Density-dependent and Density-independent Factors of

Oh Deer! Simulation

The activity that was done this past Thursday was implemented to enhance the idea of density-dependent and density-independent factors within a population.




The main idea of the activity consisted of both deer and resources i.e. water, food, and shelter.
We started off with two deer at one end of the field and many resources at the other end. In the beginning the two deer nonchalantly chose the resources they wanted because there was an abundance of resources. However, as the number of deer increased and the available amount of resources decreased, there was competition between the deer population. This is known as intraspecific competition.

A density-dependent  factor is a factor that influences population regulation and is more evident when the population density increases or decreases. The examples that were shown in the simulation included the competition of resources between the deer as the deer population increased as well as predation.

A density-independent factor is a factor that influences population regulation regardless of population density. Several examples that were shown in the simulation included a forest fire, a drought, and a flood.

After several rounds of repeating the same process in which the deer would gather its resources, and incorporating the several different density-dependent and density-independent factors, the population of the deer species became extinct. It goes to show that too much of one certain factor will result in negative consequences. So there must always be a balance of numbers within all the species.

Pyruvate Oxidation and Kreb's Cycle

Takes place in the mitochondrial matrix
C= carbon


PYRUVATE OXIDATION
STEP 1:  pyruvate (3 C) -->acetyl CoA (2 C)
What's happening? 
1 carbon is cleaved -->becomes CO2, and NAD+-->NADH + H+

KREB'S CYCLE
STEP 2: acetyl CoA (2 C) + oxaloacetate (4 C)--> citrate 

STEP 3: citrate (6 C)-->isocitrate (6 C)
What's happening?
Isomerization


STEP 4: isocitrate (6 C)--> alpha-ketoglutarate (5 C)
What's happening?
Decarboxylation--> CO2 is produced, and NAD+-->NADH + H+


STEP 5: alpha-ketoglutarate (5 C)-->succinyl CoA (4 C)
What's happening?
CoA is used and dumped 
Decarboxylation--> CO2 is produced, and NAD+--> NADH + H+


STEP 6: succinyl CoA (4 C)--> succinate (4 C)
What's happening?
CoA is used and dumped
Substrate-level Phosphorylation--> ADP + Pi--> ATP

 STEP 7: succinate (4 C)-->fumarate (4 C)
What's happening?
FAD+-->FADH2


STEP 8: fumarate (4 C)--> malate (4 C)
What's happening?
H2O is added 


STEP 9: malate (4 C)--> oxaloacetate (4 C)
What's happening?
NAD+ --> NADH + H+


CONCLUSION
PYRUVATE OXIDATION
2 NADH
2 CO2

KREB'S CYCLE
2 FADH2
2 ATP
6 NADH
4 CO2

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Here, we have photos of the process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration interrelated with one another. The time spent on displaying these two processes together was a learning experience both academically and personally. This activity was done in silence with all class members where we were to use any other means of communication besides talking. This experiment proves that leaders must also be good listeners within a team because some members of the team may have brilliant ideas as well. If talking was implemented, those ideas may not be expressed because the ideas or decisions of "the leader(s)" of the group would override the ideas of those members that do not like to speak up.

Metabolic Processes Interrelated with the Law of Entropy

Metabolism is a combination of two reactions or more notably known as a coupled reaction. It is comprised of an anabolic reaction and a catabolic reaction. The process of synthesizing  macromolecules where cell growth and development takes place is known as the anabolic reaction. If we look at an energy graph for an anabolic reaction, energy is needed in order for the reactants to become products. Therefore, anabolic reactions are endergonic and require energy. On the other hand, the process of breaking down large molecules into smaller molecules is known as the catabolic reaction. This time when we look at an energy graph for a catabolic reaction, energy is released rather than required when the reactants form into products. This results in an exergonic reaction and a release of energy. The graphs shown below compare the two types of reactions where the change in G is the energy required or released. 
One must know that since exergonic reactions are spontaneous, they drive the endergonic reaction causing the overall free energy change to be negative which obeys the second law of thermodynamics also known as the law of entropy because the overall disorder is increased. Here is an example of what happens with our bodies to further explain this concept of an increase in entropy. When we put food in our mouths, we use energy to make the food and eat it which can replicate the endergonic reaction or the anabolic reaction. On the other hand, when we excrete waste like human feces, we release energy in the form of heat. This replicates the exergonic reaction or the catabolic reaction. The difference is that excreting waste happens naturally whereas eating food requires us to do it. So even though we try to create order by feeding ourselves, disorder or chaos still increases because pooping occurs naturally and ultimately we must go through the entire process again.

 

The Three Thermodynamic-keteers :O

Everything in nature must obey what the Three Thermodynamic-keteers say.

The First Musketeer-Conserving Mass and Energy


The first musketeer named Energio says that, "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed."



With that being said, if Energio eats lettuce, the calories from the lettuce is used to provide energy for Energio so that he can fight off the bad guys. So no new energy was created for Energio to fight. He simply got it from the calories of the lettuce. 


Similarly, the energy from the lettuce was not lost because Energio's body transformed it into another form of energy in order for him to fight. It could have been simply turned into a form of sound energy from his yells during the fight. As you can see, energy was neither created for Energio nor destroyed for the lettuce, but was rather transformed from calories into sound energy. 



The Second Musketeer-The Law of Entropy


The second musketeer named Chaotic claims that, "All disorder, chaos or randomness creates more disorder, chaos or randomness."


For example, the following changes in state....

solid--> liquid

solid--> gas

liquid--> gas

.... will always exhibit the second law of entropy because as you can see from the diagram on the left, the organization from the solid phase to the gas phase gets more random, disordered, and chaotic and ultimately increases entropy.


Chaotic describes that entropy happens in our bodies when we take in the energy from the lettuce (the solid sugars aka glucose) and we breath the oxygen gas in the air which turns into carbon dioxide gas and liquid water. The reaction that has happened in our body called cellular respiration goes from a solid + a gas --> a liquid + a gas. So wouldn't you agree that entropy has increased?

The Third Musketeer-Absolute Zero


The third musketeer named Zero states that, "At absolute zero, all thermal molecular motion is removed."


This is Zero's reasoning: He claims that he is so hot that when everybody sees him, they offer their heat to him so that he can become even hotter. Without the heat, the people die and disappear, ceasing to exist. 


Having all thermal molecular motion be removed means that our bodies will be at a very low temperature and will be nonexistent, so enzymes that are part of metabolic processes cannot work.  

What's in YOUR Carbs?

The Secrets to Genetic Engineering

The Three Stories of DNA Synthesis

Geneticists that Changed Our Lives

Ruth Sager – February 7, 1918- March 29, 1997

A geneticist coming from America, Ruth Sager is known for her discovery in the 1950s-1960s of cytoplasmic genetics. A decade later in the 1970s, she investigated cancer genetics and the roles of tumour suppressor genes. In 1988, she was also awarded the Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal “in recognition of excellence in published research on marine or freshwater algae.”

Barbara McClintock

Beginning her scientific career at Cornell University, American scientist Barbara McClintock discovered the study of transposable elements also known as “jumping genes” or cytogenetics. Her revolutionary discovery was made in the middle of the twentieth century and stated that an organism’s genome was not stationary, but rather subjected to rearrange. In 1983, she won the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medecine and this achievement started with a maize breeding experiment.

Rosalind Franklin- July 25, 1920- April 16, 1958

Surrounded by much controversy during the scientific chase at that time, X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin discovered the “X” shape of DNA. This “X” shape led to the understanding of the helical structure of DNA. Unfortunately she was not awarded with the Nobel Prize for the double-helix model of DNA as a result of her death. She had ovarian cancer and died four years before the Nobel Prize was given.

James Watson and Francis Crick

This pair is infamous for their discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953. They were able to come up with this conclusion from the x-ray diffraction data Rosalind Franklin collected. Watson and Crick also deduced that nitrogenous bases were connected by hydrogen bonds.  They won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.

Gregor Mendel- July 20, 1822- January 6, 1884

Known as the “Father of Genetics” and the Augustinian friar, Gregor Mendel laid the basis to genetics with his experiment of pea plants. By examining his pea plants, he discovered the nature of genetic inheritance. The Mendelian inheritance came to be and described the method of hereditary characteristics passed down from parent to offspring. Although Mendel’s work was very controversial at the time, he was able to publish in 1865 and 1866 which was revolutionary later in life.  

Day One Facts of the Day!

Facts of the Day for Day Number One:

*Whales evolved from dogs.

*Dolphins and dogs have similar behaviour because dolphins also evolved from dogs. 

*Dinosaurs are birds. 

*Mitochondria have two layers of membrane to absorb as much nutrients(?) as they can because they are the powerhouse of the cell.  

*Cells reproduce by splitting because at one point, they will have too much inside their membrane for the membrane to absorb nutrients efficiently. By splitting one cell into two, more surface area is exposed allowing for a more efficient absorbing effect. 

*Plants make their own food and get nutrients from the soil. 

*Our kidneys are located at the back of our body by the spinal cord. 

*Adrenal- ad means "top", and renal means "kidney", therefore adrenal means "the top of the kidney".

Day Two

Hey guys! Ah, the day has finally come where we are ready to meet our first guest speaker of this course. To my surprise, there was no speaker at all! The realization only hit me when there was ten minutes left of class and that there was no way that Professor Relish would be able to talk to us today. No wonder my friends from first semester said the guest speaker was really "animated". One of them was anticipating my reaction as well, which all makes sense now because the guest speaker was make-believe! I was actually very excited to see him! Nevertheless, Mr. Chung introduced the Murder Mystery assignment with a very creative style. Right when I got home, I got right to work with the karotyping and along the way, I realized my strong interest in this subject area: Forensic Science! I found it hard trying to switch to my Calculus homework because I wanted to continue with the Murder Mystery until I found out who the suspect was! I don't know who the suspect is yet, but at the moment, I can say that Captain Relish seems to be Thomas Sandstone in disguise. I hope I didn't ruin that for anyone. Anyway, this is what I learned today.

Facts of the Day:

*Cells are frozen and then dropped to acquire their chromosomes. 

*Scientists become famous through publications.

*Mendel became famous through the publication of his diary.

*Having your work published in Nature magazine means that your work is worthy in the science world. You could also be famous in science history one day. 

I'll end off today's message with a note.

Note:

*DON'T ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT MR. CHUNG SAYS. 

Day Number One

Hello readers! It is the first day of Mr. Chung's Grade 12 Biology class in second semester. I can tell that our class is going to have so much fun already based on how much we laughed in class today! In the duration of the class, we put ourselves into groups of five to six people and wrote down the topics in the grade 12 biology curriculum in which we had the most interest. Apparently there was a group of guys who were interested in learning the urinary tract and hormones. Hormones is part of the unit homeostasis where we talk about how sex works and the endocrines involved. I wonder why they were so interested, haha. :P Anyway, there will be a guest speaker this coming Monday and based on the comments of last semester's class, it will be one of the best speakers ever and one of the most memorable moments of this course! I'm excited! :D That's it for now. Ciao!