My AP Biology Thoughts

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit #: 8EPISODE TITLE: Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Ramit Dasika, Flavio D’Attilio, Samy Leroux, Landon Schafer, Colin Fahmy and we are hosting this episode called Unit 8 Ecology AND  Today we will be discussing The war between Ukraine and Russia has caused mass destruction to many ecosystems through bombings and other weaponry and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of Topic War The war between Ukraine and Russia has caused mass destruction to many ecosystems through bombings and other weaponrySegment 2: Evidence that supports It causes forest fires- SamyDuring the process of runoff, the harmful chemicals are collected in rivers nearby. This causes the  water sources contaminated due to chemical leakage from destroyed industrial plants-RamitDuring the Russia-Ukrainian War, the Russian soldiers damaged and looted fire engines, computers, and radiation monitoring equipment, while leaving mines and munitions spread across the exclusion zone.-Flavio“In the Donbas region, wrecked sewage works gush their contents into rivers and damaged pipelines fill wetlands with oil.”- Landon“Most of the exclusion zone was damaged by the invasion and may be contaminated with unexploded ordnance and mines,” according to Oleksandr Galushchenko, director of the biosphere reserve. The larger mammals that constantly move around the reserve – wolves, deer, brown bears, lynx, elk, and recently reintroduced bison – are at particular risk, he says.”-Samy“The forests in the zone remain a radioactive tinderbox that, in the event of fires, could send radioactive isotopes on the winds towards Kyiv. The risks of that happening are now much greater, says the UNCG’s forest campaigner Yehor Hrynyk. With fire-fighting equipment looted and much of the exclusion zone dangerous for firefighters to enter, some 65,000 acres has burned since the invasion, and fires continue to smolder in underground peat.”-Colin“Many industrial plants are damaged or abandoned;wrecked sewage works gush their contents into rivers; damaged pipelines are filling wetlands with oil; and toxic military scrap is spread across the land.”- Flavio“A particular concern is the many coal mines abandoned after 2014. With pumping of water halted, they have so far released some 650,000 acre-feet of polluted mine water into the environment,...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: The Isle of WolvesWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Olivia, Anushka, Mea, and Hana and we are your hosts for the Unit 8 Ecology-the Isle Royale Study podcast. Today we will be discussing the Isle Royale Study and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of the Isle Royale StudyCamping —> DOCTAH guise —-> isle royale —-> us listening to him talk :)Segment 2: Evidence that supports the Isle Royale StudyWinter controls the ticks (kills them all if cold temperature) Provide ex of trophic cascading Predator prey talk abt itHuman interaction/interference (trails, being on/off) Coloring of the wolves Talk abt winter study (break island into quadrants and take populations #’s) Segment 3: Connection to the CoursePredator-prey relationship:  Trophic structure: a flow of energy between organisms in an ecosystem Energy flow Parasitic Importance of genetic diversityThank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts. For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com. Music Credits:"Ice Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to our PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts   YouTube Connect with us on Social MediaTwitter

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Birds of Paradise Mating RitualsWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Xavier and I am with Celine and Sofie and we are your hosts for Unit 8 Ecology-Birds of Paradise Mating Rituals. Today we will be discussing Birds of Paradise Mating Rituals and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. We want to thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which include National geographic and BBC Earth. You can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.Segment 1: Overview of Bird  The birds of paradise are some of the most fascinating birds in the world, from their wide range of behaviors and striking coloration of the males, I would love to ask you some specific questions about them. I have looked over many different species and their behavior, but I am particularly interested in the elaborate mating displays performed by male birds of paradise.Of course, let me begin with a bit of background on the species. Birds of paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae (Para-dice-see-a-die), which researchers think evolved on the island of New Guinea. The family is comprised of 43 species, most found on the island of New Guinea. Two species are found only in the Moluccan Islands to the west of New Guinea, and four others are found mainly in northeastern Australia. The family of birds includes astrapias, manucodes, paradisaeas, parotias, riflebirds, and sicklebills.Segment 2: Evidence that supports Animal Behavior within the Birds of ParadiseI know many species of birds are sexually dimorphic but what does this mean for the bird-of-paradise Yes, this means the males and females have different appearances. So the males have elaborate feather patterns that they use in their mating displays while the females of these species have a more dull and camouflaged appearance So while the females are watching the Males perform these displays what is their key concern when choosing which male to mate with? The female choice appears to be based on the vigor of the males’ display meaning their physical strength and health. Which can be seen in the condition and color of his feathers. So the female chooses a vigorous mate, ensuring that her offspring will also be relatively healthy. Exactly, the strongest, most brightly-feathered males have a better chance of attracting the females, while less attractive males may be overlooked. I was most interested in a species of male Superb bird-of-paradise with their dark black cape feathers and almost like a “psychedelic smiley face.” The way he snaps his tail rhythmically slowly, flashing a breastplate of iridescent like feathers. I’m sure the female’s prefer their beautiful feathers.Like I had mentioned it really depends on what the female wants to pass on to her children. This is their key concern...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Disappearance of Costa Rican Leatherback Sea TurtlesWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Beth Hooks, Emilie Sawicki, and Nick Bailey, and we are your hosts for episode # called Unit 8 Ecology-Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles. Today we will be discussing the disappearance of Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. Segment 1: Overview of Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles Disappearing  Leatherback sea turtles are one of the most ancient reptiles, as well as the most endangered sea turtles. Their habitat spans from the North Atlantic to the south pacific. Their lifespan is estimated to be 50 years or more. They feed on open ocean prey such as jellyfish and salps (NOAA.org). Their nesting beaches are generally located in tropical latitudes, especially in Trinidad and Tobaago, the West-Indies, Gabon, Costa Rica, and on the Pacific coast of Mexico (NOAA.org).The greatest threats worldwide are incidental capture in fishing gear, hunting of turtles, and collection of eggs for human consumption. Climate change, loss and degradation of nesting and foraging habitat, ocean pollution, and vessel strikes also pose a threat to the population (NOAA.org).The Leatherback Sea Turtles are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (NOAA.org). Segment 2: Evidence that supports Costa Rican Leatherback Sea Turtles Disappearing The turtles have had a 40% mortality rate in the returning adult population over the last 8 years. This data was obtained by fitting turtles with satellite transmitters and following their migration. Many disappear, and it is believed that mostly because they get stuck in fishing lines (World Turtle Trust). Projects that monitor nesting sites conduct nightly census work and fit nesting turtles with Passive Integrated Transponders. Projects that protect nests from poachers attempt to maximize the number of hatchlings that survive (World Turtle Trust). Segment 3: Connection to the Course The jellyfish population is increasing due to rising global temperatures. This suggests that energy sources are not the problem. The population curve of a predator generally follows the population curve of their prey, so if the jellyfish population increases, this means that the turtle population should increase. However, since so much ocean pollution is present in the form of plastic bags and turtles often mistake them for jellyfish, the jellyfish population may be increasing due to less predation (Lamb, 2017). Climate change has caused new predators to migrate to places where sea turtles are. This has begun to cause a trophic cascade in some environments that affects the phosphorus content of the sea grass (BurkHolder, Heithaus, Fourqurean, Wirsing, Dill, 2013). Additionally, the migration of these turtles is an innate behavior. An innate behavior...

My AP Biology Thoughts  Unit 8 Ecology EPISODE TITLE: Pacific Garbage Patch and Its Impacts on WildlifeWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Angelina and my name is Emily and we are your hosts for the Unit 8 Ecology podcast on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and Its Impacts on Wildlife. Today we will be discussing the Garbage Patch’s harmful effects on aquatic life and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ Segment 1: Overview of Pacific Garbage Patch and Its Impacts on WildlifeBackground info: The patch is a vortex of plastic waste and debris which is very calm and stable but surrounded by four currents that sweep debris into the center Two distinct collections of debris, the Western and Eastern Garbage Patches Pacific: Garbage is spun and linked together by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, where warm water ( South ) meets cool water ( Arctic )Much of the debris is not biodegradable and has taken a significant toll on the aquatic wildlife Most of the debris is plastic, which is not biodegradable but rather breaks down into microplastic particlesSegment 2: Evidence that supports how the Patch Harms Wildlifehttps://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ According to National Geographic, oceanographers and ecologists discovered that about 70% of marine debris sinks to the ocean floor, so the patch may also be an underwater heap of trash Marine debris is known to be harmful to wildlife Ex: Loggerhead sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish Ex: Albatrosses mistake plastic pellets for eggs and feed them to their chicks, which then die of starvation or ruptured organs Ex: Seals and other animals get entangled in abandoned nets and other waste hear about turtles a lot because of many companies movements to stop using straws, but we dont always hear about the other species being affected so it is definitely important to learn about these organisms as wellBIG ONE: Marine debris can disturb marine food websAs microplastics collect near the ocean’s surface, they block sunlight which prevents plankton and algae to...

My AP Biology Thoughts&nbsp;&nbsp;Unit 7 Natural Selection&nbsp;EPISODE TITLE: Natural Selection of the Tomcod against PollutantsWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Celine, Xavier, and Sofie and we are your hosts for this episode called Unit 7 Natural Selection: Examples of Evolution-Toxic River Fish. In episode 120, we will be discussing the Toxic River Fish and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum.&nbsp;We want to thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which include national geographic and NPR. You can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.Segment 1: Overview of Toxic River Fish&nbsp;To begin with the overview, the species of fish we will be discussing today are the tomcodThis species of fish lives in the waters of New Jersey and New York, usually found in&nbsp;the Hudson River where pollutants and chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyl was dumped between 1947-1976 by General Electric companiesTherefore they developed a gene the resulted in an immunitySegment 2: Evidence that supports Evolution Toxic River FishWe can see the evolution of Toxic River fish from the molecular Evolution that was changing in DNA sequences.&nbsp;When the pollutants entered the hudson river it resulted in 95% of the fish developing liver tumors.The toxins from the electric company entered the nucleus of cells and For some fish it caused a distortion of DNA instructions. This would cause some to most of the fish in the river to get sick and die.By chance, the Toxic River Fish had a version of that gene that tolerated the PCB and toxinsThe toxic river fish evolved to handle dangerous chemicals that were dumped in the river and Overtime the toxic river fish that had the resistant gene did better than the fish without itTechnically they’re not mutants, but the chemicals did give one genetic group an advantage over the othersThis is where survival of the fittest played a role, the fish that could resist toxins would have a higher rate of survival than those without out resistance&nbsp;The ability to resist the toxins caused the toxic river fish to lose some ability to cope with natural stressors like low oxygen or abnormally high temperatures but they still had advantage above other fishSegment 3: Connection to the CurriculumBiology is the study of biotic organisms, and focuses on the dynamic and behavior. Evolution is 1/12 characteristics of biology.It connects to the course because it distinctly shows evolution through natural selection<span

My AP Biology Thoughts&nbsp;Unit 7 Natural Selection&nbsp;EPISODE TITLE: Babiana ringens&nbsp;Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Raelynn and my name is Samiyah and we are your hosts for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution - Plants and Birds. In episode 118, we will be discussing the plant Babiana ringens and how it has evolved to attract sunbirds.Segment 1: Overview of Babiana ringens and evolution to attract birdsThe Babiana ringens plant in South Africa evolved in such a way that increases the chance of &nbsp;Nectarine famosa, or the malachite sunbird - their main pollinators- to stop by and drink nectar out of their flowers. In the certain region that these plants reside, most sunbirds avoid predators by staying away from the ground- as such, the Babiana ringens evolved to create a small perch, making it easier for birds to drink their nectar, and thus pollinate them, which in turn increased their evolutionary fitness.&nbsp;Segment 2: Evidence that supports the evolution of Babiana ringens to attract pollinatorsThrough a study conducted by botanist Spencer Barrett from the University of Toronto Canada, along with a team of researchers, they found that the sunbirds in the specific region of South Africa in which the plants with the perches reside used the perches to pollinate the plants, and were their main pollinators.&nbsp;They went on to study other Babiana ringens plants across South Africa and found that they didn’t have the perches, and after studying them for some time, realized that their main pollinators weren’t the sunbirds that require the perches to make pollination easier. As such, the perch was an adaptation to the environmental pressures (of their main pollinators having been sunbirds).&nbsp;Segment 3: Connection to the CourseThe interactions between Babiana ringens and sunbirds demonstrate the concept of evolution and natural selection. The flowers with the perch were more “fit” for the environment since it encouraged the birds to perch on them and pollinate the flower. As a result, the Babiana ringens with the genes for the perch were able to both outlive and outpopulate those without perches. Over time, the gene for flowers without this stem faded away from the gene pool, and it became characteristic of Babiana ringens<span...

My AP Biology Thoughts&nbsp;&nbsp;Unit 7 Natural Selection&nbsp;EPISODE TITLE: Unit 7: Darwin’s FinchesWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Shrithik Sekar, Kyle Mason, Gabe Moriello, and I am your host for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution, Darwin’s Finches. In episode 116, we will be discussing this topic and how it relates to the AP Biology Curriculum.&nbsp;“We want to also thank our sources for the information presented in this podcast episode today which include (Britannica, Galapogosisland.org, and Crash course Biology on Youtube). You can find the citations and links to these sources in the show notes.”Segment 1: Overview of Darwin's finches&nbsp;&nbsp;What are Darwin's finches?&nbsp;Who is darwin? - Geologist and Biologist, who formed the theory of natural selection. Known for his contributions to Science of evolution. He studied many finches which were found in the galapagos islands located 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador&nbsp;What were the finches? - These finches were a Group of 18 different species found in the Galapagos island. Darwin found the finches were all closely related with small direct observations that he made during his time in the Galapagos islands&nbsp;What did he study? -During his studies while in the Galapagos islands, he concluded the speciation of the finches which is known as the experiment of Darwin’s finches&nbsp;&nbsp;How does it relate to evolution? -&nbsp;It relates to evolution because it is an example of Direct observation&nbsp;Segment 2: Evidence that supports Darwin's finches&nbsp;&nbsp;Connection direct observation evolution&nbsp;What is direct observation of evolution? -&nbsp;Through observation, in small population sizes, it can be found many changes of one species to then create many subspecies. Through direct observation of evidence in almost every species. THis idea had to do with the last universal ancestor, how all species are alike in many ways and all stemmed from the same ancestor. These finches dna is super similar, but these small differences of dna created a difference in appearance which was found ny darwin.&nbsp;( This begs the question of ) Why are the finches an example of evolution? All 18 species of Darwin’s Finches were originally one finch species on the coast of south america. However, Darwin discovered that this species branched off into 18 different species on the Galapagos islands depending on the finches’ environment&nbsp;What Key pieces of evidence did darwin find? - Darwin found the difference, fruit eating finches had wide beaks, insect eating finches had narrow beaks,&nbsp;and based on different factors of each finches environment each species had a different characteristic change. - GO TO Image&nbsp;<span style="background-color:...

My AP Biology Thoughts&nbsp;&nbsp;Unit 7 Natural Selection&nbsp;EPISODE TITLE: Butterflies and ParasitesAnushka Agarwal, Olivia Lundquist, &amp; Hana Hamid&nbsp;Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, our names are Anushka, Olivia, and Hana and we are your hosts for Unit 7: Examples of Evolution-Butterflies and parasites. In episode 114, we will be discussing Butterflies and parasites and how they relate to the AP Biology Curriculum.&nbsp;Segment 1: Overview of Butterflies and Parasites&nbsp;&nbsp;To start off, what is evolution? Evolution is the process by which different organisms develop from their ancestors to adapt to the environment they are living in. This idea was proposed by Charles Darwin to explain how species have the ability to evolve. We can look at the Blue Moon butterflies for examples and how they adapted to their environment to protect themselves from the killing parasite. The Blue Moon Butterfly, or Hypolimnas bolina, is an eggfly commonly found in New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, Solomons, etc. The blue moon butterfly’s mating season is normally in the spring and summer. Their name is derived from the 2 bright circular patches on the backs of the males. Natural selection occurring between the butterflies and parasites is an example of evolution happening in real time. This is because scientists discovered that the bluemoon butterflies developed resistance in a span of 10 generations (which lasted a year).&nbsp;Additionally, the peppered moth is a species of a night-flying moth which is most commonly found in the northern hemisphere in countries such as Europe, Asia, and North America. They are generally small moths (only 1.5-2.5 inches) and their eggs normally hatch during mid summer. While some moths are typically light in color, many have dark skins and normally have extra camouflage to protect them from their predators (which includes ​​flycatchers, nuthatches, and European robin). We can see a difference in the colors of the peppered moth due to the Industrial Revolution marked an era of industrial change in Europe and the United States from 1760-1840, which affected not only economy but the environment as well.&nbsp;Segment 2: Evidence that supports Evolution of Butterflies and Parasites&nbsp;&nbsp;mutationthe changing of a structure of a gene that may result in a variant form → can have impact bc it has the potential of getting passed down that leads to evolutionmutation: males can survive the infection of parasite that kills male embryosnormally they cant(mutation allowed for them to live and complete term/live)Natural selection (blue moon butterflies)&nbsp;Since the parasites normally targeted male blue moon butterflies, their population was a staggering 1%. However, because these butterflies obtained immunity from the parasite, their population bounced back to 40% in less than a year!&nbsp;natural selection<li...

Welcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Stefanie Ribecca and I am your host for episode # 104 called Unit 5 Heredity: Chromosomal Inheritance. Today we will be discussing how inheritance occurs in the chromosomal level.&nbsp;Segment 1: Introduction to Chromosomal InheritanceChromosomal inheritance is an extension of Mendelian genetics.&nbsp;Chromosomes contain DNA which carry the genetic information that code for proteins.&nbsp;Chromosomes are found in pairs, and increase genetic variation during meiosis.Segment 2: More About Chromosomal InheritanceDuring meiosis, non sister chromatids in homologous pairs exchange information during crossing over.Certain genes may be close together on the chromosome and may appear to be inherited together.&nbsp;Segment 3: Connection to the CourseChromosomal inheritance allows for a combination of traits from both parents.&nbsp;Genetic diversity from chromosomal inheritance allows individuals in a population to adapt to the environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts. &nbsp; For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;Music Credits:"Ice Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to our PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts &nbsp;&nbsp;YouTube &nbsp;Connect with us on Social MediaTwitter @thehvspn

My AP Biology Thoughts&nbsp;&nbsp;Unit 6 Gene Expression and RegulationWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Arthur Kim and I am your host for episode # 111 called Unit 6 Gene Expression and Regulation: Mutations. Today we will be discussing what genetic mutations are, the different types, as well as some of the possible effects.&nbsp;&nbsp;Segment 1: Introduction to Mutations&nbsp;A mutation is any change to a sequence of DNA.They’re not always bad, as some mutations can arise that result in a more favorable phenotype.Mutations can also occur on the scale of chromosomes, often as a result in errors in meiosis.Segment 2: More About Mutations&nbsp;On a strand of DNA, there are two main types of mutations that can occur.Point mutations are the result of swapping one base pair for another.Very often, these aren’t a big deal because only one amino acid will be affected or possibly unaffected since oftentimes more than one codon produces the same amino acid.&nbsp;In many cases, the protein that the mutated strand codes for will still be functional.&nbsp;&nbsp;Frameshift mutations are the result of an insertion or deletion of a base pair in a strand of DNA.These are often detrimental because they completely change the codons in an entire sequence of mRNA.&nbsp;As a result, the protein will be synthesized with completely different amino acids than what they’re supposed to be.&nbsp;&nbsp;This causes the protein to be nonfunctional.Frameshift mutations are the cause of several deadly genetic diseases such as Tay Sachs and cystic fibrosis.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the level of chromosomes, the types of mutations that can occur are deletions (part of the chromosome is lost), duplications (an extra copy of a part of a chromosome), inversions (the orientation of a segment of a chromosome is flipped), and translocation (two chromosomes exchange components).&nbsp;&nbsp;Segment 3: Connection to the Course&nbsp;Genetic mutations are one of the main sources of variation within the gene pool.&nbsp;As a result, mutations are what allow for evolution to occur in populations, bringing about the diversity of life on Earth we see today.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you for listening to this episode of My AP Biology Thoughts.&nbsp;For more student-ran podcasts and digital content, make sure that you visit www.hvspn.com.&nbsp;Music Credits:"Ice Flow" Kevin MacLeod...

My AP Biology Thoughts&nbsp;&nbsp;Unit 5 HeredityWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Helena Holley and I am your host for episode #109 called Unit 6 gene expression and regulation: Regulation of gene expression. Today we will be discussing the mechanism of gene expressions and regulation in Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes.Segment 1: Introduction to Gene Expression and Regulation&nbsp;Gene expression and its regulation and control is essential for cell specialization in Eukaryotes. All cells have the same information, however their differences in function come from which genes they express. As you go through development cells are differentiated. The way this happens is by specific transcription factors and translation controls that tell the cells which genes they are expressing as you develop. Your basic genetics are not the only thing that determines which genes are expressed, epigenetics also plays a role. Certain environmental factors that occur in a parents lifetime can alter the gene expression of offspring. This happens when there are changes in the parents' cells that undergo meiosis to produce gametes. Examples of this include DNA methylation and histone modification. While I was just discussing eukaryotes above, gene expression and regulation is also important in prokaryotes, which I will discuss more later.&nbsp;Segment 2: More About Gene Expression and RegulationThere are various ways in which gene expression is regulated in Eukaryotes. One regulation method is determined by how tightly DNA is wrapped around Histone proteins. The tighter the DNA is wrapped, the harder it is for transcription to take place, and certain enzymes can alter how tight or loose it is wrapped depending on what needs to happen. There are also chromatin-modifying enzymes that can make the DNA more or less accessible. Another regulatory factor is the Control elements which are regulatory sequences on DNA that control the expression of proteins. Alternative RNA splicing helps to regulate post transcription, as it produces different mRNA from the same gene. Another useful method is mRNA degradation which is used to break down mRNA if the protein is not needed to be expressed anymore. Finally, various regulatory proteins can block initiation of translation if that is needed. It is important to note that mRNA is not the only type of RNA used for regulation, and there are various types of non-coding RNA that have different functions in regulation of gene expression. In prokaryotes there are repressible and inducible operons. The repressible operon genes are able to be silenced, and the inducible operon genes are able to be turned on. This function of these operons is important in gene regulation because if a repressible operon is absent, the repressor is inactive and the operon will be produced. When too much of a repressible operon is in the cell, it will bind to the repressor which will bind to the operator, preventing any more from being produced. For inducible operons, the process works essentially the opposite of the repressible operons (so briefly the repressor is active when there is an absence of lac operon, and it is inactive when there is presence lac operon).&nbsp;Segment 3: Connection to the CourseGene expression and regulation is important because any errors in regulation can lead to developmental problems. For example, If the tumor suppressor...

My AP Biology Thoughts&nbsp;&nbsp;Unit 5 HeredityWelcome to My AP Biology Thoughts podcast, my name is Chloe McGregor and I am your host for episode #107 called Unit 6 Gene Expression and Regulation: transcription and RNA processing. Today we will be discussing the process of transcription, and how MRNA is processed on its way to the ribosomes.&nbsp;Segment 1: Introduction to Transcription and RNA Processing&nbsp;The central dogma is the process by which the genetic information stored in DNA is converted into functional products such as proteins. This process consists of 3 steps: transcription, translation, and protein synthesis. In this episode, I will specifically discuss transcription, the process of transcribing shorter segments of DNA into mRNA strands. However, once these mRNA strands are created, there are still steps that take place to ensure that the strand is mature and ready to be translated. This is called RNA processing. The mRNA strand is manipulated into a mature strand through a series of processes, and is then ready to travel to the ribosomes for translation and protein synthesis.Segment 2: More About Transcription and RNA Processing&nbsp;As I mentioned earlier, transcription is the first step and this is when the DNA strand is read, and a new complementary mRNA strand is synthesized. DNA is composed of different nitrogenous bases compared to RNA. DNA consists of adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. However, RNA contains uracil instead of thymine. Base pairing rules are used by RNA polymerase to synthesize a new strand using the information on the unzipped DNA strand. Transcription is very important because DNA is very unique and one of a kind, so this single strand of RNA makes it possible for the genetic information to stay safe, but also be used for protein synthesis outside of the nucleus. Following transcription, RNA processing occurs. Premature mRNA strands contain both introns and exons that are transcribed from the DNA, however, the introns are spliced out to create a concise and mature strand of RNA that is ready to be translated. Introns are removed to ensure that the correct protein is being created during protein synthesis because a mistake in the RNA strand can cause mistakes during translation. Also, if introns are kept on accident, the wrong protein can be produced which will disrupt many different cellular processes. RNA splicing is also the reasoning behind one strand of DNA coding for so many different proteins depending on which introns are spliced out, and which exons are kept in the sequence.&nbsp;Segment 3: Connection to the Course&nbsp;Transcription and RNA processing play a major role in healthy cellular function and bodily function in general. Because specific proteins and enzymes are so vital to so many different processes that are happening simultaneously, it is important that transcription and RNA processing are happening precisely and efficiently to keep the body functioning. The idea of RNA processing is also important because it can provide different proteins from the same gene depending on what the body is in need of. Overall, these processes may seem small, but they play such a large role in kickstarting protein synthesis and making sure that the RNA strands are accurate and ready to be converted into proteins.&nbsp;<strong...