In the first section of this page, you will write a daily summary of that day's class.  For example in  your chapter 2 blog, your first entry should be titled 9/3/10.  You should then write a one or two paragraph summary of that day's lecture, outlining the major points.  In the second section, you are required to add two items (link to a website, video, animation, student-created slide show, student-created PowerPoint presentation) and one journal article pertaining to a topic in this chapter.  A one-paragraph summary must accompany each item describing the main idea and how it applies to the lecture topic.  Please see the PBWorks help guide for assistance embedding video and other items directly in the page.  I will also produce a how-to video on using tables to wrap text around items and other useful tips.  Please see the syllabus for organization and grading details.

A.  Daily Blog

09/29/10:  In today's lecture, we talked extensively about the plasma membrane and its many components.  We discussed the different ways cell maintain the fluidity of their membranes with increasing or decreasing temperatures, such as changing the length of fatty acid tails, the amount of cholesterol, and the number of unsaturated fatty acids.  We also talked about how the membrane is dynamic, always being changed, with parts of the membrane being used for endocytosis, and new parts being added through exocytosis. The way cells bring proteins to the plasma membrane is a cool process- the protein is transcribed into the ER membrane, then the whole thing is packaged and sent to the membrane, where the vesicle fuses with it.  

10/01/10:  In today's lecture, we talked about the Laws of Thermodynamics and types of energy, which Dr. Weber demonstrated by holding a hair tie near Sid's face, and also about the different ways that cells transport materials into and out of the cell.  Since a cell at equilibrium is dead, we talked about the different ways that cells maintain gradients in order to do work.  Some things we mentioned were the sodium- potassium pump, an example of active transport, and protein channels for facilitated diffusion.  In the next lecture, we're going to be looking at the experiment done to find aquaporins, the proteins that aid in the movement of water molecules through the plasma membrane.    

10/06/10:  In today's lecture, we talked about the experiment done to identify that aquaporins were used for the transport of water molecules into and out of cells.  Previously, it had been thought that water molecules were came into the cell via simple diffusion, but due to their polarity, they don't have high rates of diffusion.  We also did a review of the past four chapters in preparation for the test on Friday.

B.  Useful Materials

1)  Cell Membrane Drawing (submitted 03 Oct 2010):  This drawing shows the components of the plasma membrane, including the phospholipid bilayer, which is formed by the two leaflets, interspersed with cholesterol and having integral and peripheral proteins, as well as glycolipids and glycoproteins.

2) Facilitated Diffusion Animation (submitted 04 Oct 2010):  This video shows the process of facilitated diffusion in a three-dimensional way and clearly explained the steps, which is I found helpful.  Plus, I love the song that the person used, so that makes it even better.  (The video wouldn't embed for some reason)

3) FSY1 encodes a high affinity fructose/H+ symporter (submitted 04 Oct 2010):  This article from PubMed talks about a gene in yeast that codes for a fructose/H+ symporter.  We talked about symporters a little bit in class- basically they transport two different molecules in the same direction not against the concentration gradient.  In this case, a hydrogen ion and a fructose molecule are transported into the cell, without the expenditure of energy.