Unit 5 Reflection

       In this unit, I learned about the central dogma of biology which is when DNA transcribes to RNA in which that translates to protein. This is my strength in this unit because what we learned in the last unit really help build the subject of this unit. I learned how information flows from different parts of cells to make one complete thing and this when learning how proteins are made. The information, which was given to me, was quite easy to get because it is a fun subject to learn about. Though, in the unit, the last section was very hard for me to understand. The last section was about gene expression and regulation. When listening to the vodcast it made some sense to me, but when studying it for the final that is coming up, I had a trouble time. This subject was a setback for me until Mr. Orre reviewed it for us in class. Diagrams of gene regulation was very helpful for me and soon I successfully understood what was happening.

       From these experiences, I learned the different ways I should study for the biology final. Before reviewing gene expression and regulation, I did not realize how important diagrams are and how they can really help clear things up about a specific subject. From doing the infographic last unit, I learned different techniques in reviewing multiple subjects at a time. The act of making an inforgraphic is a good way to study because the pictures and words summarize important topics in a chapter or unit.

       I want to learn more about the different molecules that help contribute with the process of creating a protein. I wonder about many things when learning biology, but I mostly wonder about where we come from, and how do we know what we know is true. Last unit, I did this test called, Vark Questionare. Vark Questionare helps you know what your strengths are and how one should study a subject using your strengths to increase the learning process. After taking that test, I felt like I already knew how to study and what techniques I should do. There was no new information that I learned about myself when looking back at the results. There are no unanswered questions I have in this unit and I feel confident for the final next week.

Protein Synthesis Lab

       Mutations could affect my life greatly. If a mutation were to be in me, I would not live the same, but that depends if it is a mental of physical mutation. If it were a physical mutation, it would not affect me as much as a mental mutation because I would not think the same and I would have a different education than everyone else. Tay- Sachs disease starts as a mutation that causes in which deterioration in nerve cells that affects a human's mental and physical abilities. This disease can be notified in the first 6 months of a baby and there are various symptoms to tell that a baby has the disease. This concludes the analysis of the Protein Synthesis Lab

       Making a protein requires multiple steps. These steps include the process in which DNAtranscripts to  RNA then the RNA translates into a protein. The procedure of copying DNA to RNA is called transcription, this process is done to make the section of DNA copied by mRNA. In the second step of making protein, is when the mRNA leaves the nucleus to travel to a ribosome in which it makes an amino acid sequence. This chain of amino acids binds up to create a protein. This process is called translation and it is the final step of making a protein.

       In step 7, I chose to do the mutation, Insertion. I did that type of mutation earlier in the DNA sequence to test if the location impacts the strand. I think that it did not change the sequence as much as the controlled mutation earlier in the lab but it still had great effect to the proteins. It sometimes matter where the mutation occurs but it depends on the type of mutation that is affecting the strand.

       At times, mutations in the DNA may occur due to chemicals being exposed to the DNA. There are some mutations that have no effect when making a protein but there are some mutations that completely change the DNA sequence in which it soon thens messes with protein synthesis. If the mutation occurs early in the section of DNA, it may have a larger impact. Though, that mostly depends on the type of mutation that occurs. I believe that the Deletion as well as Insertion has the most impact on the strand of DNA. The least impacted mutation to DNA is Substitution.

Human DNA Extraction Lab

       In this lab we asked the question, " How can DNA be separated from cheek cells in order to study it?" I found out that DNA could be extracted from cheek cells. When adding detergent, salt, enzyme, and cold alcohol to my gatorade solution, I observed my DNA rising up to the surface of the alcohol layer. This observation helped strengthen the scientific ideas behind it from our lecture notes in each vodcast we were assigned in class. This data supports my claim because DNA extraction is the process of homogenization, lysis, and precipitation. When I added the enzyme to the gatorade solution, I saw faint activity in the mixture, but then I added the layer of alcohol which made the DNA in the test tube visible. The type of enzyme that was used in the experiment was protease. 
       While my hypothesis was supported by my data, there could have been errors due the lack of not scraping enough cheek cells for the gatorade mixture. This error affected my results because the was little DNA to be observed after adding the cold rubbing alcohol. I looked at other students' DNA and there were much larger chunks of the DNA to be recognized. Due to this error, in future experiments I recommend to get enough of one material that is needed for a lab test and I also recommend to stay completely focused on the lab and try your best not to get off task.
       This lab was done to demonstrate the steps for the extraction of DNA and strengthen our skills with DNA. From this lab I learned a lot about the main sequence that happens when DNA is extracted and how it works. This helps me understand the concepts and vocabulary for this unit. Based on my experience with this lab I can use this information to try this experiment at home. This concludes the Human DNA Extraction Lab.

Unit 4 Reflection

       In Unit 4, we learned about the cell cycle, the different types of reproduction, the significance of chromosomes and how they relate to genes and traits, what Gregor Mendel discovered and his laws, meiosis, and finally punnett squares. This unit was mostly about the importance of sex, and throughout this unit my strengths was of the content in chapter 14 which was mostly about chromosomes. Even though I understood chromosomes, chapter 11 was a struggle for me because there was a lot of information with vocabulary words that I didn't know. From these experiences I learned how to focus on the vocabulary and the definitions of each one which helps build my understanding of this unit. Making the infographic helped me greatly when it came to the specific details from the vodcasts. I want to learn more about meiosis and mitosis (cell cycle) because it is very interesting learning about what the human body does to function.
       After taking the VARK Questionnaire, I received a multimodal learning preference in which the most scored style for me was the Read/Write in which I scored a 9. My results did not surprise me at all because from past experience I studied with different learning styles and altogether I tested the same. Using my reading and writing preference, I can prepare for the unit test by making flashcards and rewriting what I didn't understand. This concludes my Unit 4 Reflection.

Coin Sex Lab Relate and Review

       In this lab, we determined the different alleles, from each parents gene, for offspring by first writing a monohybrid/dihybrid punnett square or by drawing gene segregation, then flipping coins and recombining the new traits. The coins in the lab served as the heterozygous or homozygous genotypes from both gametes, which they only have haploid of chromosomes. My expected results for the dihybrid cross simulation was that there was at least going to be 1 homozygous recessive (bbee, 1/16, blond hair with blue eyes), 3 brown hair and blue eyed offspring, 3 blond hair and brown eyed offspring, and 9 brown hair and brown eyed offspring.Though after completing the dihybrid cross experiment, the actual result was only 1/16 (bbee) of the offspring had the non-dominant trait. Creating punnett squares to determine the offspring traits is the limit of using probability to predict our offspring's traits because we cannot pin-point each trait for each offspring. Understanding this relates to my life because when I choose to have a child, I can determine the probability of my offsrping having a specific trait. I can see if there is a certain disease my child can have that might be autosomal inherited or X-linked inherited. I can also relate this experience with my passion for math when I was figuring out the probability of the offspring's trait. This concludes my Coin Sex Lab Relate and Review.

Genetics Infographic

Unit 3 Reflection

       In this unit, I learned about the cell theory, what the cell organelles are as well as their purpose, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. Our class has discussed many subjects throughout the time of learning Unit 3 and I understand clearly how a cell works for both an animal and a plant. Some essential understandings include the building blocks of a cell, their characteristics, how they react in different environmental conditions, and in different processes. My strengths in this chapter includes the history of cells and photosynthesis. My weaknesses are the organelles of the cells and cellular respiration. Though as a class, we worked diligently when doing labs and worked hard for the lecture notes.

       Comprehending the material for this unit was first difficult but now looking back at my notes, I now understand more on what I am having trouble with. The skills I learned throughout being a student in biology has improved more and more. Studying with my notes has become a simple routine each day. Finally being prepared with the material collected for the unit, passing the upcoming test will be a review for me. 

       I want learn more about the different purposes of the organelles inside a cell so I can enhance my skills and process the information when studying for the test. When I first looked at what we were learning for this, I had trouble with understanding cellular respiration and I still have a few issues with it. Hopefully I will answer this question as I soon look forward to the test. I wonder who made the names for the different building parts of the cell, I would like to research the person who did. My study habits include daily practice and quizzing for 30 minutes. This concludes the Unit 3 Reflection.

Egg Diffusion Lab Conclusion!

       In this lab we soaked an egg in deionized water and another egg in sugar water for 48 hours. Before leaving the fragile egg, my teammates and I took measurements of both eggs. We calculated the circumference and the mass. After waiting for the initial time, we analyzed our final observations and measured the circumference and mass again. Finally, everyone in the class shared their percent change of both solutions.
       Looking at the class data, the mass and circumference of the egg decreased due to the egg's hypertonic environment (sugar water). Taking a closer look inside the egg, the water inside leaves to go to a "high-low" concentration, though the solute outside can not enter due to being too big. This situation leads to the egg shriveling up since there is a smaller solvent inside.
       When the egg is being added to vinegar, later the shell of the egg will dissolve and the membrane becomes visible. This procedure needs to happen to complete thee lab in which now the possibilty of changing the cell  is attainable. Now when the egg is added to the solute, the egg will adapt and passive diffusion may occur throughout the egg.
       This lab demonstrates a biological principle which is the process of diffusion. Diffusion spreads particles in a faster manner throughout the cell membrane.
       When salting the roads, the plants will start to shrivel up due to being in a hypertonic environment. Though, when there are plants in grocery store, the fresh vegetables are sprinkled with water to keep a hypotonic environment for them which will make the plants more happy.
       Based on this experiment, I will use this information to test an egg in different conditions, and to test if the change is hypotonic or hypertonic. These tests will help my knowledge in ddiffusion, hypotonic, and hypertonic.

The Sp-EGG-tacular Macromolecules Lab Conclusion!

       In this lab we asked the question, "Can macromolecules be identified in an egg cell?". My teammates and I found out that some macromolecules will be present in different parts of the egg than others. For the polysaccharide test, results of adding iodine will turn the egg solution from brown to black. The egg membrane turned black so we gave it a 10 out of 10 for the color change. We concluded that polysaccharides are present in the egg membrane because there are carbohydrates on the surface of the cells. As for the egg white in the protein test, macromolecule will be present when the solution turned from blue to purple, it changed to a dark blue from the light blue. Based on previous knowledge egg white has the macromolecule, protein, located in there. As for a conclusion on quantitative data, my group and I gave it a 5, unsure for what happened in the test. In an egg, the embryo, aka the yolk, will eat the egg white because it is a protein that will help develop the organism. Finally, when my teammates and I tested the egg yolk for the lipid test, it turned from red to orange which meant that the macromolecule, lipid, is present in the egg yolk. For a final analysis, the transparent membrane surround the egg yolk is made of phospholipids. This information came from our lecture notes and lab. All of this data supports our claim because our class tested which macromolecules are present and we all discussed which ones are found in the different parts of the egg.
       While our hypothesis supported our data, there could have been errors due to the protein test in which there was not enough egg  in the test tubes so that test had to be re-tested. There was another possible error due to contamination when mixing the egg solutions with the same tool. Due to these errors, in the future experiments I would recommend to pay attention to what you are doing and double check with the instructions to see if you are doing the lab right.
       This lab was done to specify the the macromolecules in a more visual understanding way. From this lab I learned the the construction of an egg and the reasoning behind the macromolecules which helps me understand the concept of molecules and their purposes. Based on my experience from this lab I will use the data I have recieved and use that information to test other biological concepts.

Inquiry Hour 1.2

       After reading the article, "The 20 Big Questions in Science" my favorite question out of the 20 is question number 3, which asks are we alone in the universe?
       This question interests me because our universe is so big and it is very possible that there could be life on other planets. I love thinking outside the box, and this question can be challenging because everyone's mind is so curious and wanting to meet another species or race will make the world more exciting.
       A current hypothesis can be, if the universe contains other galaxies, stars, planets and more, then it is most likely that there is life on other planets.
       Below is a list of top 20 questions I have--

1.  When will it be possible to time travel?
2.  In the future, will animals be able to talk to humans?
3. When will the human race become extinct?
4. Why can't  humans live forever?
5. Do mermaids exist?
6. When will there be another animal that is smart enough to communicate to humans?
7. What will technology be like in the future?
8. What will change on Earth?
9. Are there genetic mutations?
10. Will it be possible for humans to live on different planets?
11. Is there life on Mars?
12. Why did dinosaurs become extinct?
13. Why are male seahorses pregnant?
14. Is there a heaven?
15. Is there a hell?
16. When can we get to the center of the Earth?
17. Does every living thing have a soul?
18. What makes a human different to other animals?
19. Why do elephants remember?
20. How can we stop time?

Inquiry Hour 1.1

What caused the extinction of dinosaurs?

 In the article, "The Extinction of Dinosaurs" stated that some dinosaurs might have starved to death which will lead the prehistoric animals unanswered extinction. A hypothesis that was proposed was that there was multiple extinction periods when the ancient animals roamed.

Before reading the article I always resorted to the meteor strike theory. But after reading it, the article stated paleontologists mostly believe the cause of the dinosaurs dying was from a volcano. Evidence of the dinosaurs dying in global segments, proposes that the cause of their extinction is more difficult to uncover. If the remains of the dinosaurs we spread out around the earth in different layers, then that will lead to the fact that some dinosaurs died for different reasons than others.

http://creation.com/the-extinction-of-the-dinosaurs

Unit 2 Reflection

      In this unit, our class were introduced to the basics of biology. The first section, the topic was about chemistry for biology, in the second section and third section the topic discussed about the carbohydrates and the 4 biggest macromolecules. Finally for the fourth section, enzymes were the topic.
      The first section discusses about activation energy, nature of matter, basis of water, acids, bases, and pH. I learned the difference between solute and solvent as well. In the second chapter, I learned that carbohydrates are both large molecules that include fat and carbohydrates are saccharides. In the third chapter, it discussed about proteins and amino acids, it also talked about nucleotides and more. And as for the fourth section of the unit, I learned about the four structures of proteins and denaturation. The four structures of protein includes: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.
      My strengths in this unit includes the second and third section in which it was about carbohydrates and the macromolecules. My weaknesses are the first section, chemistry for biology, and the last section, enzymes.
      Even though I had trouble with the last section of the unit, I succeeded in the curdling milk lab. I understood the process even more after doing a lab about which helped me very much. I worked well with my teammates in proceeding with the sugar and curdling lab.
      There were no struggles working in collaborative settings. I did not struggle with the video podcasts and I understood the material, but comprehending some details in the lectures put me down. Luckily, we discussed about the section's topics in class which made me stronger in comprehending.
      From these experiences I learned that the best way to study for a test is by quizzing with your friends, family, or by yourself. I also learned that the ungraded quizzes after the lectures can act as a comprehending tool for that specific section. I wonder about the finals that will be coming up in December as well as May.

This is a polysaccharide

How should I study? Will they be difficult? And how do I prepare?

Cheesy Lab Analysis!

In this lab, we asked the question, “What are the optimal conditions and curdling agents for making cheese?”. My team mates and I figured out that chymosin is the best curdling agent when acid or heat is added to the milk solution. This collected information came from the Cheese Lab my class recently proceeded. Also, the scientific study from the lab came from the textbook as well as the video podcasts I had for homework. This data supports our claim because chymosin lowers the activation energy making the curdling process faster. Curdling milk without an enzyme makes the reacting process slower, but when the an enzyme is added, the activation energy lowers and the reacting process is faster. This concludes the data that supports our claim.

While our hypothesis was supported by our data which was, “If the best curdling agent is chymosin, then it would process the milk faster with a lower pH and at room temperature.”. There could have been errors due the class’s hot water bath not being at the right temperature which lead to the fact that the room temperature was warmer. These errors affected our results because it made the time to curdle the milk slower than it was actually supposed to be. Due to these errors, in future experiments I recommend to check if everything is true for the experiment and I also recommend to always test if the water baths are warm or cold.

This lab was done to demonstrate to show that different curdling agents slow down activation energy and speed up curdling process of making cheese out of milk. From this lab I learned that there are different substrates to use for different results which helps me understand the concept of enzymes and what they are used for. Based on my experience from this lab, I learned the different ways of making cheese with different curdling agents with optimal conditions.

Super Sweet Lab Analysis!

       In this lab, we asked the question, "How does the structure of a carbohydrate affect its taste (sweetness)?" My group and I found out that monosaccharides have a sweeter taste thank disaccharides and polysaccharides. The collected information from our data table shows the degree of sweetness between all carbohydrates. It is given that glucose, fructose, galactose (all monosaccharides) are sweet including the disaccharide, sucrose. All this information was given during the lab process. This data supports our claim because my team mates and I tested the different sugars and inferred that monosaccharides do taste sweeter.

       The structure of carbohydrates might affect how they are used by cells and organisms. For which, it may be harder for the human body to break down the sugars which can lead to a different solution. For lactose-intolerant people, the lactose disaccharide is harder for their body to break down that sugar. The testers for the different sugars may have the same results, but it may not. Everyone has different taste buds which can be one reason why they have a different answer than another tester for a sugar. A tester can also have more of an appetite for veggies in which all vegetables are coated with the cell wall, cellulose. So if a tester who has a sweet tooth and the veggie lover tester taste test cellulose, they will get different results. A final reason why the rating of the same samples could be different for different testers concludes to allergies. A tester may be allergic to glucose will not be able to test that sugar. This leads to the fact that different testers will not get the same ratings.

       A cause for humans to taste sweetness leads to the receptor cells throughout our tongue. These receptor cells builds the sensations of of sweetness, spiciness, or bitterness. What makes everyone unique taste testing is that there will be different results for everyone. One taste bud contains almost 100 taste cells. Our taste cells can represent all 5 sensations. A taste of sweetness is very sensational, and that sensation of sugar sends a message to our brain. This is the more specific cause for the testers to rank the sweetness of the same samples differently. As a conclusion, our receptor cells are the cause for humans to taste sweetness.