Photos by L.J.Hiker

Experienced and Credentialed in Multiple Subject Areas

Biology

High School AP Biology
First Year Honors/Accelerated Biology
College Prep Biology
Life Science

Geoscience

Earth Science
Physical Geography
Oceanography

Environmental Science

AP Environmental Science
Oceanography

Chemistry

College Prep High School Chemistry
Physical Science

Contact renfrewsciencelife@gmail.com for information and scheduling. Initial session is free and discounts available as needed.

Lesson Block A: Essential Chemistry for Biologists

The first chapters in biology text books generally cover the basics of physical (inorganic) and organic chemistry. It is said that life is based on the cell. Looking a little deeper we see that cells are composed of molecular structures including organelles such as the nucleus, membrane, and mitochondria. These in turn are composed of the four types of organic compounds- proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids. Many other chemicals are in the watery mixture inside the cell known as the cytosol (cell solution)

The sum of interactions of all of these chemicals and structures with each other inside the cell and with the outside chemical environment, is what makes the cell alive. The cell responds to internal and external chemical and physical (such as light) signals to acquire nutrients, avoid predators or pathogens, maintain a constant internal environment (homeostasis) and reproduce. Clearly, to understand biology a sufficient understanding of chemistry is necessary. Topics in physics are also needed to a lesser degree.

There are so many examples that could be offered in support of the last statements above, but here are a few that will serve to make the point and may be found interesting: Human Nutrition, Digestion, and Absorption; Devil's Gardens in the Amazon Rainforest; Serpentine Plant Communities; Vitamin D Production from Cholestero with Sunlight; Thyroid Normal Function and Disorder; Blood pH, Iron, and Oxygen; and Photosynthesis in Everything from Bacteria to Sequoia Trees. (development of these topics is upcoming)

Human Nutrition, Digestion, and Abosrption

2. The Devil's Gardens of the Amazon Rainforest

3. Vitamin D Production from Cholesterol with Sunlight

4. Iron, Oxygen, and your Blood (acidity- pH of blood and seawater)

5. Thyroid Normal Function and Disorder

6. Serpentine Plant Communities

7. Photosynthesis-> Sunlight, Pigments, Magnesium and e l e c t r o n s