On Thursday 16 February, students from both the Year 11 and 12 Biology classes enjoyed time out on excursion.
Year 11 Biology
The Year 11 students have been studying methods of ecological sampling. They went to Maiden’s Reserve where they conducted a detailed survey of the changes in soil, plant and animal ecology along a transect from the beach, over the dune system, to the Tuart bushland close to the Maiden’s Reserve car park. It was a great opportunity for the students to practice their skills in quadrat sampling, plant and animal identification and the use of dataloggers to measure soil temperature, pH and electrical conductivity.
Year 12 Biology
The Year 12 Biology class visited the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Perth. An important part of the Year 12 Biology course is the study of DNA and how it can be analysed for forensic analysis, for the identification of specific genes and of gene mutations. Under the guidance of practicing researchers in a working research h laboratory, and using analytical techniques they had been studying, the students conducted an investigation to isolate and analyse a gene associated with cancer caused by melanoma. The students were also given a tour of the working medical research laboratories, plus a talk by a young melanoma sufferer who described the impact of the disease on his life and how he hoped to benefit from the genetics research being conducted at the Institute. The ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ message really hit home to the students after hearing his story.
Mr Hegney, Head of Science
