DNA and History of Human Migration: Mind Blown.

         Hello all,

Recently, I noticed, while reading over http://www.biologynews.net/, that the National Geographic Society announced that they are launching a research initiative to map human migration using DNA. Part of this project allows for volunteers to give DNA samples. They would receive data and results showing their ancestral migration and even whether they have descent of Neanderthals! Is that not mind blowing?!? I, for one, am very excited about this project and am eager to know if I would qualify to participate. Think, you could know almost exactly where your ancestors traveled thousands and thousands of years ago. Anyway, I absolutely recommend reading this article at http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/12/05/national_geographic_unveils_new_phase_of_genographic_project.html .

Cancer, and Us

  Hello Again,

   As many of you already know cancer is a disease that effects millions of people each year. Cancer is a disease that effects the cells during meiosis, or cell division. It has and continues to make some sort of impact on everyone's lives. Everyone knows someone that has passed away or been effected by cancer. I lost my own father to cancer when I was an infant. The idea that I am trying to get across here is that blatantly, cancer is a problem. It is a problem worldwide, a problem in every community, and a problem in every social class. Cancer doesn't care if you have a family that loves you, or someone that depends on you. In a way, cancer is winning. I am fully aware that there are loads of experiment's and tests, and research occurring to find a cure, but there must be something more we can do. I feel that the cure lies within the young. The young are the world leaders, the doctors, the scientists, and inevitably the victims of the future. I feel that if there was more education about cancer that young student's could, in a way, get a "head start" on the research of tomorrow. Anyway, that is just my thought. I encourage you to at least put some thought into how you feel about this.

Cloning: Right or Wrong?

     Hello all,

I want to talk about something that many have very strong feelings about, so I want to first state that I do not mean to demean anyone else's beliefs or ideas, only to state my own. With that I'd like to get into it. Now, some have very strong feelings about cloning being wrong. Some say that God is the only one who should be able to create life in that fashion. However, being a practicing Catholic myself, I personally believe that God is divine and all powerful, and that if he had any sort of issue with cloning he could,and would do something to stop it. So, in conclusion I think that cloning, within reasonable limits, is a good thing because it can help the progression of medical studies in order to one day save lives in the future. What are your thoughts? Do you think Cloning is right or wrong? Why?

The Power Of a Gummy Bear

                   

                       This is a video of my teacher demonstrating the oxidation of a gummy bear.
   


   In one normal sized gummy bear there is approximately 7 to 10 calories. Now, think, all that light and heat and energy from ten calories! Think, the average human being needs to consume about 2000 calories a day to carry out its functions. Imagine the reaction you just witnessed and all its heat and light and energy multiplied 200 times! Well, that's the amount of energy our body creates every day. The difference is, like my teacher would go on later to explain, that cells go through this decomposition reaction in steps, taking in small amounts of energy at each step and converting it into usable ATP. What you witnessed was all the energy of the gummy bear being released at once. However, if our body did that then there would be deadly consequences as the energy would completely obliterate us. That's why we release the energy in steps, to conserve energy, and to obtain energy in a safe manner.

  There is approximately 4.2 Joules (measure of energy) in a single calorie. In 2000 calories there is about 8,350 joules. A watt (unit of power) is equal to one Joule per second. So, if one had a 100 watt light bulb, one could assume that it would use 100 Joules per second. Because there are 3600 seconds in one hour that would mean that it takes about 360,000 Joules to power a 100 watt light bulb for one our. If we think back about how there are around 4.2 Joules per calorie we can predict that it takes about 85,700 calories to power a 100 watt bulb for one hour. 85,700 calories is little more than a month's worth of calories for the average human being. If we put all this together that would mean that the energy that a human being needs to survive for a little more than a month, would power a 100 watt bulb for no more than an hour. Put that in perspective.

Simple Explanation of Light Reactions in Photosynthesis

For years now I have asked my mom to "help" me study for the many science tests I have had. If you were one of my close friends you would, unfortunately for them, know that when I study for science tests, I rant on and on about the specific subject at hand. I remember about a week ago I was doing my usual rant in preparation for a test the next day, this time I was telling my mother all about the light reactions of photosynthesis. Now, not to undermine my mother's intelligence what so ever, but, being special education teacher, she does not know a lot about biology. So, like she does always, she simply sat attentively and listened, occasionally asking questions. I feel, much of the time, I explain things without really considering whether she understands what I am talking about, so this is a simple explanation of light reactions in photosynthesis.

Diagram from: http://bioap.wikispaces.com/file/view/fig10.17.jpg/189210409/661x576/fig10.17.jpg




Refer to diagram.

Step 1: Energy in the form of light waves from the sun are absorbed by the chlorophyll

Step 2: This absorbed energy excites the electrons which are built up in the reaction centers of the photosystems (I and II)

Step 3: The the reaction centers built up so much energy that the electrons "jump" through the electron transport system. (follow arrows)

Step 4: To replenish photosystem II's electrons it oxidizes water to yield protons and electrons which are also used in other steps of the light reaction process.

Step 5: In the meantime, as the electrons are traveling through the electron transport system, protons (H+), in a way, "follow" them and get stuck in the thylakoid space.

Step 6: Once of electrons travel to photosystem I they receive an energy boost which changes them into NADP+.

Step 7: The protons and electrons from the oxidation of water in step 4 are combined to form NADPH, a molecule that will later be used in the Calvin cycle.

Step 8: The build up of protons (positive charge) in the thylakoid space, and the presence of electrons (negative charge) on the outside of the thylakoid space creates potential energy (i.e. a battery).

Step 9: This potential energy is used by ATP Synthase (enzyme that makes ATP) to make ATP from ADP and phosphate. This ATP is also used later in the Calvin cycle.

Step 10: Done! You now have the two major products of the light reactions of photosynthesis, NADPH and ATP.

The Beginning

Hello all,

This is the first of many very interesting blogs about the wonderful world of biology. Sit back and watch the science!!


The Studly Scientist