Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Mitosis Virtual Lab

1. Which stage does the following occur

Chromatin condenses into chromosomes: Prophase

Chromosomes align in center of cell: Metaphase

Longest part of the cell cycle: Interphase

Nuclear envelope breaks down: Prometaphase

Cell is cleaved into two new daughter cells: Cytokinesis

Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles: Telephase

2. The colored chromosomes represent chromatids. There are two of each color because one is an exact duplicate of the other.

- How many chromosomes are visible at the beginning of mitosis? 4

- How many are in each daughter cell at the end of mitosis? 4

- The little green T shaped things on the cell are: Centrioles

- What happens to the centrioles during mitosis? They move to the poles of the parent cell.

3 . Identify the stages of these cells:

a) Interphase

b) Metaphase

c) Telephase

Classify the 36 cells:

Interphase Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase Total

Number of cells 20 10 3 2 1 36

Percent of cells 55% 28% 8% 6% 3% 100%

Mitosis in Whitefish & Onion Roots
View 1 View 2 View 3 View 4 View 5

Whitefish Telophase Metaphase Prophase Anaphase

Onion Prophase Metaphase Interphase Telophase Anaphase

Monday, December 6, 2010

Epigenetics and Environment

Indentical Twins
- Identical twins have the same exact gene sequence.
- The only reason twins are different is because of epigenetics.
- Epigenetics are environmental factors, such as diet, exercise, and whether or not you smoke or introduce other poisons to your body.
- After epigenetics takes place, the twins then become unique.
- An imprinted gene is when an epigenetic tag is not erased.
- For my epigenome, I have LOTS of exercise, I have a somewhat good diet, and Im hardly ever under stress, so my epigenome is probably having a good effect on me.

Lick your Rat
- A nurturing mother can help lower the rats stress level through life by licking it.
- The licking from the mother activates the GR gene.
- The GR protein will work together with the cortisol in the hippocampus in the brain, to help calm down the pup.
- If there is a bad parent that doesn't support love the child, the child may feel self concious or that there is something wrong with him.

Nutrition and The Epigenome
- The food we eat affects gene expression because diets high in methyl enriched nutrients can hugely alter and change gene expression, especially during early development and when the epigenome is first being created.
- Offspring can be affected through diets of adults from the reason stated above. Early in development when still in the mother, or even slightly after birth, the lack of methyl can cause problems even leading into adulthood.

Epigenetics and the Human Brain
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