Biozine Biology Magazine - Issue 1

ISSUE 1

VOL. 1

FEBRUARY 2024

BIOZINE

BY MARYAM (12A) AND G EFI (12H)

TABLE OF CONTENTS 03

MOVIES RELATED TO BIOLOGY

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Fun wordsearch - can you find all the words?

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Including topics like Genetics and Health + Disease

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BIOLOGY KAHOOT Ten question quiz - chance to win a chocolate prize!

TEACHER’S FAVOURITES Some movies and books recommended by the biology department from this term

BOOKS RELATED TO BIOLOGY Including topics like Genetic Modification and Cells + Control

BIOLOGY WORDSEARCH

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CURRENT BIOLOGY NEWS Developments that are taking place in biology right now which are making global headlines

MOVIE REVIEW

February 2024 Watford Grammar School for Girls

Related to Genetics What is Gattaca about?

Gattaca is a 1997 science fiction movie set in the future where majority of people are genetically engineered for perfection. The story is based around a single character Vincent Freeman. Vincent Freeman is considered a genetically inferior individual.

Despite discrimination from his peers and own family, Vincent still aims to pursue his dreams of becoming an astronaut. The steps he takes to achieve this is extreme as he takes the identity of a genetically superior but paralyzed man

Themes?

Genetic Discrimination Explores a society where people face prejudice and limited opportunites based on their genetics

Individual Determination Focuses on Vincent Freeman’s journey to overcome society’s expectations and discrimination

Ethics of Genetic Engineering Shows ethical issues about societal implications of genetic engineering as it leads to discrimination and inequality

Rating:

MOVIE REVIEW

February 2024 Watford Grammar School for Girls

Related to Health and Disease

What is Contagion about?

Contagion is a 2011 thriller portraying the rapid and deadly spread of the MEV-1 virus and the global efforts to contain and understand the outbreak. The film follows key characters, including an epidemiologist (Kate Winslet), a WHO official (Marion Cotillard), a conspiracy theorist blogger (Jude Law), and a man (Matt Damon) facing personal loss. Through various storylines, the movie explores the societal, scientific, and personal impacts of a worldwide pandemic, emphasizing the challenges in finding a vaccine and the consequences of misinformation. This movie is said to have predicted the future of the COVID-19 pandemic

Themes?

Global Cooperation in a Crisis Explores how imperative for international collaboration among scientists, governments to understand, contain and combat a deadly virus taking over the world

Societal Breakdown and Panic Shows the breakdown of societal order due to fear and panic of the Virus, showing the impact on everyone as they grapple with uncertanity and misinformation during a pandemic

Rating:

MOVIE REVIEW

February 2024 Watford Grammar School for Girls

Interesting movie linked to biology

What is Downsizing about?

Downsizing is a 2017 science fiction comedydrama film. The movie is set in a world where scientists have discovered a way to shrink humans to a height of five inches as a solution to overpopulation and environmental concerns. The story follows Paul Safranek (played by Matt Damon), who decides to undergo the downsizing procedure with his wife, Audrey (played by Kristen Wiig). However, their experiences in the downsized community lead to unexpected adventures and reflections on their lives

Themes?

Environmental Stability Explores the theme of environmental stability as solution to overpopulation by shrinking their physical size, therefore minimizing resource consumption and waste

Societal Expectation As the characters undergo the downsizing process, they try to understand whether societal expectations align with their own desires for a meaningful like. The movie overall prompts the reflection of individual choices in the face of societal pressures

Rating:

BOOK REVIEW

February 2024 Watford Grammar School for Girls

Related to Genetic Modification What is the Selfish Gene about?

The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins is a groundbreaking science book that presents a gene-centered view of evolution. Published in 1976, the book changed how people think about natural selection and the mechanisms driving evolution.

Themes?

Gene-centered Evolution Genes act as selfish replicators trying to be present over many generations. The book illustates the idea that the evolutionary process is driven by competition e.g Natural selectons amongest other genes for survival and reproduction

Replication Dawkins introduces his idea of ‘replicators’, entities that can make copies of themselves. Genes are portrayed as the primary replicators of biological evolution

Selfishness Dawkin explores alutrustic behaviors in organims and he says in his book that they can be understood through the lens of gen-centered evolution

Rating:

BOOK REVIEW

February 2024 Watford Grammar School for Girls

Related to Cells and Control What is The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks about?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a nonfiction book written published in 2010.

The book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and became one of the most important tools in medicine, contributing to numerous scientific breakthroughs.

Themes?

Medical Ethics and Consent The book explores the ethical implications of taking Henrietta Lacks’ cells without her consent or her family’s.

At the time it was common for researchers to not ask for consent to use other people’s human tissues raising questions about the human rights of individuals in medical research

Impacts on the Lacks Family The book also shows the impacts on Henrietta herself and her family as they were unaware of her cells’ use in research for many years. The book explores issues of exploitation, racial inequality, and the economic discrepancy in the biomedical industry brining attention to personal and social consequence of medical research

Rating:

BOOK REVIEW

February 2024 Watford Grammar School for Girls

Interesting book about biology What is Lab Girl about?

"Lab Girl" is a memoir written by American geochemist, geobiologist, and professor Hope Jahren. The book, published in 2016, combines personal anecdotes with reflections on the scientific process and the life of a research scientist and the challenges faced by women in STEM fields

Themes?

Scientific Exploration and Curiosity The book follows Jahren’s journey as a scientist emphasizing her love for plants and endless curiosity

Challenges in Science The book addresses challenges faced by women in the maledominated field of science. Jahren reflects on the struggles she has faced as a female scientist. She highlights issues such as gender bias and stereotypes

Mental Health The book also touches on Jahren’s struggles with mental health, including Bipolar Disorder. It explores the impacts of mental health challenges on her personal and professional life and the resillence needed to overcome these obstacles

Rating:

February 2024 Watford Grammar Schools for Girls

Quizizz Rules: Prizes will be awarded to those in the top 3 Entries for the quiz must be in by 11th February 2024 Only one entry per person Name should be your first name followed by your forms e.g Iffah 10C Prizes will be given on the 12th February 2024 For easier access - click the link on the email or copy the link into the search bar

Link: https://quizizz.com/join?gc=87059157 OR Go on to the Quizziz website and join the game code: 87059157

February 2024 Watford Grammar Schools for Girls

Chromatin Nucleolus Prokaryotes Chloroplast Cell Wall Cell Membrane Eukaryotes Mitochondria Cilia Vacuole Ribosomes Centrioles Cytoplasm Lysosome

February 2024

TEACHER’S FAVOURITES Watford Grammar School for Girls Ms McAlpine

The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot (Book) The Blue Planet (Series)

Mrs Williamson

The Island - Michael Bay (Movie) Supersize Me - Morgan Spurlock (Movie)

Mrs Bocancea

Avatar - James Cameron (Movie) Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins (Book)

Mrs Hall

The Unexpected Truth about animals - Lucy Cooke (Book)

Miss Blogg Your Inner Fish - Neil Shubin (Book) This is going to hurt - Adam Kay (Book)

Ms Sparke This is going to hurt - Adam Kay (Book) Erin Brockovich - Steven Soderbergh (Movie)

Mrs Randhawa The Gut - Guilia Enders (Book) Why We Sleep - Matthew Walker (Book)

Mrs Patteson The Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Lives and Shape Our Futures - Merlin Sheldrake (Book) Sapiens: A Brief history of humankind - Yoval Noah Harari (Book)

February 2024

GLOBAL BIOLOGY NEWS Watford Grammar School for Girls Trending Stories Find out more on Source: ScienceNews

Hand writing may boost brain connection more than typing does Bird flu outbreak is sweeping the globe. Its longterm effects are unclear This first of its kind palm plant flowers and fruits entirely underground How an invasive ant changed a lion’s dinner menu Is aging without illness possible?

A fibre inspired by polar bears traps heat as well as down feathers do

THANK YOU FOR READING

BIOZINE