Erik Ludlow - Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are the food producers of the cell. The organelles are only found in plant cells and some protists such as algae. Animal cells do not have chloroplasts. Chloroplasts convert the light energy of the Sun into sugars that can be used by cells. The entire process is called photosynthesis and it all depends on the little green chlorophyll molecules in each chloroplast. In the process of photosynthesis, plants create sugars and release oxygen (O2). The oxygen released by the chloroplasts is the same oxygen you breathe every day. Mitochondria work in the opposite direction. They use oxygen in the process of releasing chemical energy from sugars. The purpose of the chloroplast is to make sugars that feed the cell. Photosynthesis is the process of a plant taking energy from the Sun and creating sugars. When the energy from the Sun hits a chloroplast and the chlorophyll molecules, light energy is converted into the chemical energy found in compounds such as ATP. 

http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_chloroplast.html

Natural Selection

What is it?
Natural selection is a principle of survival-- those most well-suited to their environment and can gain resources easiest survive. This applies to not only to food sources but also competing with other animals for mates to breed, etc.

Who observed this?
Charles Darwin observed natural selection on the Galapagos with finches. He didn't know how the traits came about, but he did notice that the finches with a better adapted beak were populating more easily than the ones who did not.

Other Examples
Among these include birds of paradise, where the males tend to have brighter, flashy coloring and physical aids to help them attract a mate. The females have normal bird colorings.

Personal Reflection
I personally think that natural selection is super interesting. Learning about the national processes of nature is really cool and fascinating.

Symbiotic Relationship: Parasitism

Symbiotic Relationship: Parasitism

What is it?
Parasitism is two organism have a relationship but its a no no no good relationship. One of them is just there and he happens to get into the relationship and it hurts them and they lose stuff from it. Then the other one is just chillin enjoying his relationship because he's getting stuff out of it.
Example- A little cute doggy is walking along in the park and a tick gets on him. The tick is going to enjoy this relationship because he gets food and nourishment from sucking the dogs blood. While the little doggy is going to hate the relationship because it hurts him and he losses blood from it. Long story short the tick gets all the goodies and the doggy gets hurt and losses his goodies ;-;sad face




Reflection: I enjoyed this topic for the soul reason it was really easy and mostly review, all we have to know is what they mean and then put it into correlations with a relationship to tell which one it is. Its really cool to see the relationships between animals you would never think could be friends. For instance alligators and little birdies.

Diabetes- Siene Trunzo

Diabetes


Main Idea: Diabetes is when your bodies ability to make insulin is impaired. This results in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and high levels of glucose in your blood.

Types of Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, Prediabetes, and Gestational Diabetes.

Treatment: You can treat diabetes by controlling your blood sugar by keeping a safe diet for your bodies conditions. Certain medications also help benefit keeping a healthy blood sugar level.

Genetics: Diabetes may be genetically passed down to you. It also can be obtained based on your lifestyle factors.

Anaerobic Energy Production

Anaerobic Energy Production

• Anaerobic energy production is very similar to aerobic energy production
• The word part an. means not or without so it means without air.
• It makes energy not by using oxygen but with fermentation.

What is fermentation?

• Fermentation is the production of energy without oxygen.
• Fermentation has two categories, alcoholic and lactic acid.
• Lactic acid fermentation is where our bodies use acid to give us ATP energy when we don't get enough oxygen in our bodies however it is not as effective as aerobic fermentation
• Alcoholic fermentation is what we use for yeast in bread, making/brewing beer.

Summary:

Knowing how anaerobic energy production can help with a few things such as making bread and wine, being a coach,  saving time for when you ask your coach why your muscles are burning. It can be useful for exercise like aerobic respiration but it is still inferior.

Citations

1. https://www.google.com/search?q=Fermentation&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjqttnmkPfTAhXDJiYKHRLmC4kQ_AUICigB&biw=1334&bih=579#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=Anaerobic+respiration
2. Mr. Blacks Lessons

Plasma Membrane

Plasma Membrane
By: Kia Gallmon

A microscopic membrane of lipids and proteins that forms the external boundary of the cytoplasm of a cell or encloses a vacuole, and that regulates the passage of molecules in and out of the cytoplasm. All cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane. The membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer arranged back-to-back. The membrane is also covered in places with cholesterol molecules and proteins. The plasma membrane is selectively permeable and regulates which molecules are allowed to enter and exit the cell.

Summary: 

The membrane is made up primarily of lipids and proteins and a 

very small percentage of it is made of carbohydrates. 

The lipids make up the lipid bilayer, which is the primary 

structure of the cell membrane. The plasma membrane is 

a prominent part of the cell that is a critical for a cell's survival. I 

personally  liked learning about the plasma membrane 

Citations:

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/membranes-and-transport/the-plasma-membrane/a/structure-of-the-plasma-membrane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_membrane

Transcription

Transcription: when a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of mRNA. 

Transcription is the first step in gene expression. It copied a gene's sequence to make a RNA molecule.