Team+Yoshi

Marissa Megane = = = = =Cheek Cell Lab=


 * 1) What are the 5 elements that make up DNA? – **The five elements that make up DNA are Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus.**
 * 2) What is the function of DNA from day to day? –**DNA stores and transmits genetic information.**
 * 3) Describe how long strands of double-helical DNA fit into the nucleus of a single cheek cell. – **They are wrapped tightly around a ring shaped protein called a histone.**
 * 4) What was the purpose of using the cell lysis solution? – **The cell lysis solution is used to break the cheek cells apart so the DNA is visible.**
 * 5) Why does the DNA become visible once the alcohol is added? – **DNA and alcohol are unlike substances, since they unlike the DNA does not dissolve causing it to become suspended in the solution, making it visible.**
 * 6) If DNA is so thin, how is it that we are able to see it during this simple lab exercise?
 * 7) Why is DNA referred to as your genetic fingerprint? – **It is referred to a genetic fingerprint because everyone’s is different, like our fingerprints.**
 * 8) Give some examples of how DNA is used everyday. - **DNA is used to identify criminals, it is also used to change fruits and vegetables so they don’t spoil as fast.**



=DNA Replication Project =







DNA replication is a process that has four steps. Adenine and Guanine are purines, which, means they have two rings. Thymine and Cytosine are pyrimidines, which means they only have one ring. These are what make up the strands of DNA. The first step in DNA replication is to break the hydrogen bonds between the two strands using the enzyme helicase. In the next step single stranded binding proteins attach to keep the strands from forming back together. The two broken strands of the DNA are called the leading and lagging strands. We start with the leading strand. The enzyme primase creates a starting point for replication to begin. The enzyme polymerse then begins the actual replicating of the DNA. For the lagging strand the steps are the same as the lead strand with one difference. Primase and polymerse form different fragments along the strand called Okasaki fragments. These are then bound together by the enzyme Ligase. When DNA is replicated is becomes shorter. Telomeres can be found on the end of DNA so that when it becomes shortened the actual DNA does not get cut. = Genetics Vocab Infographic =





=Genetic Fun Facts Infographic=





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=Cites= http://compfight.com/search/lamb/1-0-1-1 http://compfight.com/search/DNA-strand/1-0-1-1 http://compfight.com/search/fingerprint/1-0-1-1 http://compfight.com/search/cutie-clementine/1-0-1-1 http://compfight.com/search/cheetah/1-0-1-1 http://www.zoo-m.com/flickr-storm/ - http://compfight.com/search/magnifying-glass/1-0-1-1

Medaka Infographic



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=Diaper Dissection= **A Diaper Can Hold That Much Water?!**

In our Diaper Dissection lab half of a diaper (23 ½ cm’s high and 14 cm’s wide) could hold a whopping 250 mL’s! As water was added to the diaper it became heavier and grew in size as it absorbed the water. Now to find out just how each layer of a diaper helps in the event of absorbing all this water. To begin our lab we cut a diaper in half and set one half aside and slowly pulled the layers apart in the other. We measured each layer’s length and with and then carefully more water from a graduated cylinder onto each layer until it began to leak. We then recorded the amount of water it held. Layer one closely resembled a dryer sheet. We assumed that this layer was used for comfort because of its soft texture and that it wouldn’t be very absorbent because it was thin. The first layers measurements were 8 cm’s in width and 13 ½ cm’s in length. We found that this first layer only held about 4 mL’s of water. As the water was added it began to get limp and looked darker. Layer two was soft and cottony, with what looked like powder in the middle. We later found out that this “powder” was actually a gel like substance that played the biggest role in absorbing the water. This layer is 7 ½ cm’s wide and 12 cm’s long. It held about 35 mL’s, the most of all the layers. We had assumed that this would be the layer that did most of the absorbing. As the water was added the layer became heavier and increased a little in its size as it continued to absorb. The last layer was papery thin and soft. We assumed that this layer acted as the glue for all the others and held everything together, but wasn’t very absorbent. This layer measured 12 cm’s in width and 21 cm’s in length. We found that this layer was actually absorbent! It was able to hold 29 mL’s of water. We observed that this layer appeared to be both absorbent and water resistant because some of the water stayed in the layer but did not soak through. As the water was added the layer got darker and drooped. Diapers can cause environmental issues because of the substance they are made out of. Diapers are made out of paper, plastic, and absorptive gel. None of these biodegrade well so they remain on the Earth forever. Babies go through about 8,000 diaper changes, so that’s a lot of diapers that occupy landfills! In conclusion through this lab we learned how absorbent a diaper really is. But we also learned that the layers and materials that are so useful when it comes to absorbing are also harmful to the environment.