Catch it Before it's Too Late: Alzheimer's Blog Post #1

Alzheimer's: Catch it Before it's Too Late

          I'm doing my 20-time project on Alzheimer's disease. 20-time is a structured, methodical in-class project where students can choose a topic they're genuinely interested about and do a project on it. When starting out with my project, I asked myself the question, "What if there were a way to tell the difference between Alzheimer's disease and natural aging to catch it early on and maybe even stall the progression of the disease?" This is why I chose to commit to Alzheimer's disease as my 20-time project. I believe that people are only hurting themselves when they choose to ignore signs of Alzheimer's early on. By doing this, they won't get a chance to try and fight the disease while they can. There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but there are treatments that can significantly help those diagnosed. 

          I want to be able to create a document of some sort where people can see the difference between what is normal in aging and what is not, and add ideas for natural treatment for the ailment. I will measure my progress and achievements through these blog posts. My plan moving forward is to research even more in depth of the underlying symptoms of AD, hopefully find symptoms that are easily overlooked.

Picture used:
http://brainmaxima.com/go/img/Alzheimers%20Disease.png

Candy Electrophoresis Lab

Candy Electrophoresis Lab

          In this lab, we extracted the artificial food dye from various candies. After extracting the dye, we used gel electrophoresis to separate them by size. When we analyzed the results of our gel, all of our experimental samples were where they were supposed to be, and everything ran smoothly. Some of our dyes spilled a little outside of the designated vats, but other than that, they were fine. 

          Out of the four dyes pictured in the manual, citrus red 2 would be the one to migrate similarly to the dyes we examined in this lab, since it was stated that smaller molecules would be able to move faster through the gel pores than larger molecules.

          Since popular dog food manufacturers appear to put more red dye in the food than any other color, it can only mean that they do that to appeal more to the dog, since animals can perceive red clearer than any other color in the spectrum. This is why it would be common to put artificial food dye in dog food.

          The two factors that control the distance the colored dye solutions migrate are negatively charged molecules and positively charged molecules. The negatively charged molecules move toward the positive electrode and positively charged molecules move toward the negative electrode. Any molecules with no charge will not leave the well.

          The component of the electrophoresis system that causes the molecules to be separated by size are the electrical currents and charges inside the molecules. 

          DNA molecules with molecular weights of 600, 1000, 2000, and 5000 daltons would separate with the least amount of daltons to stretch faster, but not as far as the others. 

New Years Goals

New Years Goals

          A biology goal I have for this semester is to really make sure I understand the vodcasts. I noticed last semester that while I would watch and complete the vodcasts and CFUs, I wouldn't fully grasp the concept or purpose of it. This year, I am going to make sure that after every vodcast I am going to reread and look in my biology textbook if there is something there that I feel I don't understand. Completing every CFU directly after completing the assigned vodcast will also help me achieve this goal, as well as getting really involved with the in-class DO NOW's and looking over them later.

          My second goal for this year is to put my own well being before anything else. I believe that my mental state can affect my work, and I want to make sure that my work is never affected negatively by this. I can achieve this by finishing homework early so I can take the rest of the day off to relax. I will be able to reach this goal because I will be motivated by the fact that once I finish my homework, I won't have anything left to stress over for the rest of the day. This goal isn't just about affecting my work, either. I believe it's important for people my age to take care of themselves in general, since so many seem to just toss that thought aside. I won't allow myself to be one of those people. 

Unit 5 Reflection

Unit 5 Reflection

          In this unit, we learned about the different types and factors of mutations. Since mutations are something that really fascinate and intrigue me, I was able to keep up with this unit very well. The themes and essential understandings were mainly about the causes and effects of mutations and why the appropriate characteristics develop only in the appropriate organs at the appropriate time. Some of the causes of mutations can be by environmental factors such as UV rays from the sun, and most mutations either have a very small effect or no noticeable effect at all. Because of gene regulation, we have a control and or balance of characteristics where we need them. Understanding mutations and their effects were a part of my strengths during this unit and trying to understand gene regulation and the lac operon were my weaknesses. 

          I grew as a student during this unit by learning how not all mutations are deadly and cause diseases, but also understanding that most of the time that is the case. I also found it very interesting that gene regulation is the reason why we don't have four ears or six eyes. Overall, this unit, to me, was incredibly fascinating. Mutations are something I find grasping. 

Protein Synthesis Lab

Protein Synthesis Lab

           1.  There are 8 required steps when making a protein. During transcription, the first step occurs when a section of DNA, known as a gene, is copied by an enzyme. The copy that is produced is called messenger RNA or mRNA for short. RNA is different from DNA because uracil replaces thymine, and RNA is single stranded. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus and travels to the cytoplasm. The next step begins translation, where the mRNA bonds with a ribosome, which will make a protein. The ribosome reads the first three bases called a codon, and determines which amino acid corresponds with that sequence. Each amino acid that is added is determined by the codon read by the ribosome. Amino acids are bonded together, and when the mRNA is done being translated the amino acid chain folds up to become a protein. 

         

          2.  Throughout the several different types of mutations I tested, I concluded that deletion had the greatest effect on proteins and substitution had the least effect on proteins. No, it doesn't matter where the mutation occurs, since the amount of effect will still remain the same. The only way this would be different if the T was near the end is that it would change an amino acid.

"Types of Mutations." Types of Mutations. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2016.

          3.  I chose deletion because it has the greatest effect on proteins. This mutation had a greater effect because it deleted a letter in the sequence without replacing it with anything, therefore completely altering the amino acids in the sequence. It doesn't matter where the mutation occurs, since it will effect the protein greatly without needing a specific location. 

          4.  An example of a mutation that could affect your life is sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia causes red blood cells to become deformed and form a sickle shape, which then clogs blood vessels, can slow or block blood flow throughout your body.

DNA Extraction Lab

DNA Extraction Lab

          In this lab, we asked the question, "Can DNA be extracted from cheek cells, and if so, at what point do you predict you will be able to see the DNA?" To answer this, I said yes, DNA can be extracted from cheek cells because our skin cells have our DNA in them. We found that we would be able to see the DNA after adding the detergent, salt, and pineapple juice to the gatorade mixture and after carefully placing alcohol on top of it. The DNA fell out of the solution as the alcohol was added because the alcohol is nonpolar and the DNA is polar. My hypothesis was "If DNA is in our skin cells, then we will be able to separate DNA from our cheek cells." 

        One of the errors we encountered in this lab was an issue with the lids falling inside of the test tube, rather than closing the test tube. Because of this, we weren't able to effectively shake the mixture we had created with the gatorade, salt, detergent, and pineapple juice. One recommendation I have for anyone conducting this experiment is to be sure to use a cap that fits the right test tube, otherwise, the experiment will most likely turn out wrong for that person. 

       The DNA extraction protocol involved three steps: homogenization, lysis, and precipitation. We used the gatorade to homogenize the cell tissue in our cheeks. We then added soap to lyse the cell membranes and to emulsify the lipids and proteins of the cell. This disrupts the polar interactions that hold the cell membrane together. We then added pineapple juice as a catabolic protease to further break down any proteins called histones that the DNA molecule wraps itself around. 95% isopropanol alcohol was then layered on top of the mixture. Since the alcohol is nonpolar and the DNA is polar, the DNA falls out of the solution as a precipitate right at the interface of the two solutions. The DNA can then be pulled up from the alcohol layer and then collected with a transfer pipette. This lab was important in understanding biological concepts by demonstrating what it means to homogenize a mixture, and what lysis and precipitation mean. 

        

       

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