Weekly Blog 2/17/17 Inter-Dependence of Organisms

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Summary

An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living organisms which interact with each other. Living organisms are biotic while non-living parts of an ecosystem are abiotic. One way biotic organisms are dependent on abiotic factors is how animals need oxygen to survive. Animals are biotic and oxygen is abiotic. An example of how biotic organisms rely on other biotic organisms is in an ecosystem's food web. When the population on one creature drops, increases or gets diseased than all organisms part of the web are affected since everything is somehow connected.

SP3: Planning and Carrying out Investigations

I planned and carried out an investigation when I used a Gizmos simulator to experiment with how populations and health of organisms might affect the other organisms in the food chain. I did this by changing populations and the health (normal or diseased) of rabbits, grass, snakes and/or hawks. After watching a graph of the populations of each organism over a certain period of time, I recorded my data. After that, I studied my data and thought about why the organisms were affected the way they were.

XCC: Cause and Effect

In an ecosystem food chain, all of the organisms are dependent on one another. If something changes with one organism, then all of the other orgnisms in the ecosystem will be affected since everything is connect whether directly or thorugh another organism. For example, imagine a simple food chain with grass as the producer, then rabbits that eat the grass, snakes that eat the rabbits, and hawks that eat the snakes. If out of nowhere the snake population drastically increased. Several things would happen. During the first few months, the rabbit population would increase causing the grass population to decrease while the haw population would also decrease. However, overtime eveyrthing will most likelt balance out eventually or somehow work out.

Project Blog - Super Genetics

A poster of all the components of my project

Summary

Genes are made of DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid. A genotype is a pair of alleles or forms of a trait. n addition to all this, traits can be either dominant (represented by uppercase letters) or recessive (lowercase). Genotypes can be either heterozygous (hybird) or homozygrous (purebred). A phenotype is an observable trait resulting from someone's genotype. You inherit half of your traits from your mom and half from your dad. To predict traits, scientists use punnett square. Punnett squares help scientists make predictions about genotypes. In addition to this, some traits or characteristics you might have might be a result of epigenetics. Epigenetics is how the decisions your mother (from the moment you are in her stomach) and you make will affect you later on in your life. For example, if you smoke while pregnant, the effect will more than likely be that your child is born too early as well as underweight. You can also genetically engineer genes. On common technique is by inserting a new gene into a plasmid or loop of bacterial DNA. First, the loop of DNA is cut with a restriction enzyme. It scans for the base letter sequence GAATC, as it runs along the double helix. Once it finds it, at that exact point it cuts the loop of DNA leaving the ends of the loop sticky. This allows a new piece of DNA to be inserted. After the new strand of DNA gets inserted, the joins are stitched together by another enzyme called DNA ligase. Once you finish all these steps you now have a loop of genetically modified bacteria. In our project we had to create a superhero, villain, and child using genetics and learning about it while we did so.

Backwards Looking - How much did you know about this topic before you started?

Before we started our whole genetics unit, I didn't know much about genetics. Only that we get our genes from both of our parents and that genes determine our traits which includes how we look, what genetic diseases we might develop, and some personalities or ways we act. I also knew about genetic engineering and mutations (that genetic engineering existed). Most of what I know about genetics now is new knowledge.

Inwards Looking - What was especially satisfying to you about the product?

I especially liked how all my drawings turned out in this project. I think the extra week that was given at the end to complete everything and put it all together really gave me time to refine all the work I did and make sure it was the best. I used that time to go over a lot of my drawings with a pen and color it more. I also fixed and re-read a lot of my writing.

Outward Looking - If someone else were looking at the piece, what might they learn about who you are?

If someone were to look at my project, they would learn that I really enjoy keeping things organized as well as pretty and enjoyable to look at. I spent a lot of time on the villains packet writing, drawing, and coloring, for example. I also made sure that the tape was neatly and evenly cut. They might also learn that I love food since a lot of the stories I wrote for this project revolved around food.

Forward Looking - What's one goal you would like to set for yourself for next time?

Next time, I would like to set more firm checkpoints while I do my work. This will keep me on track as well as make sure I don't have to rush at the end like I did for a bit on this project. I will do this by thinking of exactly what I want to accomplish by the end of that class period or day. If I don't make my goal, I will need to work extra hard after school, or the next day to catch up on my work.

Weekly Blog 2/5/17 - Genetics

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Summary

In human cells, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes meaning 46 chromosomes total. People get 23 from one parent and the other 23 from another. Chromosomes can be found in the nucleus of cells. They are made of DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, which is the instructions for making us. Segments of DNA is called genes. Your traits, come from your genes. Genes can also be modified. Lots of foods are actually genetically modified, they are known as GMO (genetically modified organisms). 

SP2 Developing and Using Models

I developed a model this week when I created and tweaked my superhero automata. I also developed a model when I worked on my super villain nefarious papers. I had to draw four models about the original and nefarious of different body systems and organs. In addition to drawing these models, I wrote a short paragraph about the function of the normal and nefarious, how it changes from one to another, and more. In addition to this, I started creating a giant model with all of the information and papers from this superhero unit and began assembling it into one poster.

XCC: Structure and Function

The structure of the eye in my supervillain is what gives it is supervision or ability to see (well). Compared to a normal eye, the structure of the nefarious eye includes a larger lens to allow more light into the retina as well as a thicker retina. A thicker retina means more photoreceptors which will improve my supervillains vision. Photoreceptors are the cells that actually allow us to see everything around us including the shapes of objects and color. This idea was based off cats eyes. Cats amazing vision comes from their larger number of photoreceptors. They have around 6 times more than humans do. 

1/29/17 Super Villans

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Summary

The brain, a part of the nervous system is located inside of your skull, It is sort of like the person in charge due to how it controls most functions in our body. The brain is important because it controls almost everything meaning without it, nothing would function. You wouldn't be able to think, move, feel, or do anything really. The first body system thing I choose to change during my superhero transformation is the nervous system mainly the brain. The brain transforms in my super villain by

Weekly Blog 1/15/16 - Genetic Manupulation

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Summary

A common technique in genetic engineering is to insert a new gene into a plasmid. A plasmid is a loop of bacterial DNA. First, the loop of DNA is cut with a restriction enzyme such as EcoR1. As it runs along the groove of the double helix, it scans for the base letter sequence GAATC. Once it finds it, at that exact point the enzyme cuts the loop of DNA leaving the ends of the loop sticky to allow the new strand of DNA to more easily be inserted. This allows a new piece of DNA to be inserted. After the new strand of DNA gets inserted, the joins are stitched together by another enzyme called DNA ligase. Once you finish all these steps you now have a loop of genetically modified bacteria.

S&P 2: Developing and Using Models

On Monday, I developed a model of my superhero's child epigenetic results which I got from flipping a coin the week before. To represent the sickness that my superhero's child ended up with (breast cancer, other cancers and inefficient and malformed organs), I drew a drawing of her in a hospital bed, bald, with an iv attached as well as with a ventilator. By drawing the outcome of the epigenetics, I was able to use the model to compare the two drawings of my superhero's child, one of a healthy child and one of what actually happened to her.

XCC: Cause and Effect

Modifying someone's genes can have many different effects. For example, if you insert a new string of DNA into the DNA of a type fruit, the effect will be that the fruit will change based on what type of new DNA you put into the fruit or what you took out. Farmers use genetically modified seeds to grow a modified kind of plant or plants that don't get affected by pesticides. In the case of my superhero, her and her partner used human DNA and the DNA of a Lyrebird to grow \modified vocal organs with a higher vocal range giving her "superpowers" once surgically put into her. The cause (altering human DNA with the DNA of an animal) ended up with the effect of a sort of cross between the two (organs for humans with amazing animal like capabilities). 

Weekly Blog 1/8/17 - Genes

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Summary

Genes are made of DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid. A genotype is a pair of alleles or forms of a trait. n addition to all this, traits can be either dominant (represented by uppercase letters) or recessive (lowercase). Genotypes can be either heterozygous (hybird) or homozygrous (purebred). Homozygous means having two of the same alleles of a trait while heterozygous means having one of each. For example, a genotype of Aa would be heterozygous while AA or aa would be homozygous. A phenotype is an observable trait resulting from someones genotype. You inherit your traits from your parents, half from your mom and half from your dad. If you wanted to predict what traits your child will have you could use something called a Punnett square. Punnett squares help scientists make predictions about genotypes.

S&P 2: Developing and Using Models

This week, I filled out several punnet squares and flipped a coin to determine the traits of my superhero child. I then drew a model of that data by creating a drawing of my superheroes child demonstrating the results I got in the coin flip. Creating a drawing or model of the child helped me better visualize what he looks like and see the resemblances between father and mother. I also flipped a coin to determine the healthiness of my superhero based on his mothers and his decisions. Next week, I will create another model of that data by creating another drawing based on the new results I got. 

XCC: Cause and Effect

It turns out the decisions you and even your mother makes while you're developing inside her will affect your health later in your life. The foods moms eat while they are pregnant with their child, how stressed she is, how much she sleeps, whether or not she drinks alcohol and takes drugs, or cause, will all affect the child she is holding after it is born. For example, if you smoke while pregnant, the effect will more than likely be that your child is born too early as well as underweight. Your habits will also determine what illness your child might develop or how healthy he/she will be. However, decisions made by the mom isn't the only thing that affects health, decisions made by the child later on in life will also. For example, if you choose to always stay up  rather than get a healthy amount of sleep, it will lead to sleep deprivation which symptoms include hallucinations and depression. 

Hot Cocoa Co. - Charity Fair Project Blog

A Picture of our Product

Summary

The charity my group choose to support and present about is called the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. BBRF gives grants to scientists to allow them to further their research. They have given over 5,000 grants. According to charity watch, 92% of the money BBRF receives goes to the actual case, which is research about treatment options, prevention, the cause of brain disease and disorders and more. The other 8% goes overhead. I also learned that 1 in 3 people in the US live with a mental illness. Also, 20 to 30 % of teenagers will experience one episode of major depression before reaching adulthood. My group sold homemade hot cocoa mix in jars with marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and peppermint bark.

Backwards

In what ways have you gotten better at this kind of work?

Compared to last year's charity fair. I think I improved a lot. For one, this year my group and I completed every aspect of the charity fair in a timely manner. Unlike last year, Is wasn't staying up the night before finishing up my board with my group. I also think the product that I created turned out better. This year the product I created was definitely better quality and more worth the money. When we taste tested our product, it tasted great. 

Inwards

What was especially satisfying to you about either the process or the finished product?

One thing especially satisfying about the finished product was how our presentation during the charity fair went. I think our group did a really great job and tried our best. We really took into account what feedback we got during our practice presentations in class and practiced a lot. After the presentation, I felt really proud of how we did and also relieved that we got it over with.

Outwards

What the one thing you particularly want people to notice when they look at your work?

One thing I particularly want people to notice when they look at my work is the effort we put into decorating our jars. Though you probably can't tell through the picture of our product or even just looking at it. It took a lot of error and trials. Each jar is brushed with gold glitter lined with a different colored ribbon based on the flavor of the hot cocoa and wrapped around with a hand drawn tag. It took us an especially long time to make the tags because on each one we had to untie the already made know (which took awhile for all of them), put on a bell, and retie it an appropriate length for the jar.

Forwards

One thing I would like to improve upon is ...

I thing I would like to improve upon is thinking more ahead before we do things considering our product. Doing this would have saved us a lot of time. This is because when we put the glitter on the jars, we just placed the jar upside down and dripped glue with glitter in it on the bottom of the jar and down. The glue ended up drying around the top part of the jar where the cap would screw on. We had to take out this glue because it made the jar messy looking and hard to screw and unscrew. If we thought about it before we did it and covered the top part with tape, then this problem would have never occurred. We could have just peeled off the tape and the glue on it.