Unit 5 Reflection

In this unit we talked about DNA and RNA. We learned the differences between DNA and RNA. WE learned that RNA can be a substitute for DNA and the RNA will move on somewhere else. There are three types of RNA: messenger RNA, transfer RNA and ribosome RNA. WE learned all of these function and their roles. We also were thought about genes and gene regulation and gene expression. We also were thought how DNA can be altered causing a mutation which was formed by a mutagen which is anything that causes a mutation. In this unit I had many successes and setbacks and many strengths and weaknesses. My strengths were knowing mutations and also DNA and messenger, transfer, and ribosome RNA. For mutation we had three main mutations: Deletion, insertion, and substitution. Deletion is taking away a part of the DNA while insertion is adding part , but substitution is replacing it with another. Some of my downs however included DNA replication and transcription and translation. I believe that as a student I am growing and accomplishing more than ever. I believe that I am a better student than yesterday or a week ago and so on. I believe i am doing better because I am starting to apply myself. I feel like the only thing that was holding me back is myself. I am Holding myself back by no applying myself to do what i can fully accomplish. After I took the Vark Questionnaire I used that information and used in my study's and used part id it in my cheat sheet and study guides. From doing the questionnaire I did some visual techniques and used it in my srtudy guide and cheat sheet. When I used that technique it really helped me to realize where it is and what it looks like and on a test it it shows a diagram I can be like oh ya, I know that it was on my study guide.

Protein synthesis lab recap

In this lab we asked the question, how does the body produce proteins. The steps required to make a protein are complicated. There are 5 steps to the sequence of making a protein. First off the messenger RNA is made by a strand of DNA. Then the mRNA moves to the cytoplasm meeting with the ribosome. After that the mRNA goes through the ribosome three bases at a time. Them tRNA matches up with the open DNA bases. Finally the tRNA releases the amino acids at the top, which joins the chain of amino acids being produced.

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_expression

In this lab we Tested three mutations, including  substitution, deletion and insertion. For substitution we replaced a letter in the sequence with another letter changing the outcome. For deletion we deleted a letter changing the outcome of the protein. Finally, for the insertion, we added a letter changing the outcome of the protein. With these mutations the outcome can be a whole lot different to it didn't matter. It depended on where the letter was changed. If the letter was mutated in the front it could be severe and be totally different whole if it was in the back it probably would not do anything depending on the rest of the DNA.



http://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/239/10nucleic.gif?revision=1


I chose substitution because substitution can either totally change the DNA or not do anything at all. This Mutation is different than deletion and insertion because with deletion you are getting rid of a letter and for insertion you are adding a letter while substitution is getting one by giving one. it matters where the mutation occurs because if it occurs in the back it might not change anything and still be the same but if it is mutated in the front the entire thing will be changed and can totally Mutate it.

http://islaslab.wikispaces.com/file/view/additionmutation.jpg/226983790/additionmutation.jpg

Mutations can affect your life in a huge way and can be very serious or be very small. Missense mutation is a mutation where changes the DNA base pair do to substitution of one amino acid for another in the protein made by a gene.
made




https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/mutationsanddisorders/possiblemutations

Human DNA Extraction Lab Recap

In this lab we asked the question, "How can DNA be separated from cheek cells in order to study it?" In this lab we found that by using a polar liquid(Gatorade) we can extract DNA from our mouth getting cell tissue from our checks. Qualitative observations: We used a small amount of Gatorade mixed with a pinch of salt, put it in our mouth then swirled it in our mouth for a minute spat it out,  then put it in a test tube mixing dish soap and pineapple  juice letting it sit for 5 minutes. Soon after we poured it in a test tube, then we put rubbing alcohol in by pouring it in very carefully so it wouldn't be mixed in with each other. The DNA was separated from the Gatorade and into the alcohol. This data supports our claim because without the polar liquid we would not have gotten the DNA extracted from the cheek. If we used nonpolar liquid, the results would not have been the same.

While our hypothesis was supported by our data, there could have been errors due to a member in our group accidentally spilled his/her experiment onto the table do to s/he did no think we needed to hold the top of the test tube while mixing the solutions. Do to this error our time was was extended and we didn't have all the information we should have had. We also had a situation where we didn't have enough rubbing alcohol so a member in our group poured the rubbing alcohol in too fast mixing the mixture with the alcohol  not getting the DNA fully separated in time. Due to these errors, in future experiments I would recommend that all our members are on the same page and are collaborating more on what to do and how to do it. I also recommend that when mixing the two liquids we our it in carefully and not too fast so we don't get the experiment wrong.

This lab was done to demonstrate that we can get DNA from our cheek cells by using polar liquid and other solutions. From this lab I learned how easy it is to get DNA from our body and how polar liquid extracts cells from the body which help me understand the concept of how doctors get DNA from swabbing the mouths of their patients to get DNA. Based on my experience from this lab I can apply this to comparing DNA to other animals and make a new lab stating how are we different and compare the two DNA structures.