Poisonous Dart Frog

A brightly colored frog that lives in the Central or South America, is something you don't want to get near. Yes they are bright colored for a reason, it serves a warning to other predators .Their are many types of dart frogs here is an example of one. The little 2 inch long creature is one of the most poisonous animals on earth. This tiny thing has enough venom to kill 10 adults or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of this lethal toxin is able to kill human or any large mammal. They call it a dart frog because it sickens anyone who touches or eats it. Their skin releases a toxic that can easy kill. This frog was not discovered till 1968, Jack Cover and a Aquarium team traveled to South America to learn more about this frog, and they decided to breed them. His goal it to keep these from being extinct.

Cystic Fibrosis

This is a disease that has effected the United States, about 30,000 people have it (70,000 worlwide). About 1,000 are diagnosed each year. It is a disease that is inherited and does damage to the lungs and digestive system. When someone has it, it depends on the person if it can be healed. Patients that have it develop it at an early age. When they have this disease, mucus is bult up in the air way, which makes it simple for bacteria to grow and this causes infections. This causes the person to cough up spit and sometimes blood. Dealing with this disease, you create long term damage to your lungs. Another thing that is affected when u have Cystic Fibrosis is your pancreas, it's hard for it to produce enough enzymes to breakdown protein. Once this happens, it causes major bowl problems. One treatment for this disease is medications. These medicines (antibotics) help to prevent lung infections, thins out the mucus to keep the lung functioning. Another treatment is therapy, the patient needs to physically help their personal symptoms. Parents that have a child that has this disease can help in many ways. They increase the fluid the child takes to thin out the mucus in the air way. Also by giving them oral enzymes or nutritions to strengthen their digestion. Excersice also plays a big part because then when they are being active their airway is opening up. So thats what Cystic Fibrosis disease is and a few ways or tricks to cure it.

Enzymes

 In the first experiment yeast was our main substance, and added it two many other elements. Four cups full of 3 milliliterof water and 3 milliliters of peroxide. Each cup had a different amount of drops of yeast, 20 drops, 30 drops, 40 drops, and then 50 drops. After that we got a computer that was hooked ta a pressure cork that was placed in the test tubes to record the pressure data. This was called the concentration lab and this was our results:

The second lab we had 3 mililiters of water and peroxide in all the cups. Also 30 drops of yeast in all the four test tubes. The only thing different was the temperture of the test tube, one was room temp, cold, hot, and then warm. Thats why its called the temperature lab. . . Here was our results:

The last lab dealed with different pH levels, all three test tubes had 30 milliliters of water and 30 drops to them. The first tube had pink level 4 pH, the second had blue level 10 pH, the third had yellow level 7 PH. This was our results to the Ph level lab:

Conclusion:  If there are stronger Enzyme concentrations, then the enzyme activity increases. When its cold the activity becomes lower, but when temperture increases the activity becomes higher. Also higher ph levels cause higher activity in the enzymes, and lower levels cause lower activity.

Animal Cell Structure

http://prezi.com/2mxqymjswuw5/animal-cell-structure/

Diffusion and Osmosis Lab

In the beginning we put the substances iodine and water into a cup and placed a tube bag full of glucose and starch in it. The next day the iodine had entered the bag and the glucose exited. We knew this because in our last experiment (Polysaccharides) the mixture of iodine and starch caused a color change just like it did in the bag. Also we knew that the glucose went out of the bag into the tube because if it wouldn't have, the bag would have expanded or exploded.

Later, we did the same thing but with different substances and here is our results.

Antacid tablets were made into a liquid with a bit of water and poured in a tube at the weight of 13.43 grams. The very next class hour we checked them and they went up to 14.74 grams, the very next day they were at 14.23. The second cup had sodium acetate mixed with water with the weight of 13.74 grams. The next class hour it was already at 23.09 grams, the net day it was 16.23. Corn syrup was by itself in the tube and weighted 11.93, then class hour it was already at 15.88 grams, the very next day it was 8.47 grams. The last cup was filled with sodium bicarbonate at the weight of 11.66 grams, the next class hour it was 12.09 grams and the next day it was 11.46 grams.
After seeing these results i noticed that it must be faster for the water inside the cup to enter the tube than the substances to exit out into the cup. I know this because the tubes were already weighted heaver each time the class hour then the next day (when the substances exited out) it lowered its weight. 

Membrane Structure Tutorials

Lipids' cells are separated into two environments, one is called the hydrophilic aqueous cytoplasm and the hydrophobic lipid membranes. The characteristics by their hydrophobic nature and their common metabolic origin, is what defines the family of molecules in the lipid environment. Fats (triacylglcerol), phospholipids, and steroids, are some members of the lipid family. The molecules in lipids are long, 16- 18 carbon, hydrocarbon backbones with very few oxygen, this makes them hydrophobic. Fats, steroids, and phospholipids are very important to making the membranes in the cells work. Fatty acids atach to the alcohol gycerol. Fatty acids are usually, 16-22 carbons long. Saturated fatty acids have no bonds of carbon while unsaturated fatty acids have 1-3 double bonds along the backbone carbon chain. "Kinks" is introduced in double bonds, in carbon chains, they  carry important danger on the fluid nature of lipids membranes. Unsaturated fatty acids have lower melting points. Since unsaturated fatty acids introduce kinks in the hydrocarbon backbone, unsaturated fatty acids won't pack into normal structure (why fluid remains at lower temperature). Insulating molecules and energy storage is what fats mainly are. Energy is contained twice as much in fats than in carbohydrates. Fats are around animal  vital organs which cushions them, layers of fat underneath the animal's skin create insulation. Condensation reactions causes phospholipds with only two fatty acids attached to a glyerol head.

Carbohydrate Identification Lab Analysis Questions

1. Name the three categories of carbohydrates studied in this investigation. [umm. .  Monosaccahrides, Polysaccharides, and Disaccharides]                     
2. What three elements are present in all carbohydrates?  [carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen]
3. Give two examples each of sugar molecules from our discussion or the textbook that are:
1. Monosaccharides- galactose & glucose
2. Disaccharides- lactose & sucrose
3. Polysaccharides- glycogen & starch
4. How many times larger is the number of hydrogen atoms than oxygen atoms in:
1. water? 2 times larger than oxygen
2. carbohydrates? Twice the amount of oxygen atoms
5. “Mono” means one, “di” means two, and “poly” means many. Why are these terms used in describing the three types of sugars? It helps to know what the molecules look like. For example,a monosaccharide has only one carb beacause the "mono" part.
6. How can you tell by using Benedict’s and iodine solutions if a sugar is a:
1. Monosaccharide- Chemical change will happen when Benedict's is mixed and heated, it should turn orange. If iodine is mixed it has no reaction.
2. Disaccharide- With Benedict's or iodine their is no reaction at all.
3. Polysaccharide- Iodine will make a chemical change, it turns black. With Benidict's their is no reaction.
7. A certain sugar has no change in color when tested with Benedict’s solution.
1. Can you tell what type of saccharide it is?
2. Explain. [ Because some don't react at all, it would be hard to see what type of saccharide it is.
8. A certain sugar has a color change in Benedict’s solution.
1. Can you tell what type of saccharide it is?
2. Explain. [Polysaccharides and disaccharides will react mixed with Benedict's solution so you would be able to notice what type of saccharide it is.
9. Give an example of a food that contains
1. Monosaccharides- CORN SYRUP
2. Disaccharides- TABLE SUGAR
3. Polysaccharides- OATMEAL

Collagen Web Quest

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 major amino acids are glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Triple Helix is a type of collagen and is a long rope-like structrure. They are braided together by three polypeptide chains. Every 3rd amino acid(glycine) is perfectly fitted into the helix. The rest are filled into the helix which is proline and hdroxyproline.
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?
Vitamin C helps create hydroxyproline so it is very important to have it. The body cannot produce vitamin C sooo we have to make sure we have it in our foods or diet. When we don't the production of collagen slows down, this can cause scurvy.

3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen (the way in which the polypeptide chains are arranged).
Like braiding your hair, that is how collagens are structured. They come together making long strands side by side. They unite with the heads connecting and the tails far away apart.


1. What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta? What are some other symptoms that people with OI may have?
Some symptoms are that you are very fragile and bones can break or fracture. The loss of hearing can start and joint laxity. Also, curved bones( scoliosis) and having short stature. Those are some symptoms of OI.


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?
The collagen structrue is very normal which makes it different then ever other collagen. Except you don't have an average amount, you have less.

1. Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?

 Collagen is like the foundation of your bones, making them stronger! Bones have a frame and collagen builds on them making them not as fragile or easy to break.

Concept Mapping BOOM!

Web Activity: Macromolecules in cells

1. What is a Macromolecule?

Refers to a class of large molecules that are very important biologically.

2. What is monomer?

Is a bunch of several molecules that are chemically bonded to form long polymer molecules.

3. What is a polymer?

Are macromolecules that are built and broken down in the same way.

4. List the four main types of macromolecules:

 a. Proteins b. lipids. c. carbohydrates d. nucleic acids

5. What are the types of reactions that macromolecules are shown to undergo?
The types of reactions that macromolecules are shown undergo are condensation and hydrolysis reactions.

1.   Describe how monomers are joined together.
Condensation forms the molecules, they are joined by gaining other molecules. They just all attach to each other.

  

2.Describe how polymers are broken down.
A process called hydrolysis break down polymers.

3. What is the specific name for the bond between simple sugar monomers?
Glycosidic linkages

4.  Which kind of enzyme joins monomers together?
Proteins

Back on the previous macromolecules page, scroll down to the section on carbohydrates. In the learning materials box for carbohydrates click the link to the “build a carbohydrate” activity.

5.Describe how you had to arrange the sugar monomers in order to build a polysaccharide.
They corners must connect so the oxygens can join and they make a polysaccharide.

6. Which building blocks of macromolecules are not used in building carbohydrates?
Amino acids & fatty acids

Back on the previous carbohydrates page, click on the link on the bottom of the page labeled “More on Carbohydrates.”  Read the article and answer these questions:

 
7. Why is sugar stored as glycogen in the human body?
It is stored in your body because when you need energy its like a back up plan to get you boosted up.

8.  Why are plant foods essential to animal life?
Thats where the animals get their energy.

9.  Describe how starch is digested by animals.
The saliva in their mouth breaks it down and then goes in the digestive system.

10. What is “fiber” and why is it important in your diet?
Fiber is a special type of carbonhydrate and plays an important role for your blood sugar levels.

11. What causes you to pass gas (fart) according to the article?
Their is too much air in your stomach and it needs to escape, either a burp or gas also know as a FART! :)

Scroll back up to the top of the carbohydrates article and click on the link in the text to “Low Carbo Madness” and read the linked article.

12.      What are some disadvantages of a low-carb diet?

Return to the original carbohydrates lesson page and click on the link on the bottom “Carbohyrates and Cavities” and read the linked page.

13.      Describe the role that sugars play in cavity formation in your teeth.

Acid in your tummy. .

When you have a tummy ache you take medicine to make yourself feel better. We tested two pills and baking soda mixed with  vinegar which acts like the acid in your stomach. We used strips to measure the level of ph it contains. We did tums and the generic pills to investigate what one worked better. Since its generic I knew it would have worked super good but the baking soda bubbled like crazy. I guessed it right and the tum's ph was the smallest however the baking soda was the biggest.

drip.. drop .. WATER!

Trying to drag water from one beaker into another through a 15 inch. string was very difficult. Getting closer and closer we about made it half way in the end. We found out that if you wet the string it would help to make the water travel faster. In this process it is similar to how a tree gets water. We all know that roots absorb up the water but how does it go up the tree? The drops of water are located up and down the tree all connected sending a message of water. It bumps one and then bumps all the others up. Practically moving the drop up and up and up.



http://youtu.be/aHUEtxbDL90

What i learned. . .

Looking up on the website, I was very interested how science was compared to a "cookbook". It quotes, "pull a problem off the shelf, throw in an observation, mix in a few questions, sprinkle on a hypothesis, put the whole mixture into a 350° experiment — and voila, 50 minutes later you'll be pulling a conclusion out of the oven!" An observation is looking (observing) the items that you will be working with and not playing with them at all. Then you guess or predict what will happen using your "if", "then", and "because", which is called a hypothesis. Soon enough you put all the things into action and begin your experiment. Testing your hypothesis, you gather all your data, making you closer to your conclusion.  However, experiments are not just that easy, their are little things you need to know about. A variable is a type of object that you are measuring. Two variables called independent variable and dependent variable are two different things. Independent variables stand alone and are not effected by other things. For examples: How old you are can be an independent variable, factors such as exercise, dieting, or doing your nails will not change your age. On the other hand a dependant variable is exactly how it sounds, and depends on other factors. For example: Test scores could be a dependant variable and it will and can be effected by the amount of sleep or the amount of study.


A double-blind trial is actually very funny, well it is to me anyways. A vaccine or medication is known to heal or help others. Most medicines have the all the ingrediants but others have only 50% or less. The doctor gives the patient a placebo (medication with less that 30% or more). Tells the boy to take this for a week and you will feel better, soon enough the kid is up on his feet jumping around. Why is it that even though its not all medication it helped him? Its kind of like its all mental. .  cool right? So all in all , the patient or the doctor know which group of medicine your getting , you don't even know of your taking the placebo or the real medicine.

i love food

when ever i am bored i go into the kitchen and get a snack. However thats not it, the food gets stuffed in my face fast and 10 mins later I'm back for some more stuff to munch! yum yum yummy in my tummy i just love eating bunches of food :)