Biology
Mitosis Stop-Motion Animation
The 5 Stages of Mitosis:
During the first stage of mitosis, interphase, the cells duplicate creating two copies of the chromosomes. There is no division of DNA during this stage, only preparing for the division. The other thing that happens is, the cells undergo a process of growth.
The second stage is called Prophase. This is where the cells begin to change their structure and create other divisions of chromosomes. Each chromosome pairs up with another one, and the nucleus starts to break down. Once the nucleus is almost all the way broken down, the microtubules start to reach for the chromosomes.
The third stage is called Metaphase. This phase is when all the chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell and the central nucleus breaks completely. The microtubules attach themselves to each side of the chromosome as each pair separates half of themselves and attach to the other half of the other chromosome.
The fourth stage is called Anaphase. This is when the chromosomes get “pulled apart” into two sister chromatids. Each chromatid is pulled apart and move towards the poles (ends) of the cell by the microtubules that get shorter in preparation for cell separation.
The last stage is called the Cytokinesis. It is when the cells completely separate from each other. Each separation is different between animal and plant cells. Each one just before the separation equally distributes the fluid called the cytoplasm into each cell and them become two independent daughter cells.
Questions
1. What is mitosis and when does it occur?
Mitosis is when two cells copy DNA and create two separate cells. It occurs when new cells or cell growth is needed in the host organism.
2. What are the stages?
I stated the stages and what happens above.
3. How long do they last?
For the interphase, it lasts about 20 hours or 84% of the total time for most adult mammal cells. For the Prophase, it takes about 2 hours or 9% of the total time. Metaphase takes about 30 minutes or 2% of the time. Anaphase takes about 45 minutes or 3% of the time, and Cytokinesis takes about 45 minutes as well.
4. How does this relate to the current research we are doing with planarians?
We can see how long each cell takes to divide, and because they have regenerative properties they make nice test subjects for these experiments.
5. How does understanding the process of mitosis help us tackle questions about human regeneration?
It helps us understand how the process is being affected by different outside forces. We can then answer if it is possible to regenerate limbs, even if it with a little help from something else if it is possible is the real question.
Plant Mania​
Purpose of the Project:
The purpose of this project is to practice and use experiment skills to answer a question you are wondering about plant growth. My specific project was testing whether basil plants could grow in Martian soil. I planted 20 plants in Martian soil I got from a company who takes the information from JPL about the composition and re-makes it here on Earth. For a control group, I planted 20 plants in normal potting soil. I did have some plants growing in both of the soils, but over Christmas break, the classroom got too cold and the plants froze. So I didn't have any data. to compensate for this I partnered up with my friend who's plants also froze to describe the math of Chi-Squared which we would have done if we had data.
Photosynthesis Interactive
Purpose of the Experiment:
The purpose of this experiment was to see how photosynthesis works by absorbing carbon and H2O and understand it better.
Results:
The results I got were not what expected, I thought that with a black light and aspen leaves, the leaves would float because of the oxygen produced. I was wrong and I think it was because of the black light. I saw other people who did the same process as me, have more success with aspen leaves, but they were not using a black light. But this is why I did it, so I could find if a black light was some magic growing light. But as you can see from my graph, none of my leave samples floated.
Monocots vs Dicots
How to identify monocots and dicots :
Monocots: Dicots:
1. Pedals with multiples of 3 1. Flowers with multiples of 4-5
2. Spreading roots 2. Net vanes
3. One cotyledon 3. One tap root
4. Vascular system all through the stem 4. The vascular system around the
5. Parallel vanes outside of the stem
5. Two cotyledon
In this project, we started by taking some dry mung beans and dry corn kernels and dissecting them and seeing if they were monocots or dicots. Then we planted the same type of seed but they had been soaked overnight. Along the way, we documented how and how much they had grown. I have since planted mine in soil so they can continue to grow.
Why we did this:
The purpose of this experiment was to find which of the seeds were monocots and dicots.
Predictions:
When I was first sprouting the seeds I thought that the mung beans were monocots and that the corn was a dicot.
Observations:
When they were growing I saw that they grew really fast with the nutrients of the seed and then they started to grow slower once I planted them in the dir
Results:
In the end, it turned out that the corn was a dicot because it had the root coming out of the seed and the step also coming out of the seed. The mung beans are monocots because the root and the stem are one continuous part.
Reflection Questions:
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Did your plants drown or thrive against all expectations?
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I didn't have any troubles with planting them. I might have under watered them at one point but that didn't really change anything.
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Did you miss watering your plant over the weekend?
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I did miss a weekend, but it held a little moister in the paper towel so they didn't have any effect.
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Did you constantly change your experimental conditions? Light/ no light/flooding/ drought?
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I didn't change the light conditions that they were in, but I did slightly change the water that they got day to day by anywhere from 5-25 ml.
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