Paper Plasmid Lab,Turnip Greens and Milkweed Pods

In Genetics today, we started our paper plasmid lab.  Students constructed a paper plasmid and some eukaryotic DNA with a gene of interest.  They then marked the cutting sites for eight restriction enzymes.  Tomorrow we will cut out the gene of interest and insert it in our plasmid.  Discussion to follow ...

Selected Topics reviewed for our earth science test tomorrow and started our unit on astronomy with a discussion on star life cycle.  After our unit exam tomorrow we will continue for a few days in astronomy ... HR Diagrams, Deep Space, the solar system and more.

Computer science students finished their gradebook problem.  We will do our address labeling program tomorrow before checking problems and heading to fall break.  Graphics and animation after fall break.

I have a weak hive I checked today and will have to combine with another hive tomorrow.  Also, picked some turnip/mustard greens for Sue Neal.  Just before dark I harvested some milkweed pods for a project I want to do in class.  Several had opened already but I was able to harvest about 20 pods ... picture below is from Monarch Watch ... www.monarchwatch.org  

I am still seeing some monarch butterflies when I am outside in the evenings.




"Harvesting Milkweed Seeds" article
http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/2003/1024.html#10

"Harvest and Storage of Milkweed Seeds" article
http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/2005/0728.html#7