Thursday, December 9, 2010

Photosynthesis "Dry Lab"

Materials; 4 Test Tube, Snail, Elodea Plant, a lighted room, Pond water, And a dark room.

Procedure;
Step one, Put 100 mL pond water and 20 props of BTB into a test tube.
Step two, repeat step one for all three remaining test tubes.
Step Three, add a snail to two test tube and add a plant to the remaining two test tubes.
Step Four, Take one test tube with the snail and one test tube with the plant into the dark room and keep the other two in the lighted room.
Step Five, Leave all four Test tube over night.
Step Six, Collect data and write down your observations.
Step Seven, clean up. Pour the pond water down the sink, trash the Elodea plant and flush the snails down the toilet.

2)
     1) Water plus bromothymol blue is blue green Because Oxygen is in the water to make it turn blue green and the Ph is neutral.
     2) Water plus bromothymol blue plus an aquarium snail turns yellow Because Bromothymol blue turns yellow when mixed with carbon dioxide because it makes carbonic acid which turns BTB yellow.
     3) Water plus bromothymol blue plus elodea, an aquarium plant, Is blue green in light Because bromothymol blue turns blue green when mixed with oxygen. Oxygen is what comes out after a plant goes through photosynthesis
     4) Water plus bromothymol blue plus a snail plus elodea is blue-green in light and yellow when left in the dark for three hours Because the snail is putting out carbon dioxide in the dark and the plant can't go through photosynthesis in the dark then in the light the plant can go through photosynthesis to put out carbon dioxide.

3) Questions
    1) What color would it change if you added twice as many snails as you did plants?
    2) What color would it Change if you had twice as many plants as you did snails?
    3)  What would happen if you had an oxygen pump in it?

Monday, December 6, 2010

Enzyme lab

 The enzyme lab was really fun. It took up three full days and it was really easy so my group messed around while we waited. For the lab we had to take a computer over to the lab station and hook it up to a pressure sensor on logger pro. While one of us was doing that another person in the group was busy making the water yeast solution.  On the first day we used 3 ml water and 3 ml H2O2 in a test tube. Then we added x amount of drops and put the pressure gauge on top and recorded it on the computer. The graph below is from the first day. We put 15 drops then 20 drops then 45 drops. As you can see the graph peaked at 20 drops. I don't know what happened with the 45 drops.
The Second day we kept the number of drops the same and changed the Ph level. We used 15 drops of yeast and changed the Ph level to Ph 4 Ph 7 and Ph 10. As you can see below the 4 and 10 were the same and the Ph 7 was lower. Ph 4 is acidic so it should have killed the enzyme. It would have in a human but the enzyme in the yeast was able to beat the acid so it could break down the H2O2. The graph below is the Ph graph.
The last day we kept the drops the same again and changed the temperature. Again we used 15 drops of yeast. We changed the temperature to 0, 25, 38, and 80 degrees Celsius. The graph peaked at 38 degrees. which is right above body temperature. Above 38 degrees it is too hot for the enzymes to work as well. You can see this in the graph below.

Poison Dart Frog

Poison Dart frogThe poison dart frog is the most toxic Animal on earth. One poison dart frog has enough venom in its two inch long body to kill ten grown men. The only animal that threatens the poison tree frog is a snake called Leimadophis epinephelus which has developed a resistance to its venom. This article was good i learned the poison tree frog is the most toxic animal. I didn't know this I thought it was a snake but it is good to know the poison tree frog is the most toxic. I know to stay away from it. I also learned in this article that medical researchers are using it in the development of a really strong pain killer. What I would like to know is how they figured out you can use a poison that can kill ten grown men into a pain killer. I am planning on finding out what the pain killer is called and researching it to find out how.

Friday, November 26, 2010

PHENYLKETONURIA: A METABOLIC DISORDER

PHENYLKETONURIA: A METABOLIC DISORDER

Metabolic disorders are genetic diseases that affect the body's ability to perform its normal chemical reactions. Many metabolic disorders result from enzyme defects. Recall that a metabolic pathway is a stepwise sequence of enzyme-mediated reactions. If one enzyme in a metabolic pathway is defective, that enzyme's substrate may accumulate and the pathway may not be completed. This may result in a buildup of harmful substances or a shortage of required molecules.

Activity

In this exercise, you will use the Web links below to gather information about the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU). Use what you learn to answer the questions at the bottom of the page.


Your Genes, Your Health: Phenylketonuria
http://www.ygyh.org

NSPKU Home Page
http://www.nspku.org

Texas Department of Health Genetic Disorders
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/newborn

Phenylketonuria - The Genetics
http://willroberts.com/pku/


Questions

1. What enzyme is most commonly defective in people with phenylketonuria?
        The Phenylketonuria is the most common defective enzyme. If high levels of PKU are in the brain it can cause retardation.
2. What reaction does this enzyme catalyze? (What is the substrate and what product is produced?)

3. Describe the symptoms of phenylketonuria.
         A child with Pku may have a smaller then normal head epilepsy and mental retardation. Also there skin will have a musky odor lighter color skin and hair
4. What causes the symptoms of PKU, the lack of a substance or the buildup of one?
The build up of the substance causes PKU

5. How common is phenylketonuria? How is it treated?
1 in 10,000 Caucasians some ethnic groups are higher and some ethnic groups are lower. to treat PKU the person must go on a low protein diet for life.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Microscopes

Last week was really fun. We got to use the microscopes. I got really good at focusing the microscope in on what we are looking at. I fought for the microscope camara. So we got some really good pictures of onion cells and cheek cells. we tried to blow up the cells by putting distilled water and shrink the cells using salt water. The cells grew and shrunk a little bit but not by much. The first day we were using them we looked at pond water and you could see little microorganisms moving around. Also I was bleeding so i put a little of my blood on a slide and we looked at that. It was cool you can see all the blood cells.  I can't wait to see what we get to look at next through the microscopes. Check out the following video from the microscope camera.

Friday, November 19, 2010

CYSTIC FIBROSIS

CYSTIC FIBROSIS - A DISORDER OF MEMBRANE TRANSPORT




A great variety of proteins have roles in moving molecules and ions across cell membranes. Passive transport proteins permit certain substances to diffuse down concentration gradients by moving through the protein's interior. Active transport proteins use ATP energy to pump substances across the membrane against their concentration gradients. To investigate the importance of transport proteins, we will consider the effects of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder in which there is a defect in a transport protein..



Activity



Part 1.



In this part of the activity you will visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s web site to learn about the causes and symptoms of cystic fibrosis.



Use your browser to go to http://www.cff.org/home/



Use the information provided in the “About cystic fibrosis” section to answer the following questions:



1. What are the signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis?

The symptons of cf of are salty tasting skin, caughing at time with plegm, frequent lung infections, shortness of breath, poor growth/weight gain in spite of good appitite, frequent greasy bulky stools or difficult bowel movements.

2. How common is this disorder?

About 1000 new causes are diagnossed each year.

3. How is cystic fibrosis diagnosed?

A sweat test can be used to diagnose a patient with cf. a high level of salt indicated cf.

4. How is cystic fibrosis inherited? Does everyone who has a mutant gene for the protein have cystic fibrosis?

Cf is inheretied through a mutant protein gene. No there is a 25% chance that they will not inherat cf.

Part 2.



In this part of the activity you will read an article to learn more about cystic fibrosis.



Use your browser to go to:



http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/MRC/3/page3.html



Use the information in this article to answer the following questions:



1. Explain the normal function of the protein that is defective in cystic fibrosis.

There are channels in these lining cells through which ions can pass. Normally, the movements of ions brings water to the surface of the airway and keeps the mucus moist.

2. What happens to this protein in CF patients and what are the consequences for the health of these individuals?

The defective gene acts to block the channels, which causes the mucus to dry out. It is then difficult for a person to shift the mucus, which then becomes prone to infection by bacteria.



Part 3.



In this part of the activity you will read about how cystic fibrosis is treated.



Use your browser to go to:



http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cystic-fibrosis/DS00287



Use the information in the “Treatment” and “Self-care” sections to answer the following questions:



1. Explain at least 3 treatments for the symptoms of cystic fibrosis.

One treatment they can give cf patients in medication. there are antibotics, mucus thinning drugs and Bronchodilators. they help stop lung infection, thins the mucus and makes it less sticky, and keeps the airway open.

Another treatment is Therapy. it physically loosens the mucus in the chest.

The last treatment is Surgical. like feeding tubes lung transplants and bowel surgery.

2. Discuss at least 3 ways for parents to help their children who have cystic fibrosis.

Parents should talk openly about there feelings. also the should join a support group for the child and last they should get there kid up and moving get them to loosen the mucus in there chest.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Membrane structure poster

This is a picture my group drew of the cell membrane. The cell membrane is made up of phospolipids because they are hydrophobic. Hydrophobic means water fearing. This makes them a good barrier for the inside of the cell. Our model shows three different types of protein, the receptor protein, the transport protein and the recognition protein. The receptor proteins receive information from other cells. The transport protein transports allows molecules to come inside the cell. The recognition protein recognizes lets other cells know what it is and what animal it is from.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Collagen


COLLAGEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Proteins are the most diverse class of biological molecules. Most of your body is made up of proteins. Each protein consists of one or more polypeptide chains, in which amino acids are strung together in a specific order. This amino acid sequence or 'primary structure' is the key to the shape and function of the protein. Interactions among different amino acids along the length of the polypeptide chain cause it to coil, bend, and fold into a complex shape.  Some proteins consist of two or more polypeptide chains. In many cases, the polypeptide chains form a rounded or globular shape. Most enzymes are like this, as is the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin molecule. In other cases, polypeptide chains form long strands or sheets. These fibrous proteins are often structural components, such as keratin and collagen.

Activity

In this activity, you will explore the structure and function of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body. You will begin by visiting a Protein Data Bank site, where the structure of collagen is described and illustrated in a "Molecule of the Month" feature. Next, you will research the effects of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that affects the structure or number of collagen molecules.

Part 1.

Use your browser to go to

Find the link in the middle of the page to “previous features” under the molecule of the month section.  Click there to find the article on collagen in the alphabeticall listing of molecules.

Read the information and view the graphics. Use this information to answer the following questions:

1. Describe the primary structure of collagen. What are the major amino acid components?

The primary action is to strengthen the tendons and vast, resilient sheets that support the skin and internal organs. Every third acid is glycine.


2. What role does vitamin C play in collagen formation? What happens when a person does not get enough vitamin C in his or her diet?

Hydroxyproline is made. If a person doesn’t have enough vitamin c they devolop scurvy


3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen (the way in which the polypeptide chains are arranged).
Collegen is arranged in a triple helix. Every third amino acid is glycine
Part 2.

Use your browser to go to the Web site of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation at


On the left side of the home page, click the link “About OI”, then find the “Facts About OI” section.

Read the material in the sections entitled "Facts on Osteogenesis Imperfecta” and “Types of OI.” Use what you have learned to answer the following questions:

1. What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta?  What are some other symptoms that people with OI may have?

The main sympton is fragile bones. They also have muscle weakness, hearing loss, fatigue, joint laxity, curved bones, scoliosis, blue sclerae, dentinogenesis imperfecta (brittle teeth), and short stature. Restrictive pulmonary disease occurs in more severely affected people.




2. Type I osteogenesis imperfecta causes fewer problems than the other forms. How does the collagen structure in Type I OI differ from that of the other types?

Type one is caused by mutation to type 1 collegen, while
Others is caused by mutations of the cartilage-associated protein



Read the handout in the resources section on Bone Structure (opens in Acrobat Reader).

1. Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?
  Collagen helps make bones healthy and strong.  Collagen is like rebar in a concrete wall. It strenghthens it. If there wasn’t any rebar in the wall then it would be weak.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Young at heart article post

http://discovermagazine.com/2006/feb/young-hearts/?searchterm=protein

This article was about Researchers at the university of Michigan figuring out a way to help people with heart disease but literally making the heart younger. There is two different kinds of troponin I protein the fetal version and the adult version. the fetal version is for at handling stress because of all the stress at child birth. The adult type allows our hearts to react to the fight or flight response but it shuts off in heart failure. What they did was joined the two proteins together so now they react to the fight or flight response and are keep working under heart failure.

I thought this article was interesting because my family has a history of heart disease and it would be great if there was something they could do to stop it. If this new therapy works then It might be able to stop it. They said it will be several years before its ready to be used for gene therapy, but this article was written in 2006 so they might be close now. There haven't been any updates about it so far. When they find something out about it i will have to tell my family. It might save theirs and other peoples lives.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Carbohydrates lab

I really enjoyed this lab. It was cool to see what kind of sugars were in the food i eat. for example double bubble bubble gum, the gum that i always chew has monosaccarides in it, Same with skittles.

 



To find this out first we had to crush up the food we were testing and mix it with water in a beaker. Then we had to separate the substance between two different test tubes one we put iodine into and put it back into the rack. The other we mixed Benedict's solution into and put it into boiling water. After a minute we took the Benedict's solution out of the boiling water and put it into the rack with the iodine.



When the lab was over the Monosaccarides had a bright orange Benedict's solution and a clear brown iodine. The disaccharides had a Light blue Benedict's solution and a clear brown iodine. the polysaccharides had no change in the Benedict's solution and a dark brown iodine.

I learned a lot in this lab. But one thing i  was still wondering about is why does the iodine change the polysaccharides so much and the monosaccaride just a little.  But i figured it out now.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Acids bases and PH level

I really enjoyed the antacid lab. It was fun to find out how antacids work and watch them work. Antacids work by turning the acid in your stomach into a base or more basic then it was. Anti-acids work by taking the hydrogen atoms from the stomach acid and makes a molecule using the hydrogen. On the PH scale acids are lower and bases are higher. the PH scale goes up to 14 which is the most basic which would be cleaner and down to 1 which would be like battery acid. 7 is neutral for example water. Something is an acid when it has more negative parts than positive.  Something is a base when the positive parts outnumber the negative parts. This what I have learned from the antacid lab. See My post tums and such for the lab results.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

water, water, water

water, water, water, water is everywhere. Water takes up more then 70% of the earth. That is 400 billion-billion Gallons of water on earth. that's a lot of water. water has many different properties Adhesion, Cohesion, Solvent, Specific heat, and surface tension. 

First there is adhesion it is the attractive force between molecules in one phase  and different molecules in another phase. Adhesion is what made it so we could move water from one cup over 3.4 meters to another cup. To do this we held the cup with the water up in the the air. then we poured it down a tight string to another cup. The molecules in the string and the molecules in the water stuck together and made it possible for the water to slide down the string to the other cup.


Next there is cohesion. Cohesion is the attractive forces between similar molecules in the same phase. Cohesion is what made it possible to stack 55 drops of water on one penny before it started flowing off the penny. There was a huge bubble on the penny and it was hanging over the edge of the penny but cohesion caused The water molecules to  stick together so it didn't fall over the edge. Another property that made putting 55 drops of water on one penny possible is surface tension. Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force.

Another is solvent. A solvent is a liquid which dissolves another substance without any change in its chemical composition. Hydrophilic is water loving. it will dissolve in water. hydrophobic is water fearing. It will not dissolve in water. For example oil. Oil will not dissolve in water it just floats on top. that's why the bp oil spill was so serious. If oil was water loving the oil spill wouldn't be a problem.

The last property of water is Specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a 1 gram sample of water by one degree celsius. This makes it so the temperature in the ocean doesn't change from night and day.


Friday, September 3, 2010

Hi how are you. I'm good. what are you up to? I'm writing this blog. . . today i learned about double blind study. That is a clinical trial that both the doctors and the patient don't know who got the real drug and who got the placebo. A placebo is a sugar pill they give people in the study as the control. the control is the variable that doesn't change. So you walk into an office with a friend for A clinical study for an male pattern hair loss drug. They give both of you some pills that you have to take each day. After a week you hang out again one of you nothing is happening. The other is freaking out because he is seeing things but his hair is looking nice. Who got the real drug and who got the placebo? The guy who got the placebo is the one that nothing is happening too. The other guy got the real drug. The doctors will look at this for the results of the study to find the drug works but it makes you see things.