, she lowers her voice* If you need to see me after class, you can. *is concerned*

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

*Maia nods still fighting back tears* Yeah, thanks *whispers, her voice cracks, hands still shaking Maia puts down her pen and stares down at her cell diagram feigning that she is memorizing it.*