How does a Nephron work? & FREEMIND map of Kidney Function

A nephron works by filtering things out of the blood and then bringing it all back.
The nephron is the basic unit of the kidney. It is a long, narrow tube that is closed off on one end. Its ending is a long straight portion and is surrounded by capillaries. There are many parts of a nephron. There is the Bowman's capsule which is the closed end at the top of the nephron that is near the cortex. Then there is Proximal convoluted tuble which is the first spiral region that comes after the
the capsule (in the cortex). Then there is a long, thin loop after the tubule that is from the cortex all the way down into the medulla and then to the back, which is the Loop of Henle. Next is the distal tuble which is the second spiral portion of the nephron after the henle, the distal tubule is also located in the cortex.
The last is the collecting duct, which is a long straight portion after the distal tubule and is the end that is not closed of the nephron. The collecting duct extends from the cortex through the medulla. The nephron regulates water and soluble substances like sodium salts by filtering the blood and then reabsorbing what is needed.
In addition, the nephron has different types of cells with varying properties. This contributes to the significant comprehending of how a kidney works and regulates.
The nephron has a unique blood supply. There is the:
Afferent arteriole which connects the renal artery with the glomerular capillaries. The glomerular capillaries which are capillaries inside of the Bowman's capsule. There is also the efferent arteriole which functions to connect the glomerular capillaries with the peritubular capillaries.the peritubular capillaries are located after the glomerular capillaries and surround not only the proximal tubule,the loop of Henle,but also the distal tubule. Lastly there is the interlobular veins which function to drain the peritubular capillaries into the renal vein.

The Counter current System permits forming a concentrated urine, dilute urine and is an exchange of solutes between ascending and descending renal medullary capillaries which minimizes the solute washout from the interstitium.

Hydrostatic skeletons are structures found in cold-blooded organisms and soft-bodied animals that have a fluid-field cavity, the coelom, which are surrounded by muscles.

FREEMIND OF KIDNEY FUNCTION

SOURCES: http://www.acbrown.com/renal/OutLoop.htm
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-a&hs=Aq1&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=nephron&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1441&bih=839&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=Pq1GT47vI4SsiQLU3OzaDQ
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/kidney2.htm

GENOME: Chromosome: Life

In the first chapter of the book Genome, the author, Ridley, begins speaking about RNA and its history and how it is more "important" and "valuable" than DNA. RNA, Ridley states, came before DNA. DNA is basically information, like a "message written in a code of chemicals", one chemical for each letter to be exact. DNA is much more simpler than English since it only consists of letters like A,C,G, and T. Chromosomes contain the secret to life, Ridley states, but the question is HOW. RNA is a chemical substance that links DNA and proteins together. DNA is made from ingredients of RNA, indirectly. DNA's T's are made form RNA's Us. Enzymes rely on RNA to work. RNA can copy itself without the aid of anything else because it is dependent. LUCA, the Last Universal Common Ancestor, was believed to be a bacterium that lived in a warm pond. Now Luca is placed deep underground. Bacteria can acquire genes from other bacteria by consuming it. Life's history is written in the genome.

Starfish Blog

Describe a starfish in terms of symmetry, germ cell layers, coelem, Circulatory system, reproduction, feeding, excretion and nervous system. Find picture examples of each living class Crinoidea, Ophiocistioidea, Astroidea,Echinoiudea,and Holothuoidea.

The Echinodermata, commonly known as the starfish, are an ancient and successful phylum of invertebrates. the starfish contain unique shapes and beautiful colors and are very unique.The starfish has a 5-rayed symmetry that is mostly radial. The body of a starfish contains approximately more than two cell layers, including tissues and organs. The body cavity itself is the coelem, has a poor circulatory system that is open, possesses a water vascular system so it operates through its tube feet, and reproduces sexually, it feeds off of fine particles in the water, contains no excretory organs, and has a a nervous system that includes a circum-oesophageal ring.

CRINOIDEA

Ophiocistioidea

Astroidea

Echinoiudea

Holothuoidea

Sources: http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/echinodermata.html
Pictures:http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1441&bih=839&tbm=isch&tbnid=MfBEOJnd_agQvM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_urchin&docid=oD6fwnpyeXE9_M&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Riccio_Melone_a_Capo_Caccia_adventurediving.it.jpg/250px-Riccio_Melone_a_Capo_Caccia_adventurediving.it.jpg&w=250&h=226&ei=_3E9T9eOHIjm2QWXwZynCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=204&vpy=219&dur=20&hovh=180&hovw=200&tx=74&ty=121&sig=114249124250708296243&page=1&tbnh=138&tbnw=167&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=0CEcQrQMwAA
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1441&bih=839&tbm=isch&tbnid=xOaKe-yh5T1GAM:&imgrefurl=http://madmikesamerica.com/2011/05/class-holothuroidea-the-sea-cucumbers/&docid=X68LO85ErMw3HM&imgurl=http://madmikesamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Bohadschia-argus1.jpg&w=600&h=450&ei=U3I9T6vtGuLq2AX3jOWnCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=189&vpy=367&dur=415&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=167&ty=96&sig=114249124250708296243&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=196&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=0CGAQrQMwBg

Double Fertilization

What is double fertilization? To begin with, angiosperms are capable of both asexual and sexual reproductions. Double fertilization is basically a fertilization process that involves combining the megagametophyte with two sperms. The process starts off with a pollen grain on the stigma and then the pollen grain will suck in nutrients and germinate, eventually formulating a pollen tube that will go into the ovary. At the end the pollen tube will release two sperm in the megagametophyte. The surviving megaspore undergoes three rounds of mitosis and then creates eight haploid nuclei. the eight nuclei share the same cytoplasm, thus creating an embryo sac. Inside the embryo sac, cell walls form between the nuclei. After three antipodal cells form opposite of the ovule, and three form near the micropyle, then two polar nuclei remain together in one large central cell. The egg cell and the single cell in partnership with the polar nuclei will take part in double fertilization. before this process truly can occur, the male gametes must travel into the female's reproductive organs. the generative cell then travels down the pollen tube and then behind the tube nucleus. the cell divides by mitosis to produce two haploid sperm cells. the pollen tube then reaches the micropyle in the ovule and releases sperm cells. the synergid degenerates and of the two sperm cells, the egg cell will be feritilized and a diploid zygote will be produced. the sperm mixes with the polar nuclei and then fertilizes them, creating a triploid cell. Zygote -> embryo, triploid cell -> endosperm = food supply of embryo.

There have been questions as to how double fertilization could produce twin sperm cells. Professor Nam of POSTECH reports that the discovery of a gene that has a big role in allowing the reproductive cells to divide to form twin sperm cells is actually true. the gene is called FBL17 and is required to spark the destruction of another protein that inhibits cell division.

Sources: http://www.science20.com/news_releases/fbl17_discovery_gene_behind_%E2%80%98plant_sex_mystery%E2%80%99
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp39/3902001.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_fertilization

Extra Credit Blog

What topics really confused you?
The topics on chemistry confused me because I'm not really good at chemistry and it's hard for me to understand chemistry.

What topics do you feel very clear on?
Plant chapters were pretty lucid for me.

What lab/ activity was your favorite? Why?
My favorite activity is probably the tree stump one.

What lab/activity was your least favorite? Why?
The lab that was my least favorite was the fly lab.

If you could change something about the class to make it better, for instance the type of homework (not the amount) what would it be and why?
I would like in class labs, less simulations (maybe a few a month), and more class lectures. I feel that it's hard to just read the Biology book by itself, we need activities and hands-on things to get us to understand it more.