hells bells

[Cosmo]

hells bells, my poor kids got exams next week starting for the final year of school and i swear she's a nervous wreck,
shes a good kid and studies hard doesnt muck up but it tears a bloke up inside
ive always been a hands on type o bloke but if i could make heads or tails of her lessons i could help but its all greek to me

the kids stressed out any ideas its tearing me up she looks so tired i wana help but im a bit of a nong

cosmo

[biotechy2k]

Hi Cosmo

First of all welcome to the forum, and I can see you really are worried about your little girl
There is so much stress and competition this day and age it really does impact hard on the students,

It certainly sounds as if you have got a really hard worker there and she's doing her best

Don't sell yourself short your love and support are very special and believe me I am sure she will appreciate it

Is she doing year 11 or 12 exams?
A good tip for study is 45 mins to 1 hr study 15 mins break

our poor brains can only absorb so much input so setting a timer (I use the oven timer) for every hour to have a 15 min break
where I would walk about the room make a cup of tea to get away from the books for 15 min helps us retain more information

Is there any particular subject that she is especially worried about?
maybe a few of us here on the forum can help out
Take it easy yourself stress really can really knock people about
Take Care Biotecky2k

[Cosmo]

thanks mate shes got today off school for study and i haven't roused her up yet she was up so late but i grab one of her books off the table and have a gander

oh she is in grade 12 and these is the big exam for her uni

jeezuz is a phenotype its a question on the top of her note page man o man i got out of school in primary i'm ok with the basics maths but i got no clue to what this stuff is

she had to show me how to use this machine and explain it all like i said shes a smart kid
cosmo
ps i like the idear of the have a break common sense wish i knew that when i was at school but to late 4 that now ha ha

[DavidG]

The phenotype of an individual organism is either its total physical appearance and constitution, or a specific manifestation of a trait, such as size or eye color, that varies between individuals. Phenotype is determined to some extent by genotype, or by the identity of the alleles that an individual carries at one or more positions on the chromosomes. Many phenotypes are determined by multiple genes and influenced by environmental factors. Thus, the identity of one or a few known alleles does not always enable prediction of the phenotype.

Nevertheless, because phenotypes are much easier to observe than genotypes (it doesn't take chemistry or sequencing to determine a person's eye color), classical genetics uses phenotypes to deduce the functions of genes. Breeding experiments can then check these inferences. In this way, early geneticists were able to trace inheritance patterns without any knowledge whatsoever of molecular biology.

The interaction between genotype and phenotype has often been described using a simple equation:

genotype + environment → phenotype
A slightly more nuanced version of the equation is:

genotype + environment + random-variation → phenotype
An example of the importance of random variation in phenotypic expression is Drosophila flies in whom number of eyes may vary as much (randomly) between left and right sides, in a single individual, as they do between different genotypes overall, or between clones raised in differing environments.

A phenotype is any detectable characteristic of an organism (i.e. structural, biochemical, physiological and behavioral) determined by an interaction between its genotype and environment (see genotype-phenotype distinction and phenotypic plasticity for a further elaboration of this distinction).

[knucklehead]

There is such a big build up for these kids. The message is if you don't get these exams right you will have failed.
The fact is that there are many ways to skin a cat. Lots of people don't get into their first choice at uni. Take what you can get, do as many overlapping subjects as possible and swap courses next year.
There are also a lot of TAFEs that offer first year uni courses. There is no entrance exams for these. Just pay your money and do it. If the results are good the uni will allow entry on the results.

[biotechy2k]

Hi Cosmo

well I can certainly answer what a phenotype is
It is a term (read jargon) used in the study of genetics and a
Phenotype in simple terms is any measurable characteristic
if looking at plants it can be leaf shape if you are looking at animals it can be coat, type, (curled hair or straight) coat colour whisker length

I have tutorted a few students in Biology and if I remember back in High school you do study genetics as part of Biology over years Eleven and Twelve, and one of the first things you learn like many subjects the most difficult thing about studying genetics is it does have very specific language that pertains to the subject
and it can be very confusing,
not too mention most people who have touched on the subject of genetics is if they don't go into the science field or continue further study you tend to wonder why you had to study it in the first place LOL

If she needs a hand when she wakes up get her to jump on line and perhaps I can help, I can also email you an article I wrote
"Genetics for the Layperson" for a magazine which helps explain in simple language what a few of the more common terms mean.

I wrote the article for a Breeders magazine along with a few others to help
Breeders of small exotic mammals to give them insight into why animals should be bred for health and tempremant over coat markings
So if I can help by all means I will do my best
I'm of the mind that knowledge and education should be shared and should be free (maybe I am a lefty at heart )

Don't worry mate I am sure your daughter will do very well
Cheers Bio

[Cosmo]

[quote=DavidG]The phenotype of an individual organism is either its total physical appearance and constitution, or a specific manifestation of a trait, such as size or eye color, that varies between individuals. Phenotype is determined to some extent by genotype, or by the identity of the alleles that an individual carries at one or more positions on the chromosomes. Many phenotypes are determined by multiple genes and influenced by environmental factors. Thus, the identity of one or a few known alleles does not always enable prediction of the phenotype.

jeeze mate ya lost me on the fist sentencee what are you a doctor? ill pass it on and see if it helps outta my legue
cosmo

[Cosmo]

There is such a big build up for these kids. The message is if you don't get these exams right you will have failed.
The fact is that there are many ways to skin a cat. Lots of people don't get into their first choice at uni. Take what you can get, do as many overlapping subjects as possible and swap courses next year.
There are also a lot of TAFEs that offer first year uni courses. There is no entrance exams for these. Just pay your money and do it. If the results are good the uni will allow entry on the results.

blood oath the poor kids got enuff on her plate she lost her mum this year and i wanted her to take time off from school but she kept goin she does all my books and ive set up an account for her she gets what i would end up paying the accountant dont know how but she even did the tax this year and we got a great rebate well thats put away for her as well shes my angel but ya gotta be like that when we are all weve got shes just got up when shes out ill get her to read this bb and let her make up her mind
cosmo shes got her mums brains and beauty

[Cosmo]

[quote=biotechy2k]Hi Cosmo

well I can certainly answer what a phenotype is
It is a term (read jargon) used in the study of genetics and a
Phenotype in simple terms is any measurable characteristic
if looking at plants it can be leaf shape if you are looking at animals it can be coat, type, (curled hair or straight) coat colour whisker length

haya matee
thas a bit easier on this ol noggin to understand i got lost on the other reply the article sounds good i just showd angel and she wants to know if its in word format she wants to be a vet we have a god damm shelter here with little creatures angel saves
cooks and birds 2 cats and a blind 3 legged mut ha ha got heart my kid ya gonna be online in an hour or 2 shes jump in the shower so we wont see her for a while ha ha ha ha
cosmo

[biotechy2k]

haya matee
thas a bit easier on this ol noggin to understand i got lost on the other reply the article sounds good i just showd angel and she wants to know if its in word format she wants to be a vet we have a god damm shelter here with little creatures angel saves
cooks and birds 2 cats and a blind 3 legged mut ha ha got heart my kid ya gonna be online in an hour or 2 shes jump in the shower so we wont see her for a while ha ha ha ha
cosmo[/quote]

Hi Cosmo well I have two brothers and one sister-in-law who are all vets and the way you have described her; yes I can already envision she will be a great vet, my daughter also wants to be a vet but she's only eight years old but we tend to have her bring home all manner of animals on the way home from school she brought home and injured crow from the park with her big brother last Saturday LOL (Talk about noisy birds we had it out the back and it still was deafing) LOL
And my daughter also spends what seems like eons in the shower or Rain Room as she calls it Don't worry its a female thing I should switch to electric hot water system so when she runs out of cold water she might get the hint LOL
I'm packing up our office today (at home) so will be online to help in anyway not a problem
Cheers Bio

[Cosmo]

Biotechy2k

God I am sooo embarassed my dad has done this and I am studying Biology, Wow you have vets in your family I am soo jealous,
It feels so weird to talk to some men on a wood working bulliten board about my silly exams (I wanted dad to talk to others people who share his interests so I made him subscribe) (He's such a worry wart)
I would really like to read your magazine article is it in word.doc format or in pdf format,? I may have to upload a later version if its in pdf to be able to read it.

We are doing medallian genetics, and I am ok with chemistry and physics but some of the Biology worries me and the nomenclature has me tearing my hair out and dad will not get any dessert after dinner tonight if he makes any more wise cracks about our dog!!!!

He was the one who made a small scaled down version of a double bed with a carpet covered ramp complete with pillows and duvet
HA!

can you PM me on dads link and I'll down load it
Thanks
This still feels weird
Angel

[biotechy2k]

[quote=Cosmo]Biotechy2k

Hi Angel
Don't be worried he is your dad and he really does love you
and if it helps talking to me you are in reality talking to a mum not a man
mind you my kids are only 8 and 12 so I will no doubt be worrying about how stressed my children will be when they reach high school.

Yes the wonderful world of pea plants LOL
I still use a lot of chemistry when I work in the labs but more Organic Bio Chemistry and well my Husband is the Physics ledgend in this house LOL
I can still remember being stressed when I had a physics exam on lens theory (think I tore out my hair also don't worry short hair is in)

and Binomial Nomenclature is a piece of cake once you get your head around it, and there is a simple method to it so don't worry obviously your doing all the science subjects and no doubt the corresponding maths
I am not sure what the maths is called now but when I went through school it was Maths I and Maths II but I think they use terms
Maths A and B I still have a lot of old texts here so if your in Brisbane or Queensland I can always send you an old reference text if you need it

When I was in Toowoomba I would tutor senior students in science so not a problem and have a variety of reference texts ranging from Chemistry, Bio Chem, Biology, Microbiology, (some algerbra and calculus), and a great genetics text which I used for uni.

Ouch letting Dad miss out on dessert! LOL if you have a picture of your dog we'd love to see it especially his bed sounds wonderful and the pup sounds very cute I might add.

the article was written in word and then formatted in PDF but I've a soft copy on this machine so no problems don't know if I can send it as an attachment but if you have a separate email account you can pm me I can send it there it does have some very simple diagrams on punnett squares in it and basically simple gifs of chromosomes and how they combine, If it helps you are more than welcome to print out yourself a hard copy

I'm pottering around the office at home today packing up files and texts as we are moving house Saturday so the PC will be offline from Friday evening till at least Saturday evening
So What ever I can do to help don't hesistate
and Remember Dads all fuss over their daughters seems the way of the world. And your Dad is no Different LOL
Cheers Biotechy2k (AKA Lou)

[DavidG]

jeeze mate ya lost me on the fist sentencee what are you a doctor?

No. Just put "phenotype" into Google and gave you a copy of the first site.

[biotechy2k]

Hi Cosmo and Angel just sent the article
re your message you're both just up the road from us although we will be even closer as we are just moving one suburb north really only 5 min up the road from you your dial up connection died or you email box may be full as I tried to reply it bounced but if you and your daughter have a spare few mins you are more than welcome to give me a bell on my mobile and before I pack up the text books are welcome to come an borrow some (make for a lighter load for moving) LOLOL
and you both have a coffee I'll be ready to fire up a brew then and Angel can go through the books in the office before I pack them
Cheers Lou

[anthonyd]

When I was a kid my father taught me a really good study technique that he used to get four degrees (all in medicine) and I used to get my engineering degree.

Make up a bunch of study cards about 8cm by 3cm out of thin cardboard.

Now let's say you are studying science - one fact is that the formula for water is H2O. So you write on one side of a card "What is the formula for water?" - now on the other side you write the answer "H2O".

Ok now do this for all your work untill you end up with a nice pile of question and answer cards. (firstly you have learn't by making them). Now every chance you get go through your cards (shuffel them every time). Read the question and say the asnwer to yourself. If you get it right then put the card in your left pocket. If you get it wrong put it in your right pocket. Work through all the cards. Now take the ones out of your right pocket and go through them again doing the same untill you got them all right. Now shuffell again and work through them the opposite way (ie look at the answers and give the quiestion).

This is a great method because once your cards are made you can take them everywhere with you! I used to have a tuppaware container with all my cards as school at most times. You can go through them during assembly just before the exams, on the bus on the way to your exams etc... Works a real treat and is a lot more fun than reading it in a book over and over again!