Tag: #lab

Science 9 – Mitosis Lab Modeling

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Interphase: 

During the beginning of interphase, the cell performs normal functions as usual and keeps on growing. Interphase is also the longest phase during the cell cycle and still absorbes nutrients during the phase.

During the late stage of interphase, the DNA copies itself in the nucleus for the process of replication.

This part of stage involves the DNA molecules to unwind with the help of ab enzymes which separates the DNA molecules. Then, new bases pair with the original one along with the original DNA.

After the DNA is copied, the last step of interphase is for the DNA molecules to join together to form sister chromatins and replicates to make an identical copy of the DNA.

Prophase: 

These spindle fibers form from opposite ends of the cell.

The nucleus disappears for a reason that scientists don’t really know why yet. Then, the spindle fibers attach themselves to the both ends of the sister chromatins.

Metaphase: 

All of the chromatins line up in the middle or in the equator of the cell during metaphase.

Anaphase: 

In the anaphase process, the chromatids are being pulled away from each other and they are being divided into two.

Each one of the halves of the chromatids is on the opposite side of the cell.

Telophase:

During the final stage of mitosis, the spindle fibers disappear and a nuclear membrane start to form around each of the separated set of chromosomes.

Cytokinesis: 

Cytokinesis is the separation of both nuclei that are finally dividing into their own two daughter cells.

The very last step forms both of the nucleus again in each cell.

Science 9 – Edible DNA Lab

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Here are some pictures of my edible DNA: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. What is DNA?

DNA is something that we all have in our bodies and it define who we are to what we look like. From the colour of our eyes to our hair colour, that’s what DNA does. DNA is usually found in the nucleus of a cell and contains deoxyribonucleic acid. It is also known as the molecule that sends a set of instructions to the other cells telling them how to function, what to produce, and when to stop.

DNA looks like a twisted ladder that has two strands wrapped around each other in a spiral shape – like in the photos above. Both of those sides are made up of sugar (glucose) and phosphate. If DNA were a ladder, then each one of the steps are made of four different nitrogen bases that connect to one another. Adenine (A) connects to thymine (T) and cytosine (C) connects to guanine (G).

2. What does DNA do? 

Most of the time in the nucleus, DNA is in the from of chromatin, which contains DNA and proteins and then coils into a very tightly X or Y shaped chromosome. In every organism, it has a specific amount of chromosomes, such as the human body which has a total of 46 chromosomes arranged into 23 pairs. Usually, the 23rd pair determines the sex with XX for females and XY for males.

The genes are the smallest segments of DNA located on a chromosomes and can carry thousands of them. Each gene stores information needed to produce specific proteins for the body, such as enzymes and hormones which carry out very important functions for the body.

3. How does DNA copy itself?

The nucleus receives a chemical sign in order to make a specific kind of protein. The DNA then massage’s the protein is to be copied into an even smaller molecule called RNA and that leaves the nucleus through the nuclear pore.

Then, the RNA sends a message to be delivered to a ribosome to make protein. After that, the protein enters the endoplasmic reticular (the ER) and a vesicle forms at the end of it carrying the protein all the way to the Golgi body. The Golgi body then receives vesicles from the ER and repackages protein for transportation out of the cell. A vesicle then forms off the end of the Golgi body to carry out the protein to the cell membrane and the protein is then released out of the cell.

Science 9 – Currents From The Kitchen Lab

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The Purpose of this Experiment :

Which fruit or vegetable will produce the most electric voltage during this experiment?

My Hypothesis: 

When I attach both the galvanized nail and the copper strip to my banana, then the greatest voltage possible will happen.

The Materials Needed:  

  • One voltmeter
  • Two wires
  • One galvanized nail with zinc
  • One copper strip
  • A banana
  • A knife

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(We also had half of a potato and half of a lemon to use)

The Procedure: 

  1. Attach the galvanized nail and the copper strip to the fruit or vegetable
  2. Attach the voltmeter using both wires to the fruit or vegetable
  3. Record all of your results
  4. Compare your results with other pieces of fruit or vegetables

Reason Why: 

With the banana, I noticed that it had work for previous experiments that I did at other schools, so I decided to try it again with this experiment. Bananas are usually a great source of energy, so I thought, why can’t it be a source of electrical energy as well.

My Observations: 

  • When we had both our galvanized nail and our copper strip in the lemon, it ended up working better when we moved the nail around, especially more towards the center.
  • When we moved both pieces of metal around, it worked better in the center for the banana, the lemon, and the potato.
  • When we poked the vegetable or fruit with the nail or copper strip, the voltage went up and down rapidly, but it went back to the original voltage in the end when we stopped.

Results:

The voltage of my banana : 0.5 (what happened at first), 0.79 (what happened with both the galvanized nail and the copper strip in the center of the banana)

The voltage of the potato : 0.7 (what happened at first), 0.8 (what happened with both the galvanized nail and the copper strip in the center of the potato)

The voltage of the lemon : 0.9 (same in both the center and what happened at first)

The voltage of both the potato and the banana (the potato was on top of the banana) : 0.87

The voltage of the banana, lemon and the potato (the banana was on the bottom, then the potato in the middle, and finally the lemon on top): 0.95

 

 

Here was what the banana looked like in the end with all of our tests to find the most powerful voltage possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what our potato looked like in the end of our experiment with all of the leftover colour of green from the copper strip.

 

 

 

 

Finally, this was the final outcome of our lemon with no more citrusy juice unlike before when we moved the galvanized nail all around the centre of the lemon.

 

 

 

Conclusion: 

With this experiment, the fruit with the most voltage was the banana when both the galvanized nail and the copper strips was in the center of the banana. The voltage for that was 0.79 volts at the end of both tests.

I was also correct with my hypothesis when I said that the banana would produce the most voltage when I attach both pieces of metal.

I now wonder what would happen if it was in ammeters. Instead of finding the most powerful voltage for this experiment, what would happen if we were to find the fruit or vegetable with the most powerful mA?

Some Extra Questions:  

  1. What was causing the electrons to flow during this experiment?                                                                     The fruit is an electrolyte solution like with all fruits more or less, so that was what causing the electrons to flow on the metal during this experiment.
  2. What were the dependent, the independent, and the controlled variables during this experiment?       The dependent variable during this experiment was the voltage, the independent variable was the type of fruit used each time, and the controlled variable was where we placed the two pieces of metal each time on each fruit or vegetable.
  3. How can we modify the experiment to improve our results?                                                                             One thing we could have done to improve our results was to try to use more citrusy fruits to see if our results would improve or if they would just stay the same in the end. We could have also try to compare both citrusy fruits from the less citrusy fruits to see what would happen then. Would there be any different or similar results from before?
  4. What could be a source of error or of uncertainty in your experiment?                                                          For us, we could have brought more fruit to class for our experiment, picked a more citrusy fruit or a bigger fruit to see what would happen then, and had a whole potato or lemon instead of a half.
  5. How can I use this in my everyday life?                                                                                                                   I could use this in my everyday life if I ever need a bit of electricity from a different source, for example, a fruit.