Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednes-Day 2
Bio 3/6- we began our unit review with fill-in and illustration quiz regarding the process of protein synthesis via transcription of DNA to mRNA and translation of the coded information in mRNA to a protein. We saw that a single gene/allele codes for the synthesis of a single specific (unique shape and function) protein/polypeptide.
We then discussed gene regulation/control by the environment: many physical and chemical factors determine whether a gene is turned "on" or "off". When a gene is turned "off" in a cell, the protein that is coded for does NOT get synthesized and so the trait caused by that protein is not seen/expressed.
Different cells in a multi-cellular organism have different genes turned on or off even though these different cells have identical DNA/pairs of chromosomes.
AP Chem- we discussed the most unintuitive and radical "outside the box" thinking (AFTER DeBroglie had mastered EVERYTHING that was "inside the box"!!!) by Louis DeBroglie, who calculated the theoretical wavelength of a moving object/piece of matter. His conjecture was later supported by the most astonishing thing ever seen in the history of "particle" physics- an interference pattern caused by ELECTRONS! For the first time, the wave nature of matter (electrons) was observed as they exhibited a wave interference pattern. GN Thomson, the son of the original discoverer of the electron, JJ Thomson, discovered the electron as a wave!
We calculated the wavelength of a moving baseball and of a faster moving electron. Only objects that have ultra-light masses have wavelengths that are practically measurable by any instrument.
We then introduced the quantum atomic model that takes into account the wave nature of the electron.
We then discussed gene regulation/control by the environment: many physical and chemical factors determine whether a gene is turned "on" or "off". When a gene is turned "off" in a cell, the protein that is coded for does NOT get synthesized and so the trait caused by that protein is not seen/expressed.
Different cells in a multi-cellular organism have different genes turned on or off even though these different cells have identical DNA/pairs of chromosomes.
AP Chem- we discussed the most unintuitive and radical "outside the box" thinking (AFTER DeBroglie had mastered EVERYTHING that was "inside the box"!!!) by Louis DeBroglie, who calculated the theoretical wavelength of a moving object/piece of matter. His conjecture was later supported by the most astonishing thing ever seen in the history of "particle" physics- an interference pattern caused by ELECTRONS! For the first time, the wave nature of matter (electrons) was observed as they exhibited a wave interference pattern. GN Thomson, the son of the original discoverer of the electron, JJ Thomson, discovered the electron as a wave!
We calculated the wavelength of a moving baseball and of a faster moving electron. Only objects that have ultra-light masses have wavelengths that are practically measurable by any instrument.
We then introduced the quantum atomic model that takes into account the wave nature of the electron.
# posted by C @ 11:17 AM 
