Jolyn's Blog for Hotdawgs

In this unit, the overall topic was the cell. From the last unit, we learned about macromolecules. Now, we applied them as how they serve as building blocks of cells. Part of the unit described the structure and functions of the membrane. Another area is diffusion and osmosis, which is the diffusion of water. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration were two points important in plants and cells. Lastly, the functions and organelles in a cell. My strengths include diffusion and osmosis. I feel like I understand the isotonic and such concepts very well. The weakness in this unit were the functions of organelles in the cell. It seems very hard for me to remember the organelles and its functions. the topics I successfully understood were the understanding of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. The diagram of photosynthesis really furthered my learning. A big setback was the comprehension of the history of the cell and microscopes. Not being able to remember the dates and people of th

In this lab, we tried to identified the key features of autotrophs, heterotrophs, prokaryotes, eukaryotes and Protists. By recognizing the organisms in each cell, we came to the conclusion of the characteristics. We placed each cell slide in the microscope's stage and tested each power, from 40X to 400X. At the end of each examination, we took a photo that you see below. After, we wrote our observations of the specimen and determined if it was an eukaryote or prokaryote, and autotrophic or heterotrophic. The characteristics of the autotrophs were plants cells that made their own food. They contained chloroplast and other organelles that are found in plant cells. Next, characteristic in heterotrophs were animal cells and such. They depend on others to provide for their food/energy. Eukaryote characteristics are specimen that contain one or more nucleus. On the other hand, prokaryotes do not contain a nucleus.  Animal Cell: Skeletal Muscle Tissue Organelles identifies: Muscle Fi

In this egg-citing lab, we asked why and how does a cell's internal environment change, as it's external environment changes. After soaking two eggs in white vinegar for a few days, we take the dissolved- membrane eggs and place them in new "environments", sugar water and deionized water. 48 hours later and we observed what changes had happened. In the negative control, or the deionzed water, the egg had expanded in both circumference and mass. In the sugar water, the egg was deflated, dented, shrunk almost 50% of its mass. The cell's internal environment changes, while the external changes, to create balance throughout the entire cell. This is diffusion , moving from areas of h igh concentration to low concentration until they reach equilibrium. Being submerged into a solution, the ability of the solution is to cause a cell to gain or lose water. The definition of hypertonic is when there is more solute outside the cell, or in this case the egg. To ma

In this lab, we asked "can macromolecules be identified in an egg cell?" We found that we can identify macromolecules in an egg with the right solution to test it. For the egg membrane, we found lipids present from the color change, after submerging the egg into the Sudan III and water solution. The solution, originally bright red, changed to a medium red-ish orange. Lipids make up the membrane and stores energy. The egg white contained traces of protein when it showed the color change from blue to a dark purple, due to the added sodium hydroxide and copper sulfate. The cell produces the structural protein to feed the growing chick inside the egg. It also serves as protection. Lastly, there was polysaccharides in the egg yolk. With the help of another group's data, we concluded that the chestnut brown solution, iodine, changed to a blackish color. It stores energy for the cell, or the developing chick. This lab had many issues and errors to it. For one, our monosacchari