There are many parts of a cell, most of them are organelles, but three of them are mitochondria, lysosomes, and ribosomes. Mitochondria are covered in two membranes and break down nutrients to produce energy. Without energy, the cell wouldn't be able to perform its activities and would starve to death. Lysosomes act as the garbage-disposal of the cell and recycle waste, broken or injured cell parts, and other useless material. Lysosomes clear the space in a cell, without them, the cell would explode from a buildup of waste. Ribosomes are scattered throughout the cell, found in cytoplasm and on the rough ER. Ribosomes are not covered in a membrane, but create proteins that are necessary for almost every cell activity. The nucleolus makes ribosomes.

Those were some organelles, but there are other parts of the cell, too. For example, the cell membrane is found in all cells, and controls what comes in or goes out of the cell. Without the cell membrane, the cell would have no protection or separation from its outside environment, and would not be able to ho
 
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While I myself did not take measurements of rats, the first four colums are data I have received from a student in Mr. Kirste's science class. The other three columns are ratios of the measurements that I was given, and I have found some interesting patterns. In the mass/tail ratio, not counting the fluctuation between days 9 and 13, the ratio increased according to a semi-complex pattern: The pattern started at 14, and then the number of increase went down two in the ones, and up one in the tens. Because of that, 14 was added, then 22, then the fluctation, then 30. Another way of saying this is that, besides from Day 9-13, the increase amout went up by eight. On the tai/head ratio, again not counting 9-13, the numbers stayed centered around one half. On the mass/head ratio, 6 and 13 round to about the same, and the ratio of the difference between them is equal to them. Also on the mass/head ratio, after a longer period of time, the head almost surpasses the mass, and probably will in the future. As for averages, the tail average increase was 3.11 mm, the mass average increase was 1.41 grams, and the head circumference average increase was 2.18.

 
Out of all of the experiments we have done in Science so far, my favorite, with absolutely no contest, is using microscopes. In this experiment, my science class got to look at slices of a human body, one was unlabeled  the other was from an aorta. During this experiment, we learned safety rules that have to do with microscopes, such as never use the coarse adjustment knob when using the highest powered lens. We also learnt how to properly operate the stage clips, along with the lamp, nosepiece, and diaphragm. This lab also taught the class how things look up close, for example, when the aorta slide was first put in, my partner and I could barely see anything, but a few specks of dust, which we thought was part of the aorta. While the dust was extremely boring on the low and medium lenses, the high powered lens showed much detail, and was neat to look at before we found the aorta.

Cells

10/17/2012

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The reason that I am able to know that my cell are still performing their daily activities and processes is that I would be dead if they weren't. For example, cells perform the process of breaking down food into energy and using the energy to keep the heart beating, which keeps blood flowing, and so on. Cells also use that energy to extract oxygen from the air in the lungs which is used, along with water, in most cell processes that maintain homeostasis. Without homeostasis, any organisms becomes dangerously sick, and dies if homeostasis is not regained quickly enough. For example, part of homeostasis is a body temperature of 98.6 degrees Farenheight. Cells perform activities such as shivering and sweating to keep the body at that temperature. If cells were not carrying out their body heat regulation activities, the temperature would ethier rise or plummet, an act devastating to the organism. Cells also remove waste from themselves and the rest of the body. If waste was not removed, the inner workings of the human body would be stretched, possibly to the point of tearing from a buildup of dead cells and other matter. Cells also tell the body if they need more water, oxygen, food, etc. This is responsible for the reflex to breathe, and the urge to eat and drink, or thirst and hunger. Cells are also responsible for growth and change in the body, as they multiply themselves, and without cells growing in number and developing according to DNA, humans would stay babies forever. Those are only some of the activities cells carry out, there are many more that happen every day.
 
One trait I inherited from both my parents is my eyes. Many people comment on them, since they are now a blue-green, but mostly blue like they were when I was younger. I have two sisters, and both of them also have blue eyes. Also, both my parents are relatively tall, my dad being 6 ft 2 in, and my mom 5 ft 7 in. My pediatrician says that I should top out at a height of 6 ft 4 in, and I am growing according to his predictions. One trait that skipped my dad's generation, is that my grandparents on his side have lighter hair. While my dad and I have hair more on the darker side, my sisters have both blond and light brown hair. Also, one of my sister's face is shaped a lot like my grandfather's on my father's side.

I think that it is very interesting that some traits are carried down through DNA, while others are not; and that children are similar to their parents in a mental way, because parents are the prominent role model in a child's life, so when developing, the child would model it's way of speaking and occasionally, acting after his or her parents.
 
To find the volume of a box shaped object or an other object with all flat sides is easy, there's a formula to follow. But there's no formula for irregular shaped object, like pebbles or erasers, so scientists use the displacement method. How the displacement method works is that, first, the scientist fills up a beaker, flask, or graduated cylinder big enough to hold the object, with enough water to cover the object. Then, the scientist measures the meniscus, or lowest point, of the water, and records it. Then the object is dropped in, and the new meniscus is recorded. The scientist then finds the difference between the two meniscuses  in millliliters and converts it to cubic centimeters.

When measuring the meniscus during the displacement method, or any time when measuring liquid volume, it is important to note the increments of measurement on the container. For example, if you think that each line is 25 mL, and it is really 50mL than everything will be off.
 
In the online simulation, My Digital Life, I have learned many things. One thing I learned is what to look for in a computer, and what type of software to choose. Another thing I learned was how to stop a cyberbully, react to being cyberbullied, and help someone who is being cyberbullied. My Digital Life also taught about plagarism; what it is, how to spot it, and how to avoid it. Another subject covered by this simulation is about the future of technology and how it affects people. My Digital Life even covers how to avoid malware, spyware, and other viruses. The program also covers technology limitation and addiction. My Digital Life is very helpful to young people in this electronic age, and is a great help for many people.
 
This year, to start of the Computech Grade 7 Science Lab experiments, we are learning about the metric system. Something we are learning is how to use metric units to measure length, and we recently started measuring volume. To learn about length, we measured ten different items, and wrote their lengths in different metric terms. To learn about volume, we measured different rectangular prisms, figured their volume, and wrote the volume in cubic centimeters. We also used graduated cylinders, flasks, and beakers to measure the volume of a liquid. Something we have not done yet, is measuring weight, which is done in milligrams, centigrams, decigrams, grams, decagrams, hectograms, and kilograms. Likewise, legth is measured in millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, meters, decameters, hectometers, and kilometers. Also,  liquid volume is measured in milliliters, centiliters, deciliters, liters, decaliters, hectoliters, and kiloliters. The metric system is used around the world, in everywhere but the U.S.A.
    
    One experiment we have already completed is to see which jumps further: A frog folded out of paper, or a frog folded out of cardstock. We jumped each frog ten times, and then averaged the results. Our unanimous conclusion was that the cardstock frog jumped the furthest. My personal hypothesis was that the cardstock frog was stiffer and springier, so it jumped better. The paper type was the only variable, but there were many constants, such of the folding pattern, measurment unit, and even the paper color. The experiment got me wondering how bandly a tissue paper frog would perform, and if there would be any paper better than cardstock. I  enjoyed all of these experiments, and am looking forward to many more!
 
In the new and modern "Information Age" computers play a large role in the lives of many people, and will continue to do so in the future. For example, many assembly jobs have become automated, and many more will, too. Voice recognition/ voice command software will become common, as will nanotechnology. On the Internet, there will probably be one main database in addition too, or instead of, all other results. Jobs will continue to become automated, until there are taxi software programs, and mechanical surgeons, and then the only jobs available will be creative ones, such as invention, art, and music. From there, two possible paths are possible. First of all, people could devote all their time to the creative jobs, and soon all of Earth's problems, especially with the environment, will be solved. On the other hand, people could become lazy, the obesity rate would go from 33 percent to 100 percent, creativity will not exist, and the race of humans will die out. Hopefully, humans will do their best to save this world and not let the second scenario come about; but nothing is certain in this age of computers.