Blog Post #7-Ethan Short

           Pollination and subsequent fertilization of the ovules in the plants such as Brassica Oleracea  are big processes in producing a viable seed. Pollination, the movement of pollen from the anthers to the stigma, is essential for seed set and is a big part in seed production. Important information for any seed grower is to know is whether the seed crop species that they are producing is predominately self-pollinated or cross-pollinated. Self–pollinated plants have come to have perfect flowers that remain closed throughout the pollination process. These perfect flowers have anthers which are close to the stigma allowing easy transfer of pollen to the stigmatic surface. This short journey for pollen to move from anther to stigma of the same flower often requires some external movement like wind to stimulate good pollen coverage of the stigma. Any grower producing a tomato crop in the greenhouse knows that the plants need a physical shaking or stiff air flow in order to achieve successful pollination and subsequent plant set on their crop. Cross-pollinated species require genetic mixing between individuals of a population in order to remain genetically sound. All cross-pollinated crop species rely on either wind or insects for pollen movement. All cross-pollinated crop species have flowers that open before pollen shed and receptivity. It is important that all of these species have adequate pollen availability during the flowering period. The next step in this process leads to the fertilization of the ovules which become the seeds. After the pollen lands on the stigma, the receptive tip of the female parts of the flower, it must germinate and form a pollen tube which grows down through the style to reach the ovary. Each pollen tube that successfully reaches the ovary delivers one male gamete to fertilize an egg cell and one to fertilize in a single ovule resulting in the formation of one seed. This fertilization event requires good environmental conditions and for fruit with multiple ovules a number of independent fertilization events must occur to insure good seed set. In most seed crops this growth and maturation of seed occurs in 40 to 60 days.

This plant is a Brassica Sp before our dissected the plants. Once these plants are fully fertilized, they usually turn into plants such as vegetables, cabbages, and mustard plants.

This is a picture of the ovule. Is the part of the flower that turns into a seed. The ovule turns into a seed after the process of fertilization occurs in the flower/plant.

In this picture, I am showing you the stamen. The stamen is the male reproductive system of a plant/flower. This part contains the anthers and the filaments. The purpose of the stamen is to protect and cover up the pollen so that it does not get blown away.

This is a picture of the pistil. The pistil is made up of the stigma, style, ovary, and ovule. The pistil is the female reproductive system of the plant/flower. This part helps to reproduce the plant over and over again.

In this picture, I am showing you the stigma. The stigma is the receptor of pollen that sticks to the top of the stigma. This part of the flower sits on top of the carpel. Together, the stigma and the carpel make the pistil.

In this picture, I am showing you what the anthers look like. The anthers are used to produce and bear the pollen of the flower. The anthers sit on top of the filament which when both are put together they are called the Stamen.

Blog post 7

Here is our flower before even dissecting.

This image shows the anthers around the stigma on the flower.  The anther is a part of the stamen that produces pollen.  The stigma, which is surrounded by anthers, germinates the pollen that comes from the anthers.  The stigma is also a part of the female reproductive organ of the plant.



This picture shows the stamen. The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ, it has 2 parts, the anthers and the stalk.  When undergoing meiosis it produces pollen.





















In this picture you can see the female anatomy known as the Carpel.  The Carpel is the seed bearing leaf like structure that make up the pistil.


This is the flower with everything removed and the ovary opened and the ovules coming out.



From all this I eventually learned how plants fertilize.  First off there is something called self pollination which isn't super common, but for plants that can't obtain pollen themselves they get it from animals or wind.  For example, a bee will come over to a flower and as it leaves it has pollen on it, so when it moves to the next flower it will have pollen on it and it may be pollinated. Once the pollen reaches the ovaries it will from a zygote and then create a seed.

Blog post 6 Jack

        Since our last blog post our plant has gotten a lot bigger and gained biomass. This happens by having its cells divide through mitosis, but it has to collect sugar for energy and use it. For the plant to perform photosynthesis it has to collect sugar which then converts Co2 and water into o2 and sugar. It then is able to move the sugars to cells to cells that don't have sugar so all cells in the plant can grow and perform mitosis.


For the plant to perform photosynthesis plant cells need enzymes phosphoenolpyruate carboxylase and ribulose 1.5 bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, when the cell tells the nucleus to produce more of these enzymes it will have RNA synthase go to the part of the chromosome containing the gene coding for protein. It then goes to split the DNA down the middle so it can copy the information and make mRNA. It does through the process of complimenting base pairs. It then sends the mRNA to ribosomes to create protein. It then reads the genes in sets of three base pairs also known as codons which codes what amino acids are to be added to the polypeptide in the order that it's read. After a certain point one of the codons will tell the ribosome that the protein is complete so it will release it and the mRNA by then completes the process of the creation of the enzyme.

Blog Post 6 Elliot

Our plant has definitely gotten bigger since the last time we checked on it and it just doesn’t grow by magic.Multiple things are currently and have been happening.  All the cells go through mitosis. Mitosis is where the cell divides and almost makes an exact replica of itself
within a Eukaryotic organism. There are 5 cells in mitosis and the first stage is prophase. In prophase, the chromatin condenses into chromosomes which are made up of sister chromatids joined at centromeres and centrioles, the bases will pull the chromatids apart, then isolate it to the opposite poles on the cells membrane.  Next, in prometaphase, the nuclear membrane dissolves and the microtubules extend from each centriole and grab the chromosomes' centromeres.  Then in metaphase, the chromosomes line up across the very center of the cell to form a metaphase plate.  In anaphase, the sister chromatids isolate and the microtubules pull a copy to each cellular pole. Finally, in telephase, all the chromatids reach their poles, and are encased in the nuclear membranes and then disperse back into the mass of chromatin.


After a cell goes through mitosis, it goes through photosynthesis.  Photosynthesis is the process that gives the plant food in order to live.  It happens when the sunlight hits the leaves on the plant.  This makes the chlorophyll active and activates electrons.  Water is split between the oxygen and hydrogen ions.  The electrons which are activated then go through an electron transport chain.  The hydrogen ions go to the thylakoid membrane in which generates a proton gradient.  ATP is then formed when ADP and P come together and the electrons going through the transport train combine with NADP+ to finally form NADPH( a high energy molecule.  After this either a light-independent or a dark reaction will happen. The reaction uses energy from the light reaction to convert carbon dixide into glucose, this is the Calvin cycle.

Finally cellular respiration is going to happen.  During cellular respiration a glucose molecule is slowly broken down into carbon dioxide and water.  During this process ATP is produced straight into the reactions that transform glucose.  More ATP is producing in a future process called oxidative phosphorylation. It's powered by electrons movement through the electron transport chain.





Enzymes have a big role in any organisms life. Plants use a lot of enzymes. They get them by using a process called protein synthesis. Protein synthesis happens in the ribosomes and the nucleus. Before this happens the cell has to create mRNA. The mRNA has a 3 letter sequence that has codons, which are codes for amino acids. Translation begins when the mRNA is sent to the ribosomes. Translation is where the ribosome turns each codon and creates the correct amino acid. There is a new protein which would be an enzyme if requested. This is how our plant would make enzymes.

Blog post 6: Nate

Obviously our plant has gotten substantially larger from the last time we looked at it.  It doesn't magically just put out more and more mass.  So what exactly does it do?  Well each of the cells go through mitosis.  Mitosis is where a cell divides and creates basically a replica of itself.  A cell first goes through interphase where the cell duplicates its organelles and copies its DNA.  DNA is a pretty important thing in cells because it is the structure for their life.  The DNA is copied through a semi-conservative replication.  The process involves a couple enzymes and it occurs in the nucleus.  The helicase unwinds the double helix and the DNA polymerase adds new nucleotides and copies the DNA.  Why it is semi-conservative is one strand is copied backwards and the other one is copied normal.  This is the longest phase by far.  After interphase prophase happens.  Prophase consists of the chromosomes condensing and the nucleus disappearing.  Microtubles are also formed.  Next, metaphase begins.  In metaphase the chromosomes line up and prepare to be split.  Then, anaphasae occurs and the chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cell.  Finally telophase takes place.  The chromosomes reach opposite walls and the cell begins to divide.  Cytokenisis finishes it off and there is 2 new cells.  Seems like a lot just for growth, but there are tons of cells constantly at work doing this and growing the plan or repairing it.  For example, our plant has lots of holes from bugs eating it away and the holes will slowly form again because mitosis is happening.  Also at the tips of the leaves the plant will be growing as well. 

How do the cells obtain the energy to do all this?  Well what they do is photosynthesis.  Photosynthesis allows cells to take sunlight and convert it into energy.  This all occurs in the chloroplasts of the cells.  Another way our plant was obtaining energy was through cellular respiration.  Cellular respiration is a processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP. and then releases waste products.  Respiration normally uses oxyegen and has 4 steps known as glycosis, link reaction, the krebs cycle, and electron transport train.  In glycosis the glucose in the cytoplasm is broken down into 2 molecules.  Next in the link reaction, pyruvate molecules are decarboxylated in the mitochondria. Pyruvate molecules are oxidized and converted to acetylcoenzyme A.  In the krebs cycle, which takes place in the mitochondria, consumes oxygen and produces Co2 and ATP.  The Co2 is released and the ATP is used in the cell.  Well, that's how our plant was growing all this time.

Enzymes are a crucial part of any living organism's life.  Plants use a vast amount of enzymes, but where do they get them?  If a cell is told a specific enzyme is needed, then it will begin protein synthesis, because enzymes are proteins.  Protein synthesis occurs in the nucleus and ribosomes.  Before anything happens the cell must create mRNA.  This is made during transcription when a copy of the DNA is created.  The mRNA has 3 letter sequences on it that are codons and they are codes for amino acids.  After the mRNA is made it is sent to the ribosomes to begin translation.  Translation is where the ribosome reads each codon using an anticodon and creates the correct amino acid.  Once it is complete you are left with a new protein which if was asked for would be an enzyme.

Steven's Seed Story

 For the last story of the seed post we will be interviewing a classmate for their experience with the story of the seed. I am interviewing Steven and asking him about his experience. Steven has learned that plants grow faster than he originally thought. Steven has learned how to use a syringe and how to plant certain plants. Steven was very surprised when he opened the syringe and all of the medicine spilled on him. He was amazed on how big his plant got, but then the plant died. Steven laughed because of how lost his teammates were so he had to carry the team to finish the project. Steven paused to think a little bit deeper when his plants started dying and wondered why they died so quickly.

Story of the seed Blog post #4

Story of the seed#4

There are a few abiotic factors that our plant depends on for surviving. Some of the factors include water, sunlight, temperature, oxygen, and soil. These factors were and are very important in the development of our plant. First off, water is the most important factor. Our plant needs a decent amount of water to stay and remain healthy and the soil needed to be good in order for it to keep growing well. Finally, sunlight and temperature were also crucial. Temperature and sunlight have a big effect on how much the plant grows. If there is more sunlight and a warmer temperature, than the plant will grow much more. Also with rain the plant should grow and the rain is good for the soil.

Our plant is definitely engaged in competition. The competitors are the other plants next to it in the garden. The plants are competing for water and nutrients, they try and get more water and nutrients than the surrounding plants. Wild animals in the garden are also definitely engaged in competition also. They are competing for certain foods and nutrients.

In life there are always “winners” and “losers”, same with in the garden. “Winners” would be the ones benefiting from something, and the “losers” are the ones with a disadvantage. Sometimes it can be hard to tell what plants and animals win or lose. For example if a plant rots and dies it would be considered a “loser” rather than if the plant were to grow a lot and it be very green. Then it would be a “winner”.  Another example of winners and losers would be aphids and plants. The winner would be aphid because they are getting sugars from the plants. The loser would be the plant because it is getting infected with viruses from the aphid.

There are many forms of interactions dealing with plants in the garden. Some forms of interactions are mutualism in which 2 organisms benefit from each other and parasitism. An example of mutualism in the garden is a bee and a flower/plant. The bee would get nectar from the flower, and the bee fertilizes the flower allowing it to reproduce. Another example of parasitism is with aphids and plants. The aphids are small insects who suck out fluids from plants and give plants very negative viruses. The aphids turn plant leaves yellow and they usually inject toxins into plants. Aphids benefit from getting sugars from the plants.

There is succession going on in the garden currently is secondary succession. There is proof of succession going on because our plant and most of the plants are growing, getting much bigger, and much greener. It isn’t primary succession because the garden isn’t lacking soil or hasn’t dealt with any natural disasters.