How Does Your Garden Grow? -Grace Slone

It’s been a while since we saw our plant, but it has grown a significant amount since we last checked on it out in the garden! In order for our plant to have grown, it has been going through three main cell processes which are mitosis, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. Our plant went through mitosis in order to add on new cells and add biomass. Mitosis is a process in which new cells are reproduced. First, the nuclear membrane in the cell would begin to dissolve and the DNA inside the nucleus would begin to make an exact copy of itself. The DNA copies itself through semi-conservative replication, meaning that the new strand of DNA and the old strand of DNA have both exactly 50% of the original strand. After the DNA is replicated, it then condenses into larger structures called chromosomes. This all occurs during prophase, which is the first stage in mitosis. Once the chromosomes are fully condensed, they then line up vertically in the center of the cell. It is during this stage called metaphase that the spindle fibers begin to become noticeable. These spindle fibers are responsible for giving both new cells a copy of the DNA. After the chromosomes are lined up, the spindle fibers then attach to one half of each side of the chromosomes and begin to pull to the opposite ends of the cell. This stage is called anaphase. Finally, and the chromosomes are pulled to the ends of the cell, the cell begins to squeeze and form an indent called a cleavage furrow. This final stage is called telophase. Once the chromosomes are in its new cell, cytokinesis begins to occur which is when the cell actually splits into two. However, since this is a plant cell and not an animal cell, a new cell wall needs to be formed between the new cells after cytokinesis. It is through this process that our plant added biomass. However, our plant would not have been able to grow without a food source. Due to the green coloration of our plant, the chlorophyll allows it to perform photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, the chloroplasts inside of the plant cells absorb sunlight, water, and CO2. Using these three resources, the cell creates glucose and oxygen in order to grow and consume food. Cellular respiration is also used in our plant when the mitochondria of the cells take in oxygen and use glucose in order to produce ATP or energy. Without any of these processes, our plant would not be alive or be adding biomass.

An important molecule that is needed in all living things is an enzyme. Enzymes speed up certain processes in an organism or cell. If said cell is in need of more enzymes, since enzymes are a part of the protein group, and proteins are made of amino acids, RNA is needed to be transcripted and translated. To begin, a part of DNA is translated into RNA, where thymine is replaced with Uracil. When the RNA is being translated, it is translated three bases at a time, or otherwise known as a codon. Each codon forms a different amino acid. As these amino acids link together, they form proteins. When such proteins are formed, if they have a very specific active site, then it is an enzyme.