Full Week ahead and sandhill cranes

In AP Biology Friday, we worked through our discussion questions on Ecology.  We have a few ecology items to finish tomorrow then, on to biochemistry.  Tomorrow will be properties of water, organic molecules and functional groups and carbohydrates.  This week we have biochem poker on the horizon ... a fun way to learn about polymers.

In Selected Topics, we will finish our look at ecology tomorrow.  Most of the class, will be spent generating solutions for the ecological problems our students will face in their lifetimes.  Our regeneration lab continues all next week and we will later in the week switch over to plant science.

Best question last week is about animals that don't urinate, "How do they get rid of their nitrogen waste?"  A question during the discussion about the nitrogen cycle.  As far as mammals go, I knew that kangaroo rats seldom urinate and have kidneys with very long loop of Henle(s) to concentrate the urea in their urine (a paste).  Still looking for an animal that never urinates without luck.

This weekend, Sue Neal and I went to see Les Miserables the movie in Bowling Green.  The music was great but now, I want to read the book ... maybe this summer.  I was able to take a couple of walks on our farm.  I saw another large V of sandhill cranes on Saturday afternoon ... about 60-80 birds ... they were headed north toward Barren Lake.  I pruned several trees / bushes and prepared a few places where I plan to plant trees this spring.  I was great to spend some time outside.