Biology

Biology is a subject that is of special interest to me, because it is important for many facets of life, like sports and reproduction, but also, because I love spending time in nature and see wildlife and vegetation patterns.

To learn about biology during the school year, I formulated questions about the subjects and researched to find the answers. I read further into topics that i thought were interesting or had more to offer. I followed the curriculum my mentor and I planned and added topics as needed. The following topics were a focus of my studies in this year:

Subject 1: Human reproduction

I followed the course: "Gyneecology for physician assistants (B.Sc.)" with 60 academic hours and discussed the material with the Professor. Additionally I had the opportunity to participate in a course on emergency preparedness in childbirth for midwives, nursing personnel, maternity care workers and doulas.

While in the Netherlands, I spoke with my grandmother about pregnancy and childbirth. My grandmother is a certified midwife and has helped around 4500 children being born, 85%-90% of these as home births.

Subject 2: Genetics

I leaned about

• hereditary disease
  
• genes: recessive and dominant
  
• DNA: structure and function in the cell
  
• genetics

Subject 3: Flora and fauna in Europe and the rest of the world

I visited several nature seserves such as

• Natur- und Umweltpark Güstrow (nature and environmental park Güstrow, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany)
  
• Müritz National Park in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
  
•  "National Park Vorpommernsche Boddenlandschaft" on the peninsula Fischland-Darß-Zingst, Germany
  
•  white cliffs on the island of Rügen, Germany
  

Additionally I watched high quality documentaries on topics such as "Fibonacci and structure in nature" and "Animals of the Galapagos".

I gathered various wild and cultivated plants, learning more about Ecology and Plant Biology.

Throughout this year i also deepened my
knowledge on the following subjects:

- Cell Biology
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Physiology
- Evolution