AP Biology Final Projects

Brentwood is a platform that allows students to innovate and enhance in the field of science. Every year, Mr McCarthy encourages AP Biology students to apply skills we have learned in class to real life. This allows us to develop use of the scientific method and to research like students do in university.  The projects this spring ranged from the effect of hearing on different ages, to the use of a polymerase chain reaction for determining taste. These experiments provided opportunities for us to enhance our learning through physical interactions and practical situations and applications.  The AP Bio curriculum contains content from a first year biology course allowing students in high school to experience a university resemblant classroom and tests. This year’s group of biology students effectively embraced opportunities and strove for perfection in all projects and tests including the University of Toronto national biology exam, where we continue to rank higher every year. These biology projects consisted of a research component and a lab component and these all had to be incorporated in a trifold display. These trifolds were then displayed in a science fair in the Learning Commons. The science department is a robust and ingenious department that allows students to explore outside of the classroom. We are given many opportunities to advance our knowledge database. We have access to technological instruments and opportunities that many schools in British Columbia do not have. For example, my biology partner and I were the first to use the polymerase chain reaction to amplify DNA. I am sure that Brentwood students will continue to grow as scientists and mature with knowledge that they will recollect for the rest of their lives. Areeb S, Rogers ‘20