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blogging cause i can!!! Tutorial 1

So guys!!!

i went to my 1st tutorial session, and i honestly did not know what to expect…..but definitely not this!!

I left home extremely early did not want to be late for my 8 o’clock tutorial. Got there right on time, and little by little the class began to full. Now we were set up in two groups A and B for what many refer to as a competition.

First thought, well its group work we can do this!! umph hmmmm!

The very first few questions we were not allowed to consult our group members. *gasps* The questions were pretty easy, but i felt more anxious than i would feel in an exam. I thought i was gonna go mad!! I was biting my nails like a little girl!! Can you believe that? i did not know if to sit or stand, talk or shut up!! It was just so nerve wrecking.

Why the panic you might ask? Well i knew i was not done watching the cell video, or writing down my personal notes. The questions asked in the tutorial were easy, it was stuff that i was suppose to know, but because i was not settled into school as yet i did not know it.

Moral of le story: if i had gotten my act together before class, there would be no need for a “freak out moment.” The point is, once we stay on top our work, do as we are instructed and then a lil more, we should be fine!! In fact we should be more than fine.

For that tutorial @ the end, we actually were!! The competition was fun, i learnt a lot and documented which areas i needed to focus on when i am studying. This new approach for tutorial classes, is indeed a good idea!! You learn as well as have lots of fun!! I feel like such a nerd….lol!

Well Good morning!!!!!

Be the change you want to see in the world!

He who changes one person, changes the world entire!

what makes you, you! and me, me!!

Good night guys!!!!!

One would think the eve of carnival i would be at some party jumping up right??!!! ah not till later today!!!

Till then, i have ample time to start blogging about my past two weeks in biochemistry. It was a quite interesting two weeks!!

if you are following my blog you would remember me stating that the very 1st topic we would be covering in biochem is THE CELL!!

                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                    THIS

                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                             NOT THIS

                                                                                                                        

I digress!!.

In this topic we covered the basic and general characteristics of a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; as well as the plant and animal cell. Most of the information i previously studied; however you always learn something new!

(Anything new information i obtained in class would be in a different colour font)

Important information to note:

The cell is defined as the smallest living unit capable of performing life functions such as growth, metabolism, respond to stimuli and replication. This definition encompasses the cell unit and each word in the sentence is  VERY important.

ALL cells, as in ALL cells contain the following structures:

• Cytoplasm
• Nucleus or Nucleiod
• Plasma membrane                   

The absence or presence of certain structures classifies whether the cell is a PROKARYOTE OR EUKARYOTE.

Now i have been going on and on about prokaryotic and euakryotic cells, and i have not even given a proper definition to distinguish the two.

PROKARYOTES:

You guys know how BC means before Christ, well this is BN- before nucleus. As you can see clearly from the picture above there isn’t much going on with a prokaryotic cell. They are single celled organisms that lack a nucleus, nuclear envelope and membrane bound organelles. However they do have all 3 features i said all cells should have. 

NB:  pro means prior to, and karyon means nucleus…..Thats why i said its BN!!

Features:

• Capsule: The thick polysaccharide layer outside the cell wall; which is used for sticking cells together, food reserves, and as protection against chemicals and phagocytosis.
• Flagella: Used for mobility
• Ribosomes (70s): sites for protein synthesis.
• Cell Wall: made of peptidoglycan-murein. Used as a pressure vessel to prevent over expansion of the cell.
• Pili: involved in conjugation between cells: serving to connect two cells and then retracting to pull them together.

Bacteria and Archea are both Prokaryotic cells, which belong to the Kingdom Monera.

This link takes you to a video where you can see how cells move by their flagella:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGAm6hMysTA

Eukaryotes:

Okay! these cells are what i call AN-after nucleus or TN; this is because eukaryotic cells contain a true nucleus, as well as membrane bound organelles.

The diagram above gives a clear differentiation between an animal cell and a plant cell.

Animals and Plants cells have the following membrane bound organelles in common:

• Mitochondria
• Nucleus and nuclear envelope
• Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER and SER)
• Golgi Apparatus 

ONLY plant cells contain the following: 

• Chloroplasts
• cell wall
• Large permanent vacuoles

ONLY animal cells contain the following: 

• lysosomes

NB: Ribosomes are not membrane bound organelles, however both plants and animals possess these but a bigger size- 80s, as well as cytoskeletons.

Features:

• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: they are responsible for Post Translation Modification. What this means is that after the proteins are synthesized by the ribosomes found on the RER, the re are modifications done to the protein. Example: an addition of a Carbohydrate group.
• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum: its is a smooth ER cause there are no ribosomes found on it, therefore they do not take but in post modification translation. However their key roles are for lipid synthesis and drugs metabolism.
• Peroxisome: oxidizes fatty acids and amino acids.
• Proteasome: protein degradation ONLY.
• Lysosomes: they degrade intracellular debris which includes proteins, nucleic acids and lipids.
• Golgi Apparatus: processes, packages and targets proteins to other organelles or for export.

NB:  the loose ribosomes in the cytoplasm synthesizes proteins for export, whereas those found on the RER synthesizes proteins for inter-cellular purposes.

Summary:

Everything previously mentioned are what i consider to be the most relevant. (once you have understanding of everything else.)

There are 5 MAJOR differences between a Eukaryotic cell and a Prokaryotic cell which should also be stated:

• Nucleus: Prokaryotes do not possess a true nucleus, whereas eukaryotes do.
• DNA: Prokaryotic DNA are circular, not associated with any histone proteins and are found in the cytoplasm; whereas Eukaryotic DNA are linear, associated with histone proteins and are found on the chromosomes in the nucleus.
• Ribosomes: Prokaryotes-70s; Eukaryotes-80s
• Organelles: Prokaryotes have no membrane bound organelles, whereas Eukaryotes do. (posted above.)
• Cell Wall: ALL Prokaryotes have a cell wall murein; not all Eukaryotes have a cell wall. Example: animals cells do not have a cell wall, whereas plant cells have a cellulose cell wall, and fungi have a chitinous cell wall.

References: 

-Biology of Plants, 7th Edition; Peter H Raven, Ray J Evert, Susan E Eichhorn.

-Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 5th Edition; David L. Nelson, Michael M Cox

-The Cell Biochem JM; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9c0VvUbmVQ

Well that is quite a bit of cell information for one night, but this does not explain why the past two weeks were interesting.

Stay tune……and you will find out                           . 

Monday mash up D PLACE!! ENJOY carnival guys!! stay safe.

 

Be the change you want to see in the world!

He who changes one person, changes the world entire!