Frequently Asked Questions for Biology

1. What do I dissect in the year of Biology?

     The student will dissect a large frog that has been injected with a red dye (enables us to see the arteries more clearly) and a blue dye (for the veins).  The frog is dissected slowly through the first semester to along with the body’s systems.  After each lab, frog should be placed in a zip-type plastic bag with as much air pushed out as possible and stored in a cool place (NOT the refrigerator!)  A sheep kidney, a sheep brain, a sheep pluck (the heart and lungs and trachea all still attached) are the other dissections that are done in the first semester.  In the second semester the student dissects a fish, a frog, a grasshopper, a crawfish, a sea star (starfish), a clam, a worm, a jellyfish and a sponge.  All of these are included in the Total Package.  What is not included are the plant dissections that the student will do.  The student will be studying the plant kingdom usually when spring begins, so the specimens can be found around him outside.  The plant dissections are: dicot flower, peach (or plum or nectarine), dicot seed, small carrot, small tomato, and a moss sample.

2. What do I do with the frog after the first dissection?

     Place the frog in a zip-top plastic bag, squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible then seal.  Store in a cool, dry place.  Thankfully, the refrigerator is not necessary!

3.What do I do with the specimens after dissection?

Thankfully, the specimens can safely be thrown out in the garbage for they are preserved in a solution called "Carosafe".