Notes From Barb Schulz on Introductory and Advanced Biology at Upper School:

Thornton Creek Watershed study offers students an opportunity to experience real scientific research through a collaborative effort with other high school students and research scientists. The data generated through the course of the school year is added to a data base and is used to assess the quality od the watershed. Students not only monitor the water quality through a variety of tests, but also look at bird migration patterns as one way wildlife use the watershed seasonally. Students will gain a better understanding of the interrelatedness of the ecosystem and the role played by humans in the process.

The Advanced Biology classes will work with their growing knowledge of molecular biotechnology as they join a collaborative of high school students in the greater Puget Sound area to investigate the microsatelites in the genome of Coho salmon. Through this activity, students will look at the genetics of salmon spawning in Thornton Creek watershed. They will look specifically for comparisons in the genome of hatchery and wild salmon and look for any interbreeding as seen through the microsattelites. Collaboration with the research community and among students to answer a common question is a major benefit for us as it helps students understand the nature of science and contributes real data to the knowledge base for use by the entire interested scientific community.