Plant Cells and Animal Cells

Plant and animal cells are alike in a lot of ways, but they also have several differences. Both are eukaryotic cells, meaning they have a membrane enclosed nucleus that houses the DNA, as well as membrane enclosed organelles. Plant cells have chloroplasts, central vacuoles, a cell wall, and plasmodesmata none of which are present in animal cells. Both plant and animal cells have nuclei that contain the cells genetic structure, along with RES and SES, a Golgi Apparatus, Mitochondria among other things. Plant cells contain Chloroplasts convert sunlight into energy so that the plant can later release fuel to preform certain activities, this is called photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are in packs that hold green chlorophyll molecules, this is what gives the plant its color. 

Source - Chapter 4 - A Tour of the Cell. Biology: Concepts and Connections. Neil A. Campbell, Eric J. Simon, Kelly Hogan, Martha R. Taylor, Jane B. Reece, Jean L. Dickey.

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Chemical Basis

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Even the coral itself is made of calcium carbonate skeletons from small coral animals. Yet the coral reefs are in danger of being destroyed by atmospheric CO2. When the carbon dioxide dissolves in water it causes a reaction which forms an acid, this makes the water more acidic and causes damage to these beautiful coral reefs and all life that lives there. 10% of the worlds coral reefs have already been destroyed. In the Philippines the destruction of coral reefs is the worst. 70% has already been destroyed and only 5% is said to be in "good" condition. Humans contribute to the desecration of coral reefs, directly and indirectly. Indirectly through the pollution of the earth and water around coral reefs. Directly through global warming and carbon dioxide. We destroyed the environment. Coral reefs must have clean, clear water. Without this they cannot survive.

Sources - Chapter 2 - The Chemical Basis of Life. Biology: Concepts and Connections. Neil A. Campbell. Eric J. Simon. Kelly Hogan. Martha R. Taylor. Jane B. Reece. Jean L. Dickey.

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/coral5.htm - Coral Reef Destruction and Conservation. Author Unavailable. Date Unavailable.

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Hearing Aids

Bats are very intelligent creatures, there's no denying it, but the Spix's disc-winged bat (which has suction cuplike discs on it's wings and feet)  has figured out a way to use a leaf as a hearing aid. Disc-winged bats don't roost in a cave like most bats do, they prefer the unfurling leaves of plants which form tubelike shapes. It's a pretty hectic lifestyle due to the fact that the leaves only stay in a tube shape for a day. The bat has to find a new place to sleep every morning. These bats also tend to stay in a group of about 5 or 6, and they may stay together like this for years, which is rare in bats. Although they live together and should recognize each others sound they can't seem to tell if they're talking to a friends or a stranger. After recording different types of communication calls from bats they played them through a leaf to see if it worked like a megaphone of sorts. They found that it only amplified the sounds by a decibel or two. The cries were distorted however, due to the fact that not all frequencies of sound are amplified equally. This explains why the roosting bat can hear it's friend but not recognize them.

Source - Speak Up! Costa Rican Bats Use Leaves as Hearing Aids by Stephanie Pappas.
Published - October 15th 2013.

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A Love That Never Dies

700 years have passed, and these skeletal lovers are still locked in an eternal embrace. The couple was found during an excavation of  a "lost" chapel in Leicestershire, England. Not the first, probably not the last, it's definitely not uncommon to find the skeletons here in a lover's embrace. Archaeologists and volunteers have spent four years uncovering the "lost" chapel of St Morrell. They've found evidence that this hillside was use more than 2,000 years ago, in the Roman times. There are indications that there may have been a Roman temple on the hillside once. Through radiocarbon dating, archaeologists have discovered that 11 skeletons excavated so far date back to the 14th century. All of the skeletons uncovered were laid in an east-west orientation, which was the Christian tradition at this particular time in history. Not only have the skeletons been found at the excavation but Roman cavalry  helmets, and several silver pennies have been found, which can tell when this chapel was used the most.

Source - 700-Year Embrace: Skeleton Couple Still Holding Hands. by Laura Geggel. 

Published - September 19th 2014. 

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Lonesome George

Lonesome George, the last known giant turtle from the island of Pinta in the Galapagos Islands, died of old age in June of 2012. After two years of working tirelessly taxidermy experts have managed to preserve George's body for years to come. As of September 19th 2014 his body will be on display for a limited amount of time at the American Museum of Natural History, after which he will be transported back to the Galapagos Islands where he lived for 40 years. Scientists estimate that his lifespan was around 100 years or more, he was 5 feet long and weighed 165 pounds. During his life George served as a sort of poster child for conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. His life and death serves to make a worldwide discussion and help gather support for conservation efforts not only in the Galapagos but all across the world. He will be on display in New York City until January 4th 2015.

Source - Lonesome No More: George the Giant Tortoise on Public Display in NYC - by Elizabeth Palermo. Published - September 19th 2014.

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The Cell Cycle

The cell cycle consists of seven different processes in which a cell divides to create a new, exact copy of the original cell. Interphase is the first process. During interphase the cell grows to synthesize new molecules and organelles. It doubles the original content and contains two centrosomes. The chromosomes in the nucleus are duplicated. Next is prophase. Changes occur in the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The chromatin fibers are more tightly coiled, which forms discrete chromosomes. Each chromosome appears as two identical sister chromatids. In the cytoplasm, a mitotic spindle forms as microtubules grow rapidly from the cenrtosomes. They begin to slowly move away from each other pulling the chromosomes in half. During prometaphase the nuclear envelope breaks in into fragments. At metaphase the mitotic spindle is completely formed. Anaphase starts as the centromeres of each chromosome pull apart. They then move towards opposite poles of the cell. The poles then move further and further apart causing the cell to elongate. At the end of anaphase, both sides of the cell have an equal number of chromosomes. In telophase the elongation that started in anaphase continues, daughter nuclei appear at the poles and envelope the chromosomes. Telophase is the reverse of prophase. The final stage, cytokinesis, usually occurs at the same time as telophase. This is when the division of the cytoplasm happens. In animals a cleavage furrow forms and the cell splits into two new cells.

Source - Biology: Concepts and Connections by Neil A. Campbell - pages 130 - 131.

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