Enzymes Reactions Lab!

A couple of weeks ago we did a lab about enzyme reactions.  We tested the levels of pressure when yeast was mixed with a variety of different mixtures.  In the first graph shown we tested the levels of pressure with 5 droplets of yeast, 20 droplets of yeast, and 45 droplets of yeast.  The mixture that had the highest slope of pressure was the one with 20 droplets of yeast.

In the graph to the right, we measured the levels of pressures of yeast mixed with different levels of pH.  The enzyme reaction was the highest with a pH level of 4.

  The graph on the left shows pressure with different temperature levels.  We experimented with yeast and water mixed at room temperature, cold temperature, and hot temperature.  According to our observations the yeast had the most pressure at hot temperatures.  

Photosynthesis and Respiration :)

Kelsea and I did this one together, so check out our awesome prezis! :)

http://prezi.com/fsaeelbu_vmt/respiration/

Respiration! on Prezi

Photosynthesis! :) on Prezi

Dry Lab!

So to be honest, it's taken me like a week to figure out what in the world a dry lab is and how to even do it.  But now after time, I figured it out, I think!  So here goes nothing!

First of all you need to get four clean test tubes, a bottle of bromothymol blue, access to water, straws, snails, and elodea (plant).

Now take one clean test tube and fill it up halfway full with water.  Place 30 drops of the bromothymol blue into the test tube and get your straw.  No you're not going to drink it.  Take the straw and blow bubbles into the mixture in the test tube.  Record your observations.

Next, grab the second test tube also filling it halfway full with water.  Just like the previous step, place 30 drops of bromothymol blue into the water.  But, instead of blowing bubbles, place a snail into the test tube.  After 3-5 minutes record observations and remove the snail.

Then, take the third test tube, fill it halfway full with water and place 30 drops of bromothymol blue into the water in the test tube.   Now, insert one elodea (plant) into the test tube mixture.  Place it in an area with sunlight. After 3-5 minutes record your observations and remove the plant.

Finally, take the last tube and fill it halfway full of water, placing 30 drops of bromothymol blue into the test tube.  After that take one snail and one elodea into the test tube.  Take the test tube into a very dark area with no sunlight whatsoever!  After 3-5 minutes record your observations.  Don't forget to take the snail and elodea out after though! 

OBSERVATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS!
In step one the mixture begins as a blue color because of the bromothymol blue.  After blowing bubbles into the mixture, it turns to a light greenish yellow color.  This is caused from carbon dioxide being in the water which produces carbonic acid. 
In step two, the water will begin to turn a light color.  It changes to a light color because the snail is constantly respiring. 
In step three, the water turns a blue-green color.  The carbon dioxide and the water yield sugar and oxygen when chlorophyll and sunlight are around. 
In step four, the water will change into a yellow color.  This is because there is no sunlight which means the plant is unable to photosynthesize.  The plant is always creating carbon dioxide, along with the snail also in the tube.  The water turns acidic because of the abundant amount of CO2, causing the yellow coloring of the mixture.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome! :(

Imagine, going out to a party where there is alcohol involved and you see a soon to be mother picking up a beer. What would you do? Would you let her in on the potentially fatal effects it could have on her baby or would you sit back and not speak for a little child that can't voice their own opinion? Drinking alcohol while being pregnant can cause miscarriages, stillbirth or premature delivery. It can also cause fetal alcohol syndrome which affects the growth, mental and physical aspects of a baby when a mother drinks alcohol while she is pregnant. The use of alcohol during pregnancy can cause the same risks as using alcohol in general. Although, it poses more risks to the fetus. When a woman that is pregnant drinks alcohol, it smoothly passes across the placenta to the fetus. Drinking can harm the baby's development because of this. A pregnant woman who drinks any alcohol is at risk, because there is no "safe" level of alcohol use while pregnant. Larger amounts of alcohol do appear to increase the problems. Binge drinking has more severe effects to the fetus than drinking small amounts of alcohol. The timing of alcohol consumption is also very critical. Drinking any alcoholic substance appears to be the most harmful during the first three months of pregnancy.

A baby that may have fetal alcohol syndrome may have many different symptoms.  Babies could have poor growth while he or she is in the womb and after birth.  The baby could also have decreased muscle tone and poor coordination.  Another symptom would be delayed development and significant functional problems in three or more major areas such as thinking, speech, movement, or social skills for the age of the baby.  Heart defects could also occur such as ventricular septal defect or atrial septal defect.  Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome could have narrow, small eyes with large epicanthal folds, a small head, upper jaw, a smooth groove in upper lip, and a smooth and thin upper lip.

Many tests and exams can be taken to reveal if a newborn has fetal alcohol syndrome.  A physical exam of the baby could possibly show a heart murmur or other problems relating to the heart.  As the baby begins to develop there might be signs of delayed mental development.  There is also the possibility of facial or skeleton damages.  Tests that can be taken are the blood alcohol level in soon to be mothers who show signs of being under the influence.  Brain imaging studies such as a CT or MRI can be taken to show abnormal brain development.  An ultrasound shows slowed growth of the fetus also.  Women who are pregnant or trying to be should avoid drinking any alcoholic substance.  Pregnant women that suffer from alcoholism should join an alcohol abuse rehabilitation group and be monitored closely by a health care provider throughout her pregnancy.

Now back to the question, would you voice your opinion about the pregnant women drinking alcohol at the party and speak up for the little baby inside of her with no chance?  All I can say after reading this is that women who are pregnant please don't drink or do drugs including smoking, your baby doesn't want to have to go through the problems you will press upon them.  Let them have a fair chance at living. 

Here are some photos of fetal alcohol syndrome....

 

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premature baby with FAS



6 month old baby's brain (left)
6 month old baby's brain, suffering from FAS (right)

here is my link to all the info I got! :)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000911.htm

PHENYLKETONURIA

What in the world is phenylketonuria?! First of all, I don't even know how to pronounce that gigantic complicated word and second of all I honestly have no clue what it is, but I was able to find out by doing a little research.  Well, phenylketonuria also known as PKU is a disease that is caused by a inherited disorder in the way our bodies process proteins.  The main villain in this disease is in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase(PAH).  This enzyme is found in the liver and its job is to convert phenylalanine into another amino acid, tyrosine.  The phenylalanine builds up in the body to explicitly high levels.  This causes the body to go into a state called hyperphenylalaninaemia (may i mention that's a HUMONGOUS word!)  Anyways this state can be caused by other diseases besides PKU!  This can cause damage to your brain tissue.
Back in the day, before the smart people figured out what PKU was, children with the disease were generally placed in an institutional care place as a result of their severe mental retardation and many convulsions.  The better news about this is that if they were diagnosed early the effects of PKU can be reduced tremendously by removing phenylalanine from the diet of newborn babies.  This has lead to the bringing about of extensive screening programs in the UK and other countries.  The number of people suffering from the effects of PKU has lowered by a very large amount.  There has also been evidence spotted that hyperphenylalaninaemia in pregnant women with PKU may cause maternal phenylketonuria which results in symptoms in the child alike to those in PKU irrespective of the child's PKU status.

Children that may have PKU can have symptoms such as a smaller sized head, epilepsy, and mental retardation.  The abundant amount of phenylalanine creates a musty odor and the tyrosine deficiency causes lighter hair and skin.

Doctors diagnose patients by carrying out the Guthrie test.  The Guthrie test detects high levels of pheynylpyruvic acid in the blood during the first week of life.  Blood is taken from a small needle prick in the heel and dried on filter paper so that phenylalanine concentration can be measured.  Now pre-natal diagnosis is available and carried out by chorionic villus sampling, although it is not requested often as families tend not to view a positive test as cause for abortion.  PKU must be spotted fast so that treatment can begin within the first 20 days of life.  When carrying out the diagnosis it can also help to calculate the amount of protein ingested and a measure of plasma amino acids.  If there is a defect in biopterin metabolism the treatment will be different as a low phenylalanine diet is not helpful.

Treatments for PKU is usually a diet of low phenylalanine.  Newborns should be started on this diet if their blood phenylalanine levels are greater than 600 micro moles/liter.  They should also begin treatment if concentrations are between 400 and 600 micro moles/liter for their first few days of life.