BOW Explain how chlorophyll helps plants make sugar

The process whereby plants make sugars is photosynthesis. The plant takes in carbon dioxide from the air though pores in its leaves and absorbs water through its roots. These are combined to make sugar using energy from the sun and with the help of a substance called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is green which allows it to absorb the sun's energy more readily and which, of course, gives the plants' leaves their green colour. The reaction of photosynthesis can be written as the following chemical equation when glucose is being made:

12 CO2 + 11 H2 O	=	C12 H22 O11 + 12 O2
carbon dioxide + water	=	glucose + oxygen

Apple & Juniper Berry Sauerkraut

This is a very popular variation on the basic Sauerkraut and it’s also often called Bavarian Sauerkraut. Juniper berries are a spice more than a berry and may be available fresh when in season or dried at your local health food store.

Ingredients

• 3 or 4 heads of cabbage, shredded;
• 2 or 3 apples, peeled and coarsely chopped;
• 44.3602944 milliliters of caraway seeds;
• 44.3602944 milliliters of Juniper berries, crushed;
• 59.147 milliliters of sea salt;

Preparation

1. Combine the shredded cabbage, chopped apples and spices together.
2. Place the shredded cabbage and apple mixture little by little in your fermentation jar, pounding them vigorously and sprinkling some of the sea salt as you go.
3. Make sure the mixture fills the jar up to 1 inch bellow the top (because of the expansion), adding more if needed, and that the extracted water covers the vegetables entirely. If not, create a brine of 2 tablespoons sea salt to 4 cups water and add it to  the cabbage.
4. Press the mixture and keep it under the brine by placing a plate or a lid on top weighted down by a rock or a jug of water. Cover with a clean towel if needed to keep out fruit flies.
5. Place the fermentation jar in a warm spot in your kitchen and allow the Sauerkraut to ferment for 7 to 10 days.
6. Check on it from time to time to be sure that the brine covers the mixture and to remove any mold that may form on the surface.
7. A good way to know when it’s ready is to taste it during the fermentation process and move it to the refrigerator when you’re satisfied with the taste.

Fermentation is the process that produces alcoholic beverages or acidic dairy products. For a cell, fermentation is a way of getting energy without using oxygen. In general, fermentation involves the breaking down of complex organic substances into simpler ones. The microbial or animal cell obtains energy through glycolysis, splitting a sugar molecule and removing electrons from the molecule. The electrons are then passed to an organic molecule such as pyruvic acid. This results in the formation of a waste product that is excreted from the cell. Waste products formed in this way include ethyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, lactic acid, and acetone--the substances vital to our utilization of fermentation.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

During lactic acid fermentation, the electrons released during glycolysis are passed to pyruvic acid to form two molecules of lactic acid. Lactic acid fermentation is carried out by many bacteria, most notably by the lactic acid bacteria used in the production of yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, and pickles. Some animal cells such as muscle cells can also use fermentation for a quick burst of energy.

Alcohol Fermentation

Alcohol fermentation also begins with glycolysis to produce two molecules of pyruvic acid, two molecules of ATP, and four electrons. Each pyruvic acid is modified to acetaldehyde and CO2. Two molecules of ethyl alcohol are formed when each acetaldehyde molecule accepts two electrons. Alcohol fermentation is carried out by many bacteria and yeasts .

(http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/SS/ferm_background.php

BOW Osmosis Jones and immune system

Three similarities:
1) Movie: Osmosis Jones and Drix cooperated together to thwart Thrax.  Human: white blood cell works with pill (medicine) to get rid of the virus.
2)Movie: Thrax made the Frank City burning.  Human: Mr.Frank's body temperature raised dramatically.
3)Mr. Frank vomit.  Human:  Fight against germs entering the body via ingestion.


Three differences:
1) Movie: Osmosis Jones and Drix overcome Thrax. Human: A cold pill can't do much to a deadly virus like that one.
2)Phlegmming told Frank to take a cold-suppressant pill.  Human: Your body would gives you tips to for any health problems, but not tell you what to do.
3)Thrax wants to become the nastiest new virus, attempting to kill each new victim faster than the previous.  Human: Thrax was more than a common cold.

Hot Zone

What has surprised or fascinated you from the Hot Zone so far? Be specific


     It was amazing that human can be infected by animals like monkey.  Also,  the doctor in the hospital (who was infected later on) was not aware of being infected.  He didn't wear anything to protect himself, that was why the patient threw up blood on his face and infected him.  Nevertheless, he didn't wash his face immediately.  It seems like he never consider about how bad the illness might be and it might be contagious.  As a doctor, he should protecting himself and helping the patients at the same time.  Overall, I think his actions surprised me.

Positive benefits of fungi

     Plants benefit from fungi because some fungi settle around the roots of plants.  As the fungus decomposes dead matter around the roots of the plant, it leaves behind nutrients that the plant needs.  Many farmers prefer fungi to other chemical fertilizers to keep improving the environment.They are also known as the best alternatives in the tilling of the soil as they can even alter the structure of the soil.  Fungi fill the in and around the regions of the plant roots with sticky hyphae to protect the plants from disease spreading agents.  They also release antibiotics to destroy the agents if they penetrate through hyphae.  These hyphae grow into the soil and absorb essential nutrients like phosphorous and minerals which are shared with the host plant.  Mycorrhizal fungi which are promoted by fungi help fighting plant -related diseases giving plants higher and better yields.  During the process of decomposing matter, fungi returns carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.  Green plants use the carbon dioxide during photosynthesis to produce food.  Oxygen is released into the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis, so animal and human life depends on the fungi for survival.   Fungi with antimicrobial and other biological activities can produce wide ranges of natural products which is why they are used in drug manufacturing industries. They are widely used for the production of antibiotics, anti-cancer, vitamins and cholesterol lowering drugs.  Fungi are also used in the production of industrial chemicals which include gluconic, citric, malic and lactic acids and also in biological detergents in the form of lipases.  Recent studies reveal that a type of fungi can be used for degrading pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, coal tars and also heavy fuels into water, carbon dioxide and other basic elements.  Some fungi, like mushrooms, are used as ingredients in recipes. They add flavor to meals.   Special species of fungi are also used to produce alcohol through fermentation.