Claire Smerdon's Science Blog

In this unit, we learned in-depth about DNA and its role in how we are today. Our DNA explains why I have blue eyes or why you might have curly hair. I now understand how DNA is replicated, and the mutations that may occur. We looked at real life examples of mutations, like cystic fibrosis. We also learned how proteins are made and had a lab to compliment it. I found this unit easier to understand and more interesting. As a result, I didn't have any major struggles. A small setback was transcription, but I easily overcame it. I really want to learn more about mutations and diseases caused by them. I'm a better student than before because I applied what I learned from the VARK questionaire into my studying. I found that I understood the topics better and learned them faster. Photos from DNA extraction lab

1. Proteins are produced through transcription and translation. Transcription is the process where genes are copied by enzymes, resulting in mRNA or messenger RNA . After leaving the nucleus, it travels to the cytoplasm for translation. The ribosomes reads off the RNA in sets of three bases, or codons. The codons correlate with an amino acid . The amino acids bond together, and the translated version is folded up into a protein. 2. A substitution is a type of mutation that changes one base for another. These are the least damaging because it only effects that one base and the codon. Frameshift mutations are deletion or insertions of a base in a sequence . For example, an insertion to ACG would be AC C G. A deletion to ACG would be AC. They cause the greatest damage because they alter the entire sequence after it. Furthermore, frameshift mutations in the beginning of the sequence are the most fatal because they alter more of the sequence than later mutations. 3. I chose t...

          In the DNA extraction lab, we asked if DNA can be extracted from cheek cells in order to study it. If DNA is in every cell, then we should be able to extract it from our cheek cells. At the end, we discovered that in fact, we were able to by taking the qualitative data approach. We saw the whitish material floating between the alcohol and gatorade, showing the clear sign of it being DNA. We may have conducted the experiment wrong, and impacted our outcome. We might have gotten too many airbubbles or poured too little alcohol. Another possible error is I only drank part of the gatorade and spat it into more gatorade. As a result, I might not have gotten enough skin cells to get measurable results. One recommendation is to give more background information to help decipher how to conduct the experiment. Another is to explain more clearly in the beginning what you're looking for and signals you got DNA.           This lab's purpos...

      In the coin sex lab, we flipped the coin to see how many times we recieved the traits out of ten. The coins' sides served as possible phenotypes. In the end, we found that our results correlate with what was expected. In the dihybrid cross, we expected to get the 9:3:3:1 pattern ( 9 brunettes with brown eyes: 3 brunettes with blue eyes: 3 blondes with brown eyes: 1 blonde with blue eyes). Our results were 10:3:2:1, with one less brunette with blue eyes and one more brunette with brown eyes. Overall, our results mirrored our expectations. Probability can only help with traits that have clear phenotypes. In addition, probabilty doesn't factor in the environment. This helps account for traits we see everyday and how siblings share some traits but not others. Probability is translated through the situation of three siblings having a widow's peak and one that doesn't.       This unit revolved around genetics and how offspring are affected by their parents...

            Before reading Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to all Creatures , I knew vaguely about the concepts of asexual and sexual reproduction. I could recount that asexual was with one partner while sexual was with two. Questions flowed through my mind: But why would an organism conduct asexual reproduction? How does that even begin to happen?             After reading, I discovered asexual reproduction has quite the list of advantages: it's easy, it's fast, no mate or date, and it enables organisms to make a lot of offsping. There's the added bonus of having thousands upon millions of you. Yet there is one costly disadvantage that defeats most asexual species, species are more prone to extinction. Because everyone is like you, your species can not adapt to its enviornment; there are no mutated organisms that will survive.               On the flip side, sexual reproduction helps counter...

       In this unit, we learned about the structure, function, processes, etc. of cells. We delved into photosynthesis and cellular respiration. We learned how cells came to be and the discovery of cells. We even observed and identified cells! We understood how essential each organelle is and how they help the cell.        Some setbacks I faced was understanding how some of the molecules factor in. I overcame the setback by asking questions, watching the vodcast, reading the textbook and watching Khan Academy to accumulate different perspectives. A strength for me was understanding photosynthesis and being able to explain it well. In the micro organism lab, Nakul and I found a system that helped us become more efficient with our time.        I'm a better student today because to tart off, I'm more intelligent. A week ago, I would've explained as photosynthesis making food for themselves which is sugar with the ingredients of ...