How the Heart Works
How the Heart Works Although the heart is often referred to as a symbol of courage and love, it is no more than a muscular pump. From the moment it begins beating to the moment we die the heart works non-stop beating an average of 72 beats per minute, 37,843,200 beats per year and 2,838,240,000 beats per average lifetime1. Like most other pumps the human heart can break down, thus need repair. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, an amazing 2,000 Americans die of heart disease everyday that's an average of one every 44 seconds2. This is why it is important to know how your heart works, because with even the slightest bit of knowledge as to what is good and what is bad for it you can drastically reduce your risk for heart disease. The human heart weighs approximately 275 grams3 and is about the size of a clenched fist. Although many believe that the heart is located left of the chest, it is actually located perfectly center between the two lungs, protected by the sternum (breastbone), the rib cage, the vertebral column (spine), the scapular (shoulder blade) and the clavicle (collarbone). The human heart is enclosed in a two layered membrane called the pericardium, not only does it anchor the heart to its surrounding structures but prevents the heart from overfilling with blood. The outer wall of the heart is composed of three layers. The outer
Biology practical
Biology Practical Report Investigating the working of a biological catalyst: catalase - DESIGN Catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms that are exposed to oxygen, where it functions to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Catalase is one of the most potent catalysts known. The reactions it catalyses are crucial to life. Catalase catalyses conversion of Hydrogen Peroxide, a powerful and potentially harmful oxidizing agent, to water and molecular oxygen. Catalase also uses Hydrogen Peroxide to oxidise toxins including Phenols, Formic Acid, Formaldehyde and Alcohols. In this practical, the reactions occuring in the substances where catalase( in a form of liver) is added, are observed and recorded. The testing requires 8 test tubes ,which of 1 is filled with 4 ml of distilled water and from 2-8 is filled with 4 ml of fresh H202. Every test tube recives an additive,which is placed there after the H202/distilled water; Tube 1: cube of liver Tube 2: small amount of manganese dioxide Tube 3: cube of liver Tube 4: 1/2 ml of ground liver Tube 5: cube of boiled liver Tube 6: cube from acidic condition( pre-prepared in a solution) Tube 7: cube of liver from alkaline condition(pre-prepared in a solution) Tube 8: 1/2 ml of ground liver,also temperature of H2O2 was measured before and after the addition of liver.
Investigation of osmosis in potato strips by measuring the length of the strips after a incubation in various sucrose concentrations
Name : Rand IshaqBiology lab report2011-09-19 Investigation of osmosis in potato strips by measuring the length of the strips after a incubation in various sucrose concentrations Aim: the aim is to investigate the effects of Osmosis through selectively permeable membranes (potato cells) when placed in different solute concentrations for 30 minutes. Research question: how do different solute concentrations after 30 minutes incubation affect the length of potato strips? General background: in living organisms. The processes of diffusion and osmosis happen frequently as means of cellular passive transport. Firstly diffusion is the random movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration of those molecules to an area of lower concentration, while osmosis is a special case of diffusion. Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane that allows for diffusion of certain solutes and water) from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water concentration. When two solutions have the same concentration of solutes. They are said to be isotonic in relation to each other. If the two solutions are separated by a selectively permeable membrane. Water will move between the two solutions. But there will be no net diffusion of water between the two solutions resulting in, that the concentrations will remain the same in
Overview of Cells & Energy (Revision)
.1 Cell Theory ________________ Robert Hooke(1665): Published first book on cells. Discovered cells when looking at cork under a microscope. Discovered cell structure of plants. Anton von Leewenhoek (1650-1700):Dutch. First observed protists. With a simple lens(x200), he observed unicellular organisms & nuclei. By using his ability to grind lenses, he greatly improved the microscope as a scientific tool. He discovered bacteria, protozoa and other small life-forms which he called 'tiny animals'. Mattias Schleiden(1838): Deduced theory of 'photogenesis' which states that all living things are made of cels or their derivitives. Theodore Schwann(1839): With Schleiden, Schwann deduced the cell theory- that all animals and plants are made of cells and that within an organism all the cells are identical. Discovered Schwann cells. Rudolph Virchow (1855): Deduced that all cells are created by other cells. Demonstrated that cell theory applies to diseased tissue as well as living tissue. Jansen: Invented compound microscope. Light Microscopes: Light from a source beneath the stage is transmitted through the two lenses in a series, the objective and the ocular (eyepiece) lenses to provide magnifications. Cannot resolve details better than about 0.2 mm(micrometers) Advantages of light microscopes: Enables user to see larger structures within eukaryotes and distinguish individual
Design Lab on Enzyme Activity
Biology: Design Lab work Problem: To qualitatively measure the effect of the enzyme catalase on Hydrogen peroxide decomposition, then to measure the effect of the catalysis when temperature is modified. Background: The experiment is based upon the idea that an enzyme acts to lessen a substrate reaction time by lowering the energy of activation through substrate conversion via the active site. The reaction between hydrogen peroxide and catalase is an easy reaction to follow as the oxygen that is released can be collected and measured. The reaction begins swiftly as the enzyme and substrate is mixed, bubbles of oxygen are released. As the reaction continues, however, the rate at which oxygen is released gradually slows down. The explanation for this is that as more and more substrate is converted to product there are fewer and fewer substrate molecules to bind with enzymes. As fewer substrate molecules are left the reaction becomes slower and slower .The reaction can be stopped through denaturation of the enzyme most likely through injection of the acid H₂SO₄ or an increase in temperature. Hypothesis 1: The rate at which the enzyme catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide varies with time. Investigation plan: In the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and catalase the rate of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide can be measured by measuring the rate at which oxygen gas
Biology Research Paper-Gigantism is a condition characterized by abnormal or excessive growth and height significantly above average
Cherno Okafor Aida Stefani SBI4U November 10th, 2012 Gigantism is a condition characterized by abnormal or excessive growth and height significantly above average. It is divided into two parts: cerebral gigantism and pituitary gigantism. Cerebral gigantism occurs in the absence of increased levels of growth hormone, attributed to a cerebral defect; infants are large, and accelerated growth continues for the first 4 or 5 years, the rate being normal thereafter. The hands and feet are large, the head is large, narrow and long, and the eyes have an antimongoloid slant with an abnormally wide space between them. The child is clumsy, and mental retardation of varying degree is usually present. On the other hand, pituitary gigantism, in humans, is caused by over-production or secretion of the growth hormone in childhood before the long bone epiphyses (growth plates) close resulting in persons between 7 feet (2.13m) and 9 feet (2.74m) in height. The term is typically applied to those whose height is not just in the upper 1% of the population but several standard deviations above mean for persons of the same sex, age, and ethnic ancestry. The term “gigantism” does not apply to those who are simply “tall” or “above average” whose heights appear to be the healthy result of normal genetics and nutrition. If excess growth hormone occurs after normal bone growth has stopped
Does the color of light affect the growth of an Alaskan pea plant?
Color of Light Effecting the Growth of Alaskan Pea Plants 2012 Rachel Kim Sixth Hour Mrs. Davis Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………3 Statement of Problem……………………………………………………………………………...3 Review of Literature…………………………………………………………………………….3-5 Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………………………………5 Variables and Groups……………………………………………………………………………5 Materials…………………………………………………………………………………………..6 Procedure………………………………………………………………………………………….6 Results………………………………………………………………………………………......7-8 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………...9 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………...……9-10 Abstract Pea plants, along with many other plants and vegetables, are taken for granted. Without them, much of the world would be
Genetic engineering has been a controversial topic
Chris Yim 1.6 Biology /4/201 Ms. Leggett Genetic engineering has been an controversial topic due to the many sides that it has an impact on. Some say that genetic engineering can aid the environment, since genes could be manipulated in trees to absorb more CO2 to reduce the threat of global warming[1]- while others ( also in some religious beliefs) ) think that the humans should not have the right to manipulate the laws and course of nature. In this essay, I will contrast the overall impact it has brought upon society and come to a conclusion. The definition of genetic engineering ( also known as genetic modification ) is “the alteration of genetic code by artificial means, which is different compared to from traditional selective breeding” [2]. Genetic engineering as the direct manipulation of DNA by humans outside breeding and mutations has only existed since the 1970s. The key event to modern genetic engineering began in the 1970s when(1972) Paul Berg created the first recombinant DNA molecules, and when (1973) Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen created the first transgenic organism by inserting antibiotic resistance genes into the plasmid of an E. coli bacterium. Genetic engineering is a complicated procedure which is divided into 7 steps; Isolation the gene, Construction, Gene targeting, Transformation, Selection, Regeneration and Confirmation. The gene to be
Soil testing lab
Kenmaru Suedomi, Juan Jose Montoya, H Block Soil Testing Lab Experiments Observation of the soil area (Soil A and Soil B) . Some plants are seen nearby the soil 2. The soil is not wet but not dry 3. Most of plants are glass 4. Some organic matters can be seen (flowers and insects) 5. Greenish color 6. Some Brownish color 7. Plants are growing but not that much Soil Texture by feel (Soil A and Soil B) . When the soil remain in a ball and is squeezed, it forms a thin ribbon which breaks readily, barely sustaining its own weight 2. Not very smooth 3. Not very sandy 4. More like a clay 5. The soil has some sand but not a lot By following the paper “Guide to Texture by feel”, it shows that Soil A is clay loam and Soil B is clay. Percent of Water = Loss in mass after drying / mass of original soil * 100 Masses of the soil and pans (+/- 0.01g) Original Soil After Oven Empty Pan Soil Water Mass of original soil Percent Water in the Soil % Soil A 160.35 138.20 13.30 22.15 147.05 15 Soil B 142.40 124.78 13.30 17.62 129.10 14 Sample Calculation: . Soil Water = 160.35 – 138.2 = 22.15 . Mass of original soil = 160.35 – 13.30 = 147.05 . % Water in the soil = 22.15 / 147.05 * 100 = 15% Soil Texture Masses of soil sediments (+/- 0.01g) Clay Silt Sand Mass of total soil Soil A 11.25 12.90 19.01 43.16 Soil B 18.23 10.20
Bionics and Prosthetics - the future possibilities.
Bionics and Prosthetics - The Human Machine By Arjun Kalburgi Bionics and Prosthetics - The Human Machine By Arjun Kalburgi Introduction The most significant part of our world is that all of the world’s fields and areas of knowledge can relate to each other even in the most farfetched ways. By connecting these different faculties together, one can create new fields that can greatly help our world and the human population. One of the most successful collaborations of two different fields is technology and human biology, namely bionics. Another name for bionics is biomimicry; this name better illustrates the purpose of the subject as machine replacing or amplifying human biological movements. Long has this subject been limited to sticks and hooks; however, recent technological advancements have allowed for prosthetics controlled by thought. This is what this essay will revolve around: the neurobiology of the human body, bionics and prosthetics/neuroprosthetics and the future of bionics. Part One - The Neurobiology of the Human Body The human body is a brilliant machine on its own. With its own system of fuel flow in the form of blood and veins, and an engine-like heart, the body is truly a machine. Yet what makes this even more prominent is the interconnecting nexus of electrical impulses in our body, complete with main circuitry being the brain and spinal cord. This
