Song Analysis

Uh huh, uh huh
Yeah, Rihanna
Uh huh, uh huh
Good girl gone bad
Uh huh, uh huh
Take three, action
Uh huh, uh huh, ho
No clouds in my stones
Let it rain, I hydroplane into fame
Comin’ down at the Dow Jones
When the clouds come, we gone
We Rocafella
We fly higher than weather
In G5’s or better
You know me
In anticipation for precipitation stack chips for the rainy day
Rain man is back with little Ms. Sunshine
Rihanna, where you at?
You have my heart, and we’ll never be worlds apart
Maybe in magazines, but you’ll still be my star
Baby, ’cause in the dark
You can’t see shiny cars
And that’s when you need me there
With you I’ll always share
Because
When the sun shines, we shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath that I’m a stick it out ’til the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
These fancy things will never come in between
You’re part of my entity, here for infinity
When the world has took its part
When the world has dealt its cards
If the hand is hard, together we’ll mend your heart
Because
You can run into my arms
It’s okay, don’t be alarmed
(Come into me)
(There’s no distance in between our love)
So I’m gonna let the rain pour
I’ll be all you need and more
Because
It’s raining, raining
Ooh, baby, it’s raining, raining
Baby, come into me
Come into me
It’s raining, raining
Ooh, baby, it’s raining, raining
You can always come into me
Come into me
It’s pouring rain
It’s pouring rain
Come into me
Come into me
It’s pouring rain
It’s pouring rain
“Umbrella” by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z Song Analysis
The song “Umbrella” by Rihanna is a metaphorical poem that described the importance of protecting people when they are hit by hard times and bad. She sings about her partner who although has a luxurious life, has bad days too and needs someone to help them up when they fall down. Rihanna sings about the social stereotype that fame bring happiness and no sorrow. The song takes place on a ‘rainy day’, while Rhianna tries to explain to her partner that they can count on her to defend them and keep them secure. The poem literally describes the anticipation of rough weathers and how Rhianna will be the umbrella to shield them. It also describes the way in which they can never be separated from each other. The connotative meaning associates the rain with hardships and the umbrella symbolizes the help that the person needs. Rihanna sings in a serious tone saying “You have my heart and we’ll never be worlds apart” and “told you I’ll be here together”. The song has the same basic rythem to it during the chorus but changes in the verses. The chorus also is repetitive, repeating “Under my umbrella”.  Rihanna uses alliteration as she sings in the lines “Under my Umbrella” and “when the sun shines we shine together” which is also repetition. Saying “you’re part of my entity, here for infinity” is a hyperbole because she is exaggerating and saying nothing will tear them apart. There is a personification when she says “when the world has dealt it’s cards” because dealing cards is a human characteristic and the world is incapable of doing so as it is not a person. There are also couplets such as “so I’m gonna let the rain pour, I’ll be all you need and more”. This poem is suppose to be intense love and care for someone and trying to show that they will be there for the other to shield them from bad days. The writer is saying they can brighten their day if the other person chooses to be with them.

Protein Synthesis

RNA Transcription Model
1. How does mRNA differ from DNA?
mRNA is different from DNA because mRNA is made up of ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose sugar like DNA. DNA also contains thymine as a pyrimidine while the mRNA pyrimidine base has uracil. mRNA is also only single-stranded, single backbone, and DNA is double stranded, double backbone.



2. Describe the process of transcription.
The process of transcription is broken down into three parts:
Unwinding & Unzipping
First, the DNA unwinds and the unzipping happens only at the specific location of the genes required for the information needed for the instructions to build the gene. As shown in the picture, it again does not unzip as a whole, but only a section on the DNA unzips. RNA gets its information from the sense strand, and the sense strand carries information for protein synthesis.

Complimentary Base Pairing
As shown in the picture, RNA polymerase enzyme (the fuzzy peach), facilitates the bonding between the nucleotides in the unwinded spot of the DNA. The pyrimidine uracil is bonded to adenine while guanine and cytosine remain together. The information gets copied exactly because the red RNA strand base pairs with the blue nitrogen base on the sense strand.

Separation
RNA is now separated from the DNA and the DNA zips back up like normal, and reforms the original double helix shape. mRNA develops during replication and the unnecessary sections are removed to make sure it will exit through the nuclear pore.

3. How did todays activity do a good job of modelling the processs of RNA transcription? In what ways was our model inaccurate?
In this activity, you could clearly see the one strand for RNA and the 2 strand DNA. The double helix shape was easy to form by twisting the pipecleaners. The colours of the pipexcleaners also represented the DNA versus RNA well by using blue and red. The colours of beads were good because I was able to see which base bonded with what due to the coorisponding colours.

Inaccuracies include the sense strand connecting to the RNA strand. The RNA strand should enter inside the double bond of DNA. The RNA strand should not completely replace the complimentary strand.

Protein Synthesis Model

1. Describe the process of translation: initiation, elongation and termination.
Initiation
This process is where the ribosome, which is represented by the red paper, holds the mRNA and reads the start condon. The ribosome holding mRNA bonds to another subunit ribosome and then finds the AUG and the codon on the mRNA (strand) which initiates the order of amino acids. The AUG codon pairs with the UAC anticodon, on the green paper which is the tRNA.

Elongation

The ribsome then read the codons on the mRNA strand, specificating the amino acids and adding tRNA molecules. The first codon is moved to the P-site an the second codon is to go to the A-site. Because both spots are then filled the codon transfers and the tRNA at the P-site floats away and makes way for the codon to move down. This is repeated and the amino acids keep binding. Then a polypeptide chain is formed creating the beginning of a protein, continuing to repeat until the tRNA comes to the STOP codon.



Termination

This is the last step. After STOP condon is found, it does not have a match tRNA so there connot be an amino acid created to add to the chain. The polypeptide releases by hydrolysis and the ribosomes are released and split from the sub-units it was in.

2. How did today’s activity do a good job of modelling the process of translation? In what ways was our model inaccurate?

The activity had great representation and visualization of translation. Everything was separated by colour which made it easy to see the different structures involved. However, all the amino acids were the same shape, so it was not accurate. Also the subunits were not shown and only had one ribosome. We were unable to see the ribosome break down.

Short Story English Essay

The first experiences leading up to a child’s teen years are what predict how one may act in the future. In the short stories, “A Teachers Reward” by Robert Phillips and “Long Long After School” by Ernest Buckler, children suffer through Emotional abuse, discrimination and trauma throughout their school life, which prompts a series of reoccurring events. “A Teachers Reward” is a short story based on a retired teacher named Ms. Scofield and her forgotten student, Raybe. After answering the door to an unfamiliar Raybe Simpson she invites him in for a chat and some tea. Ms Trethway is shocked to hear that he is unemployed and parentless. After a long chat and life update, the two get in a fight when past incidents are brought up. Both accusing one another, Raybe yells which concludes to him bringing out a hammer and grabbing her knuckles. “Long Long After School” shares a story of a deceased 3rd grade teacher called Miss Trethway and a mourning boy, names Wes. Many years after Miss Trethway passed, working in the graveyard, Wes tells his bullying story with the narrator whom was one of the bullies. Wes begins to flashback to a time where his is racially profiled and mentally abused by his classmates during his childhood, and has no one to turn to except for his beloved 3rd grade teacher, Miss Trethway. When children are mean, she is the only one to care for Wes, and except him for who he is.

First, victims of emotional abuse suffer through what is a typical kids horror story of school, but in these stories an everyday kids worst nightmare is Raybe and Wes’ reality. Ms Scofield sees Raybe to be poor, trouble and nothing more. As Raybe sits telling Ms Scofield the stories he exclaims she “once called [Raybe] Baby-Raybe, and it caught on. That [is] all the kids called [him] after that” (Phillips, 381). Raybe is unable to fight back at the time because he will just get punished once again. As he grows up, these thoughts come back to haunt him, coercing him to act out as a coping mechanism. He feels he wants to give payback to Ms Scofield so he puts a hammer to her knuckles. In “Long Long After School”, Wes is seen as an outsider, one that does not really fit in with the other towns people and never has. When being tormented “Wes’s privacy seem[s] to be everyone’s property”(Buckler, 48) according to the kids. The narrorator does not even remember “how the kids… tease [Wes] at school”(Buckler, 52), lacking empathy for Wes and his feelings. Wes shares this story with the narrator who is one of the children ruining Wes’ life, terrorizing him. The harsh comments that are made about him leads Wes to become lonely and finally share his story, not with someone who cares, but an acquaintance colleague of his.

When a loud opinion comes around, the fine line between a sterotype and what is actually in front of them gets blurred. When Ms Scofield turns her back a student writes inappropriate words on the black board and before even considering who it could be she immediately turned to Raybe for the blame. Raybe gets brutally punished because of this and gets his knuckles wrapped in front of the class. While the class laughs Raybe is not, but Ms Scofield defends her actions saying “it does [not] seem to [be] do[ing] any harm”(Phillips, 384), explaining that “a little discipline never hurt anybody”(Phillips, 385), but Raybe says otherwise. Raybe’s status as a poor kid makes Ms Scofield assume he is a trouble maker, and he is punished for many acts he does not commit. Ms Scofield never suspects the wealthy kids because she correlates being well-off with being well-behaved. Raybe is constantly punished for acts he does not commit and for this reason hits Ms Scofield to get revenge. Wes is tyrannized for the colour of his skin rather than being seen as a real person with feelings. He does not fit in with the others and for this reason the children say “his hands are dirty”(Buckler, 50) and make fun of him saying “Wes is blushing”(Buckler, 51). By saying these things the kids are pointing out that Wes is African American and is different than the others. This makes him upset and starts to grow angry over time. He now has a low lying job, one where he does not see many people, and does not get name called and antagonized. He lives in sadness and fear because of these children who had to start rumours that are simply just racist. Both children live different lives then the kids in their classes making discrimination more apparent

Trauma can be the cause of a downward spiral, especially at a young age. After his parents died, Raybe was left with his aunt, poor and abandoned. Having this traumatic experience right from the get go already makes school a more difficult experience. Raybe never told his teachers about this traumatic event as he is in grade 3 and just trying to survive the frightening teachers. As any kid who loses their parents, Raybe is struggling in his classes, but Ms Scofield just sees this as him having “no motivation [and] no follow-through” (Phillips, 385). Being continuously punished while already coping with such a great loss cannot be a recipe for success. From this he deals with a down spiral of events occurring in friend groups and getting into prison eventually. After mentioning to the narrator how beautiful Miss Tretheway was, the narrator thinks that his thought is “plainly ridiculous… Obviously she had [not] ever been beautiful” (Buckler, ). Wes respected Miss Trethway and is likely the only student to admire the good in her. This proves the blindness the other people had, and the despair Wes was feeling after loosing his favourite person. No one would ever understand the love he felt for his Trethway and the pain when she passed. He grows sad and lonely, still mourning at her grave, even the many years after she passed. He still does not forget about Miss Trethway and what she does for Wes, which explains his regular presence and care he shows for his workplace at the graveyard. Trauma caused Raybe and Wes to suffer through their childhood as the other children were unaware.

In the short stories, “A Teachers Reward” and “Long Long After School” by Ernest Buckler Robert Phillips and Ernest Buckler write the impact discrimination makes on a persons life after going through emotional abuse, discrimination, and trauma at a young age. Stuck in Jail, Raybe thinks about the life he has and realizes the years of abuse and being ridicule is to blame for where he is. Feeling upset and cheated on by his classmates and teachers, he waits until he can finally get his revenge. After being called names and being picked on for many years, Wes grows up as an outcast, forgotten and hidden from his town. He is depressed and grieving still as he gets older. He never finds happiness and is always in a dark state of death and sorrow. Both characters develop mournful and bitter as they think about what could have been done in the past to change the present.

DNA and Protien synthesis

1. Explain the structure of DNA

Every DNA strand is essentially a large polymer made of molecules called nucleotides. Phosphate and nitrogen are the bases of DNA. The types of bases include adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine and these determain the genetic code. These for bases are shown in the pictures as the purple, blue, yellow and green beads. These are attached to H bonds which are the white strands and are connected to the backbone, the blue pipecleaner. In between in each H bond there is phosphate, or pink bead. Every DNA code starts with Thymine, Adenine, and cytosine then the rest of the sequence is what makes each DNA different.

2. How does this activity help model the structure of DNA? What changes could me make to improve the accuracy?

This allows us to represent each part of the DNA strand using a physical object so we can clearly see where everything is placed. We could have differentiated with shapes rather than making the bases all the same. We also didn’t differentiate between 3 hydrogen bonds and 2, so that’s something we could have added.

1. When does DNA replication occur?

DNA replication occurs before cell division during the interface of mitosis after the check for size efficiency.

2. Names and describe the 3 steps involved in DNA replication. Why does the process occur differently on the leading and lagging strands?

First there is unwinding which is when the DNA unfolds and unzips when the two H bonds let go. Then there is the Complimentary base pairing step which is when nucleotides move into place and form H bonds with matching stand. Finally there is Joining where DNA ligase attaches to the lagging strand. A leading strand is the strand which is synthesized in the 5’-3’direction, whereas the legging strand is synthesized in the 3’-5’ direction.

3. What did you do to model the complimentary base pairing and joining of adjacent nucleotides steps of DNA replication? In what ways was this activity well suited to showing this process? In what ways was it inaccurate?

We showed H bonds attaching to another H bond. And we showed the red Bigfoot candy as the DNA ligase going on the lagging strand as you can see in the picture. Then the watermelon candy represents DNA helicase breaking the H bonds and the blue big foot represents DNA polymerase which is H-bonding new nucleotides to the template strand. This activity clearly shows each step and each object involved in the replication. From the photo it is difficult to tell what the candies are and what they are doing, so I feel that we could’ve used other objects.