PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY | The Kevin-49 Virus is continuing to spread throughout the nation. Please use caution outdoors.
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY | The Kevin-49 Virus is continuing to spread throughout the nation. Please use caution outdoors.
Welcome to the third science unit of the 2022-2023 school year. Time flies by quick, doesn't it?
This course explores the basic building blocks of life and what makes us as human beings, exploring the cells and systems unit. Let's start by looking at cells, which are the building blocks of life. But before we get into the details of cells, let's first answer some basic questions: What defines whether something is alive or not? How do we distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors? These questions are essential to understanding the science of life. , which we will explore in depth throughout this unit. Focusing on the cells and their functions in the bodily systems that make us up helps us better understand the complexity and wonder of life.
In this unit, explore and better understand the foundation that makes up us- a living creature.
37.5
Trillion cells make up the human body! Thats just an estimate.
10-30
Nicrometers is the average size of a human cell. Thats about the width of a human hair!
200+
Different types of cells make up the human body- each with different functions.
What are cells?
All living things are constructed from basic units called cells. Scientists say that cells are the smallest form of life possible.This is one of the biggest properties in determining whether something is alive or not- is it made up of cells? Things like us, other animals, and plants are all composed of cells. There are many trillions of cells in a human body. In addition to absorbing nutrients from food and converting those nutrients into energy, they also give the body structure and perform specific tasks. They make up nearly our entire body- including our tissues. Additionally, cells can replicate themselves and hold the body's genetic material. The various components of cells each serve a unique purpose. Some of these components, known as organelles, are specialized structures that carry out particular functions for the cell. This list lists all of the major responsibilities that cells do in order to keep our bodies running, and alive.
Metabolism. They convert food into energy, and remains cellular homeostasis. This refers to the maintenance of a stable internal environment within cell.
Protein Synthesis : They manufactor the needed proteins for cell function and structure.
Gene Expression : They trasnfer the information embedded in a gene and turn it into a function.
Transport : They regulate the exchange of materials and signal molecules between the cell and its environment.
Reproduction : A cell helps in reproduction by the processes of mitosis (in more evolved organisms) and meiosis.
A cell and its function is very complex. We may not learn much about the functions of cells this year, but, its still important to have a basic understanding revolving cells, and what they do. After all, cells make up us as a human species! (as of march, I take that back because a majority of the unit is based revolving cells. as a matter of fact, cells is the unit name.)
Scientists estimate that we have roughly 2 billion heart muscle cells and 50 billion fat cells. The scientists calculated their totals and came up with an astonishing 36.2 trillion cell units which make up the human body. Your body has roughly 200 different types of cells. These cells help to build your organs and tissues, as well as your immune system, which works to protect your body. When your cells age, new ones are continuously being created.
What makes up a cell?
Cells are composed up of many different material which enables it to fufill its purpose. This demonstrates the most important parts of a cell, and what it is responsible for.
The Cell Membrane
All biotic things are made up of small building blocks called cells, including your grandma, your grandfather, and me. The "cell membrane," a protective layer that separates the interior from the outside of each cell, works like a fence. This membrane is crucial because it keeps the cell's structure in place and regulates what is permitted to enter and exist. For a cell to operate correctly, essential substances must be able to pass through the cell membrane. This is where osmosis and diffusion occurs.Diffusion allows molecules to travel through the cytoplasm of the cell and past the plasma membrane in some cases.
Nucleus and Nueclous
The nucleus is like the brain of a cell. Surrounded and protected by a protective covering, the nuclear membrane acts like a barrier that protects the nucleus. Inside is a gooey substance known as "nucleoplasm". In the nucleus, there are strings called the "chromatin" which hold instructions for how the cell should function and what it should look like, similar to genetic material within a virus. There's a special area known as the "nucleolus" where the cell makes tiny machines called ribosomes. The nucleus is important as it helps the cell know what to do, and how its suppose to function.
Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is like a pool of goo located within the cell. This is where all the important things happen, like chemical reactions, and the replication of new cells. All of the cell's organs, called organelles, float around in the cytoplasm and do what they're supposed to. This helps everything work together so the cell can grow and multiply. Through diffusion, materials within are able to move, but only via short distances. The "little organs" known as cytoplasmic organelles are suspended within the cytoplasm of the cell. Every type of organelle has a distinct structure and performs a particular function in a cell. The mitochondrion, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, and lysosomes are a few examples of cytoplasmic organelles.
The Mitochondrion; the power house of the cell
The Mitochondrion, similar to its memes and what we've been able to see with memes is the "power house of the cell". More than 90% of the energy in your body's cells is produced by mitochondria, which act as batteries in the cells. In high-energy-demanding organs including your heart, liver, muscles, and brain, mitochondria play a critical role. Mitochondria make about 25% of liver cells and 40% of heart muscle cells, respectively. This is where cellular respiration occurs- which is the oxygen and carbohydrates are transformed into energy within a cell. While the majority of anaerobic (without oxygen) and aerobic (with oxygen) respiration respectively occurs in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of the cell.
Stem Cell Research
February 12th, 2023 | Medical Treatment
Stem cells are special cells because they are able to replicate itself through "daughter cells" which enables them to turn into specialized cells and perform specialized functions when placed under the right conditions. Stem cell research gives us hope on treating or even curing life-threatening diseases like Parkinson's, Leukimia, and different types of cancer. By understanding more about stem cell therapies and the different research thats being done revolving it, we can build a brighter and healthier future by better understanding diseases, and exploring regenerative treatments.
Diffusion and Osmosis
February 12th, 2023 | Medical Science
Osmosis and diffusion involve the movement of particles to travel from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. We can see this within the human body where oxygen diffuses into the bloodstream, or where nutrients diffuses into the bloodstream. Join Calvin Industries and the Calvins Health Organization to better understand how diffusion and osmosis works within the human body, and better understand its application in biology, plants, and cells. Today, we will discuss everything about osmosis and diffusion and how it connects to cellular respiration.
What is a plant cell?
Every creatures' basic unit of existence is the cell. Plants are made up of several cells, just like people and other creatures are. The plant cell is enclosed by a cell wall, which is responsible for giving the plant cell shape. Several organelles exist in addition to the cell wall and are connected to various cellular functions
What makes up a plant cell?
What is the difference between an animal and a plant cell? Although they are very similar structures, they do have their fair share of differences. Both animal and plant cells have mitochondria, they both have vacoules, but, plants have certain differences which make them different from animal cells
Plants have Chloroplast, while animal cells don't
Photosynthesis, the process by which light energy is transformed to chemical energy and results in the generation of oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds, takes place in the chloroplast, a structure found inside the cells of plants and green algae. Close cousins of chloroplasts that are free-living are photosynthetic cyanobacteria; according to the endosymbiotic theory, these organisms are the ancestors of both chloroplasts and mitochondria, which are eukaryotic cells' energy-producing organelles.
Animals have cell membranes, and plants have cell walls.
Only bacteria, fungi and plants have cell walls. The outer layer of a plant cell is called the cell wall. Only plants and some types of fungi, bacteria and algae have cell walls. It is located on the outside of the cell membrane and its texture is sometimes hard, sometimes flexible, and always durable. It is mainly composed of cellulose, long carbohydrate fibers including hemicellulose, lignin and pectin. The main functions of the cell wall are to protect cells from physical damage and pathogen invasion, to control and regulate the direction of cell growth, to provide strength, structural support and maintain cell shape, and to serve as storage units for plant growth by storing carbohydrates, especially seeds.
While this is often how cells are depicted within textbooks, its important to remember that not all cells look like this. Different specialized cells- like blood cells, neurons, and etc all have different appearances. While this may be how a gernic cell may look like, its important that different type of cells have different functions, appearances, and therefore, different cells don't all look like a blob or a circle like what we're used to seeing within textbooks.
-Calvins Health Organization
REPRODUCTION
All living organisms need to be able to reproduce. Without the ability to reproduce, future generations wouldn't be possible and organisms wouldn't be able to maintain their species for long-terms. Reproduction can happen in many ways. Reproduction can happen through sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction through seeds, and many others.
METABOLISM
Every single living creature needs some sort of an energy source in able to live. Humans for example need food, and sunlight, and water to survive. These enable us to reproduce, grow and develop, and to maintain our structure. Plants need sunlight, Co2, and water in order to maintain their purpose. This results in a waste product. Our waste product is Co2, while the waste product of a plant is oxygen and glucose.
STRUCTURE
All organisms and living creatures are made up of cells, organs, tissues, and body systems that are organized together to perform important functions. For humans, an example is the digestive, circulation, or urinary system. In plants, that may be the root system, stem system, or leaf system which enables them to engage in photosynthesis.
ADAPT
Living organisms have the ability to adapt both in their structure, and their behavior. We need to adapt to better suit and survive in the surrounding environment around us as the environment is constantly changing. Our ability to adapt enables us to grow and evolve as a species, to better survive in the different conditions which we are placed it.
DEVELOP
All living organisms are able to develop, and grow. For humans, that may be simply through puberty as our bodies develop both mentally and physically as we see the shift of hormones. Living things over time will grow in size, and overall, their behavior. Another example is metamorphosis, where catepillars grow and develop and turn into a butterfly.
HOMEOSTASIS
Your body has systems that function to maintain things inside of you stable, including your temperature, blood sugar levels, and other things. Your body works to keep you cool when it's hot outside and to keep you warm when it's cold. In this way, your body maintains a comfortable temperature even as the outside temperature changes. Homeostasis refers to this.
THE AGING PROCESS
Aging causes alterations in all cells. They enlarge and lose their capacity for division and multiplication. In addition to other modifications, the cell's inside now contains more colours and fatty compounds (lipids). Many cells either stop functioning correctly or start to do so. Our chromosomes' ends have regions of DNA and proteins called telomeres. Naturally, these spans get smaller with each cell division. Once telomere length reaches a particular cut-off point, the cell becomes senescent, meaning that it can no longer divide and will subsequently die. Given what we currently know about human stem cells, delaying ageing and enhancing health and lifespan is possible. Treatments using stem cells have the potential to significantly slow down the ageing process. A stem cell infusion can build a complex barrier that can stop or delay the effects of ageing when combined with anti-aging genes.