Evidence of Work:
For our final project of my sophomore year, we created a solution to a world problem. The driving question was: how can we use biotechnology to solve a current issue in the world? We were given three weeks to go through all the steps and get ready for the final presentation day. As a class we went through six steps to help brainstorm and research our topic. Step one was to go through and come up with six different categories that we were interested in. Then, we narrowed it down in step two when we chose three problems and did some research on them. Step three was us choosing our desired problem and doing more specific research on it. In step four we came up with three different solutions to our issue. Step five was choosing the solution and going more in depth on how we would do everything. Step six is just creating a presentation and practicing it for the final presentation day. After going through all the steps we decided to create a slide show to present to a few professionals in the biotechnology field.
For our final project of my sophomore year, we created a solution to a world problem. The driving question was: how can we use biotechnology to solve a current issue in the world? We were given three weeks to go through all the steps and get ready for the final presentation day. As a class we went through six steps to help brainstorm and research our topic. Step one was to go through and come up with six different categories that we were interested in. Then, we narrowed it down in step two when we chose three problems and did some research on them. Step three was us choosing our desired problem and doing more specific research on it. In step four we came up with three different solutions to our issue. Step five was choosing the solution and going more in depth on how we would do everything. Step six is just creating a presentation and practicing it for the final presentation day. After going through all the steps we decided to create a slide show to present to a few professionals in the biotechnology field.
Problem:
For our world wide issue, we chose ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is the lowering pH levels due to the amount of carbon dioxide in the water. This makes the water very acidic and hostile for marine life to live in. It also creates carbonic acid which leads to problems with calcium carbonate producing organisms. It also effects the growth of coral reefs by making them brittle and easily broken. The decreasing amount of organisms in the oceans will effect our food supply negatively.
Our Solution:
Our plan is to genetically modify coralline algae to have more chloroplasts in each cell by using epigenetics. This will increase the amount of light that can be absorbed leading to more photosynthesis. When more photosynthesis occurs, more carbon dioxide is used by the algae. When we genetically modify the plant, it will reproduce and keep that same mutation so overtime it will really make a difference.
For our world wide issue, we chose ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is the lowering pH levels due to the amount of carbon dioxide in the water. This makes the water very acidic and hostile for marine life to live in. It also creates carbonic acid which leads to problems with calcium carbonate producing organisms. It also effects the growth of coral reefs by making them brittle and easily broken. The decreasing amount of organisms in the oceans will effect our food supply negatively.
Our Solution:
Our plan is to genetically modify coralline algae to have more chloroplasts in each cell by using epigenetics. This will increase the amount of light that can be absorbed leading to more photosynthesis. When more photosynthesis occurs, more carbon dioxide is used by the algae. When we genetically modify the plant, it will reproduce and keep that same mutation so overtime it will really make a difference.
Procedure:
Content:
Ocean Acidification- carbon dioxide is absorbed into the ocean and reacting with the water. This causes the pH levels of the water to go down or become more acidic. Aquatic life is dying do to the hostile conditions that are only getting worse.
Epigenetics- a way to genetically modify DNA in an organism. It changes the phenotype without actually modifying the genotype.
Coralline Algae- red algae that covers the top of coral reefs and rocks. This cements the corals and rocks together by growing a crust over everything on the ocean floor. It is also food for some fish and aquatic animals.
Overexpressed Gene- part of the DNA sequence is repeated or appears more then normal. This results in more of that protein being made. Sometimes diseases can be a result of overexpressed genes.
Chromosome- a way to neatly store DNA. It is raveled up into an x shape to be protected and safe. A chromosome holds all the the DNA so it is very important.
Phenotype- the traits that are expressed or seen. An example of this would be eye or hair color.
Genotype- the genetic makeup of an organism. The genotype codes for the phenotype.
Photosynthesis- a process in which plants go through to make their own food (glucose). This happens in the chloroplast of the cell and it uses light, water, and carbon dioxide to create glucose. The two steps of photosynthesis are the light reaction and the Calvin cycle. Light reaction happens in the thylakoids. Thylakoids are membrane bound parts of the chloroplast. As a result of photosynthesis, oxygen is released and carbon dioxide is taken in.
Chloroplast- an organelle where photosynthesis happens. It is in all plant cells but not in animal cells because it helps the organism produce their own food (autotroph).
Restrictive Enzymes- enzymes that read the DNA and cut it into fragments. They uses restriction spots to know where to cut and what bases to cut between. Different enzymes cut at different sequences. Four our project we would find the enzyme that cuts at the chloroplast gene.
Carbonic Acid- the result of the chemical reaction between water and carbon dioxide. This chemical reaction effects calcium carbonate producing organisms. Coral or animals with shells have a harder time building up a strong backbone. The shells become deformed and the coral is brittle and not as protected.
Feedback Loop- a system when something causes a cycle to change to maintain homeostasis. The two different types of feedback loops are negative and positive. Negative feedback loop is when the output of the cycle causes it to slow down or stop. Positive feedback loop is when the output of the system causes the cycle to increase or speed up.
Reflection:
I really liked this project because we had a lot more freedom to do whatever we wanted to do. As a group I think we did really well on this project. Time management was something we were really good at. We has certain goals to finish steps and we met all of them. Another thing that went well was sharing the work. Lucy and I would research different things at the same time to make it more efficient. Some things we might have to work on for next time is going back and checking our work. For most of the steps we would finish a day earlier then it was due so we would start to work on other things instead of gong back over and tying to make it better. Our next problem was staying on task. When we would finish early, I would go on to other things that wasn't related to the project. This project went really well but I think we can do even better next time.
Ocean Acidification- carbon dioxide is absorbed into the ocean and reacting with the water. This causes the pH levels of the water to go down or become more acidic. Aquatic life is dying do to the hostile conditions that are only getting worse.
Epigenetics- a way to genetically modify DNA in an organism. It changes the phenotype without actually modifying the genotype.
Coralline Algae- red algae that covers the top of coral reefs and rocks. This cements the corals and rocks together by growing a crust over everything on the ocean floor. It is also food for some fish and aquatic animals.
Overexpressed Gene- part of the DNA sequence is repeated or appears more then normal. This results in more of that protein being made. Sometimes diseases can be a result of overexpressed genes.
Chromosome- a way to neatly store DNA. It is raveled up into an x shape to be protected and safe. A chromosome holds all the the DNA so it is very important.
Phenotype- the traits that are expressed or seen. An example of this would be eye or hair color.
Genotype- the genetic makeup of an organism. The genotype codes for the phenotype.
Photosynthesis- a process in which plants go through to make their own food (glucose). This happens in the chloroplast of the cell and it uses light, water, and carbon dioxide to create glucose. The two steps of photosynthesis are the light reaction and the Calvin cycle. Light reaction happens in the thylakoids. Thylakoids are membrane bound parts of the chloroplast. As a result of photosynthesis, oxygen is released and carbon dioxide is taken in.
Chloroplast- an organelle where photosynthesis happens. It is in all plant cells but not in animal cells because it helps the organism produce their own food (autotroph).
Restrictive Enzymes- enzymes that read the DNA and cut it into fragments. They uses restriction spots to know where to cut and what bases to cut between. Different enzymes cut at different sequences. Four our project we would find the enzyme that cuts at the chloroplast gene.
Carbonic Acid- the result of the chemical reaction between water and carbon dioxide. This chemical reaction effects calcium carbonate producing organisms. Coral or animals with shells have a harder time building up a strong backbone. The shells become deformed and the coral is brittle and not as protected.
Feedback Loop- a system when something causes a cycle to change to maintain homeostasis. The two different types of feedback loops are negative and positive. Negative feedback loop is when the output of the cycle causes it to slow down or stop. Positive feedback loop is when the output of the system causes the cycle to increase or speed up.
Reflection:
I really liked this project because we had a lot more freedom to do whatever we wanted to do. As a group I think we did really well on this project. Time management was something we were really good at. We has certain goals to finish steps and we met all of them. Another thing that went well was sharing the work. Lucy and I would research different things at the same time to make it more efficient. Some things we might have to work on for next time is going back and checking our work. For most of the steps we would finish a day earlier then it was due so we would start to work on other things instead of gong back over and tying to make it better. Our next problem was staying on task. When we would finish early, I would go on to other things that wasn't related to the project. This project went really well but I think we can do even better next time.