Student Blog Post #6: How can your garden grow?

QUESTION 1:

   Our plant has gotten bigger since we last observed it. This is because a number of things are occurring. First off Cell Division, or also known as Mitosis is happening. This is a process that drives development and growth within a Eukaryotic organism.There are five stages of mitosis. In prophase, chromatin condenses into chromosomes made up of sister chromatids joined at centromeres, and centrioles, the bases that will pull the chromatids apart, move to opposite poles on the cell's membrane. In prometaphase, the nuclear membrane dissolves and microtubules extending from each centriole grab the chromosomes' centromeres. In metaphase, the chromosomes line up across the center of the cell to form the metaphase plate. In anaphase, the sister chromatids separate and the microtubules pull one copy to each cellular pole. In telophase, all chromatids reach their respective poles, are encased in new nuclear membranes, and disperse back into a mass of chromatin.

   Next, is photosynthesis a process that provides our plant with food for its survival. It does this when photons from sunlight strike the leaf of our plant. It excites the chlorophyll and activates electrons. Water is split into oxygen and hydrogen ions. The activated electrons then go through an electron transport chain. Then an accumulation of hydrogen ions goes to the thylakoid membrane generating a proton gradient. ATP is formed when ADP and P come together, and the electrons going through the electron transport train end up combining with NADP+ to form NADPH. an energy rich molecule. Next if the light-independent or Dark reaction.This reaction uses the energy from light reaction to convert carbon dioxide into glucose, this is known as the Calvin Cycle.

   Finally, cellular respiration. During cellular respiration a glucose molecule is gradually broken down into carbon dioxide and water. Along the way some ATP is produced directly in the reactions that transform glucose. More ATP is produced later in a process called oxidative phosphorylation. It is powered by the movement of electrons through the electron transport chain.

QUESTION 2:

   A cell will begin protein synthesis when it a certain enzyme is needed, this is because enzymes are proteins. Protein synthesis happens in the Nucleus and Ribosomes, but before the cell must create mRNA. It makes it during a process called Transcription when a copy of DNA is made. The mRNA has codons, 3 letter sequences on it, they are the codes for amino acids. Translation then begins after the mRNA is made and it is sent to the ribosomes. Translation is a process where the ribosome reads each of the codons using an anti-codon and creates the correct amino acid. When its done its left with a new protein that would be an enzyme if requested.