Genetics/ Cell Cycle Questions (currently under construction)

1. What is DNA?

DNA - the Blueprint of Life

Every living organism contains within itself the information it needs to build a new organism. This information, you could think of it as a blueprint of life, is stored in the organism's genome. The genome is made up of a material called DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. If you take a really, really close look at the DNA molecule you will see that it looks like an ordinary ladder, although somewhat twisted. The steps that connects the two strands in this ladder are composed of four different molecules of the same type, called nucleotides. In DNA they are A, T, C and G; where A stands for adenine, T for thymine, C for cytosine and finally G for guanine.

2. What are the 4 bases?

The steps that connect the two strands in this ladder are composed of four different molecules of the same type, called nucleotides. In DNA they are A, T, C and G; where A stands for adenine, T for thymine, C for cytosine and finally G for guanine.

3. What 2 peices of information did the scientists need to solve the elusive structure of DNA?

In the late 1940's, the members of the scientific community were aware that DNA was most likely the molecule of life, even though many were skeptical since it was so "simple." They also knew that DNA included different amounts of the four bases adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine (usually abbreviated A, T, G and C), but nobody had the slightest idea of what the molecule might look like.

In order to solve the elusive structure of DNA, a couple of distinct pieces of information needed to be put together. One was that the phosphate backbone was on the outside with bases on the inside; another that the molecule was a double helix. It was also important to figure out that the two strands run in opposite directions and that the molecule had a specific base pairing.

As in the solving of other complex problems, the work of many people was needed to establish the full picture.

4. What are the specific base pairs?

The four specific base pairs are adenine, thymine, & guanine, cytosine.

The base-pairing mystery had been partly solved by the biochemist Erwin Chargoff some years earlier. In 1949 he showed that even though different organisms have different amounts of DNA, the amount of adenine always equals the amount of thymine. The same goes for the pair guanine and cytosine. For example, human DNA contains about 30 percent each of adenine and thymine, and 20 percent each of guanine and cytosine.

With this information at hand Watson was able to figure out the pairing rules. On the 21st of February 1953 he had the key insight, when he saw that the adenine-thymine bond was exactly as long as the cytosine-guanine bond. If the bases were paired in this way, each rung of the twisted ladder in the helix would be of equal length, and the sugar-phosphate backbone would be smooth.

5. How does the pairing rule effect the shape and structure of DNA?

Each rung of the twisted ladder in the Helix would be of equal length, and the sugar- phosphate backbone would be smooth.

6. What does the DNA do during cell division?

It is able to “unzip” into two pairs.

7. How many base pairs does E. Coli have? How long does it take to replicate? How is the DNA packaged in the cell?

4 million, once every 20 minutes 3 million, Its is curled up in a condensed fashion.

8. How many base pairs does Human DNA have? How long does it take to replicate? How is the DNA packaged in the cell?

12-24 in 23 distinct chromosome pairs.

Cell Diffusion (currently under construction)

Using Word and Excel to publish your results answer the following questions and complete the following experiment.

What is diffusion?
* The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

What is osmosis?
* The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane, such as the cell membrane, which allows only certain molecules to pass through.

Can you demonstrate these two processes using a gummy bear?

Write a hypothesis and a prediction.

Set up an experiment, identify your controls, variables and what you are going to measure.

List your steps, in a logical and specific order

Create a data table in Excel for your observations. Import this into Word. Convert the data table into a graph. Import this into Word as well.

Write an explanation of your results and conclusion. Use your data to support your explanation.

Upload your assignment.

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis is the process where green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food and oxygen.Respiration is the process where cells use this food to release stored energy.

Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy --> 6O2 + C6H12O6

Cellular Respiration: 6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

- Sunlight produces the energy source for Photosynthesis. It uses water and carbon dioxide to make glucose. Cellular Respiration is the opposite of Photosynthesis. It breaks down glucose, using oxygen which creates water and carbon dioxide.

Results are: O2+C6H12O6->H2O+ATP+CO2

Managaha Meeting

Lab @ TiNiAN!

Today, I am an "Algae Expert"...

*My illustration of an Algae...

There are three types of Algae, Green Algae, Brown Algae, and Red Algae.

Most green algae (phylum Chlorophyta) live in freshwater and terrestrial environments. Only around 10% of the estimated 7,000 species are marine; many of these marine species are unicellular. This, however does not mean that multicellular green algae are uncommon in the sea. Certain species dominate in environments with wide variations in salinity such as bays and estuaries and in isolated tide pools on rocky coasts. Most multicellur green algae have a simple thallus compared to the other two groups of seaweeds. Their pigments and food reserve are the same as those in plants, so it is thought that land plants evolved from green algae. Chlorophyll in both green algae and plants is not normally masked by any other pigments, and green algae typically have a bright green thallus.

The color of brown algae (phylum Heterokontophyta, class Phaeophyta), which actually varies from olive green to dark brown, is due to a preponderance of yellow-brown pigments, particularly fucoxanthin, over chlorophyll. Almost all the approximately 1,500 known species are marine. Brown algae are often the dominant primary producers on temperate and polar rocky coasts and include the largest and most complex seaweeds. The brown algae have yellow-brown pigments in addition to chlorophyll. They include the largest and structurally most complex seaweeds. The simplest brown algae have a finely filamentous thallus, as in the widely distributed Ectocarpus. The thallus is flat and branched in Dictyota and fan-shaped and lightly calcified in Padina. Both are tropical and subtropical. The thallus of most species of Desmarestia is found in cold waters. It ranges from the Antarctic, where it is one of the dominant species, to temperate shores elsewhere.

There are more species of marine red algae (phylum Rhodophyta) than of marine green and brown algae combined. Among other features they have red pigments called phycobilins, which mask chlorophyll. Most species actually are red, though some may have different colors depending on their daily exposure to light. The group is essentially marine; only a few of the approximately 4,000 species live in fresh water or soil. Red algae inhabitat most shallow-water marine environments. Some are harvested for food and for the extraction of varius products.



Parts of a Cell (algae):


1) Nucleus: The organelle of eukaryotic cells that contains the chromosomes.

2) Chloroplast: The organelle where photosynthesis takes place.

3) Flagellum: A long, whip-like organelle that is usually involved in locomotion.

4) Pellicle: (noun) A thin skin or film, such as an organic membrane or liquid film.

Now, that we are both experts on algae...please take the time to answer the questions below.

3 Questions:

1. How are algae and plant cells alike?


2. What kind of algae is most dominant?


3. How many types of algae exist?



Thank You, or like we say the island way, Si Yu'us Ma'ase...

Ocean Currents (Map)