Blogs

After allowing four days to elapse, all the data was collected. We observed that the condition with the least amount of web mass was the cold condition. Furthermore, the warm and control conditions did not vary significantly in terms of the amount of web mass. The observation of the cold condition resulting in the lowest amount of web production had some confounding variables. Mainly, one of the spiders escaped its enclosure on the third day of the experiment. This would certainly lead to less web production because the spider was not present to produce web on the final day of the experiment. In addition, the ice replacement was relatively inconsistent due to time constraints. However, the other three spiders completed the entire experiment and the effect was still observed among those three.

The electron carrier’s role in energy transfer is to act as a middleman in the transfer of elections between reactions. A typical example of an electron carrier is Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD⁺), which has an oxidized and reduced form (NADH). The term oxidation refers to the loss of electrons while reduction is the gain of electrons. For every oxidation, there must be a reduction because there cannot be any free electrons in the cell. The oxidized and reduced forms are called the “conjugate base pairs” within a reaction. Reduction potential, or the affinity for electrons, is determined experimentally using a volt meter to measure electron flow. It is related to the H⁺ ions in a reaction; if a reaction has a positive reduction potential, the oxidized form has a higher affinity for the electrons than H⁺. On the other hand, a negative reduction potential has an oxidized form with a lower affinity for electrons than H⁺. Additionally, a transfer of e^- from molecules of low affinity to high affinity releases energy and is spontaneous. 

Metabolic coupling is the process of using energy released from an exergonic pathway to provide energy needed for an endergonic pathway. The main goal of metabolic coupling is to end up with a negative change in free energy (delta G). A negative change in free energy indicates a spontaneous reaction. Metabolic coupling can exist in three forms: between biochemical pathways, within biochemical pathways and within chemical reactions. Energy transfer within metabolic pathways involves the removal of phosphate groups through hydrolysis, thus resulting in a large negative free energy value. The amount of free energy available in the bond is called the phosphoryl group transfer potential. Phosphorylation is the reverse reaction of adding phosphate groups through the input of energy (ATP).

Transgenic Organisms can be used in three different ways. They can introduce new genes into the genomes of target species (for example making the target organism produce a certain protein that is doesn't naturally. They can be used to remove the function of certain genes in the target organism either by target distribution or by inhibition of translation. The third way they can be used is to edit Genes or make specific changes to the genome of the target organism. 

A new study published by the medical journal Science Translational Medicine discovered that there could be a correlation between Parkinson’s disease and the Appendix. The research discovered that the people whose appendix were removed had less chances of getting a neurodegenerative disease. The Appendix, an organ whose function still unknown, it also proved to be a reservoir of the substance that kills brain cells. There is a link because in Parkinson’s disease, toxics proteins accumulate in the brain and kill nerves, especially those linked to movement. Although it may seem counterintuitive, there is growing evidence that the digestive system has a link to the disease. The analysis revealed that the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease was 20% lower in people who had had their appendix removed. However, the search for the origin of Parkinson’s still can’t answer why the disease appears in some people and not in others.

DCPIP accepts electrons after they leave Photosystem II, but before they go to Photosystem I.  Both photosystems are a part of the light-dependent reaction, which means that sunlight fuels their pathways.  Photosystem II hydrolyzes water and pushes two electrons further into the electron transport chain. Instead of moving on to Photosystem I, DCPIP accepts these electrons.  Without light, no electrons are pushed through the chain and therefore, DCPIP stays darker blue in color. If there are more chloroplasts exposed to light, there would be more electrons for DCPIP to accept, making it more clear in color.  This relates to our prediction because if Kale does have more chloroplasts like we expect, then the absorbance of light should be lower.

According to a new study, Parkinson’s disease could originate in the appendix. Parkinson’s disease could originate in the digestive system, according to this new study published in the Medical journal Science Translational Medicine. This study discovered that the people that got their appendix removed had less chances of developing a neurodegenerative disease or condition.

In order to fully explore the capabilities of yeast genetics, mutagenesis will be performed on the yeast cells. Mutagenesis is the inducing of a random mutation deliberately. It can be performed in several ways such as using chemicals, x-rays, and UV-radiation. These methods cause random changes in the sequence of DNA molecules and allow for the studying of concepts such as complementation. Specifically, the adenosine pathway will be studied using mutagenesis. Four haploid strands. ADE1a, ADE2a, ADE1α, and ADE2α will undergo mutagenesis and will then be placed on various media to observe growth and characteristics. The “1” mutants have a mutation in ADE1 and the “2” mutants will have a mutation in ADE2 in the adenine pathway. A mutant allele in either of these pathways will cause the buildup of P-ribosylamino imidazole, resulting in a red pigmented cell. The accumulation of P-ribosylamino imidazole also causes a decrease in the growth rate of ADE mutant cells. 

Both songbirds and humans are primed towards learning their species vocalizations and filter out the rest of sounds during the learning process. They both go through a critical learning period or sensitive period, during which information is stored for use in later stages of learning. Oscines also have a subsong period which is analogous to infant babbling and connects the perceptual and sensorimotor stages of vocal learning. Finally, there is a crystallization period, during which plastic song or language is perfected into the standard vocalizations of the species.