Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Glycogen

The starches in foods such as this potato help rebuild and replenish the glycogen in our bodies. Glycogen is a polysaccharide that is used for energy storage, mainly carbohydrates, in animals. It is primarily found in muscle cells and stores the glucose the body doesn't use for later.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Exoskeleton

This picture of a spider is an example of an organism that has an exoskeleton. Organisms such as spiders, grasshoppers, ants, beetles, and other insects and arachnids all have exoskeletons. Exoskeletons are hard, shell-like, external coverings that provide protection and support.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Modified Stem of a Plant

In this picture is an example of a modified stem of a plant. This stem has been modified by the growing of thin, white, hair-like bristles along the outside of the stem. Bristles like these on modified stems have the purpose of adding protection, controlling the plant's temperature, and attracting insects that benefit the plant.

Pollen

In this picture is what is called pollen. The pollen in the picture is the yellow, granular substance found on the anther of the flower. Pollen's grains contain the male reproductive cells of the flower, that are fertilized by other flowers as they are dispersed by wind, water, or other organisms.

Modified Leaf of a Plant

This is a picture of celery. Celery is an example of a modified leaf of a plant. Leaves on plants might be modified to support the plant, protect the plant from bugs and other things that might harm or eat it, and/or to assist in photosynthesis. With celery, its petioles, the stalks we eat, are modified to contain large amounts of water.

Phloem

This gymnosperm contains a living tissue called phloem. Phloem is a vascular tissue that conducts nutrients and sugar from a plant's leaves produced by photosynthesis and disperses it to other parts of the plant. All vascular plants, some examples being gymnosperms, angiosperms, and ferns, contain phloem.

C3 Plant

Lawn grass is an example of a C3 plant. The Calvin cycle for C3 plants takes place in the chloroplast. C3 plants take in carbon dioxide through the stomata, and after photosynthesis takes place, they release oxygen back into the air. The vast majority of green plants are C3 plants.

Hydrophobic

This is a picture of vegetable oil, which is an example of a hydrophobic substance. Hydrophobic substances such as oil do not mix well with water. The non-polar molecules of hydrophobic substances repel against the polar molecules of water.

Fermentation

This is a picture of bread, which undergoes a process called fermentation when it is made. Fermentation is the chemical breakdown of complex compounds such as carbohydrates or sugars, which in turn releases energy. In bread, yeast ferments the bread by converting carbohydrates into carbon dioxide, which produces a gas that causes the bread to rise. 

Friday, June 19, 2015

Tropism

This is an example of tropism. Tropism is characterized by an organism's response and orientation to an external stimulus. This flower responds to the sunlight by bending and curving towards it, leaning out of the shade to increase the amount of sunlight it receives.

Frond

This is a picture of a frond. Fronds are the leaflike part of fern plants. Their telltale appearance, finely divided with small symmetrical leaves, makes them easy to identify. As seen in the picture, the leaves of fronds from ferns appear to identically mirror each other.

Long-Day Plant

This a picture of carnations, which are examples of long-day plants. Long-day plants grow after being exposed to sunlight for a time that passes their critical time period. Carnations are long-day plants because they begin to grow in the springtime and reach full blossom in the summer, when they can receive the most sunlight available.

Flower Ovary

In this picture is an example of where a flower ovary is located. It is found towards the bottom of the flower where the petals join together, and it is what the style connects to. The ovary is the third component of the flower's carpel, which consists of the stigma, style, and ovary. The flower ovary is the reproductive organ of a flower.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Ethylene

This apple contains ethylene. Ethylene is a chemical compound that promotes growth and exiting of dormancy. The ethylene in this apple is present as it ripens.

Detritivore

This worm is an example of a detritivore. Detritivores use organic waste, such as decomposing pants and animals, as their main food source. This worm is a detritivore because it finds nourishment in organic waste found in soil. 

Gymnosperm Cone

This is an example of an gymnosperm cone. Gymnosperm cones are the reproductive part of the tree, and rely on wind for pollination. Pine cones are the most common type of gymnosperm cones, as they produce the seeds of the tree that are spread by wind.

Population

These flowers are an example of a population. A population is a collective group of species. These flowers are a population because they are group of flowers belonging to the same species/class in the same particular area.

Cuticle Layer of a Plant



Seen in this picture is the cuticle layer of a plant. The cuticle layer is a protective layer of film found on many plant leaves. As shown on the leaves, a telltale sign of the cuticle layer of a plant is a shiny reflection and almost slippery texture.

Bilateral Symmetry

This is an example of bilateral symmetry found in many organisms. An animal with a body that has bilateral symmetry can be divided vertically in half and half identical structures and organs. Humans have bilateral symmetry because when vertically divided, each side has identical features: a leg, an arm, and a kidney on each side.

Auxin-Producing Area of a Plant

Pictured in the photo is an example of the Auxin-producing area of a plant. Auxin is a plant hormone that promotes growth and elongation. It is also the reason why flowers and other plants are able to curve to receive more sunlight. The flower bud in the picture produces Auxin as it blooms.

Stigma and Style of Carpel

This picture includes the stigma and style of a flower. These flower parts, along with the ovary, make up the flower's carpel. The stigma is the receptive end of the flower, and the style connects the stigma to the flower's ovary. In the picture at the very end of the long stem-like structure, the style, is a small white tip, which is the stigma.

Connective Tissue

The elbow in the human body consist of connective tissue. Connective tissue includes different tissues that connect, attach, and bind to other tissues and organs. The elbow and its connective tissue connect the two large bones of the arm together and allow them to move harmoniously.

Autotroph

This is an example of an autotroph. Autotrophs are organisms that use sunlight and chemical processes to produce nutrients to thrive on. This is a plant, and plants are known as producers. Producers are considered autotrophs because they use inorganic materials to self-nourish.

Anther and Filament of Stamen

This is an example of an anther and filament of stamen. These parts of the flower produce pollen that is later collected by pollinators and spread to other flowers. In the picture, you can see the pollen that is collected on the anther. The anther is being held up the long stem called the filament to give pollinators easier access to the pollen.

Amniotic Egg

This chicken egg is an example of an amniotic egg. An amniotic egg is a type of egg that provides the embryo with nutrients within the shell. These types of eggs are laid by reptiles, amphibians, and certain egg-laying mammals. A chicken egg is an amniotic egg because the chicken embryo is provided with nutrients from thin membranes and a yolk within the shell.