Biology as Art

The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition is one of the world's leading forums for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope. If you have a moment, check out the images on this link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39608968/from/ET/?beginSlide=1

They are truly AMAZING!!!

Bacteria

This weeks blogging assignment: check out some examples of both "good" and "bad" bacteria listed below. Pick a bacteria from the list below or another that you know of and interests you and write about it. Things to include in your post: what does it look like? Where is it found? What function does it serve? What organelles does it posses that assist in structure and function? Is it a "good" bacteria or a "bad bacteria"?

Bacteria are an important group of living organisms. Most of them are microscopic and unicellular, with a relatively simple cell structure, lacking a cell nucleus, and organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Almost 99% bacteria are helpful. Disease is caused by only a few of them. Water, food, and air carry bacteria from one person to another. Bacteria can be classified into three types on the basis of shape. The sphere shaped bacteria, rod shaped bacteria and spiral bacteria are the three types.


Helpful Bacteria

• Certain types of bacteria live in the intestines of human beings. They help in digestion and in destroying the harmful organisms. Intestinal bacteria also produce some vitamins required by the human body.
• Certain bacteria help break down lactose in the digestive tract.
• It is observed that Infants who were administered the bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri or Bifidobacterium had fewer and shorter episodes of diarrhea.
• Fermented milk containing the live bacteria Lactobacillus casei helps in eradicating harmful bacteria Helicobacter pylori in children.
• Saccharomyces boulardii is found to reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children.
• Some bacteria present on the skin protect us from the spread of certain fungus.
• It was found that DNA damage was significantly reduced by all six strains of lactic acid producing helpful bacteria tested with the exception of Streptococcus thermophilus.
• There are many types of bacteria that live inside the mouth, nose, throat, and intestines of humans and animals. These bacteria get a place to live and feed while keeping other harmful microbes from taking up residence.
• Certain stomach bacteria may work harmoniously with our immune system. There are billions of stomach bacteria, which are friendly or beneficial bacteria.
• There are some friendly bacteria such as intestinal flora or micro flora which are good for human health. These healthy stomach bacteria are helpful to release many useful vitamins such as vitamin B and vitamin K, etc. The most important task that stomach bacteria do is to maintain normal pH level or acid level of human stomach.

Harmful Bacteria

• Certain bacteria act as pathogens and cause tetanus, typhoid fever, pneumonia, syphilis, cholera, food-borne illness and tuberculosis.
• Streptococcus bacteria may cause small infections like strep throat and some serious diseases like pneumonia. Certain streptococci may be fatal.
• Bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the body may cause infections when a person's resistance to disease is reduced in conditions such as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
• Not all stomach bacteria are beneficial, some of the stomach bacteria enter the body through the mouth, and they can survive in the acidic conditions in the stomach and can cause serious diseases and can be fatal.
• Campylobacter is a group of bacteria that can create illnesses in humans and is a common cause of food poisoning.
• Harmful bacteria in food cause botulism, which can cause paralysis or even death if even one millionth of the bacterium is ingested.
• Yersinia pestis or bubonic plague, is a rod-shaped type of bacterium which is well known for its harmful nature. Bacteria-carrying fleas found on animals such as rats and mice transmit the bacteria that are believed to have caused the deaths of millions of people in human history.

(http://www.buzzle.com/articles/helpful-and-harmful-types-of-bacteria.html)

Compounds of Living Things

Do you know what macromolecules are in the food you eat???

Tomorrow in the lab we will complete a variation of the lab found on pg. 698 of your textbook to investigate this. We will be using indicators to identify what macromolecules are present in different types of food. A lab prep is available on the class website. Please make sure you read through it tonight and completely understand the procedure before you get to lab tomorrow. A blog reflection on this lab is due by the end of the week.

Partners and food assignments for this activity are as follows:

Lucy and Sara: apple
Cuyler and Nick: egg white
Peter and Megan: onion
Austin and Mayze: potato
Dawson and Annie: egg yolk
Shelby and Ava: strawberry
Matt: cracker