ATP and its uses

ATP 
Morgan Fletcher

All cells need energy to perform various activities which are vital for life. The energy the cell uses comes from ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).

ATP is a high energy molecule found in ever cell 

The job of ATP is to store and supply the cell with needed energy 

ATP has three main parts 

- adenine 

- Ribose (the backbone)

- Phosphate chain 

Review for EOC/Important information on ATP: https://quizlet.com/30665998/what-is-atp-flash-cards/

Reflection

I learned that ATP is the most important molecule in the body with out it the cell will die.The thing that surprised me the most about ATP is when it looses one of the phosphates it turns into ADP. I already knew the more energy you use the more ATP you will need.

Outside of Biology

ATP can be shown in a smart phone. The more battery you have the more energy or power you have to use your phone. This connects back to ATP because the more ATP you have the more energy you have to use. 

1.Microscope Types and Parts

Microscope Types and Parts

Microscopes were invented by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
There are two types of microscopes: 

1. A light microscope, or a compound microscope, uses light rays and magnification lens's to look at small objects

2.An electron microscope uses beams of electrons to magnify an image and make it viewable 

Light(compound) Microscope:

-Contains more than one lens, the lenses are the objective lens, and the ocular lens

-More commonly used today due to price

-Contains it's own light source

-Earliest and simplest form of microscope

-Hans and Zacharias Janssen invented this microscope in the 1590's, then, Anton von Leeuwenhoek and Robert Hooke made advancements in the 17th century 

Electron Microscope:

-Electron microscopes have a higher magnification and resolution than light microscopes

-The electron microscope uses electrostatic and electromagnetic lenses

-Electron microscopes are an important tool in laboratories 

-Researchers use it to examine biological materials, a variety of large molecules, medical biopsy samples, and the characteristics of various surfaces.

-The first electron microscope prototype was built in 1931 by German engineers Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll, Two years later, Ernst constructed the first actual electron microscope

      Plant cell underneath light microscope
   


Salmonella underneath an electron microscope

Reflection:
I was surprised that electron microscopes were so big. I learned a lot about electron microscopes, and all the uses for it. Microscopes are mainly used in science and biology, but you can use microscopes to look at almost anything. I already knew about the light/compound microscope because it's the most common type and is commonly found in classrooms. I liked this objective because we got to actually use the light microscopes to look at cells.

Citations:
"BBC Bitesize - KS3 Biology - Cells to systems - Revision 2." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"The Microscope ." The Parts of a Microscope. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"The Compound Light Microscope." The Compound Light Microscope. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"Electron microscope." Electron microscope - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Tikekar, Tanmay. "Light Microscope Vs. Electron Microscope: A Detailed Comparison." Buzzle. Buzzle.com, 25 Aug. 2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Heroes, Microscope. "Compound light microscope definition." Microscope Heroes. N.p., 26 Jan. 2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"Electron microscope." Nanolive. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis

Main Ideas:

- It's the ability to maintain a stable internal environment.

- There are many functions being maintained through homeostasis like blood pressure, pH, temperature, glucose, etc...

- Sometimes it responds to external environments as well.


Summary:

Homeostasis is a vital part to living. Although I did know some things about homeostasis, there was a lot of things I didn't know. Many things I learned are that if enzymes are low, in pH for example, homeostasis will occur using buffers. Buffers resist change so it is a strong use to maintain the pH levels. This applies to everyday liquids, in the body, etc... I also learned that when it comes to body temperature, homeostasis is a major factor. 98.6ºF is a normal body temperature so if you are way to hot, homeostasis kicks in and that is why we sweat. It is meant to cool you down. When we are cold we shiver. Shivering is a form of homeostasis that cause your body to try to warm up. This surprised me because I thought we shiver just for being cold, not as a form to warm you up. Homeostasis is an interesting area and something very important. Without out it, your body wouldn't function properly and you could become very sick.




Citations: 

"Homeostasis." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2017.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Biology Homeostasis - Shmoop Biology." Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 13 Apr. 2017. 

Black, Jordan. "Homestasis." Homestasis. Jordan Black, 14 Feb. 2017. Web. 14 Apr. 2017./.latest_citation_text

Carbon Cycle: Tyler Parris

 Carbon Cycle

-The Carbon Cycle is the fundamental building block of life and an important component of many chemical processes


-Step 1: Carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon Dioxide from respiration and combusting.

-Step 2: Carbon dioxide is absorbed by producers to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis. These producers then put off oxygen.

Step 3: Animals feed on the plants, passing the carbon compounds along the food chain. Most of the carbon these animals consume is  exhaled as carbon dioxide. The is through the process of respiration. The animals and plants eventually die.


Step 4: The dead organisms are eaten decomposers in the ground. The carbon that was in their bodies is then returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In some circumstances the process of decomposition is prevented. The decomposed plants and animals may then be available as fossil fuels in the future for combustion.

Reflection
-From this I learned that the Carbon Cycle can lead to the production of Fossil Fuels.
-This can be used outside of biology to find out what the basic unit of human and animal life is.
-The thing that I leaned from this was I didn't know that the carbon cycle had to do with fossil fuels.



Carbon Cycle Video

Mutations: Addition

Mutations: Addition
By: Jay Patel


Addition or Insertion is a mutation that occurs when one or more nucleotide base pairs are inserted into a DNA sequence.

• Often referred to as a frameshift mutation.
• Major type of mutation, since it can change the entire lineup of nucleotides.
• One addition of an extra nucleotide can result in entirely new amino acids.
• Different amino acids result in proteins that were not supposed to be made.

Addition Mutation is one of the more serious kinds of mutations, since it affects the DNA Sequence in a tremendous way that is not seen with Substitution. Substitution just replaces one nucleotide, and affect probably one codon, but Addition Mutation can change the entire blueprint and the codons after the mutation. What surprised me when learning this is how much an addition mutation could affect the body, and the production of protein. Even one change can result in a tremendous change, and that is surprising. Before learning about this, I did not know about this type of mutation, and I thought all mutations were caused by external factors like radiation. Learning about this, I realized that mutations can occur within the body due to an error. This addition mutation can be applied outside of biology in the subject of genetics. Scientists can analyze the cause and effects of this mutation, and can help in correcting or even preventing addition from happening.

Citations

Notes from Mr. Black's class

"What types of mutation are there?" YourGenome, 25 Jan. 2016, www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-types-of-mutation-are-there.

Ribosomes

• Ribosomes are little balls attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. 
• They are little protein carriers found in large amounts in the cytoplasm. 
• They carry protein to other parts of the cell in order for the cell to function. 
• If ribosomes are found in large groups of other ribosomes they could be called a polyribosomes. 
• Even though prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are very different ribosomes are found in both types of these cells. 
• Free ribosomes are ribosomes that are floating around the cell in the cytoplasm and bound ribosomes are the ribosomes that are bound to the endoplasmic reticulum.

- I was surprised to see how many ribosomes are in one individual cell. I thought there were only a few but it turns out there are hundreds.  

Citation: "Ribosomes, Transcription, and Translation." Scitable by Nature Education, www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/ribosomes-transcription-and-translation-14120660. Accessed 13 Apr. 17.

Protein Synthesis

Protein Synthesis involves two major steps:

     1) Transcription 

          - Turning DNA message into mRNA 

     2) Translation 

          - The process of turning mRNA into a protein 

Important types of RNA:

     1) mRNA 

          - messenger

          - brings the RNA strand to the ribosome 

     2) rRNA 

          - ribosomal 

          - breaks apart the mRNA strand into codons 

     3) tRNA 

          - transporter

          - brings the amino acids to be connected to the codons 

Summary:

     

     DNA is transcribed into mRNA. This strand of mRNA then leaves the nucleus and enters the ribosome. rRNA breaks apart the strand into groups of three nitrogen bases, called codons. Then, tRNA brings down the matching amino acids to be connected to the codons. Amino acids are connected by a peptide bond. Multiple bonds are called a polypeptide. This creates a protein.  

Citations:

     "What Is Protein Synthesis - Protein Synthesis". Protein Synthesis. N.p., 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2017.

     Black, Jordan. "Protein Synthesis". 2017. Presentation.