Lactobacillus Acidophillus

Kelly D.
Nov. 14, 2014
Period 1

Topic: Pick a single cell organism from http://commtechlab.msu.edu/Sites/dlc-me/zoo/i... (The Microbe Zoo) Include where does it live, what does it do , and include a picture. 

 Lactobacillus Acidophillus

            The single cell organism I have chosen to discuss is Lactobacillus acidophillus. Lactobacillus acidophillus is from the kingdom, Eubacteria and it is special in many ways. This bacterium plays a role in the foods we consume. First, it is special because it helps preserve our foods by making our food acidic. Some of the foods this microbe preserves include cabbage forming sauerkraut, milk forming yogurt, and flour dough forming sourdough bread. Lactobacillus acidophillus make acids as a byproduct (waste product) of fermentation. The acid produced makes the environment toxic to most other microbes. This microbe is the most commonly used probiotic which is contained in many yogurts and drinks. Other uses of Lactobacillus acidophillus are helping digestion, treating chronic constipation, improving lactose tolerance, treating high cholesterol, enhancing the immune system, and more. Lactobacillus acidophillus lives in our digestive, urinary, and genital systems without causing disease.

Sources: 

• http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/acidophilus/background/hrb-20058615
• http://dwb.unl.edu/teacher/nsf/c11/c11links/www.bact.wisc.edu/scienceed/lactobacillusacidophilus.html
• http://commtechlab.msu.edu/Sites/dlc-me/zoo/zqq0161.html
• Google Images

A Basic Understanding of Chemistry

Kelly D.
Oct. 31, 2014
Period 1

Topic: Why is a basic understanding of chemistry necessary to understand photosynthesis and cellular respiration (Explain 3 chemistry concepts)?

         A basic understanding of chemistry is necessary to understand photosynthesis and cellular respiration because of the following reasons. First, many chemical reactions, molecules, cells, atoms, and more are involved in photosynthesis and cellular respiration. All these objects and reactions are a part of chemistry. Thus, clearly, it would be  logical to understand chemistry before learning photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In addition, chemistry is the study of change of matters in composition, structure, and properties. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration can only occur if chemistry exists. Without it, there wouldn't be all the processes that occur in our world daily. Thirdly, chemistry studies the transformation of cells and molecules. In photosynthesis and cellular respiration, it is a process where energy is taken from sunlight and transformed into food for plants. To grasp the concept of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, we must understand chemistry first.
An important chemistry concept is the arrangement of atoms. In cellular respiration, each atom is arranged and organized in a specific manner for the process to occur correctly. Another important chemistry concept is oxidation and reduction because the gain and loss of electrons between cells is vital to understanding these two processes. In photosynthesis, an oxidation of food molecules occurs which demonstrates an important concept of chemistry. Therefore, we must have a basic understanding of chemistry to understand photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Sources:

Google Images

globalchange.com

Why Glycolysis is the Most Fundamental Stage of Cellular Respiration?

Kelly D.
Ms.Malonek
Period 1
Oct. 30, 2014

    Glycolysis is the most fundamental stage of cellular respiration because it is the first step in cellular respiration and all cells are able to carry out glycolysis. Glycolysis is important in the cells because glucose is the main source of fuel for tissues in the body. As the song "Glycolysis" by Glenn Wolkenfeld, it notes that glycolysis is an anaerobic pathway where oxygen is not necessary because it is billions of years old. In addition, glycolysis happens in the cytoplasm and doesn't need no organelles. The main point of cellular respiration is to harvest electrons from glucose and use that to make ATP. Glycolysis provides a net of two ATP which is fundamental for the next steps. Glycolysis is the only step in cellular respiration requiring ATP to produce ATP. Investment is the energy activation supply needed in order to start the reaction and cleavage is the six carbon sugar that divides in the reaction.

Source: Glycolysis rap by Glenn Wolkenfeld