Response to NOVA

How did life on earth probably begin?
Every organism that exists or existed comes from a common ancestor billions of years ago. Life emerged from the following elements in chemistry: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These elements form the building block of RNA, known as a ribonucleotide. Many scientists believe that RNA, or something similar to it, was the first molecule on Earth to self-replicate and begin the process of evolution that led to more advanced forms of life, such as humans. John Sutherland discovered a recipe for life which required sunlight. Although another possible recipe which contains no sunlight occurs in volcanic vents, thousands of feet below the surface of the Earth.

Anthers and Stigmas and Styles oh my!

Shannon Hanley 

Mr. Bursch 

Honors Biology period 4

2 February 2013

Anthers and Stigmas and Styles oh my!

Reproduction in Angiosperms takes place within the flower. Following pollination and fertilization, the seeds develop inside protective structures. Reproduction in angiosperms takes place within the flower. After pollination, the seeds of angiosperms develop inside protective structures. The anthers are part of the stamen, and stigmas are part of the pistil.  Anthers store the pollen while stigmas collect the pollen. The stamen (male part) contains the anther and filament. The anther produces pollen grains which are transferred to other flower’s stigmas. The filament and the polllen contained in the stalk produce the organ anther. The pistal (female part) contains the stigma, ovary, and the style. The stigma receives or raps the pollen. The ovary protects and stores the ovule. The style connects the ovary to the stigma.

   

Anthers & Stigmas & Styles, Oh My!

How do flowering plants (angiosperms) like our Brassica oleracea plants reproduce? 
Flowering plants reproduce through their pollen. The female part of a flowering plant is called the pistil, and on top is the stigma, also known as the "sticky stigma". On the other hand, the male part of flowering plants is called the stamen. Above the stamens are anthers, which inside pollen is produced. Once the pollen meets the stigma, it (pollen) acts as the sperm for the flowering plant. Reproduction begins when the pollen goes down the pollen tube and meets the egg.

• In the photo shown above, the green, centered & stem-look figure is called the style. Above the style, with the circular shape is the stigma where pollen meets and enters the pollen tube. Around the pistil are the anthers (yellow, fuzzy parts). Inside the anthers is where pollen is produced.

• Here we have a photo of a long stalk called the style and its sticky tip called the stigma. The pollen from a flower can get in touch with the stigma, either by wind, birds moving them around etc. 

• In the image shown above shows how the ovary has been cut open and contains small ovule, which are the unfertilized seeds that contain the female egg cell. Shown in the photograph, the ovule is the small, green ball near the stigma.

Anthers, Stigmas, and Styles, Oh My!

Above is the stamen, or the male reproductive system. Stamens produce pollen in saclike structures called anthers. The number of stamens is usually the same as the number of petals. Stamens usually consist of a long slender stalk, the filament, with the anthers at the tip. Some stamens are similar to leaves, with the anthers at or near the margins.

Here is the carpel, or the female reproductive system.It is the female part of the plant which produce fruit once pollination has taken place. The fruit contains seeds. (Carpels, stigma> top where it gets pollen, style > pollen travels down, ovary > where fruit is formed)

Above there are anthers surrounding the stigma. Pollen is typically highly desiccated when it leaves an anther. Stigmas have been shown to assist in the rehydration of pollen and in promoting germination of the pollen tube. Stigmas also ensure proper adhesion of the correct species of pollen.

Displayed is the female reproductive system, the ovary. The ovary contains ovules, which develop into seeds upon fertilization.

Responding to GATTACA

"They have you looking so hard for flaws that in the end that is all you look for" Vincent, after a confession to Irene. 

        This movie is based on perfection in genetics and any invalid is discriminated against. While Irene herself is not completely perfect, she has been engineered to seek out it. He tried to make her understand that although imperfections are not sought after, they are acceptable. With flaws, he faces adversity and accomplished what some valids never could have.

Responding to Gattaca

Shannon Hanley

Mr. Bursch

31 January 2013

Honors Biology period 4

Responding to Gattaca

   

    “You can go to great lengths with this guy’s helix.”

    Vincent wants to work at Gattaca and fly into space, but cannot because of his genetic makeup.

However Jerome has excellent genes, but is a wheelchair and is unable to reach his dreams. He

still wants to help someone else in need. Vincent agrees, because he has wanted to work at

Gattaca for his whole life, and has something to prove. Vincent has been told many times in his

life that he would never be able to work at Gattaca or even see the inside of a rocket unless he

 was cleaning it. Vincent wants to prove to everyone that he can fly in space even with his heart

problem. This is the only way he can.

Responding to GATTACA:

by Leah Poapst

"You can go to great lengths with this guy's helix"– man who brings Vincent and Jerome together.

Vincent Freeman, an invalid, who is always genetically discriminated, has a dream to travel in a spaceship into space. Unfortunately, invalids are incapable of going. The only way for him to be close to his dream is by being a janitor, but luckily he was introduced to Jerome Morrow, a man with a perfect genetic profile. This quote is important and significant, because it indicates everything Vincent can do by using Jerome's identity. Therefore, in order to reach his dream and become valid, Vincent impersonates Jerome and uses his DNA. In the end of the movie, after working for GATTACA and passing all tests by using Jerome's DNA, Vincent accomplished his dream.