Friday, November 4, 2011

2.75) Urine

Recall that urine contains water, urea and salts

Urine contains salts, water and urea.
Water and salt particularly affects the composition of the tissue fluid. This is called osmoregulation.
The removal of urea is part of the process of excretion of metabolic waste.
The composition of urine varies depending on the condition of each person, both externally and internally. 






2.74) ADH


Describe the role of ADH in regulating the water content of the blood


ADH = anti-divretic hormone
produced at the region of the brain called hypothalamus 
Like all hormones, it flows through the blood stream, and its target is the kidney
The effect of ADH is to control the water composition in blood. It has the ability to make the blood more or less concentrated. Tissue fluid is isotonic. 

ADH actually targets the collecting duct. It allows more water to come out of the collecting duct.
Recall that water is selectively reabsorbed into the blood at collecting duct. 
It is possible to absorb even more water back into the blood with the help of ADH. ADH creates more pores on the collecting duct, so more water can escape into the blood.
The consequence of ADH secretion is that the urine will be more concentrated and will have a lower volume

Extension: How does our brain respond with ADH on the hot day? Cold Day? When we're dehydrated?


2.73) Glucose Reabsorption

Understand that selective reabsorption of glucose occurs at the proximal convoluted tubule

Glucose from glomerula filtrate --> back into blood vessel

Ultrafiltration occurred in the Bowman's capsule. 
Water is selected back into blood stream at collecting duct, and thus urine is passed down into the pelvic region.
Normally, urine does not contain glucose. If there glucose is present in urine, it would be a condition called diabetes. 
In the first convoluted tubules (proximal convoluted tubule) section, glucose is removed and is taken back into the blood vessel. 



2.72) Water re-absorption


Understand that water is reabsorbed into the blood form the collecting duct

The blood went through ultrafiltration under high pressure in Bowman's capsule, and gumerula filtrate, which contains glucose, water, salts and urea, is formed. 
However, when filtration occurred, it will filter out too much water. As the filtrate passes along the tubules and reaches the collecting duct and passes through it, water is removed from the filtrate and is returned back into blood vessel. Water has been selected and is reabsorbed into the blood. We call the process selected reabsorption of water, and it occurs in the collecting duct. 


2.71) Ultrafiltration


Describe ultrafiltration in the Bowman's capsule and the composition of the glomerular filtrate
Nephron carries out the filtration of our blood, which will result into filtered blood and urine.
Urine is composed largely of water, salts (Sodium chloride, etc.) and urea (which contains toxic nitrogen waste of the body). 

The first process started at Bowman's capsule...
Bowman's capsule - where the filtration process begins, known as ultrafiltration of molecules. 

Blood arrives in the kidney through the blood vessel called afferent arteriole where the blood is under high pressure. Blood vessels then started to brand and became very much slower into twisted parts called glomerulus. The blood then comes out through the blood vessel efferent arteriole in which the diameter of this vessel is smaller and more narrow than the afferent arteriole's. The consequence of narrowed vessels is the increase of blood pressure. In other words, the blood pressure increases in the glomerulus. 

Moreover, this forces the liquid within blood called plasma which contains all the components dissolved in blood, for instance, water (solvent), salts, amino acid, glucose, and urea, out of the blood vessel and into the inner space of Bowman's capsule. When the plasma is forced into the Bowman's capsule we called it glomerula filtrate. 

To conclude, the blood has been filtered through undergoing high pressure due to the narrowing glomerulus, which forces in plasma out from the blood (in the Bowman's capsule.) 



2.70) Nephron Structure


Describe the structure of a nephron, to include Bowman's capsule and glomerulus, convoluted tubules, loop of Henle and collecting duct.

Nephron - functional unit of the kidney which does the filtration and composition of blood.

The renal artery is a branch of aorta that takes blood into the kidney. 
The kidney then filters the blood and the content which are removed are called urine which goes down the structure called ureter to be collected in to bladder.
The filtered blood exits in the blood vessel called renal vein and is returned to the vena cava.

If we slice the kidney open, we can see...
The outer region of the kidney is called the cortex (lighter color.)
The middle region is called medulla (with slightly darker color).
The innermost layer is a space called the pelvic region (slightly colored), which is where the urine collects and is drained down the ureter. 
The difference in color is because kidney is made of millions of different tubes. 

The tube starts on the edge of the medulla and grows through the medulla directly outward to the cortex. As it travels up the cortex, it whines back in and out of the medulla, until it reaches a dead end. The deadened structure is called Bowman's capsule.
The tubular structure is called the nephron


(according to the diagram below)
Above the dotted line is the cortex region, and below is the medulla region. 
At the end of the tube is will grows into the pelvic region where and is where urine emerges. 
The tube is made up of twisted section called convoluted tubules and the tube which connects the convoluted tubules into the pelvic region is called the collective duct. 
The part the dips back into the medulla is called the Loop of Henle
The Bowman's capsule is the dead end structure in which contains tight knot blood vessels called glomerulus.
The first twisted section is known as the proximal convoluted tubules (PCT).
The second twisted section is know as the Distal convoluted tubules (DCT).
It is the arrangement of the nephron which gives us the difference in color between regions in the kidney. There are millions of nephron in a single kidney. 








Thursday, October 27, 2011

2.69) Urinary System


Describe the structure of the urinary system, including kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
We have two kidneys, each with it's own blood supply, carrying out the process of filtration and osmoregulation. For each kidney, there's a tube that lead to the bladder called ureter, which carries urine. There's one bladder for two ureter and is conducted to the outside of the body to be excreted down the urethra, which either travels down into vagina or penis. 


2.68) Excretion and Osmoregulation


Understand how the kidney carries out its roles of excretion and of osmoregulation
Kidneys carried out the excretion of molecules called urea, containing nitrogen which is toxic to the body and cannot be stored. The form of nitrogen circulating in our body and are potentially toxic can be found in the amino acids which are used to growth, however, excess amino acids must be removed. Both liver and kidneys carry out the function to remove urea.

First, the blood circulated to the liver and amino acids are broken down and converted into molecules called urea. This reenter the blood stream that's to be removed to the and circulate into both kidneys. The kidneys will filter the urea from the blood and will be added to water to form urine, which drains down the ureter to collect in the bladder. The urea has now been removed from the body and is collected in the bladder in the form of urine.

The filtered blood returned to the circulation and travels back to blood stream with the toxic urea removed.  

Osmoregulation
Osmo - osmosis
Regulation - control
Osmoregulation - the control of osmosis
Hypertonic - 
Hypotonic - 

The tissue fluid which surround body cells must be isotonic with the cytoplasm of the cell (the amount of water going in and out of the cell are equal) so that cells remain the same size and shape and maintain their function. Blood circulating into the tissue may too concentrated and cause hypertonic tissue fluid or maybe too dilute causing a hypotonic tissue fluid. Hypertonic would remove too much water and cause the cell to shrink, and hypotonic would add too much water and cause the cell to swell. 
We can keep the tissue fluid isotonic to the cell cytoplasm by controlling the composition of blood. Blood forms the tissue fluid. The role of kidney is to control the composition of blood. It removes excess water and salts and excrete them down the ureter. 
By controlling the amount of water and salts in the blood and therefore keep the tissue fluid isotonic. 




2.67b) Human organs of Excretion


Recall that the lungs, kidneys and skins are organ of excretion

1. Lung x 2- release metabolic waste CO2 (carbon dioxide)
2. Kidney x 2 - excretion of excess water 
- molecule urea (nitrogen waste from amino acid as we can't store it so we excrete them) 
- salts
3. Skin - water & salts --> sweat
- little bit of urea



2.67a) Excretion in plants


Recall the origin of carbon dioxide and oxygen as waste products of metabolism and their loss from the stomata of a lead

1. The process of photosynthesis absorbed light energy. It combines Carbon dioxide with Water to form molecules of Glucose and gives of the gas Oxygen, which is considered a waste molecule.
6CO2 + 6H2O ---sunlight---> C6H12O6 + 6O2

2. The process of aerobic respiration requires glucose and oxygen, as they go through enzyme reaction, the glucose molecule is broken down and the energy is used to produced ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as energy and we get the waste of carbon dioxide and water. 
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ---enzymes--> ATP + 6CO2 + 6H2O

In conclusion, plant excretes carbon dioxide and oxygen depend upon whether they're doing respiration or photosynthesis. 


Saturday, October 8, 2011

3.10) Menstrual cycle


Understand the roles of oestrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle
Oestrogen and progesterone are both hormones, which is produced in the structure called endocrine gland. Hormones will travel through the blood to the target tissue, where the hormone will have effects on.

The ovary is the endocrine gland for (produces) oestrogen that will travel through the blood stream to the lining of the uterus.
The effects of estrogen include:
1. The lining of uterus (wall of endometrium) thickens
2. Flows through the blood stream to out brain and brings the release of sex hormone (LH). It reaches its peak by day 13 of the cycle and causes the ovary to release an egg into the oviduct, where it is possible for fertilization to occur. 

During this first half of menstrual cycle, a circular structure becomes larger and larger. Inside this falloco is the egg. The cells around the fallocal are producing oestogen. It reaches it maximum size by day 13 and causes its wall to rapture and the egg is released. 
LH causes ovulation, the release of the egg.

Now that the fallico is released, the now emptied structure changes its function and develops into the yellow color. This gives us the name corpusinteum that produce progesterone
Progesterone travels through the blood stream to the lining of uterus. 
3. This prevents the lining of uterus from breaking down. This makes it possible that the fertilized egg then can plant into the wall of endometrium and develops into pregnancy. 
4. If no fertilized egg is planted into the wall of endometrium, then it will break down and form what we known as menstrual period/bleeding. 
This mark the end of one menstrual cycle. When the lining is broken down completely, the whole process would repeat


3.34) Causes of mutation


Understand that the incidence of mutations can be increased by exposure to ionizing radiation (for example gamma rays, X-rays and ultraviolet rays) and some chemical mutagens (for example chemicals in tobacco). 
Mutation is the change in base sequence of the genes, which creates new alleles.
Cases for mutation
1. Radiation such as X-Ray, UV-B ray (sunshine) that can cause diseases such as cancer
2. Chemicals… effect of tars and tobacco, which cause the change in base sequence that can lead to cancer. Chemicals which caused mutation are called mutagens and those that also cause cancer are called carcinogen. 

3.33) Antibiotic resistance


Understand how resistance to antibiotics can increase in bacterial populations
Case Study:
Bacteria Staphylococcus aureus can cause skin or lung infection. 
The antibiotic  can kill the Staphylococcus aureus. The ones that are killed are susceptible, called MSSA.
When random mutation occurred to the genome of the bacteria. When the antibiotic is applied, the bacteria did not die. This is given the name resistant, creating a new type of bacteria known as MRSA. 
As a result, mutation has created genes that allow bacteria to break down the antibiotic, resisting it and survived. This form of the bacteria increasingly survives and becomes more common. 
This can become serious problem in hospitals and treatment. 

3.32) Types of mutation


Understand that many mutations are harmful but some are neutral and a few are beneficial
The process of mutation creates new alleles.
As the alleles are responsible for the phenotype, the impact could be that they are beneficial, harmful, or neutral (no effect).

Example:
Beneficial - improve efficiency of enzyme
Harmful - mutation leads to production of enzyme that doesn't work (nonfunctional)
Neutral - the mutation leads to a second or new allele that has no particular affect. However, the neutrality might not last forever due to environmental change, etc, which in time can make it become beneficial or harmful. 

Friday, October 7, 2011

3.31) Evolution


Describe the process of evolution by means of natural selection

Evolution
- change in form of organisms (new forms arising)
- change in frequency (how many) of alleles
Natural Selection 
- the mechanism of evolution (first proposed by Charles Darwin)
Example:
a bacteria staphlococcus aureus which can lead to skin and lung infection
The original form of such bacteria is sustained to be kill by methecilline, which is a type of antibiotic. (They are susceptible to the antibiotic.) MSSA
What happened is that a random mutation to the genome of the bacteria allowed us a characteristic of 'breaking down methecilline.' This means that it is no longer killed by the antibiotic. This new form is called the Resistant form, MRSA.
[Refer to definition number 1 of evolution]
Because the MRSA is resistant to the antibiotic, they became increasingly common (increase in frequency of the allele) 
[Refer to definition number 2 of evolution]

Two features of natural selection (process):
1. Random mutation - produce MRSA form 
2. Non-random selection - due to anti-biotic which is selecting the MRSA to survive and MSSA to be selected and killed


3.30) Mutation


Recall that mutation is a rare, random change in genetic material that can be inherited
In every DNA, there is what we called the base sequence, which cause the gene. The form of the gene is called allele. Certain process or event can result in a change of the base sequence. For example, for ACT to AAT. 
This change creates a new version of the alleles. It's possible that this allele can create an entire new protein, and have an entire different affect on the phenotype. 
Consider the dominant and recessive alleles: A and a. The reason why different alleles exist is because of the process called mutation, that changes the base sequence of the gene. 

3.29) Species Variation


3.29) Species Variation
Understand that variation within a species can be genetic, environmental, or a combination of both
Variation = differences in phenotype, by counting or measure the differences and show them in bracket form
Everyone individual has a phenotype. The phenotype is determined by the difference in genotype and environment. (continuous variation)
Different classes suggests that the variation in the species is entirely due to the variation in the genotype, with no role for the environment to play. 
For example, blood group. A, AB, B, O

Variation in the genotype can also be modified by the environment. (You can see as continuous variation) 
For example, one might inherited the genotype for being tall, but the environment such as diet also affect his height. 

Variation in population/ species that's entirely due to environmental variation. Genes have no role here. This cannot be inherited, so therefore the variation is not continuous. 
e.g.) a particular home language that you speak 



Saturday, October 1, 2011

3.20) Pedigree Diagram


Understand how to interpret family pedigrees

Square - Male
Circle - Female
Filled in shapes - Inherited Condition (they are often diseases but NOT necessarily) 
These are represented by phenotype. 


Pedigree can be use to interpret that the affected condition is caused by dominant or recessive allele. 

3.21) Genetic Probability


Predict probabilities of outcomes from monohybrid crosses

Monohybrid - a hybrid that is heterozygous with respect to a specified gene

Generation 1:
Red (RR) x White (rr)
Red is dominant to white. 
---> Meiosis
The alleles are being separated. The gamete would contain one one of the two alleles with equal chance. 
Which means the gametes of red petals will be separated into (1/2)R and (1/2)R. The white petals would be (1/2) r and (1/2) r.
We then considered random fertilization by drawing table to illustrate to possible phenotypes and genotypes of the offsprings through Punnett square (Mendel's diagram). 



In this example, the genotype would all be Rr.
So the phenotype would ALL be red. 
So the probability would be 100% that you would have a red offspring. 







Generation 2:
Now we try to cross heterozygous parents (Rr) and (Rr)

We have…
25% of RR
50% of Rr
25% of rr
Genotype ratio…
RR:Rr:rr = 1:2:1
Phenotype ratio…
Red:White - 3:1
They are chances and probability. It depends on which pollen grain fertilizes with which ovule. 

3.18) c. Codominance


Recall the meaning of the terms: dominant, recessive, homozygous, phenotype, genotype and codominance.

Codominance refers to a relationship between two alleles of a gene in which both phenotypes of the genes are visible and do not over power each other in phenotype. This happens when both alleles are dominant. 
The offspring will result in an unusual third phenotype as the parents both contribute to the phenotype. The offspring's genotype would be a heterozygous of both dominant alleles. 


Friday, September 23, 2011

3.19 b) F1 x F1 Cross


3.19) Describe pattern of monohybrid inheritance using a genetic diagram
F1 = First Generation




3.19a) P1 x P1 Cross

3.19) Describe pattern of monohybrid inheritance using a genetic diagram
P = parents





3.18) Phenotype and Genotype

3.18) Recall the meaning of the terms: dominant, recessive, homozygous, heterozygous, phenotype, genotype and codominance


Phenotype


Genotype


Thursday, September 15, 2011

3.2) Fertilization


Understand that fertilization involves the fusion of a male and female gamete to produce a zygote that undergoes cell division and develops into an embryo

The process of fertilization begins with the adults male and female.
The cells in testis and ovaries both have complete set of chromosomes (called diploid, or 2n), meaning both have 46 chromosomes each.
Theses cells divide to form cells with half set of chromosome (23 each) in the process called meiosis. We go from a diploid number to a haploid number, n
This leaves us with 23 chromosomes in each sperm and egg cell.
In sexual reproduction, these two cells are brought together and are joined/fused to form just one cell. This process is known as fertilization. It involved a combining of half set and half set of chromosomes to form a full set of chromosome.
n + n = 2n
This cell is called zygote, which is combination of male and female chromosomes. 
The zygote then go through a process called mitosis in which the cell will divide to give two cells (in which both contains complete set of chromosome). As a result, all cells contain 2n/diploid number of chromosome. 
When we have sufficient cells, the structure would be called an embryo. 
Such process holds through for all sexually reproducing organisms. 


3.9 b) Female Reproductive System


Recall the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems


Before the pregnancy occur, the size of the uterus is no larger than an orange.

Structure & Function
Ovary - where meiosis occurs; production of eggs
Oviducts (fallopian tube) - carry the eggs to the uterus and where fertilization takes place
Uterus - structure in the center (womb) 
a) wall of uterus - made of muscle that stretch to accommodate a pregnancy
b) lining of uterus - accepts and develops the fertilizing eggs which will develop into the embryo and the child, as well as the development of the placenta
Uterus space - where the sperm cells and eggs cells moves … where embryo developed into unborn child
Cervix - entrance of sperm cells to the uterus 
Vagina - (where the penis is introduced at the end and the sperm cells enters the uterus)
collects sperm cells and travel them into the uterus





3.9 a) Male Reproductive System


Recall the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems



Structures & Functions
Bladder - store urine
Testis - carry out process of meiosis that produce that gamete called sperm cells
Epididymis - tube system that store sperm cells
Vas deferens - carry sperm cells to penis during sexual stimulation

Sperm cells travel through...
Prostate - produce 20-30% of the volume of semen which contains sugars and is alkali (to neutralize the acidic secretion within the vagina)
Seminal Vesicles - produce sugar base and alkali secretion (70% of the semen in which the sperm cells can travel)

Sperm + Seminal Vesicles + Prostate ----> Semen (male reproductive fluid)

Semen travels down the...
Urethra - common tube which joins the left and right testis and the left and right vas deferens that takes semen down the penis, as well as the urine

Penis - carry sperm cells into the vagina during sexual intercourse







Thursday, September 8, 2011

3.12) Amniotic fluid

3.12) Amniotic Fluid
Understand how the developing embryo is protected by amniotic fluid

Inside the uterus space surrounding the embryo is a fluid called amniotic fluid
The function of the amniotic fluid is to protect the developing embryo. The fluid is largely water. As a result, it cannot be compress. If any blows force is applied to the outside of uterus wall, it absorbs the pressure, preventing damage to unborn child. 


3.11) Placenta

Describe the role of the placenta in the nutrition of the developing embryo

Placenta is an organ the connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. 
(Fetus is an unborn offspring of mammals.)
(Uterus is the organ in the lower body of a woman or female mammal, where offspring are conceived and in which they are gestate before birth; the womb.)



The child in the uterus is surrounded by amniotic fluid. As a result, the child cannot digest, breath and carry out excretion. 
The placenta structure connects the maternal blood vessel into the child's blood vessel. 
The child obtains nutrition by the umbilical cord in the placenta structure growing out of the embryo, NOT out of the mother. 
Blood vessels inside the placenta, including arteries and veins, are blood vessels of the child. 
The placenta is going into the wall of uterus. 
In the blood stream of mother it would have glucose, amino acid and fats which will travel through her blood stream (maternal blood vessel) and into the wall of the uterus. There, the molecules will cross into the child's blood at the placenta. Then such molecules will go from the mother's blood into the child's blood, crossing the placenta.
The placenta has a large surface area and thin barrier. 
The child also produce waste such as carbon dioxide and urea into the mother's blood who will be responsible of the excretion. 








Sunday, August 28, 2011

3.24) Mitosis (a-c)

Understand that division of a diploid cell by mitosis produces two cells which contain identical sets of chromosomes.

Mitosis - cell division which results in growth which occurred by increase in number of cell

A normal cell with its nucleus. The number of chromosome in the nucleus is called the diploid number (abbreviated 2n). For human, 2n = 46. 
In the process known as mitosis, a cell will divide into two cells, each with a nucleus. Each nucleus contains diploid number of chromosomes. The two cells are identical in which sometimes are described as daughter cells.
- They have the same number of chromosomes.
- They have the same set of chromosomes. 



How are the copies of chromosomes made? How did they separate into two cells?
The original cell has to copy its chromosomes in the process called DNA replication. In this process, each chromosome undergrowth and copy process to form an identical copy of the cell with the same genes and same alleles. The two copies are held together by a structure around the center region known as the centromere. The pair is called pair of chromatids. 
The process of DNA replication takes place inside the nucleus while it's still intact. This resting stage of cell cycle is known as the interphase




The Stages of Mitosis
During the interphase, the process of DNA replication occurs. We are not able to observe the chromosomes.
1. Prophase: Nuclei member breaks down and the chromosomes become visible as a pair of chromatids.
2. With the nucleus gone, inside the cell, a network of protein molecules known as the spindle/ spindle fibres formed. This extends from one pull of the cell to the other. Late prophase: The chromosome pairs will move toward the spindle and will join with the spindle fiber in the center. 
3. Metaphase: The pair of chromatids are attached to the spindle fibre by the centromere. The characteristic is the chromosomes are in the middle across the equator of the cell.
4. Anaphase: The spindle fiber shortened, pulling each chromosome in opposite direction and the pair of chromatids are moving apart toward each poles. (They're separated.) 
5. Telophase: The nucleus beings to reform around chromosomes at either end of the cell. (The formation of two nuclei at opposite ends of the cell.) 
6. Cytokinesis: The cell splits into two. This is NOT part of mitosis. It is a particular independent stage. 

The daughter cells each contain a chromosome, which is the same as the parental cell. In human cell, we see 23 pairs of chromosomes separating at the same time.