Thursday, December 11, 2014
Check Out my Other Blog!
Here's a link to my other blog. It is a blog about an Ecology Service Learning Project I completed in the fall semester. I did this project with three of my classmates and we did a cooking demo! Fine Feasting with Four Freshmen
John's Seed Story
This past week, I got the opportunity to sit down with my teammate, John, and talk to him about his experience with this semester-long experiment.
(KC is me [Katie Carley] and JM is John)
KC: What have you learned throughout the course of the Story of the Seed Project?
JM: Well, I have learned a lot about the various biogeochemical cycles. I also learned a lot about what a plant needs to survive and how it gets the things it needs. I studied a lot of biodiversity and genetics of plants. I also realized how many factors can affect my plant, both abiotic and biotic. I also was surprised to find out what a big role my plant plays in the ecosystem.
KC: Did you learn anything specific about our plant, Romanesco broccoli, or Brassica oleracea, for that matter?
JM: I learned about a large variety of brassica oleracea. I previously did not know what Romanesco broccoli or Brassica oleracea was, so it was cool to be learning about that for the first time. I knew what broccoli was, but I didn't know there was such a variety of it. It has so many relatives!
KC: Have you had any memorable moments? Things that made you laugh?
JM: I liked raising our seed into a growing plant. I also enjoyed planting it in the big garden ad watching it grow. I had a lot of fun and memories from all the early mornings in the garden. It was really to be planting with all my friends.
KC: Did anything you did during the experiment surprise or amaze you?
JM: I was surprised at how fast my plant grew without me really tending to it in the garden. I am sad to say this, but I was shocked to find a that another species of Brassica oleracea invaded my plant's area and overtook it. It was a tragic day for us. However, it was a learning experience. It amazed me how competitive plants can be for space in the garden.
KC: What made you pause, and think a little deeper? Did anything you were studying interest you to research it further?
JM: A question that slipped into my mind was "why do plants instantly know to grow upwards?" However, I now know why it does this. It is because of its genetic code. Its code tells it to grow upwards towards the sun. For example, in our beginning experiment, we had a test subject that had hardly any soil in it, therefore making it lower than all the other test plants. Because of this, it ended up growing taller than some of the other test subjects.
KC: Do you have any questions about the things you observed or experienced in the garden?
JM: As a matter of fact, I do. I would like to know how a species of plant with no defense mechanisms could survive with a common predator. For example, cabbage moths would create large holes in my plants leaves. Yet, it would still survive. Another question I have is to why my plant lost to the kohlrabi. Even though, my plant started off larger than it.
KC: Any final remarks?
JM: I would like to thank my partner, Katie, for helping me with my experience with the Story of the Seed.
(KC is me [Katie Carley] and JM is John)
KC: What have you learned throughout the course of the Story of the Seed Project?
JM: Well, I have learned a lot about the various biogeochemical cycles. I also learned a lot about what a plant needs to survive and how it gets the things it needs. I studied a lot of biodiversity and genetics of plants. I also realized how many factors can affect my plant, both abiotic and biotic. I also was surprised to find out what a big role my plant plays in the ecosystem.
KC: Did you learn anything specific about our plant, Romanesco broccoli, or Brassica oleracea, for that matter?
JM: I learned about a large variety of brassica oleracea. I previously did not know what Romanesco broccoli or Brassica oleracea was, so it was cool to be learning about that for the first time. I knew what broccoli was, but I didn't know there was such a variety of it. It has so many relatives!
KC: Have you had any memorable moments? Things that made you laugh?
JM: I liked raising our seed into a growing plant. I also enjoyed planting it in the big garden ad watching it grow. I had a lot of fun and memories from all the early mornings in the garden. It was really to be planting with all my friends.
KC: Did anything you did during the experiment surprise or amaze you?
JM: I was surprised at how fast my plant grew without me really tending to it in the garden. I am sad to say this, but I was shocked to find a that another species of Brassica oleracea invaded my plant's area and overtook it. It was a tragic day for us. However, it was a learning experience. It amazed me how competitive plants can be for space in the garden.
KC: What made you pause, and think a little deeper? Did anything you were studying interest you to research it further?
JM: A question that slipped into my mind was "why do plants instantly know to grow upwards?" However, I now know why it does this. It is because of its genetic code. Its code tells it to grow upwards towards the sun. For example, in our beginning experiment, we had a test subject that had hardly any soil in it, therefore making it lower than all the other test plants. Because of this, it ended up growing taller than some of the other test subjects.
KC: Do you have any questions about the things you observed or experienced in the garden?
JM: As a matter of fact, I do. I would like to know how a species of plant with no defense mechanisms could survive with a common predator. For example, cabbage moths would create large holes in my plants leaves. Yet, it would still survive. Another question I have is to why my plant lost to the kohlrabi. Even though, my plant started off larger than it.
KC: Any final remarks?
JM: I would like to thank my partner, Katie, for helping me with my experience with the Story of the Seed.
Katie Carley's Seed Story
For the past semester I have been working with Katie Carley in our Story Of The Seed project. Even though I have been working with her for about three months I still don't know how she feels or what she has learned from this project. However today I finally have the chance to interview the elusive Katie Carley.
Me: What are some things that you have learned or surprised you throughout our project?
Katie: I learned about the genetic diversity of plants and why species from the same family can look so different. I also leaned how much work it takes to keep a plant alive and healthy. So from the beginning of the project I learned what brassica oleracea, so I found it cool that a lot of the vegetables I eat come from the same family. I found it fascinated how big of a role my plant plays in the bio- geo chemical cycles.
Me: What has made you laugh?
Katie: It made me laugh about how little I knew about my plant. I also enjoyed being in the garden working with my friends. But mostly, I just had a lot of fun on this project.
Me: What made you stop and think deeply about our plant?
Katie: It was puzzling to me as to why the kohlrabi plant was growing so close to ours. It made me think how it got there and how it would survive. This incident made me think about all the adaptation our plant needs to survive.
Me: Do you have any questions about what you saw?
Katie: I'm curious to know why how all of the large amount of caterpillars got into the garden. I also would like to know if they like a specific plant. Another question I have about the garden is I have to wonder how many plants are in one garden box. Based on observations I had seen many plants and weeds in one box and I want to know how many different species there are. I also want to know which plants are dominant, "the winners of the competition".
Me: What are some things that you have learned or surprised you throughout our project?
Katie: I learned about the genetic diversity of plants and why species from the same family can look so different. I also leaned how much work it takes to keep a plant alive and healthy. So from the beginning of the project I learned what brassica oleracea, so I found it cool that a lot of the vegetables I eat come from the same family. I found it fascinated how big of a role my plant plays in the bio- geo chemical cycles.
Me: What has made you laugh?
Katie: It made me laugh about how little I knew about my plant. I also enjoyed being in the garden working with my friends. But mostly, I just had a lot of fun on this project.
Me: What made you stop and think deeply about our plant?
Katie: It was puzzling to me as to why the kohlrabi plant was growing so close to ours. It made me think how it got there and how it would survive. This incident made me think about all the adaptation our plant needs to survive.
Me: Do you have any questions about what you saw?
Katie: I'm curious to know why how all of the large amount of caterpillars got into the garden. I also would like to know if they like a specific plant. Another question I have about the garden is I have to wonder how many plants are in one garden box. Based on observations I had seen many plants and weeds in one box and I want to know how many different species there are. I also want to know which plants are dominant, "the winners of the competition".
Thursday, December 4, 2014
The Dynasty Of The Mighty Broccoli
The plant that me and my partner have been working is a species of brassica oleracea, Romanesco Broccoli. Basically it is a form broccoli. My plant has a green color and grows to be tall. It's stem isn't very wide making it easy to snap. It's leaves are also wide making easier to catch water. Because of some of these observations I can tell that were they lived they probably need a lot of sun light and water. There is just one problem with my plant. It is losing. What I mean by this is a cousin of our plant Kohlrabi is dominating our plant. Because of this it isn't getting all the resources it needs. However there is one good thing that comes out this. The Kohlrabi's leaves protect our plant from all of the caterpillars trying to eat ours.
Like I said before there are many varieties of brassica oleracea. The reason why there can be so many is due to the fact that some plants have a different phenotype. Phenotypes result from the different expression of the genes of the organism. The can also be affect by environmental factors. Because of this I can guess that were my form of broccoli grew wasn't very windy or stormy because it's stem would snap. You can actually learn so much about a plants ancestors just by studying the one you're looking now. Now I already know that my plant has evolved from cauliflower and a normal broccoli. Even though my plant if generations apart from that first romanesco broccoli plant it still displays their traits. This happens because when a two parent plants make a baby plant their genes and traits are passed on. Some times when two plants mix their genetic DNA may mix. This usually happens in a process called meiosis. The specific stage in meiosis were this occurs in Prophase one. It's were chromosomes cross over exchanging DNA. Something that can get mixed up are color or shape. As you can see below the shapes of the cauliflower and broccoli are almost similar. The part that is edible grows in tight clumps. This is because both the cauliflower and broccoli had dominate Alleles. For example the color of a cauliflower is white while an original broccoli is dark green. W represents the cauliflower dominant allele and the D represents the broccoli's allele. This results in co-dominance were both are shared and passed down or mixed phenotype.
+ =
Because of this mixing of DNA thats why they look the same or have the same characteristics. However they can still look different. One of the reasons why this happens is because they have to adapt to there environmental factors. From what started of as one broccoli now has many different types of descendants with different genetic makeups. They have this because of where they live or what kind of predators they encounter. This now results in a large genetic diversity. Pretty cool huh?!
Like I said before there are many varieties of brassica oleracea. The reason why there can be so many is due to the fact that some plants have a different phenotype. Phenotypes result from the different expression of the genes of the organism. The can also be affect by environmental factors. Because of this I can guess that were my form of broccoli grew wasn't very windy or stormy because it's stem would snap. You can actually learn so much about a plants ancestors just by studying the one you're looking now. Now I already know that my plant has evolved from cauliflower and a normal broccoli. Even though my plant if generations apart from that first romanesco broccoli plant it still displays their traits. This happens because when a two parent plants make a baby plant their genes and traits are passed on. Some times when two plants mix their genetic DNA may mix. This usually happens in a process called meiosis. The specific stage in meiosis were this occurs in Prophase one. It's were chromosomes cross over exchanging DNA. Something that can get mixed up are color or shape. As you can see below the shapes of the cauliflower and broccoli are almost similar. The part that is edible grows in tight clumps. This is because both the cauliflower and broccoli had dominate Alleles. For example the color of a cauliflower is white while an original broccoli is dark green. W represents the cauliflower dominant allele and the D represents the broccoli's allele. This results in co-dominance were both are shared and passed down or mixed phenotype.
+ =
Because of this mixing of DNA thats why they look the same or have the same characteristics. However they can still look different. One of the reasons why this happens is because they have to adapt to there environmental factors. From what started of as one broccoli now has many different types of descendants with different genetic makeups. They have this because of where they live or what kind of predators they encounter. This now results in a large genetic diversity. Pretty cool huh?!
Our Broccoli is One of a Kind
For these past 15 weeks, I have been observing a Romanesco Broccoli plant, part of the Brassica oleracea family. Our plant is about two and a half feet tall with a light green stem and large dark green leaves. At the moment, out plant's stem is thin and weak, due to the space issue our plant must adapt to. Our plant is not as big as it should be and it is gradually being eaten by pesky caterpillars. If you look at the top two images, you can see how our plant is being dominated by the kohlrabi next to it. Our broccoli is the plant with a lighter green colored leaves. In the bottom picture, our plant is in the circled area. It is clear how much smaller it is than the other plants in the garden.
Romanesco broccoli comes from the Brassica oleracea, or wild cabbage, family. There is a large variety of Brassica oleracea plants, but each have a slightly different phenotype. This means that each plant from this family has different genes that allow them to store starch in different areas of the plant. Romanesco belongs to the Brotyrtis group, along with cauliflower and broccoflower. After the two years it takes to reach its maturity, our broccoli will become light green in color and have a fractal design its buds. Natural broccoli was said to be the first of the Brassica oleracea family to evolve from wild cabbage. Romanesco broccoli has some similar physical features as its ancestor. For one thing, it contains the same little florets on the buds of the flower. I am able to predict the kinds of traits the offspring will have through its parents. The parents' genes make up a baby plant and then traits from either parent will shine through. Romanesco broccoli, it is most likely a cross between cauliflower and broccoli. An example of one of the mixed traits is color. The color of a plant will, in most cases, be a dominant trait. If broccoli gave Romanesco a dark green allele (G), and cauliflower gave it a white allele (W), then there will be co-dominance. Since both of these traits being passed on from the parents (broccoli & cauliflower) are dominant, they will create a mixed phenotype. The dark green and the white mixed together to make a light green color. This is just one example of how the parent plants pass on their traits to their baby plant. The dominant allele will always show in the baby's phenotype. They acquire these traits through meiosis when the chromosomes one somatic cell crossover. The homologous chromosomes align and exchange genetic material. Each chromosome is now different. This is what happens when gametes form. Since gametes only have half the number of chromosomes, they will eventually pair with another gamete to form a somatic cell. In this newly formed cell, it will have chromosomes from both gamete cells (both parents). This will ensure that the baby plant gets traits from both parents. Our plant will pass on its trait the same way: gamete formation through meiosis, then two different gametes fusing together to create a diploid cell of unique genes. Our plant's offspring will not look like it because of meiosis. When the chromosomes crossover genetic material, they become unique chromosomes with different genetic material on each chromosome. This process ensures genetic diversity, and, therefore, our plant's offspring will look different. All of the plants in the garden are different, despite them all being from the Brassica oleracea family. They all have different genetic makeup, causing them to have different physical traits. These plants' genes could have evolved over time, due to adaptation, or they could have had similar, but different parents. Whatever the case, all of these plants' genes are part of the plant for a reason. Some species could have different genes to complete different functions for the plant. In conclusion, meiosis and crossing over leads to genetic diversity, which creates different plants. Many different polymorphisms came from just one ancestral species because of evolution, adaptation, and genetic variation. What started out as one broccoli plant, eventually became many broccoli plants. But, as we learned before, no two plants have the same genetic makeup. Some of the many broccoli plants, probably had to adapt to a new climate or area, giving it different traits to withstand the new ecosystem. These adaptations eventually became new species. This is how, along with genetic variations in the reproductive process, so many forms came from one ancestral species. Thank you, Broccoli, for giving us so many different variations.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Meiosis
Meiosis 1:
- Prophase 1- After the DNA duplicates, the chromosomes pair up with its corresponding homologous chromosome. Then the process of crossing over takes place.
- Metaphase 1- The chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell, and spindle fibers attach themselves to the chromosomes.
- Anaphase 1- The spindle fibers pull the homologous chromosomes to opposite ends of the cell.
- Telophase 1- The parent cell separates into two haploid daughter cells.
- Prophase 2- Each of the daughter cells have half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. The difference between prophase 1 and prophase 2 is that the DNA is not replicated before.
- Metaphase 2- The chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell.
- Anaphase 2- The sister chromatids separate and move to opposite ends of the cell.
- Telophase 2- Meiosis 2 results in 4 haploid daughter cells.
Meiosis Project
Meiosis: is a process in which four daughter cells are created at the end with only half of the chromosomes as the parent cells.
Meiosis 1:
- Prophase 1-In prophase one of meiosis, pairs of homologous chromosomes intertwine and crossing over occurs as chromatids from homologous pairs of chromosomes exchange genetic information.
- Metaphase 1- The chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell, and fully formed spindle fibers attach themselves to the chromosomes.
- Anaphase 1- The spindle fibers then pull the homologous chromosomes, separating them to the opposite sides of the cell.
- Telophase 1- The parent cell then separates into two haploid daughter cells.
Meiosis 2:
- Prophase 2- Each of the daughter cells have half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. The difference between prophase 1 and prophase 2 is that the DNA is not replicated before.
- Metaphase 2- Kind of like metaphase one the chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell.
- Anaphase 2- The sister chromatids separate and move to opposite ends of the cell also like metaphase one but there are half the number of chromosomes.
- Telophase 2- Meiosis 2 ends up with 4 haploid daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes. If it is a male then they will turn into four sperm cells. If it is a female then they will turn into eggs, but one will be bigger than the others.
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