For the DNA to protein project, we researched a certain protein and found how it went from a DNA sequence to a fully formed protein. We researched the processes of transcription and translation, where in the cell these processes occur, and the specific DNA, RNA, and protein sequence of our protein.
The protein we chose was keratin. Keratin is a flexible, water resistant protein that is the main structural component of hair, horns, hooves, feathers, skin, and claws. It has a coiled-coil structure and is used to adhere cells to one another and form a protective layer on the outside of the skin.
For the homeostasis project, our task was to research one specific way our body maintains homeostasis. Homeostasis is how the body maintains a stable and controlled environment to regulate body function. We were to design an experiment that could be dine in class and present our findings in both a research paper and a visual presentation.
The body function my group chose was blood pressure. Blood pressure is maintained through sympathetic and parasympathetic input, which is controlled by the adrenal medulla. For our experiment, we used a small blood pressure monitor to measure the blood pressure changes in three test subjects after running. We took their initial blood pressure, took it again after a 100 meter sprint, and took it again after a five minute cool down. We repeated the experiment with a 400 meter run. The goal of this experiment was to see if blood pressure would begin to return to normal after a five minute cool down, which would show homeostasis.
The protein we chose was keratin. Keratin is a flexible, water resistant protein that is the main structural component of hair, horns, hooves, feathers, skin, and claws. It has a coiled-coil structure and is used to adhere cells to one another and form a protective layer on the outside of the skin.
For the homeostasis project, our task was to research one specific way our body maintains homeostasis. Homeostasis is how the body maintains a stable and controlled environment to regulate body function. We were to design an experiment that could be dine in class and present our findings in both a research paper and a visual presentation.
The body function my group chose was blood pressure. Blood pressure is maintained through sympathetic and parasympathetic input, which is controlled by the adrenal medulla. For our experiment, we used a small blood pressure monitor to measure the blood pressure changes in three test subjects after running. We took their initial blood pressure, took it again after a 100 meter sprint, and took it again after a five minute cool down. We repeated the experiment with a 400 meter run. The goal of this experiment was to see if blood pressure would begin to return to normal after a five minute cool down, which would show homeostasis.
Content
Protein synthesis- the process by which the genetic code puts together proteins in the cell
DNA- deoxyribonucleic acid, the carrier of genetic information
RNA- ribonucleic acid, controls synthesis of proteins
mRNA- RNA that takes a portion of DNA code to other parts of the cell for processing
tRNA- RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosomes for polymerization
rRNA- RNA that makes polypeptides that go on to form proteins
Protein- codes for everything (allows cell function)
Keratin- a protein found in hair, horns, feathers, hooves, claws, and skin
Amino Acid- an organic compound containing a carboxyl and an amino group
Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides that form a unit of genetic code in DNA or RNA
Helicase- enzymes that can bind and remodel nucleic acid
RNA Polymerase- an enzyme that synthesizes the formation of RNA from DNA
Polypeptide chain- a linear chain of many amino acids that are bonded together
Coiled-coil- a protein structure where two coiled strands are twisted around each other
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Homeostasis- the body's way of maintaining a stable and consistent environment
Blood pressure- the pressure of the blood in the circulatory system
Sympathetic input- a part of the nervous system that accelerates the heartrate, constricts blood vessels, and increases blood pressure
Parasympathetic input- a part of the nervous system that counters adrenaline and norepinephrine to lower blood pressure
Adrenal medulla- the part of the adrenal gland that secretes hormones that regulate blood pressure
Adrenaline- a hormone that increases blood circulation and breathing rate
Norepinephrine- a hormone that functions as a neurotransmitter
Acetylcholine- a compound that occurs throughout the nervpus system as a neurotransmitter
Protein synthesis- the process by which the genetic code puts together proteins in the cell
DNA- deoxyribonucleic acid, the carrier of genetic information
RNA- ribonucleic acid, controls synthesis of proteins
mRNA- RNA that takes a portion of DNA code to other parts of the cell for processing
tRNA- RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosomes for polymerization
rRNA- RNA that makes polypeptides that go on to form proteins
Protein- codes for everything (allows cell function)
Keratin- a protein found in hair, horns, feathers, hooves, claws, and skin
Amino Acid- an organic compound containing a carboxyl and an amino group
Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides that form a unit of genetic code in DNA or RNA
Helicase- enzymes that can bind and remodel nucleic acid
RNA Polymerase- an enzyme that synthesizes the formation of RNA from DNA
Polypeptide chain- a linear chain of many amino acids that are bonded together
Coiled-coil- a protein structure where two coiled strands are twisted around each other
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homeostasis- the body's way of maintaining a stable and consistent environment
Blood pressure- the pressure of the blood in the circulatory system
Sympathetic input- a part of the nervous system that accelerates the heartrate, constricts blood vessels, and increases blood pressure
Parasympathetic input- a part of the nervous system that counters adrenaline and norepinephrine to lower blood pressure
Adrenal medulla- the part of the adrenal gland that secretes hormones that regulate blood pressure
Adrenaline- a hormone that increases blood circulation and breathing rate
Norepinephrine- a hormone that functions as a neurotransmitter
Acetylcholine- a compound that occurs throughout the nervpus system as a neurotransmitter
Reflections
DNA to Protein:
One thing that went very well during this project was our initial information gathering. Before we even picked a protein, we researched the processes of transcription and translation and how they formed a protein. We easily found this information, which gave us an outline of the more specific project we would have to do. This helped us in the long run because we had something to refer back to. Another thing that went very well was our time management. We had about a week for this project, and we were done with our research and starting our presentation about halfway through the week. We had plenty of time to make finishing touches and add last minute things that we had forgotten. One thing that didn't go as well was our research for our specific protein. We chose keratin, and most of the things that popped up for our Google searches were ads for keratin hair or nail treatments. However, we solved this problem when we discovered that very specific searches would lead to more of the sources we were looking for. Another difficulty we had was figuring out base pairing and protein folding. We had forgotten we needed them until two days before the due date, so we had to frantically research them and add them into our presentation last- minute. From this project, I learned how to properly research information and how to tell which sources are reputable.
Homeostasis:
One thing that went well was the planning of our experiment. We immediately had a clear idea, and it was easy to do in a classroom (see project descriptions for an explanation of the experiment). We had a small handheld blood pressure machine in the classroom and a long enough block of time to go out to the track and take all of our data in one day. Another thing that went very well was our presentation. Each group member knew enough about the project to answer questions, and the content and delivery of our presentation were very successful. This was something we had been worried about, but it ended up going very smoothly. One thing that didn't go very well was the actual execution of our experiment. We tried running the experiment and taking data, and the numbers were all over the place. We suspected this was because we didn't have the best test subjects (one had arms that were too large for the blood pressure monitor and another had low blood pressure that we hadn't been aware of), so we re-did the experiment the next day with new, better test subjects. These numbers were much more normal, and we were able to use this data. Another thing that didn't go as well as it could have was our time management. This is probably directly related to the fact that we had to spend a second day collecting data. We didn't have much time to write our research paper, but we were able to finish on time. One thing I learned from this project was how to write a research paper.
One thing that went very well during this project was our initial information gathering. Before we even picked a protein, we researched the processes of transcription and translation and how they formed a protein. We easily found this information, which gave us an outline of the more specific project we would have to do. This helped us in the long run because we had something to refer back to. Another thing that went very well was our time management. We had about a week for this project, and we were done with our research and starting our presentation about halfway through the week. We had plenty of time to make finishing touches and add last minute things that we had forgotten. One thing that didn't go as well was our research for our specific protein. We chose keratin, and most of the things that popped up for our Google searches were ads for keratin hair or nail treatments. However, we solved this problem when we discovered that very specific searches would lead to more of the sources we were looking for. Another difficulty we had was figuring out base pairing and protein folding. We had forgotten we needed them until two days before the due date, so we had to frantically research them and add them into our presentation last- minute. From this project, I learned how to properly research information and how to tell which sources are reputable.
Homeostasis:
One thing that went well was the planning of our experiment. We immediately had a clear idea, and it was easy to do in a classroom (see project descriptions for an explanation of the experiment). We had a small handheld blood pressure machine in the classroom and a long enough block of time to go out to the track and take all of our data in one day. Another thing that went very well was our presentation. Each group member knew enough about the project to answer questions, and the content and delivery of our presentation were very successful. This was something we had been worried about, but it ended up going very smoothly. One thing that didn't go very well was the actual execution of our experiment. We tried running the experiment and taking data, and the numbers were all over the place. We suspected this was because we didn't have the best test subjects (one had arms that were too large for the blood pressure monitor and another had low blood pressure that we hadn't been aware of), so we re-did the experiment the next day with new, better test subjects. These numbers were much more normal, and we were able to use this data. Another thing that didn't go as well as it could have was our time management. This is probably directly related to the fact that we had to spend a second day collecting data. We didn't have much time to write our research paper, but we were able to finish on time. One thing I learned from this project was how to write a research paper.
This is the presentation for the DNA to protein project
This is the research paper for the homeostasis project
This is the presentation for the homeostasis project