Thursday, September 27, 2007

Plant Cell













Cell wall - a thick, rigid membrane that surrounds a plant cell. This layer of cellulose fiber gives the cell most of it's support and structure. The cell wall also bonds with other cell walls to form the structure of the plant.
Cell membrane - the thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds the cell, but is inside the cell wall. The cell membrane is semipermeable, allowing some substances to pass into the cell and blocking others.
Vacuole - a large, membrane-bound space within a plant cell that is filled with fluid. Most plant cells have a single vacuole that takes uo much of the cell. It helps maintain the shape of the cell.
Nucleus - spherical body containing many organelles, including the nucleolus. The nucleus controls many of the functions of the cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and contains DNA (in chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the nuclear membrane.
Nuclear membrane - the membrane that surrounds the nucleus.
Nucleolus - an organelle within the nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is produced.
Chloroplast - an elongated or disc-shaped organelle containing chlorophyll. Photosynthesis (in which energy from sunlight is converted into chemical energy - food) takes place in the chloroplast.
Mitochondrion - spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many times, formind a series of projections (called cristae). The mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP (adenisine triphosphate) for the cell.
Cytoplasm - the jelly like material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located.
Amyloplast - an organelle in some plant cells that starch. Amyloplasts are found in starchy plants like tubers and fruits.
Centrosome - (also called the "microtubule organizing center") a small body located near the nucleus - it has a dense center and radiating tubules. The centrosomes is where microtubules are made. During cell division (mitosis), the centrosome divides and the two parts move to opposite sides of the dividing cell.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum - (rough ER) a vast system of interconnceted, membranous, infolded, and convoluted sacks that are located in the cell's cytoplasm ( the ER is continuous with the outter nuclear membrane). Rough ER is covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance. Rough ER transport material through the cell and produces proteins in sacks called cisternae ( which are sent to the Golgi body, or inserted into the cell membrane).
Smooth Endoplasmic Recticulum - (smooth ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted tubes that are located in the cell's cytoplasm ( the ER is continuous with the outter nuclear membrane). The space within the ER is called the ER lumen. Smooth ER transport materials through the cell. It contains enzymes and produces and digests lipids (fats) and membrane proteins; smooth ER buds off from the rough ER, moving the newly-made protein and lipids to the Golgi body and membranesstroma.
Ribosome - small organelles composed of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis.
Golgi Body - (also called the Golgi appratus or Golgi complex) a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that look like a stack of pancakes and is located near the nucleus. The Golgi body packages proteins and carbohydrates into membrane-bond vesicles for "Export" from the cell.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

CURRENTS

1. Explain how currents contribute to the distribution of marine organisms around the planet?

* Currents control the water temperature as it continuously circulates throughout the ocean. Current also supply very little oxygen in greater depths of the ocean. Several organisms need a certain degree of temperature and when currents control the temperature of the ocean this cn greatly affect them.


2. The primary factor influencing ocean currents is temperature regulation. What migth happen to the ocean currents (and has happen i the past) as global warming increase?

* As global warming increase, global sea level will increase. Since the glaciers and ice caps are melting, fresh water dumped in the ocean is lighter water over denser and warmer water. This might also affect the climate patterns.


3. Explain how density changes cause currents?

* Currents are caused by differences in the density of the ocean. These differences are due to the changes in salinity. Salinity is a measure of salt dissolved in seawater. More salinity means greater density. During the evaporation cycle, salt is left behind and causes an increase in salinity. Dense water will sink and spread out causing temperature changes and therefore changes current.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

'2007 LUNAR ECLIPSE


SHAPE OF LIFE

1). What organism is thought to be the first multi-cellular animal?
*Ancient Sponge (known as Sponge Bob)

2). How is it the same and different from animals today. 3 examples?
*SAME - Cells, Molecules and different animal cells
*DIFFERENCE - Feed themselves, reproduce, and does not move.

3). How do Scientist know its an animal?
*They have a unique way of working together. A cell to cell organization.

4). What evidence do Scientist have to prove that other animals evolved from this organisms?
*Genetice sequences, comparing genes with sponges and some other animals.

5). What more do you want to know?
*How long do sponges live.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Hiking trip to Laulau Bay



My hiking trip to Laulau Bay on Sept. 08, 2007 was a blast. I enjoyed it. i think i lost a few pounds but that's ok i needed that, and i learned alot about our land and how it is being damaged by hunters and tree cutters (whoever they are, i don't know) =:0. I learned that burning is not good becauses it damages our natural land resources and our water. As hunters burn, they don't realize that what's being burned runs out into the ocean and damages our coral reef. Laulau bay has lots of watershed that runs out into our ocean, so whatever spills on the ground or is being drained will be washed out into the ocean.



Sunday, September 9, 2007

VIRTUAL CHEMISTRY LAB

SOUR FOODS

Question: What atoms are in sour foods?

Hypothesis:

Sour foods contain high concentration of loose hydrogen atoms.

Procedures: Number the cups up to 5, add 5 drops of food to each numbered cups, add 1 drop of dye to all the cups, put cups in order according to the color chart.

Data:

The color of the dye shows the concentrate of loose hydrogen atoms in the food. Pink has the highest concentration of loose hydrogen atoms and id the most sour. Next is orange, then olive green, then green and lastly blue.

What are acids and bases?
Two classes of chemi-al compounds that display generally opposite characteristics. Acids taste sour, turn litmus (a pink dye derived from lichens) red, and often react with some metals to produce hydrogen gas. Bases taste bitter, turn litmus blue, and feel slippery. When aqueous (water) solutions of an acid and a base are combined, a neutralization reaction occurs. This reaction is characteristically very rapid and generally produces water and a salt. For example, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, NaOH, yield water and sodium sulfate:

What is a molecule?

Molecules are small particles that make up all living and non-living things.

Why is PH important in the ocean?

pH of the ocean is determined by a need to balance the deposition and burial of CaCo3 on the sea floor against the influx of Ca2+ and CO32- into the ocean from dissolving rocks on land, called weathering.


BREAD


Question: What molecules make the holes in bread?

Hypothesis:

Carbon dioxide causes the holes in bread

Procedure: Add three scoops of yeast to the tube. Add three scoops of sugar to the tube. Fill the tube with ¾ of warm water. Use the stick to stir the yeast and sugar in water. Stir until water is same color as the yeast. Then the mixture is timed for a few a minutes. Shine the flashlight on the side of the tube and watch the bubbles stream up the and notice the bubbles are very small.

Data:

Yeast is a living thing that feed on the sugar molecules. It breaks the sugar molecules apart into new molecules. Carbon dioxide gas molecules make the tiny bubbles you see in the tube

What gas causes bubbles?

Carbon dioxide gas is the cause of bubbles in bread.

How was it produced?

The gas was produced by the yeast that feeds on the on the sugar molecule and breaks the sugar molecule into new molecules.

How does CO2 get in the ocean?

The ocean absorbs CO2. CO2 dissolves easily in cold water.