Wikipedia:WikiProject AP Biology 2017

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Seen here is a four step diagram depicting the usage of an enhancer. Within this DNA sequence, protein(s) known as transcription factor(s) bind to the enhancer and increases the activity of the promoter.
1. DNA
2. Enhancer
3. Promoter
4. Gene
5. Transcription Activator Protein
6. Mediator Protein
7. RNA Polymerase

A high school class in

Advanced Placement Biology course. The lead editor is Chris Packard. This project is inspired by the 2009 Wikipedia AP Biology Project
. There are many basic and important diagrams missing from biological articles and we're doing our part to fix this.

  • Students will work alone, there are 15 students so we should have 15 new images with captions and labels.
  • The time frame will be three weeks.
  • Students will be required to write a summary of why they select a topic; hopefully, eliminating obscure, random topic selections. They also must create labels and captions for their photos
  • They may add it to encyclopedia articles.
  • The best of the bunch will be submitted as
    here
    . Featured images must be in .svg (vector) format.

Feel free to discuss this project. Please notify me of any concerns; especially if they involve the behavior of my students on Wikipedia. With a little patience, this should be an inspirational experience for all.

Goals / Motivation

  • To create a situation that not only vigorously enhances our ability to make quality decisions but also to improve our traction on the roads of 'Merica
  • To improve the images in Wikipedia's coverage of Biology articles.
  • To encourage promising students to write, create, learn, and contribute volunteer efforts through a
    service learning
    project.
  • The dreaded “Research Project” is a standard hurdle for most AP Programs. Rightfully so, being that many college courses require such publications to validate your existence. This new approach to constructing a scientific document, is far more authentic and interesting. Rather than researching for a paper that is destined for the teacher's eyes and then a one way trip to the circular bin, let us contribute to the world-wide data base for others to benefit. I hope this will be an interesting and memorable project and assessment. It's funny, I can remember a number of projects and papers I wrote during my own high school experience, but I can remember no tests whatsoever.

Contributions

As you upload your projects and add them to Wikipedia please add them to the gallery below. By adding a new line which begins with the word "File" and them follows the format of my sample image. Make sure to include your caption.

  • In both stages of metamorphosis, the insect begins the cycle as an egg. In a complete metamorphosis the insect passes through four distinct phases which produce an adult that does not resemble the larvae. In an incomplete metamorphosis an insect does not go through a full transformation, but instead transitions from a nymph to an adult by molting its exoskeleton.
    In both stages of metamorphosis, the insect begins the cycle as an egg. In a complete metamorphosis the insect passes through four distinct phases which produce an adult that does not resemble the larvae. In an incomplete metamorphosis an insect does not go through a full transformation, but instead transitions from a nymph to an adult by molting its exoskeleton.
  • In thermoregulation, ectotherms (green line) use the environment to regulate their body temperature so their temperature usually remains similar to the environment, whereas endotherms (blue line) regulate their own body temperature which remains constant regardless of the temperature of their environment (red line).
    In thermoregulation, ectotherms (green line) use the environment to regulate their body temperature so their temperature usually remains similar to the environment, whereas endotherms (blue line) regulate their own body temperature which remains constant regardless of the temperature of their environment (red line).
  • The red line represents the air temperature. The purple line represents the body temperature of the lizard. The green line represents the base temperature of the burrow. Lizards are ectotherms and use behavioral adaptations to control their temperature. They regulate their behavior based on the temperature outside, if it is warm they will go outside up to a point and return to their burrow as necessary.
    The red line represents the air temperature. The purple line represents the body temperature of the lizard. The green line represents the base temperature of the burrow. Lizards are ectotherms and use behavioral adaptations to control their temperature. They regulate their behavior based on the temperature outside, if it is warm they will go outside up to a point and return to their burrow as necessary.
  • This graph depicts how climate change interferes with bird reproduction. 1. As temperatures begin to rise in March, food availability increases, because the weather is warm enough for insects (the primary food of birds) to hatch. 2. Peak food availability occurs in June, as the young birds are growing and require food. 3. Because of increased temperatures caused by climate change, peak food availability begins in April. 4. Without climate change, birds lay their eggs at the time when peak food availability begins, maximizing the amount of food for the young. With climate change, peak food availability has already occurred, meaning the young have fewer months with peak food availability, thereby decreasing their chance of survival.
    This graph depicts how climate change interferes with bird reproduction. 1. As temperatures begin to rise in March, food availability increases, because the weather is warm enough for insects (the primary food of birds) to hatch. 2. Peak food availability occurs in June, as the young birds are growing and require food. 3. Because of increased temperatures caused by climate change, peak food availability begins in April. 4. Without climate change, birds lay their eggs at the time when peak food availability begins, maximizing the amount of food for the young. With climate change, peak food availability has already occurred, meaning the young have fewer months with peak food availability, thereby decreasing their chance of survival.
  • There are three different types of cells that go through the cell cycle. Labile cells (1) such as squamous epithelium of the skin continuously divide and regenerate. Permanent cells (2) such as neurons are unable to proliferate and leave the cell cycle. Stable cells (3) such as liver hepatocytes have a low level of replication and can regenerate when signaled.
    There are three different types of cells that go through the cell cycle. Labile cells (1) such as squamous epithelium of the skin continuously divide and regenerate. Permanent cells (2) such as neurons are unable to proliferate and leave the cell cycle. Stable cells (3) such as liver hepatocytes have a low level of replication and can regenerate when signaled.
  • Gel Electrophoresis is a process where an electric current is applied to DNA samples creating fragments that can be used for comparison between DNA samples. 1) DNA is extracted. 2) Isolation and amplification of DNA. 3) DNA added to the gel wells. 4) Electric current applied to the gel. 5) DNA bands are separated by size. 6) DNA bands are stained.
    Gel Electrophoresis is a process where an electric current is applied to DNA samples creating fragments that can be used for comparison between DNA samples.
    1) DNA is extracted.
    2) Isolation and amplification of DNA.
    3) DNA added to the gel wells.
    4) Electric current applied to the gel.
    5) DNA bands are separated by size.
    6) DNA bands are stained.
  • The image above shows how small DNA fragments will migrate through agarose gel farther than large DNA fragments during electrophoresis. The graph to the right shows the nonlinear relationship between the size of the DNA fragment and the distance migrated.
    The image above shows how small DNA fragments will migrate through agarose gel farther than large DNA fragments during electrophoresis. The graph to the right shows the nonlinear relationship between the size of the DNA fragment and the distance migrated.
  • It's that easy
    It's that easy
  • The chemical configurations of the different monosaccharides (glucose and N-Acetylglucosamine) and polysaccharides (chitin and cellulose) done in haworth projection along with their relations between each other.
    The chemical configurations of the different monosaccharides (glucose and N-Acetylglucosamine) and polysaccharides (chitin and cellulose) done in haworth projection along with their relations between each other.
  • Mucin is a glycoprotein constituent of mucus. This is a drawing of Mucin and how it looks at the molecular level. Number 1 is the Cytoplasmic Region, Number 2 is the Transmembrane Region, Number 3 is the Core Protein and Number 4 shows O-Linked Glycans.
    Mucin is a glycoprotein constituent of mucus. This is a drawing of Mucin and how it looks at the molecular level. Number 1 is the Cytoplasmic Region, Number 2 is the Transmembrane Region, Number 3 is the Core Protein and Number 4 shows O-Linked Glycans.
  • 1: Donor bacteria 2: Bacteria who will receive the gene 3: The red portion represents the gene that will be transferred Transformation in bacteria in a certain environment.
    1: Donor bacteria 2: Bacteria who will receive the gene 3: The red portion represents the gene that will be transferred Transformation in bacteria in a certain environment.
  • 1: Donor bacteria cell (F+ cell) 2: Bacteria that receives the plasmid (F- cell) 3: Plasmid that will be moved to the other bacteria 4: Pilus Conjugation in bacteria using a sex pilus.
    1: Donor bacteria cell (F+ cell) 2: Bacteria that receives the plasmid (F- cell) 3: Plasmid that will be moved to the other bacteria 4: Pilus Conjugation in bacteria using a sex pilus.
  • Most circular bacterial chromosomes are replicated bidirectionally, starting at one point of origin and replicating in two directions away from the origin. This results in semiconservative replication, in which each new identical DNA molecule contains one template strand from the original molecule, shown as the solid lines, and one new strand, shown as the dotted lines.
    Most circular bacterial chromosomes are replicated bidirectionally, starting at one point of origin and replicating in two directions away from the origin. This results in semiconservative replication, in which each new identical DNA molecule contains one template strand from the original molecule, shown as the solid lines, and one new strand, shown as the dotted lines.
  • Gastric glands are composed of epithelial cells (A), chief cells (C), and parietal cells (B). The chief and parietal cells produce and secrete mucus (D) to protect the lining of the stomach (F) against the harsh pH of stomach acid. The mucus is basic, while the stomach acid (E) is acidic.
    Gastric glands are composed of epithelial cells (A), chief cells (C), and parietal cells (B). The chief and parietal cells produce and secrete mucus (D) to protect the lining of the stomach (F) against the harsh pH of stomach acid. The mucus is basic, while the stomach acid (E) is acidic.
  • Pond Succession occurs through the following steps. A: Pond with emergent plant life B: First layer of sediment fills the bottom of the pond C: Emergent plant life moves from side of pond nearer to the middle, second layer of sediment is added to pond. D: Third layer of sediment is added, various plant life; both emergent and terrestrial plants are growing E: The fourth and final layer of sediment has filled the pond. There are very little emergent plants left, and the majority are terrestrial plants. Trees are starting to appear. F: Now trees start to grow in the swamp water,then it will eventually dry out, becoming either a grassland or forest.
    Pond Succession occurs through the following steps. A: Pond with emergent plant life B: First layer of sediment fills the bottom of the pond C: Emergent plant life moves from side of pond nearer to the middle, second layer of sediment is added to pond. D: Third layer of sediment is added, various plant life; both emergent and terrestrial plants are growing E: The fourth and final layer of sediment has filled the pond. There are very little emergent plants left, and the majority are terrestrial plants. Trees are starting to appear. F: Now trees start to grow in the swamp water,then it will eventually dry out, becoming either a grassland or forest.
  • Sulfur is used as a reducing agent during photosynthesis in green and sulfur bacteria. 1. Energy in the form of sunlight. 2. The light dependent reactions take place when the light excites a reaction center, which donates an electron to another molecule and starts the electron transport chain to produce ATP and NADPH. 3. Once NADPH has been produced, the Kreb’s cycle proceeds as in oxygenic photosynthesis, turning CO2 into glucose.
    Sulfur is used as a reducing agent during photosynthesis in green and sulfur bacteria.
    1. Energy in the form of sunlight.
    2. The light dependent reactions take place when the light excites a reaction center, which donates an electron to another molecule and starts the electron transport chain to produce ATP and NADPH.
    3. Once NADPH has been produced, the Kreb’s cycle proceeds as in oxygenic photosynthesis, turning CO2 into glucose.
  • A family tree indicating the different species within the Camelidae genus. The tree will show where each species of the Camelidae genus originate from.
    A family tree indicating the different species within the Camelidae genus. The tree will show where each species of the Camelidae genus originate from.
  • Nonpoint source pollution is caused when precipitation (1) carries pollutants from the ground such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pollutants which come from fertilizers used on farm lands (2) or urban areas (3). These nutrients can cause eutrophication (4).
    Nonpoint source pollution is caused when precipitation (1) carries pollutants from the ground such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pollutants which come from fertilizers used on farm lands (2) or urban areas (3). These nutrients can cause eutrophication (4).

Contributors

Add your user name here following my example. Just add this template with your username instead of the line: {{user|username}} and then, if your username is not identifiable, your real first name.

Uploading

In order to complete the assignment and reap all the benefits of your hard work (such as a good grade) you MUST complete all of the following steps. If you need help, just ask.

How to, step by step

Step 1: Create a Wikipedia Global account by clicking "Login/create account" in the upper right hand corner of this page.
Step 2: Click here to use the WikiCommons File Upload Wizard
Step 3: If you didn't do it in the Wizard, categorize your image by adding a one or more [[Category:_______]] tags at the bottom of the page (fill in the name of the category in the _______.) You might use Category:Biology diagrams (but that's not a very helpful category) or something more specific like Category:Molecular biology or something else appropriate.
Step 4: If you didn't do it in the Wizard you should also now add your labels and your caption information in the description to your upload page in the Commons.
Step 5: Your image is now available in all Wiki Projects, including Wikipedia. So let's add it to the article! Go to the article you want to add your donated image to. In the top of the section of the article or the subheading you want to add the image to add something like this:

[[File:MY IMAGE NAME.png|right|thumb|200px|The [[caption]] of '''my image'''.]]
That's not too hard is it? For your caption you'll need to follow Wikipedia style and use some mark up to do this - it's kind of like a micro-essay. The [[ ]] creates a link to the given page on Wikipedia and the ''' ''' make the word bold, in Wikipedia it's appropriate to bold the title of the article the first time it's used in the text or in a caption."


Step 6: Wow you've done it! Now you just have to turn in your work by adding it to gallery in the section above here called "Contributions". Just follow the model I provided in the first entry. Make sure that your entry is between the <gallery> and </gallery> tags or it won't show up. Your caption will likely have to be shorter than your description, see the style advice below.

Style guides

To get past the stumbling blocks of editing Wikipedia, articles will have to conform to the Wikipedia style guides. The largest barriers are:

You can always ask for help at:

  • The Help Desk
    or

Writing a good image caption

There are several criteria for a good caption. A good caption:

  1. clearly identifies the subject of the picture, without detailing the obvious.
  2. is succinct (that means short).
  3. establishes the picture's relevance to the article.
  4. provides context for the picture.
  5. draws the reader into the article.

Different people read articles different ways. Some people start at the top and read each word until the end. Others read the first paragraph and scan through for other interesting information, looking especially at pictures and captions. For those readers, even if the information is adjacent in the text, they will not find it unless it is in the caption—but do not tell the whole story in the caption—use the caption to make the reader curious about the subject.

Another way of approaching the job: imagine you're giving a lecture based on the encyclopedia article, and you are using the image to illustrate the lecture. What would you say while attention is on the image? What do you want your audience to notice in the image, and why? Corollary: if you have got nothing to say, then the image probably does not belong in the article.

Images for the lead

It is very common to use an appropriate representative image for the lead of an article, often as part of an infobox. The image helps to provide a visual association for the topic, and allows readers to quickly assess if they have arrived at the right page. For most topics, the selection of a lead image is plainly obvious: a photograph or artistic work of a person, photographs of a city, or a cover of a book or album, to name a few.

Image selection for other topics may be more difficult and several possible choices could be made. While Wikipedia is not censored, as outlined in the above section on offensive images, the selection of the lead image should be made with some care with respect to this advice. Lead images are loaded and shown upon navigating to the page, and are one of the first things that readers will see. Editors should avoid using images that readers would not have expected to see when navigating to the page. Unlike other content on a page that falls below the lead, the lead image should be chosen with these considerations in mind.

Some advice on selecting a lead image include the following:

  1. Lead images should be images that are natural and appropriate visual representations of the topic; they not only should be illustrating the topic specifically, but should also be the type of image that is used for similar purposes in high-quality reference works, and therefore what our readers will expect to see. Lead images are not required, and not having a lead image may be the best solution if there is no easy representation of the topic.
  2. Lead images should be selected to be of least shock value; if an alternative image exists that still is an accurate representation of the topic but without shock value, it should always be preferred. For example, using an image of deportees being subjected to selection as the lead image at this version of
    Holocaust
    is far preferable to the appropriate images that appear later in the article that show the treatment of the prisoners or corpses from the camps.
  3. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid the use of a lead image with perceived shock value if the topic itself is of that nature, for example in articles on various parts of human genitalia. It should be anticipated, through Wikipedia:Content disclaimer, that readers will be aware they will be exposed to potentially shocking images when navigating to articles on such topics.

Planning and resources

Talk pages

These are places where you can leave and receive messages and questions, every page has one. Whenever you edit these pages, make sure that you are signed in. Also, add four tildes ~~~~ to the end of all comments you make on talk pages. This will let people know who is talking.