1. What is a GM Crop?
A crop that has been genetically modified to have better results, such as larger crops, more surviving crops, or more crops of high quality. There are also other modifications that can be made to GM crops.
2. List 2 arguments FOR the growing of GM crops
Good for economy
easier to grow and take care of
3. List 2 arguments AGAINST the growing of GM crops.
Allergies might become more prevalent
Bacteria in the body may pick up antibiotic-resisting genes form the GM crops
*Read some of the reader’s responses.
Engineer a Crop
4. Practice this simulation until you get the largest ears of corn. How many times did it take you?
Only one try!
What’s for Dinner?
*Click on the foods on the table to see what research is being done to bioenginner the foods.
5. List two foods and desribe how they are being modified.
Fries: Potatoes are being modified to absorb less oil when cooked
Coffee: Coffee is being modified to have different caffeine levels.
Viewpoints
*Read the article titled “Are GM Food Sufficiently Regulated in the US?”
Do you think food should be labeled if it has been genetically modified? Why or Why not?
Yes, because many people who are against genetically modified foods would like to know the ways the products they are using have been grown, much like the reason people want to know if food has been locally grown.
Finished? Go to www.yahooligans.com and type "genetic engineering" in the search field. Browse some of the sites that pop up.
(Yahooligans is better than yahoo, the sites tend to be picked for education rather than for scientists and universities, you'll find more understandable and interesting sites on yahooligans than you will with Yahoo)
Write down any of the sites you visited below.
http://www.eurekascience.com/ICanDoThat/gen_eng.htm
http://www.eco-pros.com/genetic_engineering.htm
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Mitosis Tutorial Virtual Lab
1. Which stage does the following occur?
Chromatin condenses into chromosomes: Prophase
Chromosomes align in center of cell: Metaphase
Longest part of the cell cycle: Anaphase
Nuclear envelope breaks down: Prophase
Cell is cleaved into two new daughter cells: Cytokinesis
Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles: Telophase
Watch the video carefully.
2. The colored chromosomes represent chromatids. There are two of each color because one is an exact duplicate of the other.
--How many chromosomes are visible at the beginning of mitosis? None, because they are clumped as chromatin. However, when the chromosomes first become visible, the video shows 4.
-- How many are in each daughter cell at the end of mitosis? Again, you see none because they are clumped as chromatin, but the 4 chromosomes from the beginning would compose the chromatin.
--The little green T shaped things on the cell are: centrioles
-- What happens to the centrioles during mitosis? They grow spindle fibers to separate the chromosomes, and return to normal when their task is completed.
3 . Identify the stages of these cells:
Cell 1: Metaphase
Cell 2: Cytokinesis
Cell 3: Prophase
Another Mitosis Animation:
Go to www.johnkyrk.com/mitosis.html
View the animation and sketch the cell in:
Prophase
The centrioles grow spindle fibers and move to opposite ends of the cell. The chromatin condenses into chromosomes. The spindle fibers begin to reach out to the chromosomes. The nucleus dissolves.
Metaphase
The centrioles reach out another spindle fiber and attach one to each kinetochore (the area where the chromosomes are connected). They begin to pull apart.
Telophase
The nuclear envelope begins to form again. The chromatids disperse into chromatin. The spindle fibers dissolve and the centrioles shrink.
Onion Root Tip - Online Activity:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/activities/cell_cycle/cell_cycle.html
Read the introduction, then click the “next” button.
You will have 36 cells to classify. When you’re finished, record your data in the chart below.
Interphase:
Number of Cells-20
Percent of Cells-55.5555556
Prophase:
Number of Cells-10
Percent of Cells-27.7777778
Metaphase:
Number of Cells-3
Percent of Cells-8.33333333
Anaphase:
Number of Cells-2
Percent of Cells-5.55555556
Telophase-
Number of Cells-1
Percent of Cells-2.77777778
Total Number of Cells: 36
Total Percent of Cells: (calculate: number of cells divided by total cells x 100): 100 %
Mitosis in Whitefish & Onion Roots
http://www.biologycorner.com/flash/mitosis.html
For each organism, identify the stage of mitosis.
UNABLE TO ACCESS, "Error 404: the page you requested was not found"
View 1:
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 2
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 3
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 4
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 5
Whitefish-
Onion-
Chromatin condenses into chromosomes: Prophase
Chromosomes align in center of cell: Metaphase
Longest part of the cell cycle: Anaphase
Nuclear envelope breaks down: Prophase
Cell is cleaved into two new daughter cells: Cytokinesis
Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles: Telophase
Watch the video carefully.
2. The colored chromosomes represent chromatids. There are two of each color because one is an exact duplicate of the other.
--How many chromosomes are visible at the beginning of mitosis? None, because they are clumped as chromatin. However, when the chromosomes first become visible, the video shows 4.
-- How many are in each daughter cell at the end of mitosis? Again, you see none because they are clumped as chromatin, but the 4 chromosomes from the beginning would compose the chromatin.
--The little green T shaped things on the cell are: centrioles
-- What happens to the centrioles during mitosis? They grow spindle fibers to separate the chromosomes, and return to normal when their task is completed.
3 . Identify the stages of these cells:
Cell 1: Metaphase
Cell 2: Cytokinesis
Cell 3: Prophase
Another Mitosis Animation:
Go to www.johnkyrk.com/mitosis.html
View the animation and sketch the cell in:
Prophase
The centrioles grow spindle fibers and move to opposite ends of the cell. The chromatin condenses into chromosomes. The spindle fibers begin to reach out to the chromosomes. The nucleus dissolves.
Metaphase
The centrioles reach out another spindle fiber and attach one to each kinetochore (the area where the chromosomes are connected). They begin to pull apart.
Telophase
The nuclear envelope begins to form again. The chromatids disperse into chromatin. The spindle fibers dissolve and the centrioles shrink.
Onion Root Tip - Online Activity:
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/activities/cell_cycle/cell_cycle.html
Read the introduction, then click the “next” button.
You will have 36 cells to classify. When you’re finished, record your data in the chart below.
Interphase:
Number of Cells-20
Percent of Cells-55.5555556
Prophase:
Number of Cells-10
Percent of Cells-27.7777778
Metaphase:
Number of Cells-3
Percent of Cells-8.33333333
Anaphase:
Number of Cells-2
Percent of Cells-5.55555556
Telophase-
Number of Cells-1
Percent of Cells-2.77777778
Total Number of Cells: 36
Total Percent of Cells: (calculate: number of cells divided by total cells x 100): 100 %
Mitosis in Whitefish & Onion Roots
http://www.biologycorner.com/flash/mitosis.html
For each organism, identify the stage of mitosis.
UNABLE TO ACCESS, "Error 404: the page you requested was not found"
View 1:
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 2
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 3
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 4
Whitefish-
Onion-
View 5
Whitefish-
Onion-
Epigenome
The Epigenome Learns From Its Experiences
Epigenetic tags are a collection of signals received throughout the lifetime, that change how the genome is read to switch genes on or off
A growing fetus is receiving these signals, which are recorded on the Epigenome. This can change the epigenome even before birth.
Changes in our environment can send signals that can impact our epigenetic makeup.
Signals can come from in the cell, from neighboring cells, or from the outside world.
Signals can be transferred directly and indirectly.
In development, signals are normally from within a cell or neighboring cells, or even passed through the mother.
Throughout life, signals come from social interactions, physical activity, and diet can all play a role, and many other factors play in, too.
Hormones play a big part in signals during this time in life.
Even in later life, signals are still being recorded, such as the repair of skin or blood cells, or organs in the body.
Epigenetics and Inheritance
Epigenetic tags can be inherited from parents, through a process known as epigenetic inheritance.
This means that a parent's experiences can affect later generations.
For an organism to grow and for the cells to develop into all the different cell types in the body, it's epigenome must be erased through "reprogramming."
At certain times throughout development, specialized "cell machinery" runs through the epigenomic tags and erases them so the embryo can develop correctly. However, some tags make it through and affect the organism.
To prove that epigenetics exist, a few things must be affirmed.
Mutations are difficult to find in larger genomes, but to prove epigenetic inheritance, there can be no first-time mutations in an organism under study.
It must be proved that the epigenetic changes can pass down through generations.
Another factor that makes epigenetic inheritance difficult to prove is the fact that a change induced by environmental factors can be reversed if the factors are changed again.
Epigenetic inheritance means that an organism continually change its gene expression to better fit its environment, while never changing its DNA.
Epigenetic tags are a collection of signals received throughout the lifetime, that change how the genome is read to switch genes on or off
A growing fetus is receiving these signals, which are recorded on the Epigenome. This can change the epigenome even before birth.
Changes in our environment can send signals that can impact our epigenetic makeup.
Signals can come from in the cell, from neighboring cells, or from the outside world.
Signals can be transferred directly and indirectly.
In development, signals are normally from within a cell or neighboring cells, or even passed through the mother.
Throughout life, signals come from social interactions, physical activity, and diet can all play a role, and many other factors play in, too.
Hormones play a big part in signals during this time in life.
Even in later life, signals are still being recorded, such as the repair of skin or blood cells, or organs in the body.
Epigenetics and Inheritance
Epigenetic tags can be inherited from parents, through a process known as epigenetic inheritance.
This means that a parent's experiences can affect later generations.
For an organism to grow and for the cells to develop into all the different cell types in the body, it's epigenome must be erased through "reprogramming."
At certain times throughout development, specialized "cell machinery" runs through the epigenomic tags and erases them so the embryo can develop correctly. However, some tags make it through and affect the organism.
To prove that epigenetics exist, a few things must be affirmed.
Mutations are difficult to find in larger genomes, but to prove epigenetic inheritance, there can be no first-time mutations in an organism under study.
It must be proved that the epigenetic changes can pass down through generations.
Another factor that makes epigenetic inheritance difficult to prove is the fact that a change induced by environmental factors can be reversed if the factors are changed again.
Epigenetic inheritance means that an organism continually change its gene expression to better fit its environment, while never changing its DNA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)