Our Final Goodbyes

Most of the time in class this week was spent in preparation for the final exam. We took that exam today, explaining EVERYTHING about biology. Needless to say, I did not feel confident about it. Even more, I still have to update standards and do some stuff concerning the website. 

However, at this point the deed is done. Biology Class is over. Unless Mr. Quick requires some summer work, or Fitz works with him to continue the blog, this will be my last official update post. I have to say, it's been fun, but all good things must come to an end. 

Goodnight sweet bio.

Lab Report!!!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w-5A2DJaeDUPAblzKSTyiRWqG9M9aaBaarH4Ak49mI/edit

Hormonal

With all the study on plants, and the lab going on, we've been stuffed full of information on those plants and their reproduction. Yay.

Auxins are a group of plant hormones that contribute to "growth and behavioral processes" in the life of a plant. There are four naturally-synthesized auxins in plants:

• Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) -- Plays a role in embryo development, leaf formation, photo- and gravitropism, fruit development, and root development. At a molecular level, it assists with cell enlongation and cell division. Its most important role is that of a signaling molecule in the development of plant organs and the monitoring of growth. 
• 4-Chloroindole-3-Acetic Acid (4-CI-IAA) -- Although little is known about it, this hormone may be referred to as the "death hormone". It promotes the movement of plant nutrients to the seed, starving the plant and preparing the seed itself. 
• Phenylacetic Acid (PAA) -- This has similar effects to the other hormones, promoting plant growth and development. However, PAA is best known for its production of Phenylacetone, an active ingredient in Methamphetamine.   
• Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) -- IBA is found often in leaves and seeds of maize and other plants. Little is known about it, but it may be converted into IAA via β-oxidation. 

Abscisic acid (ABA) is also used for many developmental processes in plants. It is known mostly for its affect on bud dormancy, as well as its affect on plant responses to environmental stress. ABA is a hormone that contributes to the abscission (cutting, shredding) of plant leaves, flowers, or seeds.

When there is an environmental abnormality, ABA takes effect. In the cold, it acts as an inhibitor to the "vascular cambium", meaning it slows plant growth in the cold. When there is little available water in the soil, it causes the leaves to reduce transpiration and conserve water.

Ethylene is a gaseous hormone that is associated with fruit ripening and the "triple response" of the plant, or the avoidance of damage to the seeds. In the protection process, the hormone affects the seed in three different steps:

• It prevents the seedling stem and root from elongating
• It induces the stem and root of the plant to become thicker.
• It bends the stem so that leaves grow horizontally. 

In addition, it also assists with the processes undertaken by the other hormone types, including abscission of leaves and fruit, flower production, budding, and opening, ripening of fruit, and "induction of femaleness in dioecious flowers". 

Most of this information is not from Wikipedia. It's all based on legitimate sources and prior knowledge.

La Flor del Amor

So today we did a blog on flowers.

The color involves a shade of hot pink on the outside, and darker pick and red on the inside. The reproductive anthers are clearly visible, being black on the ends. A pattern of red dots is exuded from the the center outward. It was found outside the admissions building around 1:25 pm.

The flower was two inches across and attached to a bush, that had stems branching out from the center. The bush itself was around 1.5 feet tall. Oddly enough, the flower observed was the only blooming flower on the bush, as the rest had wilted or not yet sprouted. Being in late spring, only an outside force (lack of watering, shade, etc.) could be the cause for the lack of flowers. The bush is located directly underneath a large tree, which shades the sunlight from the leaves, preventing effective photosynthesis of the bush. Also, the area in which the plant grows is not very well tended by the Webb gardeners, as it is in a hard-to-reach area.

There was no interaction with the environment during the time of observation. In fact, there was no wind, meaning no movement of the flower. After fifteen minutes of observation, I moved onto the next one.

The second was a tree flower, located on a branch just outside of the museum. The tree was probably twelve feet tall at its tallest, and the flowers showed wherever there was a branch. Unlike the first bush, the tree was covered in blooming flowers.

This certain flower is a shade of bright red, with transitions to yellow and orange along the outside. Within the center, the reproductive system of the flower can be clearly seen. They sprout from the edge of branches, which hang out three to six feet from the trunk, and only seem to appear on the outsides of those branches. Also, they are surrounded by green leaves (as seen in the picture) on all sides.

The flower itself was around an inch and a half across. The tree, being the tallest object in its vicinity, was not blocked by anything from above. This presented obvious opportunity for photosynthesis in the leaves closer to the top and sides. Other flowers were at different stages of sprouting, some larger than the one I observed and some recently sprouted.

Unlike the pink flower, there was a bit of environmental interaction. By this time, the wind had picked up to a cool breeze, allowing for the leaves to sway slightly. Also, since there were many flowers on this tree, every three flowers had a pollinating bee. These bees moved from flower to flower, and an individual never repeated a flower (as I observed). However, some bees pollinated the flowers that other bees had already pollinated. I managed to get a picture of the flower, as well as another behind it, without the presence of any stinging pollinators.

The final flower was found outside in the quad, near the ramp and stairs leading to the library . It is a blue-violet color, extending a foot from the ground on a single branch. It was around 1.5 inches across, and has leaves on the branch around the bottom, but not too low as to be blocked from sunlight.

There were multiple single-branch flowers of this type surrounding the one I chose to observe. All had a green branch one foot long, flowers of dark green at the bottom, and a single blue-violet flower with five petals. Everything was stationed fairly close to the ground, which is justified in that there was nothing blocking sunlight from above. As it is located in a high-traffic area of Webb, the flower receives regular care and watering, allowing for it and the surrounding plants to sprout fully.

There was no pollination of the flower, as there were many people walking around the area. It did, however, experience some swaying due to faster winds.