Category: Collaborate

Tech Team Reflection 2

by zacvan413

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At the beginning of the quarter we were working on this computer. After collaborating on who was going to undo the computer screws, and put the computer back together, we started the deconstruction. We then investigated what each part’s job was, and I then put all the parts back together. We had a problem in connecting all the parts to the correct places, and then could not find a plug to the wall. When turning the computer on, we wanted to check that the speakers work so we played Mozart’s Juptier. Here is a video of the computer playing Mozart.


The fans are running behind the computer because we were worried the computer would overheat without it’s cooling fans attached.


I was showing my math teacher, Mr. Morrison, how the laser cutter works, as he loves to work with wood and engraving. Being that he was a math teacher I decided that the Pi symbol on a circle 3.14 inches in diameter would be best. I walked him through the steps on how to laser cut different materials.

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This device took a lot of research on how electromagnets work. The idea behind it was an alternating current creates a changing magnetic field. This magnetic field would then levitate a steel marble. This only works with alternating current as direct current only creates a magnetic field in one short burst. Sadly, when the device was plugged in there was a small explosion as the wire melted. The device no longer works, and I have stopped trying for safety reasons.

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This project has taken a longer time then anticipated with all the modifications. Hopefully, this modification is the last. The rubber band launcher now has two motors that will turn one spool of string. The string then pulls the plastic wheel, which releases the rubber bands in rapid progression. This occurs because as the string is pulled off the wheel, the rubber band strung over it is released. The mounting of the motors, and battery pack, along with the gear belt, were made and installed by myself, the idea came from Ben.

Bio Transcription and Translation

by zacvan413

The video shows the transcription factors attach to the DNA strand. The green playdoh represents the activator protein which makes contact with the transcription factors. This contact releases the transcription factors and RNA polymerase starts to transcribe the DNA. The RNA polymerase takes in nucleotides complementary to the DNA strand it unwinds, and makes the RNA strand. The RNA polymerase reaches the termination codon and the RNA is completed.

The video for translation has RNA flowing out of the nucleus. This RNA then is grabbed by the ribosome, and translation occurs. As the RNA goes through the ribosome, tRNA with the complementary anti-codon moves into the A-site. The tRNA moves to the P-site and the amino acid is released, then next tRNA moves to the A-site. The first tRNA moves the E-site and leaves, as the other tRNA takes its spot and adds its amino acid to the first one. This repeats until the RNA strands runs out and the protein breaks away.

Mitosis / Meiosis Lab

by zacvan413


During interphase the DNA is not condensed and is being replicated. By prophase the chromosomes form, long with kinetochores. During metaphase the chromosomes align along the middle of the cell. The kinetochores start to pull and the sister chromatids divide into daughter chromosomes during anaphase. In telophase the nuclear envelope reform. Finally, the cell divides in cytokinesis.

Meiosis reduces and rearranges the chromosomes of a diploid cell. In prophase I of meiosis I, the chromosomes are rearranged from how the tetrads are formed. The two homologous chromosomes come together and form a tetrad, and where the two chromosomes cross, a crossing over occurs where parts of the chromosomes swap between the two. The tetrads are rearranged during metaphase I on how they line up down the middle of the cell. Hence, meiosis has rearranged the chromosomes. In anaphase I the tetrads are pulled apart, unlike in mitosis where the chromosomes are pulled apart, this difference reduces the number of chromosomes in each daughter cell by half, making the two cells haploid. In interphase II, the DNA is not replicated keeping the cells haploid. The two cells divide again, and four haploid cells are produced.
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality caused by an extra twenty-first chromosome. Down Syndrome affects the phenotypes of the person by creating a distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability, short stature, and or speech delay. Down Syndrome could result from a defect in meiosis while separating. During prophase I of meiosis, while crossing over of the homologous chromosomes, one of the chromosomes would not separate making two twenty-first chromosomes in a haploid cell, resulting in a Down Syndrome offspring.
Many species reproduce by parthenogenesis or cloning, bypassing the meiotic process. In cloning, the DNA is replicated and the organism divides. The DNA of the parent organism and the DNA of the offspring will be identical. This is because the parent organism copies the DNA and through mitosis, creates an offspring, so there is no genetic difference.

AP Biology Stop Motion

by zacvan413

1. These systems are similar because they both have a receptor protein on the outside of the cellular membrane that starts the signal transduction pathway. Also, both use phosphate groups to activate proteins in the pathway.
2. The two are different as G-protein receptor systems use a protein to move the signal along. The tyrosine kinase receptor system uses kinase to give many proteins a phosphate group to activate them. This boosts the signal faster in the tyrosine kinase system over the G-protein.
3. Amplification occurs when one activated protein, signals another two proteins to activate, which those then both activate another two proteins, and so on and so forth, amplifying the signal.
a. I would look for a receptor that can bond with a variety of what can signal it, along with the receptors each having a different variety.
b. Dogs may have may more receptors than humans so they have a higher chance to receive a signal.

Q1 Tech Team reflection

by zacvan413

Over the 1st quarter I have done many projects. Beyond helping people with the simple computer problems that they have I have worked towards other activities. One was discovering the inside of an Apple tower and an Apple monitor, by prying open the soon to have been recycled and finding different components on the motherboard. Finding fans in the different towers I decided I was going to try my hand at soldiering again. img_4322 The first fan worked, a happy cheer erupted, and then the wires were switched accidentally when seeing if it would work again. The fan twitched, then smoked, then never worked again. After getting fans to work we moved onto disassembling broken net books and creating a net book without a casing just for fun. img_4325-1 Thinking about the future, I hope to use two large fans I found and make a hovercraft with some mobility using old computer batteries and either cardboard or plastic shell. Hence, expanding from soldiering to 3D printing or laser cutting. img_4324

As for the Fairview advantage I believe I have used create, innovate, investigate, collaborate, communicate, and solve problems. Create and innovate going hand in hand with creating the desk fan, which is soon to be a hovercraft. Investigating occurred when I short circuited the fan and realized what went wrong. I had to work with others on some of my projects and so communication and collaboration were key.