Science

Antibody Notes

All Antigens:

A

B

AB

O

*If two blood types were to mix, then one would attack the other

*A and B can be given to people with AB blood type

*AB is a universal recipient 

*A and B are universal donors

Ecology Vocabulary 2

Decomposers (noun): An organism such as bacteria or fungus, that breaks down dead matter and returns nutrients to soil

Estuary (noun): A body of water where freshwater and saltwater ecosystems merge together

Habitat (noun): The place and surroundings where an organism usually lives

Herbivores (noun): An organism that eats only plants

Host (noun): A living organism on which a parasite lives

Limiting factor (noun): Something in an environment that keeps the population of an organism from increasing as much as it could

Niche (noun): The habitat that supplies everything needed for a species or an organism to survive

Omnivores (noun): A consumer that eats both plants and meats

Parasite (noun): An organism that lives in one or one another organism

Ecology Vocab 1

Ecology (noun): the study of how living things interact with one another and the environment

Ecosystem (noun): all living and non living things in an area and their interactions

Abiotic Factor (noun): the part of the ecosystem that is not alive and will never be alive

E.X: A rock

Biotic Factor (noun); the part of an ecosystem that is alive

E.X: A lizard

Adaptation (noun): a characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment

E.X: A cactus developing needles to fend other organisms trying to consume

Biome (noun): a plant and animal community that covers a large part of the Earth

E.X: A rainforest

Detritivore (noun): an organism (such as an earthworm or fungus) that feeds on dead and decomposing organic matter

Community (noun): a group of organisms living together in a certain area

E.X: A group of silverback gorillas

Consumers (noun): an organism that survives by eating producers or other consumers in its ecosystem

E.X: A leopard gecko

Carnivore (noun): an organism that eats only other consumers

E.X: A wolverine

Deforestation (verb): The cutting down and clearing of forest land - will usually lead to increased soil erosion in the area

Flipped Classroom Notes March 6th 2017

Ecology (noun): the study of how living things interact with one another and the environment

Ecosystem (noun): all living and non living things in an area and their interactions 

Abiotic Factor (noun): the part of the ecosystem that is not alive and will never be alive

E.X: A rock

Biotic Factor (noun); the part of an ecosystem that is alive

E.X: A lizard

Adaptation (noun): a characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment

E.X: A cactus developing needles to fend other organisms trying to consume

Biome (noun): a plant and animal community that covers a large part of the Earth

E.X: A rainforest

Detritivore (noun): an organism (such as an earthworm or fungus) that feeds on dead and decomposing organic matter

Community (noun): a group of organisms living together in a certain area

E.X: A group of silverback gorillas 

Consumers (noun): an organism that survives by eating producers or other consumers in its ecosystem

E.X: A leopard gecko

Carnivore (noun): an organism that eats only other consumers

E.X: A wolverine

Deforestation (verb): The cutting down and clearing of forest land - will usually lead to increased soil erosion in the area

DNA Forensic Lab Report: Who Murdered Romeo and Juliet

Introduction: According to The United States Department of Justice, “DNA can be used to identify criminals with incredible accuracy when biological evidence exists.  By the same token, DNA can be used to clear suspects and exonerate persons mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes.” (ADVANCING JUSTICE THROUGH DNA TECHNOLOGY: USING DNA TO SOLVE CRIMES | AG | Department of Justice, Accessed 1/26/17). Based on information The United states Department of Justice provides, DNA evidence has been an effective tool when identifying guilty and unguilty suspects of a criminal action. This lab will be used to solve an artificially made murder scenario based off of the book The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. In the scenario Romeo and Juliet are murdered and a list of suspects are collected. One of these people’s DNA will match up with the DNA provided by the murderer. A Gel Electrophoresis Chamber will be used to determine the murderer. Purpose: Who is the murderer of Romeo and Juliet? Hypothesis: If Friar Laurence killed Romeo and Juliet, then his DNA will match the DNA the murderer provided, because Friar Laurence wanted to end the squabble  between the Montagues  and Capulets by uniting them through the death of Romeo and Juliet. Materials: 50 ml 0.9 percent salt water 5 disposable plastic cups 5 large test tubes (15 ml with screw on caps) 25 mL liquid detergent 75 mL water 25 ml 95 percent ethanol, chilled on ice 5 small test tubes 0.25 mL methylene blue solution per DNA sample Pipette and disposable pipette tips 5g Baking soda Agar powder 200 mL Deionized water 5 drops glycerin (1 drop per) Stainless steel wire Wire cutters Scissors 45 volt power supply 2 alligator clip leads Flat piece of Styrofoam for the comb One plastic box, big enough to hold the gel 500 mL of deionized water 5g baking soda 5 grams agarose Separate container for mixing materials (a bowl is suggested) Butter Knife Procedure: Creating the Gel Electrophoresis Chamber: Cut two pieces of stainless steel wires that are roughly 1 inch longer than the longest length of the box. Bend the wires along the shortest width of the bin so that they touch the bottom. The excess wire should be hooked to the edge of the bin so it stays in place. Once the wires have been shaped, remove them from the box and keep them in a safe place. Create a comb using styrofoam. Make sure the top part of the comb is wide enough to rest on the edges of the plastic bin. The bristles should end at least 2 millimeters above the bottom of the plastic bin. Make one tooth for each suspect that is being tested. The distance between each tooth should be evenly spaced. Place the comb into one end of the plastic bin.         Collecting DNA Samples: Have each murder suspect swish 2 teaspoons (10 ml) 0.9 percent salt water in their mouth for 30 seconds. Spit the water into their cup. Each suspect should be using a different cup, no sharing! Make a 25% mild detergent solution by combining 5 ml of liquid detergent and 15 ml of water. There should be enough of the solution for each suspect. Take 5 ml of each DNA sample them in their own test tube. Label each test tube according to what DNA it contains Add 5 ml of the 25% mild detergent solution to each test tube. Cap each test tube and swish them on their sides for 2-3 minutes. Be careful when rocking the solutions so that the DNA does not forcefully break apart. Open the tube and add 5 ml of the chilled 95% ethanol to the tube. It will form a layer on the top of the DNA solution. Allow the tubes to stand for 1 minute. While the tubes are standing, label one micro test tube for each regular sized test tube. Use a syringe or eyedropper to take 0.25 ml DNA from the top of each test tube. Add each DNA to it’s own micro test tube. Make sure that a new eyedropper is used for each DNA sample. Use the disposable pipettes to add 0.25 ml methylene blue solution to each micro test tube. Add one drop of glycerin to the micro test tube with the DNA/methylene blue solution. Close the test tubes tightly until they are ready to be put in the gel electrophoresis box. Testing the Results:       Make a 1% solution of baking soda for the new buffer solution. Measure 2 grams of baking soda and add it to 200 mL of bottled water. Stir this mixture well. Make a 1% agarose solution. This can be accomplished by combining 1 g of agar powder with 100 ml of the buffer solution made in the previous step. Heat the agar solution on a hot plate or in a microwave. In the microwave stop the timer every 10-15 seconds to stir the solution. If it is heated on the hot plate make sure it is stirred often throughout the heating process. When the solution starts to bubble, take it off the hot plate or remove it from the microwave. The solution should appear translucent.      After the agarose solution is made, pour the it into the plastic bin. Carefully remove the comb from the solidified gel. The indents from the comb will be where the DNA is placed later. Use the butter knife to cut a thin slice of gel from both the top and bottom. These cuts will fit the wires Fit the stainless steel wire (electrodes) into the cuts made in the previous step. Use an eyedropper or syringe to fill each well in the gel with a different suspect’s DNA. Be sure to record what DNA solution is placed in which well. Pour the buffer solution over the gel once it has set. If necessary, make more buffer solution to cover all of the gel. Data Table: Suspect Travel Distance of DNA Bands (cm) Suspect #1: Friar Laurence Results Inconclusive Suspect #3: Montague Results Inconclusive Suspect #8: Benvolio Results Inconclusive Suspect #9: Paris Results Inconclusive Suspect #10: Capulet Results Inconclusive Identify the Independent and Dependent Variable: X: Suspects Y: DNA’s Distance Graph:        #1 Scatterplot (With fake data)     #2 (Should be) Scatterplot with actual data                                                                  Lab Results: Inconclusive Conclusion: The results derived from the lab itself were futile. There were many inconsistencies with the lab. The variable that made the results futile, however, were due to the wires not being stainless steel or galvanized. Rust collected in the gel scattered the liquid solution in different directions and prevented parts of the solution from becoming measureable. Chemical elements in the rust may have also altered the DNA solution. This variable didn’t allow our team to collect DNA evidence. Results from the curators of the lab revealed that Friar Laurence was the murderer. The hypothesis our team came up with was correct, because Friar Laurence was indeed the murderer of Romeo and Juliet. If the lab is attempted again it would necessary to advise the use of stainless steel or galvanized wire, so rust won’t ruin the Gel Electrophoresis Chamber . Editing should be done to the procedures of the lab to insure that it will succeed in a following attempt. In the future it would be interesting to find a way to create a more stable environment to test DNA in.

Making Poop: A Look at the Making Poop Lab

The 2016-2107 NEW School class preformed an experiment about making feces. This experiment was called "Making Poop Lab". This allowed the class to learn about the digestive system and how it eventually leads to the generation of excreta. This blog will contain a walk through of the "Making Poop Lab" and information on the digestive system.

At the outset,  the digestive system is when food is physically and chemically transmuted and transferred through a number of organs and substances. At the end of this process, ultimately, poop is created. The digestive process begins in the mouth, where food is first ingested. 

In the mouth the incisors start by cutting up the food so that it is easier for the molars to pulverize. 

The Plastic Tub Represents the Mouth and the Scissors, Acting as Incisors, Cut Up the Food

Next, saliva chemically breaks down the food so that it is easier for molars to crush the food. You can find the enzyme Amylase in saliva. Amylase breaks down chemical elements, such as starch. 

The Liquid Represents Saliva that Breaks Down the Food

After the saliva breaks down the food the molars mechanically breaks down the food by squashing it.

Plastic Cups, Symbolizing Molars, "Chews" the Food

Subsequently, the mashed food then journeys down the esophagus to the stomach. 

A Cardboard Cylinder Exemplifies the Esophagus 

Once the smashed food reaches the stomach, it is greeted with hydrochloric acid, This chemically breaks down the food even more, 

Different Chemicals are Added to Connote Hydrochloric Acid

While the food is in the hydrochlrolic acid, it is churned by the muscles around the stomach, assisting by mechanically breaking down the food. 

Hands Squishing the Bag Represent the Muscles Churning the Acid and Food in the Stomach

At this point the food is now chyme (an acidic fluid consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food). It passes from the stomach, through the pyloric sphincter (which acts as a valve, allowing only chyme to pass through), to the small intestines. 

The Chyme, Passing through the Pyloric Sphincter Represented by a Cardboard Tube, is Delivered into the Small Intestine 

When it enters the small intestine, bile that enters the intestine breaks down the chyme into smaller pieces. Bile is produced in the liver and is stored in the gallbladder until the small intestine needs bile. This allows lipase (an enzyme produced in the pancreas(the pancreas produces a number of enzymes)) to easily chemically break down fats in the chyme. Enterokinase is also able to break down proteins more easily. These enzymes allow proteins and fats to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

The Small Intestine, Impersonated by the Stocking, Chemically Breaks Down Chyme with Lipase and Bile

Once here, the small intestine transfers the chyme to the large intestine, where excess water and nutrients are absorbed. In the large intestine, the leftover materials are prepared to become feces.

The Large Intestine, Imitated by a Tube Sock, "Absorbs" Excess Water and Nutrients. It Also Prepares the Materials to be Defecated

The large intestine transfers the final product to the colon, where muscles start creating contraptions. Once enough force is applied, the waste is propulsed out of the rectum.

The Poop being Propulsed out of the Rectum  Creating Scybala

In denouement, food passes through the digestive system, so we can produce energy and survive. It allows us to keep our body from being a reaping victim of entropy, for a while at least. Basically, food ingested in the body is broken down in the mouth, transferred through the esophagus, broken down in the stomach, travels through the small and large intestines, and is finally defecated through the rectum, so that we can rid our body of elements we don't specifically need to survive. This ingenious biological process allows us to get rid of what we don't need. 

That concludes the "Making Poop Lab" analysis 

Image credits given to Derek Torres (Derik Torres) and Kyrie Kennemore