Rushers

flat = = =Members:= Kaston Rachel M S

Us with the Big Time Rush crew! =DNA Discussion Questions:= 1. The five elements that make up DNA are Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Phosphorus. 2. The function of DNA from day to day is to provide us with the codes that tell our bodies what to do and hold our genetic material that is passed from our parents. 3. DNA fits into the nucleus of a cheek cell because DNA contains chromosomes that wrap around the histones in the nucleus to compact there size. 4. The purpose of the cell lysis solution is to break the phospholipid bilayer to reach the nucleus. 5. The alcohol doesn't mix with the gatorade/lysis solution and it will rise in the middle because they don't mix together. 6. Even though it is thin it stretches out because there is so much, so when it is bunched together it is visible. 7. It holds our genes and by looking at it and its individual characteristics you see it is different from anybody else. 8. It is used to figure out crime investigations through finger printing, it gives you information about your family, and it can help researchers look for different cancers you could get in your lifetime. Picture:

=DNA Replication Model: =

To begin to understand DNA replication it is important to know there are 4 nitrogen bases which are, Adenine, Guanine, Thymine, and Cytosine. A pairs with T and G pairs with C, these are connected by hydrogen bonds that hold them together. The first step in the replication process is to break the hydrogen bonds holding the bases together using helicase, an enzyme that breaks apart DNA.The next step is single stranded binding proteins attaches to keep the strand from coming back together. Then Primase can attach to give a starting point for the process. Then, Polymerase, an enzyme that binds to the DNA and begins to replicate connects at this point this allows the lagging strand to replicate. Fragments made up on the lagging strand are called Okazaki fragments. These fragments allow for replication because when there is an opening in the original DNA strand these can take the place and create a new replicated DNA strand.
 * DNA Summary:**

Step 1. Break hydrogen bonds using helicase.

Step 2. Attach single stranded binding proteins to keep strands from coming together.

Step 3. Polymerase binds and begins to replicate DNA

Step 4. The Okazaki fragments find openings to create a new strand of DNA and finish the replication.

Interphase is the phase of mitosis that DNA replication occurs.
 * DNA Information:**
 * Telomeres** are important during replication they attach to the ends of the DNA strands so that they cant reconnect and come back together.
 * Okazaki Fragments** are essential because they are pieces of the original DNA strand that come together to make the replicated strand without these there would be no replication.
 * Telomerase** is an enzyme that is added to cells that continually increases the length of the cell strand ends for a long period of time. With this we could ultimately end up with cells that never die and always replicate.
 * DNA ligase:** Enzyme that attaches to the Okazaki fragments to make them come together.
 * Cancer:** Cancer cells are different from other cells because of their ability to continuously grow almost all cancer cells have telomerase which enables them to divide unlimited allow tumors to grow.
 * Transplanted Cells:** Is the process of removing a cell infusing it with the gene that the patient is lacking and returning it to the patient. These cells however die out but if we were able to also put telomerase with them we would possibly be able to fight cancer.
 * Cloning:** When cloning before the results have been that when a cell taken from an adult sheep was infused to make another sheep the DNA strand was shorter whether it was taken from a younger sheep or an older one.
 * Aging:** Telomeres are important because when paired with mitosis they have a certain life span this means they could be a determining factor of how long a cell is able to live.

=Genetics Infographic:= __http://www.flickr.com/photos/infinitalocura/4860324736/lightbox/__ __http://science-at-home.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/tongue-rolling.jpg__ __http://www.flickr.com/photos/madaise/2210529669/lightbox/__ __http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennipenni/2719850276/lightbox/__ __http://www.flickr.com/photos/11951657@N08/2533842102/lightbox/__ __http://www.flickr.com/photos/fixe/3172397834/lightbox/__ [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []
 * Sources:**

= Casper and Medaka Story Infographic: =

= Diaper Dissection Lab: =

Do you know how absorbent diapers are? We didn’t until we experimented to see exactly how much water a diaper was able to hold. First we started by separating the layers of a 2’’x1.5’’ section of a diaper. We separated the diaper into three layers.

The first layer we found was very thin and almost net like, it didn’t seem very absorbent and we didn’t expect it to hold much. The next layer we found was a thick cotton like layer. It had a sandy texture and beady substances on it. We expected the middle layer to hold a lot because of how thick it was and the texture of it. The third layer we found was a thin layer but thicker than the texture of a piece of paper we didn’t expect it to hold much but to be more of a back up for what the cotton layer didn’t absorb.

We started by pouring 1 mL of water onto the first layer. It absorbed this and then when we added another it began to overflow and spilled water onto the table.For the next middle layer we added 10 mL of water and it ended up absorbing about 40 mL all together. The beady like substances absorbed the water and turned into a gel that was big and took up a lot of room. The last layer we poured 1 mL of water on and it held this for a little then absorbed it. It altogether held and absorbed 5 mL of water. We also cut a 4.5”x3.5” section of diaper, or half of it and it held 400 mL of water!

The layers all worked together to create a super absorbent surface where as they aren’t nearly as absorbent when separated.

When we researched the impacts of diapers on the environment we found they aren't very decomposable. In fact it takes once diapers about 500 years to decompose! Not only that but there are worries that viruses or diseases could be spread from these and end up hurting us. There are carcinogens found in the middle layer of the diaper which can be transferred to humans and end up causing cancer. After doing our lab it was evident that diapers are extremely absorbent which would show if they are able to absorb that much water it would make sense for it to stay in the landfills as waste for many years. A better alternative to use for diapers would be cloth diapers as they are washable and reusable.

Resource: http://www.livestrong.com/article/149890-environmental-impact-of-disposable-diapers/

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