OPTION #1:
This week in class we will be learning about plant pigments. Watch this quick video about why leaves change colors in the fall:
In a scholarly response (capital letters, periods, like a paragraph you would turn in to your English teacher) respond to at least three of the following questions. Your response should be at least 5 sentences long. While this guy does a pretty good job, there are a couple of mistakes in this video. Can you find at least one mistake in the introduction? What does the narrator say that is incorrect? (I made a big deal about this in class.) Do you love fall? Is it one of your favorite seasons? Or do you love spring because you love to see the world wake up and turn green again (flowers and pretty trees and the prospect of summer right around the corner)? Are there such thing as albino plants? If plants are albinos, how do they perform photosynthesis? Do animals besides humans have different amounts of pigments in their cells? Can you give an example?
OPTION #2:
If you are not in the mood to think about leaves changing colors, then this week I am going to give you some other options. (Special thanks to MG!) Instead, you can read one of the articles below. After you have read the article, I would like you to write a paragraph summary of what you have read. While I am not an English teacher, I do expect scholarly writing with capital letters and periods. Your summary should be at least 5 sentences long and include your overall opinion of the article.
I read about the tiny green bug. This bug can harvest sunlight and use it for matoblic purposes. They can create there own carotenoids. Carotenoids are responsible for the body color. I think this bug will be a big break through.
I read the same article and I thought it was pretty cool. I also think this bug will change some things we look and learn about in science, and I believe there may be even more species that we haven't found that can photosynthesize just like this bug.
I read about something similar, except occurring in sea slugs, and they can actually carry out photosynthesis. I wonder if this is a new thing occurring in animals, and how it might change our view on photosynthesis and the classification of organisms.
Adam, Way to go! First comment of 2016. Would you want to be able to create your own caretenoids? Why do you think the bug will be a big break through? Do you think it would be cool to use the sun to increase your metabolism? Would everyone that wanted to diet move to California?
The guy said that the leaves are the ‘powerhouse’ of the tree, and then take in sunlight, which is true, but then went on to say that chlorophyll produces energy for the tree. FALSE! Thylakoids take in energy. Reactions take place inside the Thylakoids which look like the stacks of pancakes, that are more formally called grana. I am not a fall person, but a summer person because school is out and it is warm out. There is such a thing as albino plants, and no, they cannot take in sunlight and turn it into food, therefore, they have to steal food from other roots if they are connected, or starve, and die. Yes, animals are also known to have pigment in their cells. For example, the budgerigar, with a yellow head, and a green body.
I often watch Discovery Science on my free time but they tend to slip up a lot (especially with paleontology). The narrator even slips up in the beginning by saying plants produce their own energy instead of saying they get energy from the sun to make their own food. After a little research I was surprised to find albinism possible in plants but with the distinct difference that it can reduce the effectivity of the chloroplasts. But plants can’t just be albino, just like animals, plants can have all ranges of pigment mutation like melanism (extreme number of pigments) and leucism (reduced amount of pigment). Some examples of non-human animals with pigment disorders include: a half albino, half normal african rock python; http://tinyurl.com/zdqsqbr, a melanistic adelie peinguin; http://tinyurl.com/jgjn86q, and most impresivley an albino lowland gorrila named “Snowflake”; http://tinyurl.com/glfzaqb
Instead of watching the video, I chose to an the article. The article I chose to read was about a bug that has photosynthesis-like abilities. It is the only bug known to man (as of now) that has the ability to harvest the sunlight for metabolic purposes. I thought this was pretty interesting because this could change the way we look at consumers and producers. Since bugs are primary consumers, this bug could possibly change the way ecological pyramids and chains are formed with it being the primary producer instead of the consumer, because of its ability to photosynthesis. And just thinking about how a little bug could have a possibly big impact on the science world, is pretty cool.
I also thought that it was interesting that this is the only bug that has the ability to harvest sunlight for metabolic purposes. Could this bug have other impacts on the environment?
I read the article about the tiny green bug. These bugs (pea aphids) can create their own carotenoids like plants. The carotenoids are responsible for the bugs color, and depending on the season and the environment the bug may change colors. The color of the bug also affected the amount of ATP made by the bug which really surprised me. These bugs may be able to do photosynthesis, but more research needs to be done. This article really surprised me and I think this could be a major breakthrough in science.
The problem in the introduction is the guys shirt says cat in the box instead of cat in the hat and I do like fall cause I like to know that the change in season is coming. And there is albino plants but they are dead which means they don't do photosybthesis
Fall happens to be one of my favorite seasons because of the clothes that I wear when it's cooler outside, but my favorite season is spring because I love to see green again after a long time of bare, dead looking trees. Albino plants in fact do exist. One problem though, they cannot perform photosynthesis. They rarely live, but when they do it's because they ate off of another plant. An example would be a redwood tree. They share a root system with their mother tree, and the nutrients get cycled through. Animals, like humans, have different amounts of pigments in their cells. An example would be some dogs. In the same species of dog, many color variations occur.
I agree, fall is also my favorite season. And it's so weird albino plants exist. It's such a rarity but they seem so cool. Hopefully in the future we will be able to keep them alive longer and by themselves.
I found it surprising that albino plants cannot perform photosynthesis, having to rely on other plants for survival. Do you think these plants will ever be able to perform photosynthesis in the future, creating food for themselves?
I agree. Spring is the best. Its just so refreshing and seeing those colors after so long is so cool. Theres always this one day in the spring when im waliking home from school and all the green is back. I look around and realise that its all back arching over the side walks in all its glory.
I read the article about the Green Sea Slug. Scientists have recently found a green sea slug that can take the chloroplast from green algae and in result can now use photosynthesis making it half animal half plant. This new discovery can lead to possibly amazing inventions. What if humans can find a way to take and use chloroplast? I believe the article is extremely well written and very interesting because this now poses a huge question in cellular science. If animal cells can now contain chloroplast this completely changes all we know about cells and their organelles. In fact, once the slug consumes one meal of the algae they never have to eat again the only have to sunbath.
I read about the tiny green bug. The bug is able to use the sunlight for metablolic functions.They can create there own carotenoids.Which is usually obtained from eating food. Carotenoids are responsible for the body color.
In the article about the tiny green bug, researchers show that pea aphids have the ability to harvest sunlight, and use the energy for metabolic purposes. They are the only species of animal to have photosynthesis-like powers. Biologists discovered that pea aphids can make their own carotenoids, just like a plant. Therefore, carotenoids are responsible for aphid body color, leading to the realization that insects change color based upon environmental conditions. In warmer weather aphids make carotenois that come out orange, and in cooler weather aphids make carotenoids that come out green. Finally, green aphids make more ATP than white ones, while orange aphids make more ATP when exposed to sunlight than when kept in the dark.
I did not read about the bug and I didn't know any of that, so I think that's amazing!! Thanks so much! Your post is very informative and well written :)
I read the article about green sea slugs and how they have adopted some of the photosynthetic traits of plants. Scientists have discovered that a type of sea slug that has borrowed genes form the algae it eats, allowing it to actually perform photosynthesis. The slug takes in the chloroplasts from the algae from eating them, but then moves the still intact cell parts into some of the slug’s own cells. This is a really cool discovery because of the fact that we didn’t know this before, and it completely changes the view scientists have on photosynthesis. An animal that has the traits of a plant also messes with the idea of scientific organization, where the most basic classification is plant or animal, and now the two are joined. It is not every day you hear about something as cool and revolutionary as this, and I have started to wonder if this is happening among other animals (or plants) and if this discovery could be the first in a whole series that changes much of science.
It is really interesting that this happened through nature, but it can also be forced. Chicago's Field Museum has an army of frogs with neon fish eyes. It would be interesting to see if, through the same process, photosynthetic genes could be inserted into other animals.
Interesting slug, I just read the article on Bionic plants and how their chloroplasts were modified. I wonder if such a procedure would also be feasible on this critter.
I read the article on how a tiny green bug may be the first photosynthetic animal. Pea aphids are an animal that may have the ability to use gathered sunlight for their metabolism. If this in fact is true, it would make it the only animal known to have this characteristic of photosynthesis. This interests me very much as scientists continue to discover new research into the amazing abilities of unique plants and animals around us, and we can be amazed at what is found. In regular environments these pea aphids turn orange due to making a good amount of carotenoids, which are responsible for their body color. But with limited resources and not much carotenoid, they are mostly white. Knowing this, experiments showed that green aphids make significantly more ATP than white ones.
I find it interesting that the white pea aphids have more ATP than the orange pea aphids since the darker the color the more the sunlight will be attracted to the object.
I didn't read the article but found your comment very interesting, especially how a bug (which is an animal) that can photosynthesize. It is odd that the lighter pea aphid produces more ATP.
The pea aphids are the only known animal to use photosynthesis for themselves. Carotenoids is the pigment that is crucial for animals. Carotenoids come from plants being eaten by animals. Except for the pea aphids that can generate their own carotenoids without relying on plants. Later research showed that the green pea aphids have more ATP then the white pea aphids.
I read this article as well and thought it was very interesting to learn how these animals may be able to photosynthesize for themselves. Do you think that there are other animals that could do this?
I read the same article and I was surprised to learn that white pea aphids had less ATP than green pea aphids. If they are the same bug I would think that they have the same amount of ATP.
I watched the video and learned that leaves change color based on their pH level. During fall, the leaves also let the caretenoids show because they know winter is coming so they allow the chlorophyll to break down. Personally i love fall. Cold weather, sports, nature, it's just great. Spring to me just seems gross with all of the mud and rain and also because it's coming right off of winter which I also like.
I decided to watch the video and something that the narrator gets wrong is that he says that plants make their own energy. They actually get their energy from the sun. After I looked it up I found that pants can be albino! Since they are albino they do not perform photosynthesis they must live off of other plants to survive and if they don't they will die. Like the narrator fall is my favorite season because of all the pretty colors and the crunch of the leaves under your feet.
I read the article about Pea Aphids, which are bugs that can create food for themselves like a plant. A biologist researcher discovered that instead of getting pigments called "Carotenoids" by eating plants, the pea Aphid produced their own. This is because a fungus got into the bug and then was copied. Research then shows that green Pea Aphids produce more ATP than white ones, and orange Pea Aphids produce more ATP in sunlight than in the dark. If Pea Aphids truly have photosynthetic abilities, I think this could change the science and animal world, because animals could start producing their own food instead of eating other plant and animals.
I watched the Youtube video. I personally LOVE fall. I love sweater weather and haunted houses, and everything in between. I wish the seasons would go from fall straight to summer. I did some background research on albino plants also. There actually is such thing as an albino plant, although they usually don't live for long. They lack chlorophyll so it can't convert energy from sunlight (photosynthesis). It must eat off of other plants if they want any chance of survival. Most plants are born, grow a little, the run out of food and die.
Marissa, I also love fall. Then again, I love winter for the snow, spring for the rebirth, summer for summer vacation. I really can't say that there is a season that I don't like. Perhaps there are aspects about each I would change. Like super cold gray days in the winter and too much rain in the spring. Overall, I guess it is good that I live in an area with four seasons. Go Deciduous Forest!
Overall, I found the Discovery videos very entertaining, even if he messed up in the beginning. Plants are not the "powerhouse" of trees, they contain chloroplasts that make energy for the leaf. Personally, I enjoy fall for aesthetic purposes, but i love the more laid back summer. There is such a thing as albino plants, but they cannot take in sunlight and turn it into food. Thus, they have to steal food from other roots if they are connected. Animals also contain various pigment. For example, chameleon's have specialized cells called chromatophores, which are filled with different pigments.
I watched the video and in the video the guy says leaves are the powerhouse of the cell. This is incorrect the powerhouse of the cell is the mitochondria. Yes, there is such thing as an albino plant. Albino plants become albino from the lack of chlorophyll. Which is a big problem considering plants need chlorophyll to convert light to energy. So because of this they can not produce food for themselves. For this reason most albino plants do not live very long. But the Redwood trees in California have made an adaptation so that they are able to survive without photosynthesis. Albino redwoods lean or are attached to a green tree for support. Also they connect their roots with the green tree to basically suck the nutrients like a parasite. I like fall and think the leaves changing is very pretty but I do not like when it gets cold. So I would have to say I like spring better because it means summer is coming soon!
I read the article on the tiny green bug. Pea aphids have the ability to harvest sunlight and use that energy for metabolic purposes. Just like a plant, Pea aphids can make carotenoids. Carotenoids are responsible for their body color. And Pea aphids can change their color according to the environmental conditions. Researchers studied the orange aphids carotenoids and suggested that the pigments are linked to a system of electron transfer, where the Pea aphid can get energy from the sun. I think this could be a huge breakthrough in science because this has never happened before with other insects.
I read the article about the green sea slugs and how they have taken and used photosynthesizing organelles from the algae under the sea. Scientists discovered that when the sea slugs eat the algae, they are borrowing genes form it in order to be able to partake in photosynthesis. These green sea slugs called Elysia Chlorotica are the first animals to make chlorophyll like a plant and perform photosynthesis. The slugs have acquired enough of the algae’s genes to make an entire system for photosynthesis. Since these slugs now perform photosynthesis, they are now able to manufacture chlorophyll on their own. This discovery is probably strange for the scientists because they have been so used to living organisms either be categorized as plants or animals. It seems to me as though the green sea slug is somewhat breaking these rules because now we know that they obtain characteristics of both plant and animals.
I read about the tiny green bug that may be the first photosynthetic animal which was very interesting to me. The bug is called a pea aphid. Carotenoids is the pigment that is crucial for animals and this bug has. The pea aphids generate their own carotenoids unlike the other animals that get them from plants.One of the researches showed that green pea aphids had more ATP than white pea aphids.
I read the article "Green Sea Slug Is Part Animal, Part Plant" and all i have to say is wow. This is incredible that it can do photosynthesis. Could you imagine what we as humans could do if we had this Information. We could have better energy in are selves or we could use it to further improve are solar panels or maybe even use it to give rocket ship a boost of energy. Eventually we have to find someway to further are life.
I agree! If new technology was developed to adapt to this discovery, the possibilities are endless. Who knows, humans could have the potential to harness the ability of photosynthesis in the near future.
If photosynthesis could be turned into energy by mankind it would be a massive breakthrough and we would have unlimited energy and the uses would be endless.
I just love fall so much. It is my favorite season because the leave are a very cool color. I also enjoy the pumpkin spice drink that comes out during fall at Starbucks. Chlorophyll a plays a big part in the changing of the leaves color. When the temperature drops the chlorophyll breaks down which reveals accessory pigments that reflect orange and red color. There is such thing as Albino plants. Albino plants lack green chlorophyll. Albino plants are awesome.
I agree with the guy that fall is the best. I love the bonfires and sweaters and everything that has to do with fall. I guess I kinda of like the leaves changing but they aren't the highlight because that means winter is coming and I don't like winter. I love spring because the leaves change and that means summer is coming and I love summer! I looked up albino plants and found out they do exist and they are so cool. They might not be able to live as long as other plants but they do exist. Overall, I think it's so cool that plants can live partially without chlorophyll that helps them survive.
I agree with everything you said because fall is probably the best season and it's also really cool that albino plants exist. I looked up pictures of albino plants and they look really cool!
I found this video a little informative since we already did most of the stuff in class. The narrator is incorrect by saying the leaf is the powerhouse of the tree. ATP and NADPH would be the power. I love fall because of the leaf piles, the football season, the baseball playoffs, etc. It is probably my 2nd favorite season right after Summer. Albino plants do exist though they lack chlorophyll.
That's surprising that this video would make such a big mistake and not have it corrected. Also the fall is a very nice time of year, especially because it's the football season.
Fall is my favorite season. I love everything about it, the cold weather, the pretty trees, obviously I love sweater weather, and everything else it brings. Since the guy in the video didn’t talk much about albino plants, I looked it up. Albino plants are a real thing but they are not capable of photosynthesis. Most albino plants only last for a couple of days with the exception of redwood trees in California. These trees can sort of steal food from other plants through root connections, since the problem with albino plants is food production, this leads to albino redwood trees surviving. However they are still extremely rare and only live for about one hundred years, which is nothing compared to it’s fellow trees.
As I watched the video "Why Do Leaves Change Color In The Fall?", I noticed that the man said that leaves were the “powerhouse” of trees, which is obviously not true. However, the video was pretty well made as it did explained how leaves change color and why fruits and veggies are in the color that they are. Autumn is a wonderful and colorful season that gives us the opportunity to see the beauty of leaves.I must say that the season fall is neat,but it is not my favorite. My favorite season is no other than spring since it is not too cold and not too warm. Not to mention that I love the color green and that I always look forward for my tulips to grow.
I completely agree with you about seeing the beauty in the colorful leaves. I really like being a little more knowledgable about my favorite aspect of fall. I also agree with you that spring is a nice season although fall will always be just a bit better in my eyes.
I watched the video, in it the narrator says that the leaves provide energy for the trees; this is incorrect because the leaves are only able to absorb sunlight's energy through the pigments within them, and then produce glucose through photosynthesis which is then used by the plant as food which ultimately is what provides the energy for the tree. I do like fall because of the temperature and the things the temp. brings with it like sweaters and cocoa. Albino plants do exist, they're classified as so because they lack in most or all pigments such as chlorophyll which affects their ability to photosynthesize. Some albino plants, such as the albino redwood tree, are able to live through acting as a parasite by joining roots with a plant nearby and stealing nutrients.
Tiny bugs known as pea aphids may be the first animal to have powers similar to photosynthesis. The extensive amount of the carotenoids pigments that they create allows them to harvest sunlight for energy. It appears that a fungal gene was copied inside of an aphid and then reproduced into the next generation. The bugs now appear in different color based on how much carotenoid they produce. The cold makes them produce a lot of carotenoids to turn them green, cold will make them produce less and turn white. Further research then proved that the green ones, with more carotenoids, will then produce a substantial more amount of ATP then ones with less carotenoids, the white ones. I think this is pretty strange actually, that an animal could react like a plant, I hope there will be further research on this subject.
I read about howhat they made plants super bionic plants. It'seems cool because it looks cool but it can also do photosynthesis faster. They take out pars and put them into sugary solutions and then it gets wierd. They put nano tubes in and coat them in DNA. Some benefits could be that it can remove some oxygen from the plant. Overall I thought this was very interesting that there are in a way living breathing robots in a way.
I chose to read the second article for this week’s blog response. It was about a species of insect known as the pea aphid and how they might be able to use photosynthesis to acquire their energy. One huge discovery about the aphids is that they can make a special pigment called carotenoids (usually in plants which animals have to eat to gain the benefits). In addition scientists found out that the carotenoids dictate the color of the aphids depending on what kind of climate they are living in. For instance, they are green in colder areas and white in places where they don’t have access to many of their resources. More research needs to be done before scientists can give a definitive answer as to if pea aphids are capable of photosynthesis, but they’re off to a brilliant start. I think it’s really interesting and cool.
I think it's very interesting that animals might be able to photosynthesize; if they can, this concept would mess with the basic organization of biology which classifies organisms as either plants or animals, because these photosynthesizing animals would kind of be both.
I read the article on the Pea Aphid, also known as the tiny green bug. This bug can produce its own carotenoids which is a pigment. Carotenoids change the color of the bug. The color depends on the amount of carotenoids being produced. The amount of carotenoids being produced depends on the environment conditions. So the color of the Aphid depends on the environment conditions it is living in. This is really cool that this bug can do this. I hope this discovery leads to more discoveries of carotenoid producing bugs. I would love to see a video of different Aphids living in different environment conditions and seeing their different colors. That would be a really cool video. I really liked this article and i want to research more about carotenoid producing bugs.
I read the article about how scientists are attempting to reengineer plants with the use of nanotechnology to cause mitochondria to have a more efficient process of photosynthesis. As it turns out, chloroplasts are not the most efficient at doing their jobs, they don't even absorb green light or the majority of the sun's heat through infrared light. To try and improve this natural process, biologists have implanted carbon nanotubes in the walls of the mitochondria to allow the transport of molecules that may increase production. Surprisingly, just the nanotubes alone for some reason showed triple the efficiency of average plants. I think this technology, well being extremely new and expensive offers many benefits to how food and agriculture might be one day.
As I was reading the article on the Green Sea Slug that is half plant half animal, I was very intrigued. To think of all the differences between plant cells and animal cells (from last semester) and finding out the can make make up half of an organism each? I think that's pretty insane. If humans were half plant and could photosynthesize food and energy for our selfs, the world would be so different. People would want to live in sunnier places (if they currently lived in the cold).
For this weeks blog, I chose to read an article about a green slug that can go through the photosynthesis process. The slugs do this by producing a pigment called chlorophyll the same way plants do. Although these slugs can go through the photosynthesis process, researchers have found that the slugs may be getting the chloroplasts from algae plants. I found this article very interesting and would like to learn more about this slug. I really liked how well they thoroughly explained how this slug is capable to do these things.
I read the article "Bionic Plants Offer Superpowered Photosynthesis" by David Biello, and it explained how life as we know it would not exist without the abundance of plants. I thought he was very in depth in terms of discussing the ultimate reasons for chloroplasts. It was interesting when he mentioned "After all, if the nanoparticles can boost photosynthesis in those simple cellular organisms, then fuel, food and other products derived from algae might become more viable," (Biello 1) because I thought that algae was just as capable at photosynthesis as any other plant. But, with the technology we have now, we can discover how to improve and create new and endless possibilities.
I read the article about the green bug. What's interesting about it is that it soaks up sunlight and uses it for matabolic purposes. With this new discovery, scientists have realized that there may be more organisms like this. If they can harness the abilities of this bug, humans may be able to benefit from this ability also. What a strange, yet advanced world it would be if humans could take advantage of energy from the sun.
I read the article about biotic plants, and I found it very interesting actually. It told me about how plants only use about ten percent of useable light from the sun in photosynthesis. So scientists are finding a way to insert nano tubes into leaves that will help vastly improve photosynthesis. The experiment worked, and helped single chloroplasts or ones still in leaves produce more food from sun light than before. The tubes were also found to be a great chemical detector! And scientists are now thinking about performing a similar experiment on the roots of a plant!
I watched the video. The leaves aren't "The powerhouse", they perform photosynthesis which has multiple products and bi-products. I don't like fall because there is nothing to do but rake up leaves. Spring isn't any better, because it just rains for 3 months. I can't decide what my favorite month is, winter or summer. I am a hockey player so I like it when everything is dead and the water is frozen, but in the summer I have fun jet-skiing.
In the beginning of the video, the mistake that was made was,he said that leaves were the powerhouse of the tree, which isn't true. Although there were some wrong facts in the video the video did explain why leaves change in the fall. Fall is may favorites season because of the leaves and how it's cool to see the leaves begin to change colors. I also like fall because it means that my birthday is coming up.
I read about a bug called a pea aphid. I learned that it might be the first animal to have photosynthetic features. The carotenoids are responsible for the creatuses body color. Studies show that when the pea aphid is born white, it has low levels of carotenoids, when it's green it has levels, and when orange has high levels in the light. It's not fully proven yet but scientists say it might be a feature for when the weather is bad. Like a back up.
Surprisingly, albino plants do exist. They are simply plants which lack the pigments, and therefore cannot carry out photosynthesis. Some albino plants, however, can survive by "stealing" the food from another plant. I found this interesting because the plant is being a sort of parasite. I personally like spring, because it marks the end of winter, and I really like all the things that come with it. Whether it's the budding leaves on the trees, or seeing the world turn green again, it is one of my favorite seasons.
I love the reds and yellows of fall but no one can resist the perfect greens of spring. Everything is easier in spring, when the chlorophyll is at its higest potential and making everything a perfect green. Spring is just fresher and more uplifting. However the leaves are NOT the powerhouse of the tree. They may be the center of photosynthesis but not the powerhouse. Im not totally sure but i think there are albino plants which i think is super cool. They dont have pigment which makes me wonder about photosynthesis. I think this is a really cool unit because before this i wasnt aware that igments played such a big part in photosynthesis.
I read the article about the bug that can photosynthesize. I think that it’s an interesting concept and that animals that can photosynthesize could be a big breakthrough in the science world.
I read the Bionic Plants Offer Superpowered Photosynthesis and I found it interesting that plants take up 10% of the earths sunlight.Also that plants can be modified by carbon nanotubes.I think that if photosynthesis is modified it could damage the plant.Then again it could super modify the plant making it more valuable.I belive that more research should go into this study to see the results.
i personal like fall but probably for different reasons then other people. The main reason that i like fall is because that means winter is coming and I can go skiing but that is besides the point. Also if plants were albino I'm not sure if they would be able to do photosynthesis very well if they would be even able to. The pigments in chloroplast help the leaf attract sunlight and if it does not have those pigments i might not be able attract sunlight.
In he begining of this video this guy claims that the leaves are the powerhouse of the tree while that is true, he talks about how chlorophyll produces energy which is false. Chlorophyll just reflects the green light. Personally I love fall. The colors, the crisp air, and of course the golf season! As much as I do love fall, I would say winter is my favorite season. Curling up by the fire with a nice blanket reading Swedish children stories is how I like to spend my time.
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year because of the chilly air and the pretty leaves. Although I do really like spring because winter is always to bad it really is refreshing. I do not think albino plants are a thing because there is no white spectrum of light to reflect. So photosynthesis would be nearly impossible to do.
I read the article about the Tiny Green Bug. This bug is able to harvest sunlight, and use the energy for metabolic purposes. Whats interesting is it can produce its own carotenoids, which is a pigment that is needed for basic functions like bone growth, production of vitamins, and vision. These carotenoids are usually gathered by eating plants but this bug is able to do it on its own. I found this article to be very interesting, and I would want to do more research on this bug.
I read the article on the tiny green bug and I think this article is really interesting. This discovery is going to be very important to scientists. This changes everything we know because we thought this was impossible. I am mind blown by this and I would like to learn more about how this happens and if there is any other organism like it.
I saw the video and the mistake that the guy did was that he said that the leafs were the powerhouse of the tree. I prefer summer over fall or any other season because its warmer outside. I don't think albino plants can't do photosynthesis.Animals have different pigment color too. A example would be horses they are variations of color in horses.
I read the article about the Pea Aphid. Scientists have discovered that this bug may have the ability to photosynthesize. Normally animals get their carotenoids from eating algae and fungi that naturally synthesize the orange-red compounds, but this bug has managed to copy a fungal carotenoid gene that got into the aphid. Researchers found that insects changed color depending on environmental conditions. The team warns that more research will be needed before we can be sure that aphids truly have photosynthesis-like abilities.
I read the article about the green slug. The green slug is producing his own chlorophyll. The slug is able to do this because it is stealing chlorophyll away from the algae it feeds off of. I think that this is incredibly cool because it shows that living things are evolving into organisms that can perform photosynthesis.
I read the article about the photosynthetic bug called the pea aphids, if these bugs can actually perform photosynthesis they would be the first animal who can do this. Animals typically have to obtain a pigment called carotenoids by eating plants. This bug is able to produce these pigments on its own, just like plants are able to do. They think happened, is a fungal gene got into the aphids and was copied several times. After conducting research they found that different amounts of carotenoids when the aphids are placed in different environments, showing that there's a good chance it can photosynthesize. The only problem is that it hasn't been proven that aphids can perform photosynthesis, more research has to be conducted to prove that.
I read the article "Bionic Plants Offer Superpowered Photosynthesis." This article was about how plants waste more sunlight than they use. To solve this inconvenience, biochemists implanted single-walled carbon nanotubes into chloroplast. This boosts photosynthesis rates three times higher. I thought that this was a great idea to help photosynthesis, but worried how it can decrease the oxygen produced by the plant.
I watched the video. Yes, fall is my favorite season because of the wonderful color changing leaves and I love the weather. Who doesn’t love wearing a sweater? I also learned that plants can be albino if the lack chlorophyll. These plants have to eat off of other plants and if they can’t they die. Before this, I had no idea why plants change colors, but now I know.
Option 2- I read the first article about how scientists are figuring out ways to supercharge chloroplasts. The problem they found was that the chloroplasts in plants were only using about 10% of the energy released by the sun. They were wasting the heat (Infrared) and green light given off. So, to fix this they inserted nano tubes into each chloroplast of isolated plant cells as well as alive plants. The result was a triple in photosynthesis when compared to normal chloroplasts.
The article I read informs on the photosynthetic abilities of a tiny bug. Like plants, it is able to harvest sunlight and use it as energy to function and live. It produces a pigment that is responsible for structure and vitamins, called carotenoids. This bug is the subject of thorough research and has potential to be a huge breakthrough in the world of biology.
I thought that is was neat that plants accepted the modifications that the Botanists put in. I thought that the plants would have rejected them without extensive research. Either way, it is paving a way towards cleaner and more efficient photosynthesis. There is endless ways these carbon nanotubes could be used. They could be put into crops so that they would be healthier or they could put these plants in an area where there is no plant life and have primary succession take place.
Today I read "Tiny Green Bug May Be First Photosynthetic Animal"(Brown 1). I chose to read this article because of the entreating title. This article basically suggested That a bug was found that is potentially photosynthetic. Due to scientific studies, this theory of a photosynthetic bug has not yet been confirmed, but is undergoing many tests that may potentially confirm the existence of a photosynthetic creature. Personally the article showed to me, progression in the world of scientific studies. The reason I have come to this conclusion is because of the rapid growth in the thought process of scientists. For example " several decades ago nobody would have thought of a potential synthetic bug that can create its own energy, because of the lack in scientific resources and tools we have today.
I love fall! To me it is one of the best seasons. Its pretty and kind of chilly. I think this guy did a good job talking about why leaves change color but he didnt mention the yellow accessory pigment he only brought up red and orange. I think that animals do have different pigments that one another because you have see dogs that have black hair or white or brown and sometimes red and its the same with people where we all have different skin pigments. I think plants can be albino because they don´t necessarily need their colors to work they just need light rays to reflect off of something. sometimes people are albino and they are living things so why cant a plant be and still live and produce.
I read the article about Pea Aphids possibly being the only animal being able to photosynthesize, which is pretty amazing. These aphids possess the ability to make their own carotenoids. That orange-ish pigment is what gives the aphids color in the optimal environment. The study of ATP levels in these different colored aphids resulted in evidence supporting the theory of them being able to do photosynthesis. The aphids likely have the power to absorb energy from the sunlight for photosynthesis as it requires sunlight and the orange aphids left in the light produced much more ATP than those left in the dark.
I read about the tiny green bug. This bug can harvest sunlight and use it for matoblic purposes. They can create there own carotenoids. Carotenoids are responsible for the body color. I think this bug will be a big break through.
ReplyDeleteI read the same article and I thought it was pretty cool. I also think this bug will change some things we look and learn about in science, and I believe there may be even more species that we haven't found that can photosynthesize just like this bug.
DeleteI read this article too, and I agree with you about how this could be a big breakthrough in science.
DeleteI read about something similar, except occurring in sea slugs, and they can actually carry out photosynthesis. I wonder if this is a new thing occurring in animals, and how it might change our view on photosynthesis and the classification of organisms.
DeleteI read about the tiny green bug and I also agree with how you said it will be a huge breakthrough.
DeleteAdam,
ReplyDeleteWay to go! First comment of 2016. Would you want to be able to create your own caretenoids? Why do you think the bug will be a big break through? Do you think it would be cool to use the sun to increase your metabolism? Would everyone that wanted to diet move to California?
Option #1--
ReplyDeleteThe guy said that the leaves are the ‘powerhouse’ of the tree, and then take in sunlight, which is true, but then went on to say that chlorophyll produces energy for the tree. FALSE! Thylakoids take in energy. Reactions take place inside the Thylakoids which look like the stacks of pancakes, that are more formally called grana. I am not a fall person, but a summer person because school is out and it is warm out. There is such a thing as albino plants, and no, they cannot take in sunlight and turn it into food, therefore, they have to steal food from other roots if they are connected, or starve, and die. Yes, animals are also known to have pigment in their cells. For example, the budgerigar, with a yellow head, and a green body.
I often watch Discovery Science on my free time but they tend to slip up a lot (especially with paleontology). The narrator even slips up in the beginning by saying plants produce their own energy instead of saying they get energy from the sun to make their own food. After a little research I was surprised to find albinism possible in plants but with the distinct difference that it can reduce the effectivity of the chloroplasts. But plants can’t just be albino, just like animals, plants can have all ranges of pigment mutation like melanism (extreme number of pigments) and leucism (reduced amount of pigment). Some examples of non-human animals with pigment disorders include: a half albino, half normal african rock python; http://tinyurl.com/zdqsqbr, a melanistic adelie peinguin; http://tinyurl.com/jgjn86q, and most impresivley an albino lowland gorrila named “Snowflake”; http://tinyurl.com/glfzaqb
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Albino plants before either. I think they look just as cool as albino animals. Too bad albino organisms have a hard life.
DeleteI love the melanistic penguin. I think it would make a cute stuffed animal.
DeleteI watch discovery news sometimes too.
DeleteInstead of watching the video, I chose to an the article. The article I chose to read was about a bug that has photosynthesis-like abilities. It is the only bug known to man (as of now) that has the ability to harvest the sunlight for metabolic purposes. I thought this was pretty interesting because this could change the way we look at consumers and producers. Since bugs are primary consumers, this bug could possibly change the way ecological pyramids and chains are formed with it being the primary producer instead of the consumer, because of its ability to photosynthesis. And just thinking about how a little bug could have a possibly big impact on the science world, is pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that it was interesting that this is the only bug that has the ability to harvest sunlight for metabolic purposes. Could this bug have other impacts on the environment?
DeleteIt is really neat how other living things can use the same ability as plants too.
DeleteI read the article about the tiny green bug. These bugs (pea aphids) can create their own carotenoids like plants. The carotenoids are responsible for the bugs color, and depending on the season and the environment the bug may change colors. The color of the bug also affected the amount of ATP made by the bug which really surprised me. These bugs may be able to do photosynthesis, but more research needs to be done. This article really surprised me and I think this could be a major breakthrough in science.
ReplyDeleteI think it is totally cool that the color of the aphid affects the amount of ATP it can generate.
DeleteThe problem in the introduction is the guys shirt says cat in the box instead of cat in the hat and I do like fall cause I like to know that the change in season is coming. And there is albino plants but they are dead which means they don't do photosybthesis
ReplyDeleteDean first of all weak assignment. Also, i thought that didn't show your knowledge of the video. Good post though just try to show a little more.
DeleteJack...be nice to Dean. He is your friend!
DeleteI agree with Jack; however, you did do a good job spelling photosynthesis. There is always room to improve.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI completely agree with Jack; at best this was a sub-par comment. Your words do an injustice to all plants. I'm not mad, but I am very disappointed.
DeleteFall happens to be one of my favorite seasons because of the clothes that I wear when it's cooler outside, but my favorite season is spring because I love to see green again after a long time of bare, dead looking trees. Albino plants in fact do exist. One problem though, they cannot perform photosynthesis. They rarely live, but when they do it's because they ate off of another plant. An example would be a redwood tree. They share a root system with their mother tree, and the nutrients get cycled through. Animals, like humans, have different amounts of pigments in their cells. An example would be some dogs. In the same species of dog, many color variations occur.
ReplyDeleteI agree, fall is also my favorite season. And it's so weird albino plants exist. It's such a rarity but they seem so cool. Hopefully in the future we will be able to keep them alive longer and by themselves.
DeleteI found it surprising that albino plants cannot perform photosynthesis, having to rely on other plants for survival. Do you think these plants will ever be able to perform photosynthesis in the future, creating food for themselves?
DeleteI agree. Spring is the best. Its just so refreshing and seeing those colors after so long is so cool. Theres always this one day in the spring when im waliking home from school and all the green is back. I look around and realise that its all back arching over the side walks in all its glory.
DeleteI read the article about the Green Sea Slug. Scientists have recently found a green sea slug that can take the chloroplast from green algae and in result can now use photosynthesis making it half animal half plant. This new discovery can lead to possibly amazing inventions. What if humans can find a way to take and use chloroplast? I believe the article is extremely well written and very interesting because this now poses a huge question in cellular science. If animal cells can now contain chloroplast this completely changes all we know about cells and their organelles. In fact, once the slug consumes one meal of the algae they never have to eat again the only have to sunbath.
ReplyDeleteI think that not eating and just laying in the sun might be fun, but only for a little while. I like food too much to give up eating.
DeleteWow that's crazy! What would people do if people could do photosynthesis? But I agree I would not want to give up food!
DeleteI read about the tiny green bug. The bug is able to use the sunlight for metablolic functions.They can create there own carotenoids.Which is usually obtained from eating food. Carotenoids are responsible for the body color.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the tiny green bug? I think it's cool how they use pigments too.
DeleteI also read about the tiny green bug and I think this discovery is very cool. It is amazing how they can produce their own carotenoids.
DeleteIn the article about the tiny green bug, researchers show that pea aphids have the ability to harvest sunlight, and use the energy for metabolic purposes. They are the only species of animal to have photosynthesis-like powers. Biologists discovered that pea aphids can make their own carotenoids, just like a plant. Therefore, carotenoids are responsible for aphid body color, leading to the realization that insects change color based upon environmental conditions. In warmer weather aphids make carotenois that come out orange, and in cooler weather aphids make carotenoids that come out green. Finally, green aphids make more ATP than white ones, while orange aphids make more ATP when exposed to sunlight than when kept in the dark.
ReplyDeleteGrace,
DeleteExcellent work. Do you know what eats aphids? Isn't it cool that we saw carotenoids in our lab today?
I did not read about the bug and I didn't know any of that, so I think that's amazing!! Thanks so much! Your post is very informative and well written :)
DeleteI didn't read this article but that's so cool that pea aphids can make their own carotenoids. Plants are boring but some can be cool.
DeleteI read the article about green sea slugs and how they have adopted some of the photosynthetic traits of plants. Scientists have discovered that a type of sea slug that has borrowed genes form the algae it eats, allowing it to actually perform photosynthesis. The slug takes in the chloroplasts from the algae from eating them, but then moves the still intact cell parts into some of the slug’s own cells. This is a really cool discovery because of the fact that we didn’t know this before, and it completely changes the view scientists have on photosynthesis. An animal that has the traits of a plant also messes with the idea of scientific organization, where the most basic classification is plant or animal, and now the two are joined. It is not every day you hear about something as cool and revolutionary as this, and I have started to wonder if this is happening among other animals (or plants) and if this discovery could be the first in a whole series that changes much of science.
ReplyDeleteIan,
DeleteGreat job! Do you know where the sea slugs live? Are they found along the equator?
I agree with you in that this discovery could be the first of many to changes in science.
DeleteThough I did not read the article you pretty much summed it up. Nice informative post.
DeleteIt is really interesting that this happened through nature, but it can also be forced. Chicago's Field Museum has an army of frogs with neon fish eyes. It would be interesting to see if, through the same process, photosynthetic genes could be inserted into other animals.
DeleteWow! I can't believe such a creature exist!
DeleteInteresting slug, I just read the article on Bionic plants and how their chloroplasts were modified. I wonder if such a procedure would also be feasible on this critter.
DeleteI think it is very interesting to see how animals are adapting to use photosynthesis. I think this could be the start to many different adaptations.
DeleteI read the article on how a tiny green bug may be the first photosynthetic animal. Pea aphids are an animal that may have the ability to use gathered sunlight for their metabolism. If this in fact is true, it would make it the only animal known to have this characteristic of photosynthesis. This interests me very much as scientists continue to discover new research into the amazing abilities of unique plants and animals around us, and we can be amazed at what is found. In regular environments these pea aphids turn orange due to making a good amount of carotenoids, which are responsible for their body color. But with limited resources and not much carotenoid, they are mostly white. Knowing this, experiments showed that green aphids make significantly more ATP than white ones.
ReplyDeleteAbby,
DeleteThis is very well-written. Nice job. How big is the pea aphid?
I find it interesting that the white pea aphids have more ATP than the orange pea aphids since the darker the color the more the sunlight will be attracted to the object.
DeleteI didn't read the article but found your comment very interesting, especially how a bug (which is an animal) that can photosynthesize. It is odd that the lighter pea aphid produces more ATP.
DeleteEven though I didn't read this article, I found it very interesting that a bug can
DeleteThe pea aphids are the only known animal to use photosynthesis for themselves. Carotenoids is the pigment that is crucial for animals. Carotenoids come from plants being eaten by animals. Except for the pea aphids that can generate their own carotenoids without relying on plants. Later research showed that the green pea aphids have more ATP then the white pea aphids.
ReplyDeleteKatie,
DeleteHow do you feel about carotenoids after our lab today? Pretty cool to think that they are in aphids!
I read this article as well and thought it was very interesting to learn how these animals may be able to photosynthesize for themselves. Do you think that there are other animals that could do this?
DeleteI read the same article and I was surprised to learn that white pea aphids had less ATP than green pea aphids. If they are the same bug I would think that they have the same amount of ATP.
DeleteI watched the video and learned that leaves change color based on their pH level. During fall, the leaves also let the caretenoids show because they know winter is coming so they allow the chlorophyll to break down. Personally i love fall. Cold weather, sports, nature, it's just great. Spring to me just seems gross with all of the mud and rain and also because it's coming right off of winter which I also like.
ReplyDeleteReally Jack, not capitalizing your "i"s. Your in algebra two with trig and you are a smart kid, I expect a little more but, great post.
DeleteI agree with Dean, but I too am a lover of cold weather, sports, and nature. Great time.
DeleteI decided to watch the video and something that the narrator gets wrong is that he says that plants make their own energy. They actually get their energy from the sun. After I looked it up I found that pants can be albino! Since they are albino they do not perform photosynthesis they must live off of other plants to survive and if they don't they will die. Like the narrator fall is my favorite season because of all the pretty colors and the crunch of the leaves under your feet.
ReplyDeleteErinn,
DeleteAbsolutely. I cringed when I heard him say that. I am sure he meant to say that they make their own food. Great work.
I read the article about Pea Aphids, which are bugs that can create food for themselves like a plant. A biologist researcher discovered that instead of getting pigments called "Carotenoids" by eating plants, the pea Aphid produced their own. This is because a fungus got into the bug and then was copied. Research then shows that green Pea Aphids produce more ATP than white ones, and orange Pea Aphids produce more ATP in sunlight than in the dark. If Pea Aphids truly have photosynthetic abilities, I think this could change the science and animal world, because animals could start producing their own food instead of eating other plant and animals.
ReplyDeleteI watched the Youtube video. I personally LOVE fall. I love sweater weather and haunted houses, and everything in between. I wish the seasons would go from fall straight to summer. I did some background research on albino plants also. There actually is such thing as an albino plant, although they usually don't live for long. They lack chlorophyll so it can't convert energy from sunlight (photosynthesis). It must eat off of other plants if they want any chance of survival. Most plants are born, grow a little, the run out of food and die.
ReplyDeleteMarissa,
DeleteI also love fall. Then again, I love winter for the snow, spring for the rebirth, summer for summer vacation. I really can't say that there is a season that I don't like. Perhaps there are aspects about each I would change. Like super cold gray days in the winter and too much rain in the spring. Overall, I guess it is good that I live in an area with four seasons. Go Deciduous Forest!
I agree with you, I wished there was only fall and summer, I don't like all the other seasons.
DeleteOverall, I found the Discovery videos very entertaining, even if he messed up in the beginning. Plants are not the "powerhouse" of trees, they contain chloroplasts that make energy for the leaf. Personally, I enjoy fall for aesthetic purposes, but i love the more laid back summer. There is such a thing as albino plants, but they cannot take in sunlight and turn it into food. Thus, they have to steal food from other roots if they are connected. Animals also contain various pigment. For example, chameleon's have specialized cells called chromatophores, which are filled with different pigments.
ReplyDeleteI watched the video and in the video the guy says leaves are the powerhouse of the cell. This is incorrect the powerhouse of the cell is the mitochondria. Yes, there is such thing as an albino plant. Albino plants become albino from the lack of chlorophyll. Which is a big problem considering plants need chlorophyll to convert light to energy. So because of this they can not produce food for themselves. For this reason most albino plants do not live very long. But the Redwood trees in California have made an adaptation so that they are able to survive without photosynthesis. Albino redwoods lean or are attached to a green tree for support. Also they connect their roots with the green tree to basically suck the nutrients like a parasite. I like fall and think the leaves changing is very pretty but I do not like when it gets cold. So I would have to say I like spring better because it means summer is coming soon!
ReplyDeleteI read the article on the tiny green bug. Pea aphids have the ability to harvest sunlight and use that energy for metabolic purposes. Just like a plant, Pea aphids can make carotenoids. Carotenoids are responsible for their body color. And Pea aphids can change their color according to the environmental conditions. Researchers studied the orange aphids carotenoids and suggested that the pigments are linked to a system of electron transfer, where the Pea aphid can get energy from the sun. I think this could be a huge breakthrough in science because this has never happened before with other insects.
ReplyDeleteThe article you read sounds really interesting. It's really cool reading about bugs that are evolving everyday!
DeleteI read this article as well, and I found it really interesting how this bug can produce its own carotenoids.
DeleteWhat I think what would be really cool is that if the scientists were able to find a way to apply this to other insects and eventually humans.
DeleteI read the article about the green sea slugs and how they have taken and used photosynthesizing organelles from the algae under the sea. Scientists discovered that when the sea slugs eat the algae, they are borrowing genes form it in order to be able to partake in photosynthesis. These green sea slugs called Elysia Chlorotica are the first animals to make chlorophyll like a plant and perform photosynthesis. The slugs have acquired enough of the algae’s genes to make an entire system for photosynthesis. Since these slugs now perform photosynthesis, they are now able to manufacture chlorophyll on their own. This discovery is probably strange for the scientists because they have been so used to living organisms either be categorized as plants or animals. It seems to me as though the green sea slug is somewhat breaking these rules because now we know that they obtain characteristics of both plant and animals.
ReplyDeleteI read about the tiny green bug that may be the first photosynthetic animal which was very interesting to me. The bug is called a pea aphid. Carotenoids is the pigment that is crucial for animals and this bug has. The pea aphids generate their own carotenoids unlike the other animals that get them from plants.One of the researches showed that green pea aphids had more ATP than white pea aphids.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Green Sea Slug Is Part Animal, Part Plant" and all i have to say is wow. This is incredible that it can do photosynthesis. Could you imagine what we as humans could do if we had this Information. We could have better energy in are selves or we could use it to further improve are solar panels or maybe even use it to give rocket ship a boost of energy. Eventually we have to find someway to further are life.
ReplyDeleteI agree! If new technology was developed to adapt to this discovery, the possibilities are endless. Who knows, humans could have the potential to harness the ability of photosynthesis in the near future.
DeleteIf photosynthesis could be turned into energy by mankind it would be a massive breakthrough and we would have unlimited energy and the uses would be endless.
DeleteI just love fall so much. It is my favorite season because the leave are a very cool color. I also enjoy the pumpkin spice drink that comes out during fall at Starbucks. Chlorophyll a plays a big part in the changing of the leaves color. When the temperature drops the chlorophyll breaks down which reveals accessory pigments that reflect orange and red color. There is such thing as Albino plants. Albino plants lack green chlorophyll. Albino plants are awesome.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you like the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
DeleteI agree with the guy that fall is the best. I love the bonfires and sweaters and everything that has to do with fall. I guess I kinda of like the leaves changing but they aren't the highlight because that means winter is coming and I don't like winter. I love spring because the leaves change and that means summer is coming and I love summer! I looked up albino plants and found out they do exist and they are so cool. They might not be able to live as long as other plants but they do exist. Overall, I think it's so cool that plants can live partially without chlorophyll that helps them survive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said because fall is probably the best season and it's also really cool that albino plants exist. I looked up pictures of albino plants and they look really cool!
DeleteI found this video a little informative since we already did most of the stuff in class. The narrator is incorrect by saying the leaf is the powerhouse of the tree. ATP and NADPH would be the power. I love fall because of the leaf piles, the football season, the baseball playoffs, etc. It is probably my 2nd favorite season right after Summer. Albino plants do exist though they lack chlorophyll.
ReplyDeleteThat's surprising that this video would make such a big mistake and not have it corrected. Also the fall is a very nice time of year, especially because it's the football season.
DeleteFall is my favorite season. I love everything about it, the cold weather, the pretty trees, obviously I love sweater weather, and everything else it brings. Since the guy in the video didn’t talk much about albino plants, I looked it up. Albino plants are a real thing but they are not capable of photosynthesis. Most albino plants only last for a couple of days with the exception of redwood trees in California. These trees can sort of steal food from other plants through root connections, since the problem with albino plants is food production, this leads to albino redwood trees surviving. However they are still extremely rare and only live for about one hundred years, which is nothing compared to it’s fellow trees.
ReplyDeleteAs I watched the video "Why Do Leaves Change Color In The Fall?", I noticed that the man said that leaves were the “powerhouse” of trees, which is obviously not true. However, the video was pretty well made as it did explained how leaves change color and why fruits and veggies are in the color that they are. Autumn is a wonderful and colorful season that gives us the opportunity to see the beauty of leaves.I must say that the season fall is neat,but it is not my favorite. My favorite season is no other than spring since it is not too cold and not too warm. Not to mention that I love the color green and that I always look forward for my tulips to grow.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you about seeing the beauty in the colorful leaves. I really like being a little more knowledgable about my favorite aspect of fall. I also agree with you that spring is a nice season although fall will always be just a bit better in my eyes.
DeleteI watched the video, in it the narrator says that the leaves provide energy for the trees; this is incorrect because the leaves are only able to absorb sunlight's energy through the pigments within them, and then produce glucose through photosynthesis which is then used by the plant as food which ultimately is what provides the energy for the tree. I do like fall because of the temperature and the things the temp. brings with it like sweaters and cocoa. Albino plants do exist, they're classified as so because they lack in most or all pigments such as chlorophyll which affects their ability to photosynthesize. Some albino plants, such as the albino redwood tree, are able to live through acting as a parasite by joining roots with a plant nearby and stealing nutrients.
ReplyDeleteTiny bugs known as pea aphids may be the first animal to have powers similar to photosynthesis. The extensive amount of the carotenoids pigments that they create allows them to harvest sunlight for energy. It appears that a fungal gene was copied inside of an aphid and then reproduced into the next generation. The bugs now appear in different color based on how much carotenoid they produce. The cold makes them produce a lot of carotenoids to turn them green, cold will make them produce less and turn white. Further research then proved that the green ones, with more carotenoids, will then produce a substantial more amount of ATP then ones with less carotenoids, the white ones. I think this is pretty strange actually, that an animal could react like a plant, I hope there will be further research on this subject.
ReplyDeleteI read about howhat they made plants super bionic plants. It'seems cool because it looks cool but it can also do photosynthesis faster. They take out pars and put them into sugary solutions and then it gets wierd. They put nano tubes in and coat them in DNA. Some benefits could be that it can remove some oxygen from the plant. Overall I thought this was very interesting that there are in a way living breathing robots in a way.
ReplyDeleteI chose to read the second article for this week’s blog response. It was about a species of insect known as the pea aphid and how they might be able to use photosynthesis to acquire their energy. One huge discovery about the aphids is that they can make a special pigment called carotenoids (usually in plants which animals have to eat to gain the benefits). In addition scientists found out that the carotenoids dictate the color of the aphids depending on what kind of climate they are living in. For instance, they are green in colder areas and white in places where they don’t have access to many of their resources. More research needs to be done before scientists can give a definitive answer as to if pea aphids are capable of photosynthesis, but they’re off to a brilliant start. I think it’s really interesting and cool.
ReplyDeleteI think it's very interesting that animals might be able to photosynthesize; if they can, this concept would mess with the basic organization of biology which classifies organisms as either plants or animals, because these photosynthesizing animals would kind of be both.
DeleteI read the article on the Pea Aphid, also known as the tiny green bug. This bug can produce its own carotenoids which is a pigment. Carotenoids change the color of the bug. The color depends on the amount of carotenoids being produced. The amount of carotenoids being produced depends on the environment conditions. So the color of the Aphid depends on the environment conditions it is living in. This is really cool that this bug can do this. I hope this discovery leads to more discoveries of carotenoid producing bugs. I would love to see a video of different Aphids living in different environment conditions and seeing their different colors. That would be a really cool video. I really liked this article and i want to research more about carotenoid producing bugs.
ReplyDeleteI would also myself like to research more about this scientific marvel
DeleteI read the article about how scientists are attempting to reengineer plants with the use of nanotechnology to cause mitochondria to have a more efficient process of photosynthesis. As it turns out, chloroplasts are not the most efficient at doing their jobs, they don't even absorb green light or the majority of the sun's heat through infrared light. To try and improve this natural process, biologists have implanted carbon nanotubes in the walls of the mitochondria to allow the transport of molecules that may increase production. Surprisingly, just the nanotubes alone for some reason showed triple the efficiency of average plants. I think this technology, well being extremely new and expensive offers many benefits to how food and agriculture might be one day.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the article on the Green Sea Slug that is half plant half animal, I was very intrigued. To think of all the differences between plant cells and animal cells (from last semester) and finding out the can make make up half of an organism each? I think that's pretty insane. If humans were half plant and could photosynthesize food and energy for our selfs, the world would be so different. People would want to live in sunnier places (if they currently lived in the cold).
ReplyDeleteFor this weeks blog, I chose to read an article about a green slug that can go through the photosynthesis process. The slugs do this by producing a pigment called chlorophyll the same way plants do. Although these slugs can go through the photosynthesis process, researchers have found that the slugs may be getting the chloroplasts from algae plants. I found this article very interesting and would like to learn more about this slug. I really liked how well they thoroughly explained how this slug is capable to do these things.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Bionic Plants Offer Superpowered Photosynthesis" by David Biello, and it explained how life as we know it would not exist without the abundance of plants. I thought he was very in depth in terms of discussing the ultimate reasons for chloroplasts. It was interesting when he mentioned "After all, if the nanoparticles can boost photosynthesis in those simple cellular organisms, then fuel, food and other products derived from algae might become more viable," (Biello 1) because I thought that algae was just as capable at photosynthesis as any other plant. But, with the technology we have now, we can discover how to improve and create new and endless possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about the green bug. What's interesting about it is that it soaks up sunlight and uses it for matabolic purposes. With this new discovery, scientists have realized that there may be more organisms like this. If they can harness the abilities of this bug, humans may be able to benefit from this ability also. What a strange, yet advanced world it would be if humans could take advantage of energy from the sun.
ReplyDeleteDepending on how we collect the energy it could be massively helpful or maybe a bit harmful.
DeleteI read the article about biotic plants, and I found it very interesting actually. It told me about how plants only use about ten percent of useable light from the sun in photosynthesis. So scientists are finding a way to insert nano tubes into leaves that will help vastly improve photosynthesis. The experiment worked, and helped single chloroplasts or ones still in leaves produce more food from sun light than before. The tubes were also found to be a great chemical detector! And scientists are now thinking about performing a similar experiment on the roots of a plant!
ReplyDeleteIf they only use 10% what happens to the other 90%?
DeleteI watched the video. The leaves aren't "The powerhouse", they perform photosynthesis which has multiple products and bi-products. I don't like fall because there is nothing to do but rake up leaves. Spring isn't any better, because it just rains for 3 months. I can't decide what my favorite month is, winter or summer. I am a hockey player so I like it when everything is dead and the water is frozen, but in the summer I have fun jet-skiing.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the video, the mistake that was made was,he said that leaves were the powerhouse of the tree, which isn't true. Although there were some wrong facts in the video the video did explain why leaves change in the fall. Fall is may favorites season because of the leaves and how it's cool to see the leaves begin to change colors. I also like fall because it means that my birthday is coming up.
ReplyDeleteI read about a bug called a pea aphid. I learned that it might be the first animal to have photosynthetic features. The carotenoids are responsible for the creatuses body color. Studies show that when the pea aphid is born white, it has low levels of carotenoids, when it's green it has levels, and when orange has high levels in the light. It's not fully proven yet but scientists say it might be a feature for when the weather is bad. Like a back up.
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, albino plants do exist. They are simply plants which lack the pigments, and therefore cannot carry out photosynthesis. Some albino plants, however, can survive by "stealing" the food from another plant. I found this interesting because the plant is being a sort of parasite. I personally like spring, because it marks the end of winter, and I really like all the things that come with it. Whether it's the budding leaves on the trees, or seeing the world turn green again, it is one of my favorite seasons.
ReplyDeleteI love the reds and yellows of fall but no one can resist the perfect greens of spring. Everything is easier in spring, when the chlorophyll is at its higest potential and making everything a perfect green. Spring is just fresher and more uplifting. However the leaves are NOT the powerhouse of the tree. They may be the center of photosynthesis but not the powerhouse. Im not totally sure but i think there are albino plants which i think is super cool. They dont have pigment which makes me wonder about photosynthesis. I think this is a really cool unit because before this i wasnt aware that igments played such a big part in photosynthesis.
ReplyDeleteIf the leaves are not the power house than what part is?
DeleteI read the article about the bug that can photosynthesize. I think that it’s an interesting concept and that animals that can photosynthesize could be a big breakthrough in the science world.
ReplyDeleteI read the Bionic Plants Offer Superpowered Photosynthesis and I found it interesting that plants take up 10% of the earths sunlight.Also that plants can be modified by carbon nanotubes.I think that if photosynthesis is modified it could damage the plant.Then again it could super modify the plant making it more valuable.I belive that more research should go into this study to see the results.
ReplyDeletei personal like fall but probably for different reasons then other people. The main reason that i like fall is because that means winter is coming and I can go skiing but that is besides the point. Also if plants were albino I'm not sure if they would be able to do photosynthesis very well if they would be even able to. The pigments in chloroplast help the leaf attract sunlight and if it does not have those pigments i might not be able attract sunlight.
ReplyDeleteIn he begining of this video this guy claims that the leaves are the powerhouse of the tree while that is true, he talks about how chlorophyll produces energy which is false. Chlorophyll just reflects the green light. Personally I love fall. The colors, the crisp air, and of course the golf season! As much as I do love fall, I would say winter is my favorite season. Curling up by the fire with a nice blanket reading Swedish children stories is how I like to spend my time.
ReplyDeleteFall is one of my favorite times of the year because of the chilly air and the pretty leaves. Although I do really like spring because winter is always to bad it really is refreshing. I do not think albino plants are a thing because there is no white spectrum of light to reflect. So photosynthesis would be nearly impossible to do.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about the Tiny Green Bug. This bug is able to harvest sunlight, and use the energy for metabolic purposes. Whats interesting is it can produce its own carotenoids, which is a pigment that is needed for basic functions like bone growth, production of vitamins, and vision. These carotenoids are usually gathered by eating plants but this bug is able to do it on its own. I found this article to be very interesting, and I would want to do more research on this bug.
ReplyDeleteI read the article on the tiny green bug and I think this article is really interesting. This discovery is going to be very important to scientists. This changes everything we know because we thought this was impossible. I am mind blown by this and I would like to learn more about how this happens and if there is any other organism like it.
ReplyDeleteI saw the video and the mistake that the guy did was that he said that the leafs were the powerhouse of the tree. I prefer summer over fall or any other season because its warmer outside. I don't think albino plants can't do photosynthesis.Animals have different pigment color too. A example would be horses they are variations of color in horses.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about the Pea Aphid. Scientists have discovered that this bug may have the ability to photosynthesize. Normally animals get their carotenoids from eating algae and fungi that naturally synthesize the orange-red compounds, but this bug has managed to copy a fungal carotenoid gene that got into the aphid. Researchers found that insects changed color depending on environmental conditions. The team warns that more research will be needed before we can be sure that aphids truly have photosynthesis-like abilities.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about the green slug. The green slug is producing his own chlorophyll. The slug is able to do this because it is stealing chlorophyll away from the algae it feeds off of. I think that this is incredibly cool because it shows that living things are evolving into organisms that can perform photosynthesis.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about the photosynthetic bug called the pea aphids, if these bugs can actually perform photosynthesis they would be the first animal who can do this. Animals typically have to obtain a pigment called carotenoids by eating plants. This bug is able to produce these pigments on its own, just like plants are able to do. They think happened, is a fungal gene got into the aphids and was copied several times. After conducting research they found that different amounts of carotenoids when the aphids are placed in different environments, showing that there's a good chance it can photosynthesize. The only problem is that it hasn't been proven that aphids can perform photosynthesis, more research has to be conducted to prove that.
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Bionic Plants Offer Superpowered Photosynthesis." This article was about how plants waste more sunlight than they use. To solve this inconvenience, biochemists implanted single-walled carbon nanotubes into chloroplast. This boosts photosynthesis rates three times higher. I thought that this was a great idea to help photosynthesis, but worried how it can decrease the oxygen produced by the plant.
ReplyDeleteI watched the video. Yes, fall is my favorite season because of the wonderful color changing leaves and I love the weather. Who doesn’t love wearing a sweater? I also learned that plants can be albino if the lack chlorophyll. These plants have to eat off of other plants and if they can’t they die. Before this, I had no idea why plants change colors, but now I know.
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ReplyDeleteI read the first article about how scientists are figuring out ways to supercharge chloroplasts. The problem they found was that the chloroplasts in plants were only using about 10% of the energy released by the sun. They were wasting the heat (Infrared) and green light given off. So, to fix this they inserted nano tubes into each chloroplast of isolated plant cells as well as alive plants. The result was a triple in photosynthesis when compared to normal chloroplasts.
The article I read informs on the photosynthetic abilities of a tiny bug. Like plants, it is able to harvest sunlight and use it as energy to function and live. It produces a pigment that is responsible for structure and vitamins, called carotenoids. This bug is the subject of thorough research and has potential to be a huge breakthrough in the world of biology.
ReplyDeleteI thought that is was neat that plants accepted the modifications that the Botanists put in. I thought that the plants would have rejected them without extensive research. Either way, it is paving a way towards cleaner and more efficient photosynthesis. There is endless ways these carbon nanotubes could be used. They could be put into crops so that they would be healthier or they could put these plants in an area where there is no plant life and have primary succession take place.
ReplyDeleteToday I read "Tiny Green Bug May Be First Photosynthetic Animal"(Brown 1). I chose to read this article because of the entreating title. This article basically suggested That a bug was found that is potentially photosynthetic. Due to scientific studies, this theory of a photosynthetic bug has not yet been confirmed, but is undergoing many tests that may potentially confirm the existence of a photosynthetic creature. Personally the article showed to me, progression in the world of scientific studies. The reason I have come to this conclusion is because of the rapid growth in the thought process of scientists. For example " several decades ago nobody would have thought of a potential synthetic bug that can create its own energy, because of the lack in scientific resources and tools we have today.
ReplyDeleteI love fall! To me it is one of the best seasons. Its pretty and kind of chilly. I think this guy did a good job talking about why leaves change color but he didnt mention the yellow accessory pigment he only brought up red and orange. I think that animals do have different pigments that one another because you have see dogs that have black hair or white or brown and sometimes red and its the same with people where we all have different skin pigments. I think plants can be albino because they don´t necessarily need their colors to work they just need light rays to reflect off of something. sometimes people are albino and they are living things so why cant a plant be and still live and produce.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about Pea Aphids possibly being the only animal being able to photosynthesize, which is pretty amazing. These aphids possess the ability to make their own carotenoids. That orange-ish pigment is what gives the aphids color in the optimal environment. The study of ATP levels in these different colored aphids resulted in evidence supporting the theory of them being able to do photosynthesis. The aphids likely have the power to absorb energy from the sunlight for photosynthesis as it requires sunlight and the orange aphids left in the light produced much more ATP than those left in the dark.
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