Cell Presentation Blog

My favorite presentation was Dan Becker and Justin Smithman's presentation. They had a lot of information about each cell and they went into detail about how they were similar and different. I learned a lot about egg and sperm cells!
1. The red blood cell starts with a nucleus and then gets rid of it.
2. There are 5 types of white blood cells.
3. White blood cells have a golgi body.

 In preparation, we spent most of our time researching and getting information about our cells. I tried to get as much valid information as possible. A lot of my time was also spent checking to see if my information was correct because I had found many different explanations of the cardiac muscle cells. I wish that we would have chosen two cells that were more directly related to each other. We had picked two random cells and found connection between them afterwards (Which is why the comparison of the two cells was pretty much none existent). I do feel that we did explain our cells well and that people had learned something from our project. I learned that we definitely should have picked different cells. 

Acids and Bases

Acids and Bases are extremely important in living organisms. An organism (such as humans) must keep a balanced pH (from 6-8) to remain at a constant state of normalcy.
Acids:
-Acids have a pH value of 0-6.9.
-They contribute H+ ions into a solution.
-Acids turn litmus paper red.
-They conduct electricity.
-Acids are corrosive.

Bases:
-Bases have a pH value of 7.1-14.
-Bases remove H+ ions from a solution.
-Slippery.
-Bases are caustic.

Acids in water:
H2O + HCI --------> H2O + H+ + Cl-

Bases in water:
H2O + NaOH ---------> H2O + Na+ + OH-

Acids and Bases react very differently when put into a solution. Let's say that you have a glass of water that is half filled with water. If you put an acid into that water, the pH value will lower. The more acidic a solution is, the lower the pH value will be. An example of an acid is vinegar. Now if you take that same cup of water and add a Base to it, the pH value will begin to shoot up! This is because the acids in the water are being canceled out by the bases. Eventually, if you add enough base, you will be able to make the water completely neutral. Of course, if you add more base to the solution, it will become a very basic solution. An example of a basic solution is soap.

Buffers can absorb acidic and basic solutions to a certain extent. This is one of the ways our body and the bodies of other living things remain at a constant state of normalcy. Having our bodies at a too acidic or too basic pH level can be dangerous. It can throw off the balance our body has tried so hard to maintain.

Water

One unique characteristic of water is its ability to break down many materials. It does this by pulling apart the different materials. The water molecules will surround these materials and create a bubble to prevent the materials from finding each other again. When all the materials are secluded, whatever was in the water is fully dissolved.

The polarity of water results in hydrogen bonding between two water molecules. This is because each end of a water molecule has a different charge. The oxygen end has a more or less negative charge, while the two hydrogen's have more of a positive charge. This is why water is able to form hydrogen bonds. The ends of two different water molecules will attract to each other (seeing as opposites attract) and will want to stick around one another. They form the hydrogen bond so they will be much harder to separate.

Water is also used as a solvent, temperature regulator, and a lubricant. Let me explain. Water is a good solvent because it is able to pull away molecules from a solution and surround it entirely. This is why water is able to dilute so many different solutions. Water is a good temperature regulator because of how stable it is. Water has a stability range of 0(degrees) to 100(degrees). Water is incredibly resistant to temperature change. Finally, water is a great lubricant. This is because water disrupts friction. This allows whatever object is moving will be able to do so with great ease.

The Cell and its Organelles

I know and can describe many, if not all of the organelles and their functions. I know that the Nucleolus is the dark stained area in the center of the Nucleus. The Nucleolus is in charge of creating new Ribosomes for the cell. I know that the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum is in charge of making Lipids and Steroids. It will also detoxify harmful material and waste products.

I also know how some cell organelles work together with one another. I know that Ribosomes will make proteins that are carried by the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum. The type of protein the Ribosomes make is decided by the Nucleolus.

I would also be able to tell what cell organelle I am looking at if I was shown a picture.

Homeostasis

I know the basics of Homeostasis so far. This includes what negative and positive feedback does in your body. I also know what Homeostasis actually means and does.
Homeo = The same
Stasis = To stay
Homeostasis is what your body does to keep you normal.
Homeostasis begins with a stimulus. This can be something such as a person getting too hot.
This is when the Receptor comes into play. The receptor will let your body know that something is wrong.
The Regulatory Center will then tell the Effector to make your body sweat.
The Response is that your body will sweat. This cools your body and lowers your overall body temperature. After you are cool enough, you will stop sweating and gain Normalcy.

I did not have a phone to take a picture of my poster so I grabbed this from the internet.