4/25/14 - Evolution
It's been so great learning about biology in these quick little lessons! I have one more to research -- Evolution! It will be interesting as to some of the things I find out. 

Survival of the fittest is a form of natural selection. It isn't always some bloody brawl between lions. Sometimes it can be the taller giraffe or the faster flying hawk. It relates to natural selection as an organisms ability to reproduce. So the faster hawk will have babies who will in turn be fast. If the slow hawk dies, it can't have babies which will mean no slow hawks. 

Evidence of Evolution on Organisms:

1. Vestigial Organs: Humans have tail bones, we once had tails. We could've used them for various things, such has handling things or hanging somewhere. Whales have feet which mean they could have possibly walked on land.
2. Common Ancestors: We possibly could've evolved from monkeys, as are characteristics are very similar.
3. Biochemistry

Well since natural selection is basically whoever can live longer and contribute to the gene pool, adaptation is needed. As the world changes, our needs change, and therefore our physical characteristics change as well. Just as we don't need tails, now we don't have them. Eagles need wings, so they have them.

Both Lamarck and Darwin agreed that transformation was needed and does happen within different species of organisms (adaptation). 

Bibliography:

"Evolution- Evidence of Living Organisms." Evolution. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://bioweb.cs.earlham.edu/9-12/evolution/HTML/live.html>.

Grabianowski, Ed. "How Natural Selection Works." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/natural-selection.htm>.

***A little disclaimer on the topic of Evolution: Some of the topics I placed in this article are not my own personal beliefs. They are "scientific theories". This is strictly research ***

4/24/14 - Ecology
Only Ecology and Evolution left! This learning has been great. I can't believe the impact a little bit of research has made. 
"If you drive through swamp country you will hear swamps going bayou!" 

Commensalism: A relationship where one organism is benefitted; the other is neither harmed nor benefitted. 
Example: A bird living in a tree

Mutualism: A relationship where 2 or more organisms are benefitted. 
Example: Bee pollinating flowers

Parasitism: A relationship where one organism is benefitted; the other organism is harmed.
Example: Ringworm on a human

Predation: When one organism is benefitted, and the other is harmed. (Normally referring to an organism being eaten)
Example: Lion hunting a gazelle

Competition: When organisms fight for a certain goal.
Example: Deer fight with antlers for doe.

Biomes:
Boreal Forest: Warm, rainy summers; cold winter with a ton of snow; trees with cones and seeds.

Deciduous Forest: Cold winters and warm summers; Not much rain

Desert: Cold at night, extremely hot during the day; dry; not much water

Grassland: Not much rain; large plant eaters; tall grasses

Rainforest: Warm all year; wet; varied species

Tundra: Cold winter & warm summers; dry; low plants

The grass is eaten by the grass hopper, mouse, and rabbit. The grass hopper is eaten by the lizard and hawk. The rabbit is eaten by the hawk. The mouse is eaten by the snake and hawk. The lizard and snake are eaten by the hawk. 

The worm eats the dead plant which is then eaten by the turtle when is then eaten by the eagle.

The grass is eaten by the mice which are then eaten by the snake.

The stages of succession are Primary and Secondary

Primary: Dry land that nothing has lived on void of vegetation or life.

Secondary: The renewal of a destroyed ecosystem.

3 examples of adaptation:

1. Lions can rotate their ears to hear up to a mile away.
2. Birds can fly to escape situations and travel quickly.
3. Giraffes have long necks so they can reach the tall plants.

4/23/14 - Organisms
Yeep! I've learned tons of new things about cells AND genetics in just 2 days!! All I have left of biology is organisms, ecology, and evolution. I'm so excited! Let's get started:
"A mushroom walks into a bar, orders a beer.
Bartender says, “We don’t serve your kind here.”
Mushroom says, “Why not? I’m a fungi.”

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants obtain energy. 

            6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Light Energy = C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

During photosynthesis, light passes through the cell all the way to the chloroplast. There, light is converted to chemical energy. After that, a phosphate is added to ATP. CO2 is released and oxygen is absorbed. 

Cellular Respiration is when cells PRODUCE energy to live. Cells use O2 to break down glucose and store their energy in ATP. It requires glucose and oxygen.

6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6CO2 +6H2O + ATP (energy

Fermentation occurs when cells are dehydrated and in yeast and bacteria and are broken down. Energy is extracted from glucose without the use of oxygen. 

Cells<Tissues<Organs>Organ Systems> Organisms

Blood cell<Blood<Heart>Circulatory>Human

Archaebacteria: 

-Unicellular

-Prokaryotic

-Microscopic

-Decomposers & Producers

-Asexual - Binary Fission

-Extreme environments

Eubacteria:

-Live everywhere

-Photosynthetic

-Sphere, rod, and spiral shaped

-Prokaryotic

-Unicellular

-Producer & Decomposer

-Asexual - Binary Fission

Protista:

-Mostly unicellular

-Eukaryotic

-Wet environments

-Decomposers, producers, and consumers

-Fungus, plant, and animals

-Asexual&Sexual

Fungi:

-Unicellular and Multicellular

-Eukaryotic

-Decomposer

-Asexual with spores

Plantae:

-Multicellular

-Eukaryotic

-Cell wall and chloroplasts

-Producers

-Photosynthesis

-Takes in CO2 and gives O2

-Sexual (seeds)

-Asexual (spores)

Animalia;

-Multicellular

-Eukaryotic

-Cell Membrane

-Consumers

-Sexual & Asexual

-Invertebrates and Vertebrates

Organisms are classified by kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species.

Bibliography:

"6 Kingdoms." 6 Kingdoms. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://www.paec.org/biologypartnership/assets/classification/6%20Kingdoms.pdf>.

Kids Research Express. "Cellular Respiration." Kids Research Express. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://kidsresearchexpress-5.blogspot.com/2008/08/cellular-respiration.html>.

"Mushroom into Bar." CC: Jokes. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://jokes.cc.com/funny-partying---bad-behavior/vhlw8h/mushroom-into-bar>.

"Photosynthesis vs. Respiration." Diffen. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://www.diffen.com/difference/Photosynthesis_vs_Respiration>.

4/22/14 - Genetics

Well, after all of the interesting things I learned about cells yesterday, I figured I'd learn about genetics. "Where would one find genes retired from the human genetic pool? In an old folks genome."

                    DNA                                           RNA
-Deoxyribonucleic acid                    -Ribonucleic acid
-Storage of genetic info                    -Transfers genes to ribosomes
-Packed in nucleus, helix form.        -Strands made and recycled.
-Adenine, guanine, thymine,            -Adenine, guanine, cytosine,
cytosine                                              Uracil
-Self-replicating                                -Synthesized from DNA

DNA's role in genetic inheritance: DNA contains all of the genetic information an organism gets from his/her mother and father (50/50). The phenotypes are displayed as physical traits and the genotypes are whether a trait is dominant or recessive. 

The process of meiosis is not extremely complicated. There are 2 cycles that each have steps:

Meiosis 1:

1. Prophase: Chromosomes pair up and then split into chromatids. Crossing over is able to happen.
2. Metaphase: Chromosomes line up in the middle.
3. Anaphase: Chromosomes move to opposite poles.
4. Telophase: New nuclei forms at the end of each pole.

Meiosis 2:

1. Prophase 2: Nuclear membrane vanishes and crossing over occurs.
2. Metaphase 2: Chromatids line at equator
3. Anaphase 2: Line at poles.
4. Telophase 2: 4 new haploid gametes appear. (creates a zygote)

Mutations affect organisms in many different ways. They can affect organisms by disease, like cystic fibrosis. They can also be beneficial, like malaria resistant. Mutations occur by way of substitution, frameshift, insertion, and deletion. 

2 types of DNA technology used in society:

1. Taxol: Ovarian cancer treatment.
2. Interferon: Cancer treatment.

Bibliography:

"DNA vs. RNA." Diffen. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://www.diffen.com/difference/DNA_vs_RNA>.

"Genetics Jokes." Genetics Jokes. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://web.pdx.edu/~newmanl/GeneticsJokes.html>.

"Meiosis - The Genetics of Reproduction." Biology Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://www.biology-online.org/2/1_meiosis.htm>.

Cells - 4/21/14
1.So today I was wondering what the types of cells are and how they're alike and different. I did some research, and here's what I found: 
~Eukaryotic Cells: A cell that has organelles including a nucleus, contained in a plasma membrane.

1. Has a nucleus
2. More than 1 chromosome
3. Large Ribosomes
4. Has Plasma Membrane
5. Large Cell Size
6. Multicellular
7. Selectively Permeable

~Prokaryotic Cells: The smallest kind of cell, that doesn't contain a nucleus.

1. No Nucleus
2. No Organelles
3. Unicellular
4. Small Ribosomes
5. Not Permeable
6. Chemical cell wall
7. Small Cell Size

Similarities

1. Vesicles
2. Vacuoles
3. Cytoplasm
4. DNA
5. Protein
6. RNA

~Plant Cells: A eukaryotic cell, that is the smallest part of a plant.

1. Cell Wall
2. Large Central Vacuole
3. Chloroplasts
4. Plants go through Photosynthesis
5. Usually rectangle in shape
6. Membrane-bound Nucleus
7. Plastids

~Animal Cells: Eukaryotic cells, that are found in animals.

1. Irregular shape
2. One or more vacuoles
3. Centrioles
4. No cell wall
5. Cilia
6. Lysosomes

Similarities:

1. Cytoplasm
2. Endoplasmic Reticulum
3. Nucleus
4. Ribosomes
5. Mitochondria

Differences:

1. In a plant cell, a cell wall is present. In an animal, it's absent.
2. Animal cells are round, and plant cells are rectangular.
3. Animal cells don't have chloroplasts.
4. Plant cells have one large vacuole, animal cells have many.
5. Plant cells have plastids.

The Function of Organelles:

• Nucleus: The brain
• Golgi Bodies: Packagers
• Cell wall & membranes: Support & protect (doors of the cell)
• Nuclear Membrane: Door to the nucleus.
• Cytoplasm: Jelly-like material that protects organelles.
• ER: Transportation system
• Ribosomes: Protein makers
• Mitochondria: Site for cellular respiration and creates energy.
• Vacuoles: Store food
• Lysosomes: Stomachs
• Chloroplast: (in plants) used for photosynthesis
• Cilia & Flagellum: Movement

Homeostasis: Form of Passive Transport involving the plasma membrane.

Enzymes are made of proteins and are used to speed up or slow down chemical reactions. They are created in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Enzymes can be used to digest food. 

4 Macromolecules:

• Lipids are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Their monomers are fatty acids and glycerol.
• Proteins are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Amino acids are their monomers.
• Nucleic acids are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphate, and nitrogen. Their monomers are nucleic acids. 
• Carbohydrates are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Their monomers are monosaccharides. 

Bibliography:
"Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell." Diffen. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014. <http://www.diffen.com/difference/Animal_Cell_vs_Plant_Cell>.