Friday, February 13, 2009
Tadpoles
http://giraffian.com/pictionary-files/t/tadpole.png
I had Biology SPA lesson from 8.00am to 10.00am today. I didn't read up the worksheet that was given to me a week ago about this practical activity. So I didn't know what to expect. For the previous experiment, we investigated the effect of substrate concentration on enzyme activity (anaerobic respiration rate). We used yeast the other time. Hmmm quite sticky.
Well well well... This time was done on something MORE complex, something MORE dangerous, something MORE slimy....
The tadpole. xD
As basic science students should know, tadpoles are the larval stage of the life cycle of an amphibian. They are cold blooded, which means that their body temperature fluctuates according to the environment that they are put in.
This time, the experiment involved the investigation of the effect of temperature on the respiration rate of tadpoles.
First, we were to 'fish' out a tadpole from the beaker using the net and place it in another beaker of water of room temperature (30 degrees Celsius). After that, we were to record its respiration rate by looking at the amount of times the tadpole opens its mouth in one minute. "Ahm, ahm, ahm...." Haha
Then, we were to adjust the temperature of the water by either adding ice-cold water, or hot water. For each experiment, we had to place the tadpole in 30 degrees Celsius water first because if we prepared an already hot or already cold environment for it and then place it inside, it would die of shock.
What made this experiment special was that it was the FIRST time in my biology life dealing with a REAL LIFE MOVING specimen! WOOOH! :D Other times were always plants... :(
Anyway, the words of my Biology teacher Mr Yeow left a greater impact on me than the whole experiment itself. He told us that we have to be careful with the tadpoles because they are rather sensitive to the temperature changes and might not be as resilient to withstand them. He said that the life of these little things are in our hands.
We could very well kill it easily, just by increasing or decreasing the temperature a bit more than the suggested range of 10-40 degrees Celsius. The tadpoles work for us in the experiment so we have to treat them with the respect that they deserve.
God has made man the stewards of His creation. We have been assigned to take care of all that has been made by Him, that is, all LIFE. We cannot create life, for we are not God.
People have argued over when life begins. Some suggest that life starts only when the offspring is born. Others advocate the view that life begins from the moment of conception. That is when the egg is fertilised by the sperm.
A week ago during Religion lesson, there was a discussion about abortion. There was a video too about the kinds of abortions done to fetuses of different stages. Some of the young lives were subjected to high concentrations of saline solution, whereby their skin was burnt. Decapitation or cutting up was also a common means of removing the child.
I don't have the time to say it all right now and make it into a GP Essay, but just think about this:
Just as we have been given life freely, who are we to decide the death of another?
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The Selection Shoot 2 went on much better this time I guess, with everyone more used to everything. :) I think I sounded pretty harsh during the Selection Shoot 1. :/ Partly cos of 2 or 3 hours of sleep, and partly cos I knew I would have to be scolded for what I did. Anyway, everything was good. We had a better response today with many more people turning up for PT too.
Hmm..
Until it came to the closing of the range... Gosh, it's the fourth time that the armoury has problems! No green light for us to go. We were to transport weapons today at 6.30pm and we got everthing up the bus by then, just that the armoury was still kinda cranky. The bus uncle was getting madder by the moment because we were supposed to leave at 6.30pm. He said that he had another appointment at 8pm and if we delay him, he'll have to ask us to leave the bus.
I think he was facing quite a lot of stress himself, because perhaps his superior had high demands from him? Who knows? Mr Teo was still settling the locking up, but he had to come with us as the supervising teacher. There was much tension that went on as there wasn't much that could be done. We just had to hope that the bus driver could spare the extra patience for us.
Finally!
The problem was solved and we went to SAFRA. :)
After accounting for the weapons, we took a look at the booking list. Crap man, every single day of the following week till Friday had been booked by shooters from other schools already! Urgh. Only lanes that we're left with are the walk-in lanes.
This year's going to be much tougher, but we'll make it UP there...
as a club.
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I rushed back to catch the last half-an-hour of Amp. It was the 3rd session on Sexuality already! Ahh, I missed the other two.
This was what I got from the last 30 minutes:
"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." For couples, if whichever party wants to have their opinions aired out to the other, he or she must first take a step back to give the space of understanding for both. It is not to keep it inside you and ask your partner his/her opinions and if he/she says that they don't have any opinion, then you burst out whatever you want to say. It requires a submission of full understanding for your partner.
A husband and his wife has to be non-directive (suggestive) towards one another for it is a personal relationship. Seeing each other everyday and sharing of lives fully with one another. On the other hand, they are to be more directive when with other people as it is an impersonal relationship. Hence, men and women are to play the divine role that God has provided for the both of us.
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Josh, Joel and I went to Cove LRT to eat supper. Or rather, for Joel and I, it was lunch and dinner. Joel and I went home after eating and I managed to catch up with him quite a bit. Stayed over at his place cos everyone at home was sleeping by then and I didn't bring my keys, as usual.
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It was a fulfilling day, one that started off with tadpoles.
:)
to change the world.
|
i am, christopher lye
21 on 15 March 2012
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