**Note: this web page is a combination of two projects, the first section is about homeostasis, the second about proetein, and the end is a mix.
Homeostasis Project Introduction
Homeostasis is a very important function of the body, it keeps you alive. Homeostasis is a broad group of levels that our body is contstantly working to maintain. A few examples of this are body temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar. For this project we were required to design an experiment to prove homeostasis, write a lab report, and make a scientific poster about the results. Unfortunately, my group was not able to conduct the experiment, but we have a good idea of what would happen. The facet of homeostasis that we chose was blood sugar. Our basic experiment would have as many subjects as possible measure their blood sugar with a lancing device. Then they would consume a large amount of glucose, either through tablets or a sugary drink. After this, they would continue to take their blood sugar at regular intervals until it returned to normal levels.
Abstract
This was the first part of our lab report, it is a basic overview of everything.
Objective: The objective of this study was to find how a sudden input of glucose into the homeostasis of blood sugar would affect the blood sugar levels of teens without diabetes.
Subjects: The experiment was set to occur with three adolescent STEM students
Variables Measured: The variables measured were the subject’s blood sugar levels, measured in mg/dl
Analysis: Data analysis was done by comparing blood sugar levels before consuming glucose to blood sugar levels after consuming glucose
Results: After consuming 12 grams of glucose, the subject’s blood sugar levels rose by around 25 mg/dl
Implications: These findings show that blood sugar can fluctuate within subjects who don’t have a condition inhibiting the homeostasis of blood sugar
Key Words: Blood Sugar, Glucose, Homeostasis
Objective: The objective of this study was to find how a sudden input of glucose into the homeostasis of blood sugar would affect the blood sugar levels of teens without diabetes.
Subjects: The experiment was set to occur with three adolescent STEM students
Variables Measured: The variables measured were the subject’s blood sugar levels, measured in mg/dl
Analysis: Data analysis was done by comparing blood sugar levels before consuming glucose to blood sugar levels after consuming glucose
Results: After consuming 12 grams of glucose, the subject’s blood sugar levels rose by around 25 mg/dl
Implications: These findings show that blood sugar can fluctuate within subjects who don’t have a condition inhibiting the homeostasis of blood sugar
Key Words: Blood Sugar, Glucose, Homeostasis
Results
Although we could not conduct the experiment becauase of the method for measuring blood sugar, there have been many similar experiments, so we have a very good idea of what would happen. This was the results section on our paper.
After consuming twelve grams of glucose, the subject’s blood sugar levels were expected to rise by 25 mg/dl over the course of twenty minutes, before insulin could be released and affect the liver. After the twenty minute mark, subjects blood sugar levels were expected to slowly decrease back down to the state they were at before the consumption of the glucose. Sadly, as the experiment was intended to be conducted in a school setting, it could not be performed, as the selected school would not permit the use of a lancing device, which is currently the only way to measure blood sugar in the specific circumstances.
After consuming twelve grams of glucose, the subject’s blood sugar levels were expected to rise by 25 mg/dl over the course of twenty minutes, before insulin could be released and affect the liver. After the twenty minute mark, subjects blood sugar levels were expected to slowly decrease back down to the state they were at before the consumption of the glucose. Sadly, as the experiment was intended to be conducted in a school setting, it could not be performed, as the selected school would not permit the use of a lancing device, which is currently the only way to measure blood sugar in the specific circumstances.
Conclusion
This is the conclusion, also from our paper.
There were no results from this study, as it did not take place. If it had happened, however, the results would likely have mirrored other studies of similar nature. The blood sugar of the subjects would have risen, then fallen. This gradual rise, then fall, would have shown how homeostasis of blood sugar works slowly, and with a delay. The next step of this study would be to test how consuming twelve grams of fructose, or other carbohydrates, would affect the blood sugar levels of the same subjects. These experiments would occur in order to compare the different saccharides effects on blood sugar in non-diabetic individuals.
There were no results from this study, as it did not take place. If it had happened, however, the results would likely have mirrored other studies of similar nature. The blood sugar of the subjects would have risen, then fallen. This gradual rise, then fall, would have shown how homeostasis of blood sugar works slowly, and with a delay. The next step of this study would be to test how consuming twelve grams of fructose, or other carbohydrates, would affect the blood sugar levels of the same subjects. These experiments would occur in order to compare the different saccharides effects on blood sugar in non-diabetic individuals.
Protein Project Introduction
In this project, we were required to show how a certain protein is made. We had to make a poster explaining exactly how it is done. We researched how it is done, all of the way from DNA to a completed protein. The protein that my group chose was insulin. There are three basic steps, transcription, translation, and protein folding.
Transcription
This process starts in the nucleus, where the DNA is. Polymerase binds to a promoter, telling the DNA to unwind. This is called initiation. The next part is elongation, where nucleotides add on to an mRNA strand. The RNA reads the DNA strand and builds an mRNA molecule. Last is termination, when the RNA polymerase crosses a termintation sequence in the gene. The mRNA strand is complete and detaches from the DNA.
Translation
This part of the process starts with the mRNA attaching to a ribosome. The messenger RNA has three nucleotides, called codons. The tRNA has anticodons, three nucleotides that bind to the mRNA codons. The tRNA reads the codons of mRNA in order. An amino acid chain is build in the ribosome.
Protein Folding
This is where it all comes together. There are four steps, called primary, secondary, tertiary, adn quaterary folding. First, chains of amino acids come together. They start by folding into sheets or coils. These then fold on each other to create a structure. Finally, these interact with each other to create a fully functioning protein.l
Content
Homeostasis- The ability of the body to achieve and maintain set levels
Blood Sugar- the sugar that is in the blood. This may come from simple sugars, but also from complex sugars, such as whole grain bread, or an apple
Insulin- A pancreatic hormone that allows muscles to take up sugar in the blood, and slowing the conversion of glycogen to glucose
Glucagen- A hormone that goes to the liver, speeding the conversion of glycogen to glucose
Feedback loop- this is where the body does something to maintain a level of homeostasis. A signal is sent if there is too much of a stimulant, and the body lowers it.
Codons- nucleotides that help with translation.
Amino acids-the very base of proteins, the simplest form
Nucleotides- form basic units of nucleic acids
Blood Sugar- the sugar that is in the blood. This may come from simple sugars, but also from complex sugars, such as whole grain bread, or an apple
Insulin- A pancreatic hormone that allows muscles to take up sugar in the blood, and slowing the conversion of glycogen to glucose
Glucagen- A hormone that goes to the liver, speeding the conversion of glycogen to glucose
Feedback loop- this is where the body does something to maintain a level of homeostasis. A signal is sent if there is too much of a stimulant, and the body lowers it.
Codons- nucleotides that help with translation.
Amino acids-the very base of proteins, the simplest form
Nucleotides- form basic units of nucleic acids
Reflection
During these two projects, I learned a lot about how the body functions. I learned how our building blocks are made and how we maintain constant levels.
One low that was in our homeostasis project was when we learned that we would not be able to do the experiment that we had planned. It seemed like all of our planning was for nothing. Luckily, we were still allowed to use other's experiments. A personal high in this project was when I overcame some distraction and really got to work. I was able to accomplish a lot.
One low from the protein project was when our group couldn't figure out how translation and transcription worked. We were able to press through and figure it out, but it was tough. A high from this preoject was when we finished our poste and got a good grade on it. I don't know about my group, but personally I wasn't sure if we would get a good grade, so it was good news when we did.
One low that was in our homeostasis project was when we learned that we would not be able to do the experiment that we had planned. It seemed like all of our planning was for nothing. Luckily, we were still allowed to use other's experiments. A personal high in this project was when I overcame some distraction and really got to work. I was able to accomplish a lot.
One low from the protein project was when our group couldn't figure out how translation and transcription worked. We were able to press through and figure it out, but it was tough. A high from this preoject was when we finished our poste and got a good grade on it. I don't know about my group, but personally I wasn't sure if we would get a good grade, so it was good news when we did.