The Journey Through a Cell - It's Just the Beginning

Since I've been very busy with studies recently, I thought I'd show you some of my work.

So here's some A-Level Biology!

The Journey Through a Cell - It's Just the Beginning

 

We begin in the nucleus - where all our genetic information as chromatin (containing DNA and histones) is condensed into chromosomes. Inside here we've also got the nucleolus, which is responsible for making RNA molecules and ribosome. We've got a surrounding nuclear envelope, and small nuclear pores - allowing only certain molecules to pass in and out of the nucleus. So let's say we're an RNA molecule, after being made in the nucleolus we pass through the nuclear pores...

 

 Our next stop is at the endoplasmic reticulum, where there are two types:

• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Now, you might be asking how tiny organelles can be "rough". Well, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is responsible for carbohydrate and lipid synthesis. However, the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) which is where we're heading, contains many ribosomes on its surface - making it rough.  These ribosomes are the main site for protein synthesis, so it turns our small RNA body into a protein.

After venturing through the SER, we hop into the tracks of the "Cytoskeleton" which is responsible for many different things. It's made up of three components:

• Microfilaments  - Contractile actin fibres which are responsible for cell contraction and cytokinesis
• Intermediate fibres - for strength and integrity of the cell
• Microtubules - (which is where we're heading) for not only a component in spindle fibres, but also "tracks" for transport of molecules within a cell. 

"Actin filaments are shown in red, and microtubules composed of beta tubulin are in green."

Now we travel down to the "golgi apparatus"

What happens next? Stay tuned for more!


- Geeker

Turn Over a New Leaf With Mitosis!

It's a new year: 2016, and we're going to have some good content coming back soon!

First, how about we turn over a new leaf - with mitosis?

Mitosis is the division of the nucleus to produce 2 diploid daughter cells

The process of Mitosis goes through 5 stages:

Prophase 

A picture of two mouse nuclei in prophase

 Prometaphase

Photograph of all 23 human chromosomes

 Metaphase

Chromosomes lined up

 Anaphase

Another cell during anaphase

Telophase:

The cell during telophase

And that's the 5 steps!

Now, in review, a more simplified version of mitosis:

 And for those of you really into it, the more complex edition:

[Credit to Wikipedia and it's sources, and universe-review for the images]

Happy New Year to all of you!

- Geeker

Wednesday Words: Elementary Biology

 A bit of elementary biology for you!

[Word] is a thick solution that fills each cell and is enclosed by the cell membrane. It is mainly composed of water, salts, and proteins. In eukaryotic cells, the [Word] includes all of the material inside the cell and outside of the nucleus.

I've got an interesting day ahead of me tomorrow...

- Geeker