Science Class Week of 1/12/09

Hey everyone!!! This week in science class we talked about cell parts and functions, proteinsynthesis, our study guide, and cell reproduction.

Monday- we talked about cell proteinsynthesis. Here are some words to know.

DNA- Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid the blueprints or "recipe" needed to be copied or read for cell reproduction.

Proteins/enzyme- enzymes are almost always proteins. Proteins are needed for cell growth and repair.

*chromosome- a structure of DNA and proteins.

Gene- the basic form of heredity in all organisims

mRNA/tRNA-tRNA is used in translation and mRNA is transcribed.

Amino Acid- makes up proteins

Binding site- a chemical bond on proteins, RNA, and DNA

Anticodon- the opposite pair of a codon ex. if a codon is AUG the anticodon is UAG I think.

ATP- cell or chemical energy. Used as an energy source during photosynthesis.


Tuesday- On Tuesday we did a game on proteinsynthesis: ( My memory's horrible so I don't really remember who the actual people were =))
People stood in a circle while a person sat in the middle. They represented the nucleus and the nuclear membrane. A person sat in the center. (that person was supposed to be DNA) Then another person stood in the middle and began to grow. That person
was supposed to be mRNA. That person then copied the DNA. So TRANSCRIPTION occurred.
Then the mRNA person went around the desks to another person. (This is the mRNA going through the rough ER to a ribosome) Then the ribosome person read the info that the mRNA had. Then a person was the tRNA. The ribosome told the tRNA what person or amino acid it needed. So as one person was called up they would hold hands with the ribosome. When another person or amino acid came the tRNA person left and as recycled. After a bunch of people joined the chain, the ribosome read a stop codon. This told the ribosome the TRANSLATION was complete. (I think I made that more confusing then it needs o be sorry =))

We also made a concept map. Here's what I had:

Amino acid makes up proteins
gene is a code of a certain protein
a gene is a small part of DNA
Chromosomes are made up of DNA
m/tRNA is a transcription of a gene
m/tRNA is translated to an amino acid
codon is a small part of a m/tRNA
=) I think that's right.

WEDNESDAY- This is kind of an awkward subject. On Wednesday we talked about cell reproduction.

Here are the main ideas:

Cells come from other cells

Cells split into two cells (all DNA and organelles are replicated)

The offspring of the cells are exact replicas since asexual reproduction is the replication of a cell.

asexual reproduction- one parent cell.

Cells are not exactly the same coming from two different organisms. They won't look exactly like their parents.


Thursday- On Thursday we did a worksheet on onion roots. Here's what Justina, Kirsti, and I have:
1.You will be looking at a root tip. Why would a root tip have cell that are reproducing?
The root cells reproduce because they help the root grow to get the nutrients the cells and plants need. Like a potato and how It's roots spread after being left alone with no water.

2. Draw a picture of the root tip under low power:
The onion root cells look like a bunch of clear like circles squished together. In the middle of some circles were weird pinkish squiggly lines. Some had more than others.

3. What is the pinkish dyed portion of the cell supposed to be?
Chromosomes, the nucleus, and DNA.

4. Draw at least 4 different boxes of what you think is happening over time. Explain.
We had different ideas so here's what I have. I'm not sure it's right though. =)

First I drew a circle with lots of squiggle lines, then less, then separate little pieces of squiggles, and then no squiggles at all.

The nucleus and DNA stuff is in the center of the cell. Since it isn't doing anything or is dying the nucleus, proteins, and DNA are slowly breaking down.

Friday- We continued to work and finish our onion root worksheet. Our homework was to do 75% of the study guide for this weekend. The test is coming up on WEDNESDAY!!! Happy studying!!! That's our week. =) ORANGE!!!! =)