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Keeping Homeostasis

Submitted by fmillanaj on Tue, 10/02/2018 - 20:05

Homeostasis can be interrupted by either 1) an external change, leading to an internal change, or 2) just an internal change. This internal change leads to loss of homeostasis, which leads the organism to attempt to compensate. The compensation either 1) fails which leads to death, or 2) succeeds, which leads to homeostasis. 

Conditional Probability in Genetics

Submitted by fmillanaj on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 10:15

Conditional probability is applied when speific information about the outcome modifies te outcome. This idea is used in genetics when a certain factor about the outcome of crosses is known. This factor affects the genotypes of the offspring. Conditional probability is a step above normal crosses (which usually we know nothing about, other than the probability that a certain event will occur).

Example of Methods page I wrote

Submitted by fmillanaj on Sun, 09/30/2018 - 11:53

    Materials: The materials used in this experiment are as follows: 4x4 in. Brown paper, Drop of Oil, Drop of water, drop of five unknowns (for the Lipid Test); 500ml of the following (glucose solution, distilled water, unknowns 1-5), test tubes, 1 ml of Benedict’s reagent (for the Simple Sugar Test). Seven Test tubes, 1 mL of starch, 1 mL of distilled water, 1 mL of each unknown 1-4, two drops of Lugol’s iodine reagent (for each tube) (for the Starch Test). 2 mL of each unknown (1-5), 2 mL of 2.5% NaOH, 3 drops of Biuret reagent (for each tube) (Protein Test)

    Methods: The method for the experiments in this lab are as follows:

Part 1 Identifying Lipids. To identify which unknowns are lipids, obtain a small square of brown paper, divide into seven sections. Label them, Water, Oil, Unknown #1, Unknown #2, Unknown #3,Unknown #4,Unknown #5. Put a small drop of each substance on each section of the brown paper and rub it in gently with your fingertip. Allow the substances to dry (approximately one hour), then record your results.

    Part 2 Identifying Carbohydrates. To identify carbohydrates in the unknown, two tests are done. The simple sugar test, in which you start by making a boiling bath of water. Obtain seven test tubes and label them #1-7. Put 500 mL of 0.01 M glucose in tube #1. Put 500 mL of distilled water in tube #2. In tubes #3-7, put 500 mL of the unknown substances in the tubes, each tube with only one substance. Add 1 mL of Benedict’s reagent to each tube. Place the tubes in the boiling bath for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the tubes from the water bath using tongs. Place in tube rack to cool for a 2 minutes. Record observations. The second test, Testing for Starch, goes as follows. Obtain seven tubes and label them #1-7. Put 1 mL of 1% starch solution in tube 1. Put 1 mL of distilled water in tube 2. Put 1 mL of unknowns in each of the remaining tubes. Add 2 drops of Lugol’s iodine reagent to each tube. Record your observations.

    Part 3 Identifying Proteins. To identify protein in solution, Biuret Reagent. Obtain 7 test tubes and label them #1-7. Add 2 mL of each material to the appropriate tube. Add 2 mL of 2.5 NaOH to each tube. Add 3 drops of Biuret reagent to each tube, mix thoroughly. Hold the tubes against white piece of paper for better contrast. Record Changes.

 

Macromolecules

Submitted by fmillanaj on Sat, 09/29/2018 - 11:55

Macromolecules are large molecules that make up everything around us. These macromolecules are composed of smaller subunits known as monomers. Monomers come together to form macromolecules which are polymers of their monomer subunits. These polymers are built from monomers through a process known as dehydration synthesis (1). This happens when one monomer forms a covalent bond with another, forming a chain and releasing water as a by product. There are four different classes of macromolecules. They are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

The first class, carbohydrates, is made up of monosaccharides, which form into long chains known as polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are important to the human body system because it is where the majority of the body's energy comes from (2). The body uses these foods to make glucose, an important energy source.

The second class, lipids, are molecules that contain hydrocarbons, which make up the building blocks of living cells. Lipids are important because they store the energy that our cells need to perform daily functions.

The next essential macromolecule, called proteins, basically dictate the function of the cell. Proteins can serve as a catalyst, transport and/or store other molecules, control growth and differentiation (3).

To identify the presence of different molecules, you can use a variety of tests. For this experiment, we used the Lipid Test which consists of determining if a certain liquid will leave a grease stain (indicating it is in fact a lipid), to test for lipids, The Simple Sugar Test to test for glucose using Benedict’s solution , and lastly, the Protein test using Biuret Reagent, to identify proteins. Unknown samples in this experiment were tested with different methods describe above to identify their contents.

Macromolecules

Submitted by fmillanaj on Thu, 09/27/2018 - 16:32

Macromolecules are large molecules that make up everything around us. These macromolecules are composed of smaller subunits known as monomers. Monomers come together to form macromolecules which are polymers of their monomer subunits. These polymers are built from monomers through a process known as dehydration synthesis (1). This happens when one monomer forms a covalent bond with another, forming a chain and releasing water as a by product. There are four different classes of macromolecules. They are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

The first class, carbohydrates, is made up of monosaccharides, which form into long chains known as polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are important to the human body system because it is where the majority of the body's energy comes from (2). The body uses these foods to make glucose, an important energy source.

The second class, lipids, are molecules that contain hydrocarbons, which make up the building blocks of living cells. Lipids are important because they store the energy that our cells need to perform daily functions.

The next essential macromolecule, called proteins, basically dictate the function of the cell. Proteins can serve as a catalyst, transport and/or store other molecules, control growth and differentiation (3).

To identify the presence of different molecules, you can use a variety of tests. For this experiment, we used the Lipid Test which consists of determining if a certain liquid will leave a grease stain (indicating it is in fact a lipid), to test for lipids, The Simple Sugar Test to test for glucose using Benedict’s solution , and lastly, the Protein test using Biuret Reagent, to identify proteins. Unknown samples in this experiment were tested with different methods describe above to identify their contents.

 

Action Potentials

Submitted by fmillanaj on Wed, 09/26/2018 - 00:55

Action potentials first begin when a graded potential is strong enough to reach its trigger zone. This causes voltage-gated sodium channels to open, resulting in increased sodium permeability. This overall process causes the membrane potential to become more positive (normally it is at -70, resting membrane potential). This happens until the charge of the cell reaches the threshold (-50 mv). At around +30 mv, the voltage-gated channels for potassium open. This causes increased potassium permeability. The cell begins to become more negative again due to this. Eventually, resting membrane potential is restored. 

Cell types

Submitted by fmillanaj on Mon, 09/24/2018 - 18:46

Cells can be generally categorized as being either haploid cells or diploid cells. Haploid cells are cells that have only one copy of the genome in the nucleus. Diploid cells, on the other hand, have two copies of the genome in their nucleus. This is an important distinction of any class involving biology. 

Methods Draft

Submitted by fmillanaj on Sat, 09/22/2018 - 16:27

    To find a spiderweb on the UMass campus, I had to go through many trials and errors. The first spiderweb I found was too small for my phone to recognize. I had to go search for a bigger (more-defined) spider web. After a few days of searching, I found a spider web on the side of the Lederle Graduate Research center. On the section facing the main road (N Pleasant St), there was a spider web at about hip height.

    Photographing this web was quite difficult. I had to try to photograph it at several angles, with and without flash. I found that flash worked the best in making the web visible on in my photo. I had to angle the phone so that the camera was parallel to the main part of the spider web.

    To create the figure, I gathered the location of the spider web on openmaps.eu and my photo of the spider web and put them in the Inkscape app. I put the map on the left side and the photo of the web on the right side. Then, I created labels to point out where the location of the spider web was, along with a label that highlighted the spider web on the photo.

 

Perfect Paragraph 3

Submitted by fmillanaj on Fri, 09/21/2018 - 12:47

There are many possible ways to analyze DNA. Some popular methods include Gel Electrophoresis and Restriction Enzymes. The main purpose of Gel Electrophoresis is to separate DNA (genetic material) samples by size. The samples are attracted to the positive end of the well located on the gel, so they move in that direction. The smaller sized samples move much quicker than the large ones, making it easy to distinguish by size. The purpose of using restriction enzymes is to cut DNA at specific recognition sequences. The DNA is digested by some of the enzyme (for example EcoRI) and is fragmented into several sizes at specific sites. This allows for the fragments to be used in Gel Electrophoresis.

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