Student Blog Post Assignment #8: A Matter of Selection

1. The parts of the Brassica oleracea plants that exhibit the most variation are the sizes of the leaves, specifically the height and width of each. I measured the height and width of 5 different Brassica oleracea plants growing in the garden, they all had different ratios.  First off was the Collards, which I will provided pictures for each below, but its ratio was 6 inches tall to 5 inches wide, so a 6:5 ratio. Kohlrabi (lighter color one) was 10.5 inches tall, and 4.5 inches wide, so a 10.5:4.5 ratio. Plant 3, Kale, was 4.5 inches tall and 2 inches wide, making it a 4.5:2 ratio. Kohlrabi (darker color one) was large, with 9.5 inches tall, and 5.5 inches wide, making it a 9.5:5.5 ratio. Finally, the sabboy cabbage was 6 inches tall, and 5 inches wide, with a ratio of 6:2, which is pretty similar. As you can see, the leaves are all very different from each other, exhibiting a large amount of variation.
  The greatest variation was shown through the ratios. The greatest variation was shown through how much bigger or smaller a plant was compared to another in size. The greatest variation is shown when comparing the plants ratios in sizes. Plants, 2, and 4 are the biggest, and Plant 3 is the smallest. Plants 1 and 2 are the same. When comparing the biggest to the smallest, plant 2 has a height of 10.5 inches and plant 3 has a height of 4.5 inches, plant 2 is 6 inches taller then plant 3, and when comparing their widths, plant 2 has a width of 4.5 and plant 3 has a width of 2, with a 2.5 inch difference. 

Ratio Table 
Plant 1 (Collards): 6:5
Plant 2 (Kohlrabi light color): 10.5:4.5
Plant 3 (Kale): 4.5:2
Plant 4 (Kohlrabi dark color): 9.5:5.5
Plant 5 (Sabboy Cabbage): 6:5

2. There is a lot of variability in the domestic forms of Brassica oleracea because they are all different plants. Each plant has its own traits, which is a distinguishing quality or characteristic about the plant that is different from each other. For example, from question 1, Plant 2 has bigger leaves, and plant 3 has smaller leaves. Also there are selective breeding and artificial selection. They are both very similar, and contribute to the variations of the Brassica oleracea plants, except there is a slight difference between the two. Selective breeding is done by humans, where they basically select the traits they want on the plant, and plant it in, but artificial breeding is done by nature and is not controlled. The genes of each plant vary, and also can be due to the selective breeding because each plant was chosen to be planted, and each has a specific purpose. Descent with modification also has an affect on the variability. Its when a trait is passed from parent to offspring. In this case traits from the past forms of the plant went through different mutations to be where they are now in their current state inside the garden. This also has relation to natural variation because it refers to genetic diversity of a plant species, each plant is diverse in its own way, and went through descent with modification and mutations to be where its at now.

3.  The part that seemed to be all consistently the same with each Brassica oleracea plant was the color of the leaves. Every single one of the plants had a shade of green leaf. I think they are all similar/ the same in color because each one has green chloroplasts inside of the leaves. When light beams on each leaf,it  reflects green light that our eyes see because of the chlorophyll found in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast. The images I will show below will show the color of each leaf.

4.  To get the leaves to not be green, a plant breeder would have to mutate the plant. The breeder would need to have the plant in an area where it could absorb no light, but even then this would not work, a plant needs photons from a light source to survive, without them, the plant would die. So in this case, its pretty difficult. Some people color water with dye, and use it to water flowers to make them different colors because the flower is absorbing the dyed water, so the breeder could attempt something like that. They could also try to grow the plant with a different source of light that is not the sun, and see if the plants color will vary at all in its green shade. Other then that, changing a plants color, and especially Brassica oleracea plants is difficult, but those options may work.

blog #8 a matter of selection

Blog post #8 : Matter Of Selection


My Brassica Oleracea has doubled in size since the last time i observed. The leaves on all the Brassica plants in the garden exhibit the most natural variations. Some of the leaves were dull and different color like purple, gray , light yellow , green , light green , dark green, and some had insects bites. Some similarities of leaves with other Brassica plants, they had a deep vein pattern and dull surface color. The data collected shows the traits. As you can see in the photos i posted in my blog.
 16 inches Tall
 15 inches Width
Leaf Length: 6 1/2 inches
Leaf width stem: 10 inches
In addition on my observation of all the Brassica plants in the garden the cabbage and the cauliflower seen to repel the insects because of there leaves are tightly, clustered into a ball which it has a natural defense mechanism
 The photo below shows how selected breeding and descent with modification and mutations that lead to natural selection. Even though the Brassica shows varieties in their traits their genes are most likely 99% identical. The leaves size and pattern shows how the natural process of all life of the Brassical and how it evolves into different plant species. As you can see photo below.

 The selection of cabbage leaves, Brussel sprouts stem and stalk would give plant breeders an advantage with their brassica plant crops. I think this because the stem and stalk seems thick and strong. The leaves being clustered protects  them from insects and hard weather.

 

how is the plant growing #6

Blog Spot #6 How is our plant growing ?

My observation of my plant, Brassica oleracea  has continue to grow bigger because of my mitosis . The cells of my plant split through mitosis. To do this you need to collect and create sugar for energy And cellural respiration.To gets sugar it shows photosynthesis which convert CO2,water into O2, and sugar. Photosynthesis has two part that helps out, light dependent reactions and light independent reactions also known as Calvin cycle. With that said, this is how my plant the Brassica oleracea is able to grow bigger and by adding biomass.
                                                       

blog #7

The purpose of this science lab in Bio, is to learn the reproductive system of plants. First, I learn the part called the filament in a flower ,which is attached to the Anther. It is crucial in the reproduction flowering of plants. It produces the male gametophyte, known as pollen. This part is easy to break off and is attached to the Anther. Secondly, the tube on the flower is called a Style. The Style leads to the ovary that contains the female egg cells. This part of the flower is good for the pollen and eggs. Also, The Ovary with the ovule which is located near the pollen tube produces the egg cells.

This is another part of the flower name a stamen/style.It is attached to the long, tube-like structure called the style. The style leads to the ovary that contains the female egg cells called ovules. This part of the flower is important for the pollen and eggs.

This is a Ovary with the ovule which is under the pollen tube. The part of the flower produces a egg cell for the purpose of fertilization. All of the eggs from the flower are located in this part of the flower.

This is a stigma located in the middle of the flower. This is where pollen germinates inside. The pollen forms in the stigma and goes down the pollen tube which is name the Pollen Tube.

Student Blog Post Assignment #7: Anthers and Stigmas and Styles, Oh My!

This is an image that depicts Anthers surrounding the Stigma on a flower. The Anther is the part of the Stamen where the pollen is produced. The Stigma is the part of the pistol where pollen germinates. The time when both the female and male parts are visible in the same flower, the flower is thought to be excellent.













This photo shows the Stamen of the flower. The Stamen is the pollen producing part of a flower, usually with a slender filament supporting the anther. Its the male reproductive anatomy of the flower. It consists of a Stalk known as the  Filament, and at the end of the Stalk is a part called the Anther.













This picture shows the female anatomy of a flower known as the Carpel, which is one of the leaf-like, seed-bearing structures that constitute the innermost whorl of a flower. One or more carpels make up the pistil. Fertilization of an egg within a carpel by a pollen grain from another flower will result in seed development within the carpel.












This is an image of a flower with the stamens, sepals, petals, and top of the carpel removed leaving it with just the ovary. The ovary was then cut open and the little green balls are the ovules coming in.









When ripe pollen from an anther of the same kind of flower catches on the stigma, each pollen grain sends out a tiny threadlike tube. The tube grows down through the style and pierces one of the ovules in the ovary. This process is called fertilization.

Blog Post #6

Question 1

My groups plants grew in biomass because of photosynthesis, cellular respiration, mitosis, and cell division. Photosynthesis occurring caused cellular respiration helping the plant to grow. Cell division, or mitosis, drives development and growth in Eukaryotic organisms. with helped the plants over time to grow bigger.

Question 2

When a certain enzyme is needed the plant will begin protein synthesis. protein synthesis occurs in the Nucleus and Ribosomes. But before protein synthesis occurs transcription must happen to create a copy of DNA. mRNA had codons, which are 3 letter sequences which correspond to certain amino acids. After all that is finished the mRNA is sent to the Ribosomes. Then Translation begins to create the correct amino acids from anti-codons. When finished you will have a new enzyme ready to be used.

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.