Cellular Streaming: Benefit or Complication?

As we study the cellular diversity of organisms, the Fungi Kingdom introduces levels of complexity not seen in Protista nor Eubacteria Kingdoms. Incomplete cells walls are one trait that set Fungi apart from others, and those septum enable cellular streaming of organelles. While technically/officially in Kingdom Protistae, slime molds also exhibit cellular streaming, especially the plasmodial slime molds. In what ways may cellular streaming benefit an organism and in what ways may streaming complicate an organism and prevent it from evolving?

Remember to respond to two other students' responses as part of blogging.

The below link provides a brief introduction to slime molds:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/protista/slimemolds.html

Ecologic Health : Imbalance in Populations

An imbalance of biotic organisms can indicate not only changes in the ecologic environment, but also potential problems. Using the databases of scholarly journals available through the school, research and read two articles that deal with imbalances of microscopic organisms--like bacteria and protists--and how the imbalance affects or affected the ecological environment. Sum up your research in a single blog comment in only two paragraphs. Then, in a third paragraph, refer to your summation and make a prediction of what you think the microbiotic health of Central Park is, and explain your reasoning in a fourth paragraph.

As we move from single-celled prokaryotic bacteria to new and intriguing organisms (read: Protists), some differences are quite observable and it makes for interesting conversation. Based upon in-class lecture-discussions, your own observations, and the assigned readings--as well as other reading you may have done--how do bacteria & protists compare?

Remember that this week starts the 'Compare & Response' requirement of the blog: that not only must you respond to the above question, you must also respond to at least one other student's posting or comment--if you agree, why? if you disagree, why? . . .and be sure to use evidence and logical reasoning to justify your claim.

The Decomposers Are My Friends

With the current investigation regarding bacteria & antibiotic agents, it's easy to think of bacteria as only pathogenic or problematic. However, it is important to maintain an awareness of the impact of bacteria . . .and thus this week's question: how do bacteria impact our individual lives and how do they impact our ecological environment?


Note: When selecting the link below, you can listen to several of the songs. The focus here is on 'Decomposers'.


Decomposers Song

If an organism is complex it maybe able to do more things, but it is susceptible to more things. if an organism is less complicated it may not be able to adapt well, but if it's environment changes it wont effect it that much.

The Complexity of Organisms

As we begin to investigate living organisms, we start with the simplest: Bacteria. As unicellular organisms, they seem quite simple, yet are soooooo adaptable! It's worth thinking about, and responding to: how does the simplicity and/or complexity of an organism benefit its adaptability? Include real-world examples to support your claim, and feel free to comment on each other's claims (tactfully, of course).

sarah berkowitz:

I would describe science as the study of everything in the universe, on Earth and in our atmosphere, dead or alive, water and land. This definition has expanded in my mind beyond not only the study of how things but why they work or don't work. Also, science is more than experiments, it is physically everything.