Tag Archive for 'biology'

Kidney Dialysis Simulation

For an organism to survive, it needs to get rid of metabolic waste materials, as well as maintain proper concentrations of various necessary materials. For example, human food consists of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, various salts, and water. As these materials are metabolized, certain waste products are produced, such as carbon dioxide, water, urea and related nitrogenous compounds, salt, and various minerals. If these waste materials remain in the body, they quickly upset the body’s equilibrium (homeostasis), so they must be excreted rapidly and efficiently.

The kidneys are very important organs within the human body because they are essential to maintaining homeostasis. Humans have two bean-shaped kidneys that are found at the back of the abdominal cavity, one found on each side of the spine. Each kidney is approximately the size of a person’s fist. All the blood in the body must pass through the kidneys. The large amount of blood that is passed through the kidneys allows them to do the following: Continue reading ‘Kidney Dialysis Simulation’

Termites and Animal Behavior

Termite TrailsTermites are small, soft bodied, pale-colored insects. Termites of the genus Reticulitermes are subterranean where they feed primarily on damp wood and wood debris. They do feed on wood found above ground by creating a connection or tunnel between the soil and the wood they are eating. These connections look like small tunnels of soil running from the ground to the wood.

Once the termites find damp wood they will begin to carve out “galleries.” These galleries distinguish this species from others, Reticulitermes will only cut with the grain of the wood.

Termites are social insects that live in a caste system. This species is usually divided up into four types of termites. The Primary reproductives (King and Queen) have dark bodies, compound eyes and wings; secondary reproductive adults with pale bodies, wing buds and compound eyes; workers with pale bodies, lacking compound eyes and wings; and soldiers with pale bodies, large jaws, and no wings. Both the soldiers and workers are sterile.

The workers perform the main work of the colony. They collect food, feed the queen, soldiers and young and construct the galleries. The soldiers are the defenders of the colony protecting others with their large mandibles.

Continue reading ‘Termites and Animal Behavior’





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