Microbiology Essay – Explain how your understanding of lifecycle

CAU Microbiology Essay

Your reflection essay should include the following:

• no less than 7 typed paragraphs (i.e., 7 or more paragraphs)
• evidence of proofreading (spelling or punctuation errors, limited grammatical mistakes, including technical words spelled correctly) – 2 pts
• required topics you must address:
  1. (1-2 paragraphs) explain how your understanding of lifecycle of a cell, its sub-cellular structure and the flow of macromolecules has changed (i.e., provide specific, detailed examples of how these learning influence your everyday life that highlight important course topics and themes). You may use this as an introduction and/or conclusion of your essay – 3 pts
  2. (1-2 paragraph) Describe and draw a typical plant and animal cell highlighting their similarities and differences – 6 pts
     • Include in your summary the names and functions of organelles and substructures that are similar
     • Describe organelles and substructures that differentiate these two cell types and include the function of these structure
     • Include a labeled diagram for a typical plant and animal cell
     • For 1 organelle in each cell type describe a possible evolutionary origin of that organelle
  3. (2-3 paragraph) A specific eukaryotic algae (unicellular) exists in a local stream and is a photoautotroph. Explain how it obtains and harnesses the energy is needs to perform all the cellular processes in order to survive- 10 pts
     • Track the source of Carbon AND Energy in this algae
     • Explain the metabolic process of getting energy from light, storing that energy and then harnessing that stored energy. You do not need to include all the metabolic intermediates. But remember to highlight the major ones as discussed in class/lab sectionsd
     • Include the similarities AND differences in the electron donors, acceptors, reactants, intermediates and products between the metabolic pathways that harness and store light energy and those that convert macromolecules to regenerate the ATP needed to do cellular work
     • Include the specific organelles and sub cellular localization for each of these processes.
     • You may use diagrams to showcase metabolic pathways.
  4. (2-3 paragraphs) A unicellular protist exists in a local stream and rapidly divides every 2 days to increase its population. Follow the life cycle of this unicellular animal cell from the G1 through S phase to track the way to maintains its genetic integrity and uses mutation to generate diversity- 10 pts
     • Track the different macromolecules synthesized in these 2 phases and the metabolic pathways involved in them.
     • Include the sub-cellular location of each metabolic pathway and the role of the respective organelles.
     • Explain the role of semiconservative replication and mutation in the life cycle of this protist.
  5. integrate the following throughout your essay
     • include all of the following concepts:directionality of macromolecules (DNA, RNA, protein), phenotype, electron donor, electron acceptor, specific enzymes, bilayer membrane, transport, gradient, monomers, polymers, appropriate names of macromolecules.