Friday, September 18, 2015

Week 4. Tissues, Skin, Membranes Lab.

Part 1
Tissues Identification and Characterisation.


EPITHELIAL  TISSUE


This is epithelial tissue because the cells are organized and have a structure. They form the layers and have distinctive shapes: squamous, cuboidal, and columnar.


CONNECTIVE TISSUE


This is connective tissue because it have  a few living cells. It does have fibers, fat cells, and ground substance.

MUSCLE TISSUE


This is muscle tissue because it has long strands of muscle fibers which are long and thin. Also, the stands are usually positioned parallel to each other.

NERVOUS TISSUE



This is nervous tissue because it has a large (in comparison to other cells) body, it has the dendrites (extensions that spread out from the cell and receive the signals) and axon, (that transmits the signals).



Part 2.
Tissue Membrane

MUCUS





Part 3.
Body Position and Directional Panes.
a)
https://www.google.com/search
b)   My friend have a blister on the bottom (inferior) of her foot. In addition, it is located on the rear end of her foot (posterior). So, I would say, that she have a blister on her heel.


Part 4.
Skin Structure and Function.


























1.  Duration of the sensation: about 4 seconds. 
2.  At a different location, the duration of sensation is the same, about 4 seconds. 
3/4.  After placing three more coins on the same location, the pressure sensation does return, but duration of it lasts for about 4-5 seconds. 
( i had an extra subject present for this experiment, but she didn't last long, so impatient   :) )

























5.  I have fouond this simple video on how our skin receives its sensetion. 

Our sense of touch is controlled by a huge network of nerve endings and touch receptors in the skin known as the somatosensory system. This system is responsible for all the sensations we feel - cold, hot, smooth, rough, pressure, tickle, itch, pain, vibrations, and more. Within the somatosensory system, there are four main types of receptors: mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors, pain receptors, and proprioceptors.

A touch receptor is considered rapidly adapting if it responds to a change in stimulus very quickly. Basically this means that it can sense right away when the skin is touching an object and when it stops touching that object. However, rapidly adapting receptors can't sense the continuation and duration of a stimulus touching the skin (how long the skin is touching an object).
This is why after about 4 or 5 seconds, we can't feel the couins on our skin. 





Appendages of the skin.






Work cited:

"Nose - Google Search." Nose - Google Search. Web. 18 Sept. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=nose&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS594US614&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIp4uE17WByAIVwZQNCh3AuA8r&biw=1435&bih=744#tbm=isch&q=mucous glands in nose&imgrc=melaihEOHy_MQM:>.


 "Skin Cross Section - Google Search." Skin Cross Section - Google Search. Web. 18 Sept. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=skin cross section&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS594US614&espv=2&biw=1435&bih=744&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CBwQsARqFQoTCMGpirm8gcgCFQqPDQod_c8D9A#imgrc=OMUa_yxlDpIBzM:>. 


 "Sense of Touch." Skin & Sense of Touch. Home Science Tools. Web. 18 Sept. 2015. <http://www.hometrainingtools.com/a/skin-touch>. 

Friday, September 11, 2015

Week 3. The Microscope, Cells, and Organelles Lab.

Part 1 
 The microscope magnification.


                             Lens mag.                                Ocular mag.                    Total mag.
a. Scanning                4x                    multiplied by        10x                =                 40x

b. Low Power          10x                    multiplied by        10x               =                100x

c. High Power          40x                   multiplied by         10x                =               400x

d. Oil immersion    100x                   multiplied by         10x                =             1000x




Part 2
Virtual Microscope
                         
    ONION ROOT  

                        
4x
10x

40x

100x
Onion root, under magnification of 100x, has the visible cells with their nucleus (dark blue), cytoplasm (lighter blue substance surrounding the nucleus), and cell walls (which are better viewed at mag. 40x).

CHEEK CELLS SMEAR

4x

10x
40x
100x


In the cheek cell image, with mag. of 100x., I can see the nucleus, cytoplasm, and organelles (in the 40x mag. image.)

Answers to part 2 questions.


1. What structure separates the contents of the nucleus from the cytoplasm?

The double-layered membrane, called the nuclear membrane, separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm. 

2. What is the function of the nucleoli? Why is this important



The nucleoli are located in the body of the nucleus. As the nucleus is the "brain" of the cell, the nucleolus (numerous nucleoli) could loosely be thought of as the brain of the nucleus. The nucleolus takes up around 25% of the volume of the nucleus.This structure is made up of proteins and ribonucleic acids (RNA). Its main function is to rewrite ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and combine it with proteins. This results in the formation of incomplete ribosomes. It produces the energy.


3. Other than the nucleoplasm and the nucleoli, what are three other materials found in a nucleus?

The three materials that found in a nucleus, besides nucleoplasm and nucleoli, are DNA, RNA, and ribosomal proteins. 

Operating the Microscope.

4. Which objective should be in place when you start?

The smallest magnification objective should be in place when we start, usually it is the scanning one, with mag. of 4x.


5. Which focusing knob do you first use when you begin looking at a slide?

When we begin looking at a slide, we first use the coarse knob to focus on it. 

6. What do you adjust if you can see two overlapping circles with part of the object in each circle?

To eliminate the two overlapping circles when looking at the slide, we have to adjust the oculars by moving them from side to side, until the desired one circle, with proper focus. 

7. How do you move the slide on the stage?

To move the slide on the stage, we have to adjust the two "stage manipulator knobs" to reposition the slide one moves it left-right and the other  moves it up-down, closer to the center with the light. 

8. What two devices can be maneuvered to increase or decrease light intensity?

To increase or decrease the light intensity, we can maneuver the rheostat and/or iris diaphragm lever. 

9. What is the name of the highest magnifying objective?

The highest magnifying objective is called "oil immersion".

10. Which objective allows you to see the largest area of the object that you are viewing?

To view the largest area of the object, we have to use the scanning objective, the one with the magnification of 4x.  




Part 3

Functions of cells and organelles.

Procedure
  1.  Pour 8 ounces tap water into each of two cups or glasses. Add 3 teaspoons salt to one of the cups and label it "Salt Water" with a piece of masking tape. Label the other cup "Fresh Water".
  2.    Measure the length and greatest width of both pieces/carrots and record this measurement in Table 1 below.


  3.    Tightly tie a piece of string around each carrot.
  4.   Set one carrot/carrot piece down into the “Fresh Water” cup and the other down into the “Salt Water” cup.
  5.  Take a photo of the two containers with their contents.

  6.  Allow the carrots to sit in the cups for 24 hours.
  7.  Ask yourself what will happen to both carrots in this experiment in terms of changes in length and diameter and why you think this will happen.  Record your predictions and rationale.

  • I think that the carrot in the salt water solution will shrink slightly compared to the carrot in the fresh water. 
  • Freshwater carrot will remain the same size because of the balanced concentration of the inside and the outside fluid. 

  1. After 24 hours, remove the carrots and examine the tightness of the strings. Re-measure the carrots and record the findings in Table 1 below.

 Remove carrots from cups and take a photo next to each other outside of the containers.
 Record more observations.



a.       Note if there are any differences in the tightness of the strings and the textures for both carrots. Observe which type of water caused an increase in cell size.
b.      Observe which type of water caused a decrease in cell size.
c.       How did the actual results in the measurements compared to your predictions?

After taking it out of the water, the salt water carrot is visibly smaller and the string tied around it was loose. It also looks somewhat "wrinkled", or a better word would be shriveled. 
The salt water caused the carrot to decrease in its size. .
It looks like my prediction was true to the actual results. The carrot in the salt water did shrink and became smaller in size. 

Remember science does not prove anything to be true. Through experimentation, results can illustrate processes and these processes may be used to predict similar events in similar or different circumstances.




What is osmosis? Include these elements in your explanation:

Osmosis is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides. It may also be used to describe a physical process in which any solvent moves across a semipermeable membrane (permeable to the solvent, but not the solute) separating two solutions of different concentrations.

What is moving? Why?

When two different solutions have different molecular density concentrations, the diffusion occurs. 



The molecules with a higher concentration will be moving towards the area with the less concentration, to "balance" the solution's consistency. 


 What does not move? Why?

The molecules will not be moving if the concentration is neutral. Like adding water to water will "mix" the water molecules, but will not unbalance the total consistency.

 How is this important for the health of cells?

When cells encounter the undesirable substance (like a sodium), they will not only work very hard to maintain their inner balance but also will lose their intracellular fluid due to "overworking", which will result in the "shrinking" of the cell and in extreme cases, the complete destruction of it. (the cell will die)



Table 2. Starting and Ending Carrot Measurements


Length at Start of 24 Hours
Length at End of 24 Hours
Width at Start of 24 Hours
Width at End of 24 Hours
Freshwater Carrot
 2 inches

2 inches
 .75 inch
.75 inch

Saltwater Carrot
 2 inches

1.75 inch
 .75 inch
.5 inch








Sources:


 "Function of Nucleolus." Function of Nucleolus. Web. 11 Sept. 2015.   <http://www.softschools.com/science/biology/function_of_nucleolus/>. 


Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 14 Sept. 2015. 






























Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Week 2 Acid-Base and Molecules Lab

Part 1
Acids and Bases
Types of protein

a. ACTIN (skeletal and muscular component)

b. TUBULIN (cellular structure)

c. HEMOGLOBIN (transports oxygen)

d. KERATIN (structural support)

e. IMMUNOGLOBIN (immune system support)

f. ALBUMIN (development of the embryo)

g. MYOSIN ( muscular contraction)

Reaction with the acid. 

Let's look at the albumin.

Because it is a protein that responsible for a development of an embryo, my example for the purpose of visualization, will be an egg. Adding an acid to the protein, will break hydrogen bond between protein's molecules. With that breakage, the structure of the uniform protein becomes so disorganized, it will experience the process of denaturing. When we beat the liquid egg whites, we actually rearranging the structure of the protein and the result is a foamy,  new bond of protein. The disorganization of molecules also happens when we add an acid, Like a lemon. The restructured protein will lose its potency, and will become a separate structure from the original bond. The egg will begin to "cook", the color will change to white and the consistency will become harder. Heat also will restructure the original bond and will change the consistency of the protein.  Hard boiled egg anyone? 



Part 2

Molecule A
http://riversideonline.com/employees/myhealthylifestyle/newsletter/fructose-sucrose-glucose.cfm?&RenderForPrint=1 
1) Belongs to Sucrose group
2) Common term: table sugar

Molecule B

http://www.indiana.edu/~oso/Fat/SolidNLiquid.html
1) Belongs to Triglycerides group
2)Common term: Saturated fat, or animal fat, or commonly used and loved bacon fat.


Molecule C

http://thenaturalhistorian.com/2013/12/05/ancient-dna-creationism-genome-sequencing/
1) Belongs to Nucleic-Acid group
2) Common term: or as known as - DNA

Molecule D

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-testosterone
1) Belongs to Testosterone group
2) Common term: Male sex hormone.

Molecule E


http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Textbook_Maps/General_
Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Map%3A_Lower's_Chem1/07%3A_Solids_and_Liquids/7.3%3A_Hydrogen-Bonding_and_Water
1) Belongs to Proteins
2) Common term: beans, eggs, nuts










Sources

"Actin." Definition of in Biology. Web. 3 Sept. 2015.

"Types and Functions of Proteins - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. Web. 3 Sept. 2015.        <https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/biological-    macromolecules-3/proteins-56/types-and-functions-of-proteins-302-11435/>.
 
"Sweet Things." Sweet Things. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://riversideonline.com/employees/myhealthylifestyle/newsletter/fructose-sucrose-glucose.cfm?&RenderForPrint=1>. 
        http://riversideonline.com/employees/myhealthylifestyle/newsletter/fructose-sucrose-glucose.cfm?&RenderForPrint=1

"Sweet Things." Sweet Things. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://riversideonline.com/employees/myhealthylifestyle/newsletter/fructose-sucrose-glucose.cfm?&RenderForPrint=1>.          
       http://www.indiana.edu/~oso/Fat/SolidNLiquid.html

"Sweet Things." Sweet Things. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://riversideonline.com/employees/myhealthylifestyle/newsletter/fructose-sucrose-glucose.cfm?&RenderForPrint=1>.

"All about Testosterone: What You Need to Know about the King of Male Hormones. | Precision Nutrition." Precision Nutrition. 22 Feb. 2010. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-testosterone>.

"7.3: Hydrogen-Bonding and Water." - Chemwiki. 2 Oct. 2013. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Textbook_Maps/General_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Map:_Lower's_Chem1/07:_Solids_and_Liquids/7.3:_Hydrogen-Bonding_and_Water>.

 "7.3: Hydrogen-Bonding and Water." - Chemwiki. 2 Oct. 2013. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Textbook_Maps/General_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Map:_Lower's_Chem1/07:_Solids_and_Liquids/7.3:_Hydrogen-Bonding_and_Water>.