Steven Goldstein
AP English 12
Invisible Man

Chapters 7-9

1.Why is chapter 7 considered a transition chapter?
After the events at the Golden Day IM is sent away to New York, and in the entirely new surroundings he encounters, he is emersed in an entirely different social culture than he had imagined. IM’s entrance into the next stage of his life grants him his “freedom” for at least a component of the social oppression of the south. When IM asks “…but how do you get to Harlem?” , the response is to “keep heading north”, (157.7) which is reminiscent of directions given to slaves to help them achieve freedom. IM does indeed find that he has a newfound freedom, which starts in this chapter and grows as the story progresses. He leaves the south on a bus sitting in the back in the “Jim Crow” (155.8) section, which itself is the ultimate symbol of segregation and inequality, and ends up on a subway in New York “crushed against a white women” (158.2), a level of contact which would have surely gotten IM in trouble at the very least in the South.

2. Assess the value of the veteran’s comments on the bus; why does the reader have a better understanding of what he says than IM does? Why might Burnside be considered a “wise fool”?
The vet from the Golden Day who IM partiall blames for his expulsion from the school reveals truths about the reality of the “black movement” through a series of veiled as well as blatent inferences and gives IM what he believes to be usefull advise on taking the real opportunities afforded to him by New York. The vets attendent tells IM that Burnside is “being transferred” and “there is no cure” (153.2) for the mental “disease” that he has. The reader sees here a similarity between IM and the vet in their departure. Both are being “transferred” from one type of inprisonment to another ( for IM the letters he carries and their “responces” will only keep him away from equality) and for neither is there a cure for the “subversive” thoughts that IM will eventually discover. The vet tells IM that New York is “not a place” but rather “a dream” (152.6). This is not because New York’s social climate is so free and liberal as IM infers, the vets allusion is that those very supposed facets of the north (equality ) are a dream, and can not actually be found there. A sardonic list follows from the vet on what activities IM may partake in such as “attending lectures” , “meeting white folks” and dancing with a “white girl” (152.7), to poke fun at what IM thinks may actually represent equality. More importantly than anything else, the most important semblance of true wisdom among the vets foolery is the directive to “come out of the fog” and “look beneath the surface” (153.8). In these brief lines a suggestion is made that IM can learn to change the rules of “the game” of oppression, and in doing so fight for some actual freedom. Finally, Burnside suggests that IM “leave the Mr. Norton’s of the world alone” (156.5), an idea echoed by Mr. Emerson’s son later. IM does not then, nor for some time come to understand what is meant here, that those self interested people who were supposed champions of a cause they themselves were not a part of could not be trusted as their motives were the exact contrary of what they appeared to be.
3. What does his reaction about Harlem tell you about IM?
When confronted with the “bombardment of impressions” (159.6) in Harlem, the responses we see in IM are key indicators of his heavy social conditioning learnt in the South, as well as a certain naivet? concerning how things appear versus how the actually exist. The first incident of the subway in which IM is shocked that the white women he is pressed up against “does not scream” and what’s more “no one was paying [him] the slightest attention”( 158.7). He does not recognize that New York and South Carolina are different places with different social climates. IM cant believe that there aren’t “riots on those things all the time” (158.8) because of black man touching white women. The conditioning of the taboo of white women and the discourtesy toward blacks has been so ingrained in his mind that when some equality is present it can not register for him. The awe increases as he sees “black girls behind the counters” (159.4) at convenience stores and by the shear population of blacks in Harlem, which he has not yet recognized as being a real “black community”. The reminder of being “up North” (158.8) continues when IM encounters two police officers who are kind to IM and call him “bud”( 160.5), not “boy” as a southern police officer was apt to do , but even so IM can not bring himself to address them by anything other than “sir” as he was taught to do. It is obvious from this interaction that IM has a latent fear of the police, and can not separate the racist south from a more understanding North.

4. In chapter 9 )172.9-177.7) IM meets Peter Wheatstraw, a blueprint delivery man, on the street; what seems to be the main purpose of this character? What does he represent?
The existence of Peter Wheatstraw in this chapter serves as a reminder to IM of his southern roots, and real black culture. IM has gone from a sheltered existence in the south , fully controlled by white approved “education” to New York which was alive with the ideas of a false equality which existed in every aspect but culture. The actuall content of what Peter says does not matter, only the responces and interactions he has with IM reveal his purpose. The first time we see Peter hes singing “a blues” (173.1), a purely black style of music. He asks IM if he has “the dog” (173.5) and is shocked that someone from “down home” would not have “heard that before”. IM is reminded of the vets from the Golden Day, as Peter and the vets all were a component of the Black culture which IM had never truly experienced or even known about. The transportation and disposal of plans by a figure representeding the black culture is also important to the chapters theme. Introduction to ones true culture and heritage can and does cause plans to go “unused” and causes many more to be “changed” (175.6). Im tries to contemplate the “strangeness” of the song Peter is singing but its meaning and sound is to alien for him

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs
A standing committee chaired by Senator Susan M. Collins, of Maine

The Committee on Governmental Affairs was first created as the “committee on Expenses and Executive Departments” which was created and organized on April 18, 1921. The Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Department was renamed the Committee on Government Operations in 1952. The Committee on Government Operations was reorganized as the Committee on Governmental Affairs in 1978.
Of the 3 current subcommittees, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is the oldest being created at the same time as the Committee on Government Operations in 1952. The Subcommittee on the Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia came into being after the creation of the Committee on Governmental Affairs in 1978. The Subcommittee on Financial Management, the Budget, and International Security was created at the beginning of the 108th Congress.
Over the years, the Committee on Governmental Affairs and its predecessors have dealt with a number of important issues. Most recently, the Committee had primary jurisdiction over the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. The Committee on Governmental Affairs is the chief oversight committee for the United States Senate.

House Committee on Ways and Means
A standing committee chaired by Bill Thomas of California

The Committee on Ways and Means has jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs and other revenue-raising measures, as well as a number of entitlement programs including social security, unemployment, Medicare and fostercare and adoption. Constitutionally all bills regarding taxation must originate in the House of Representatives, and House procedure is that all bills regarding taxation must go through this committee. This makes this house committee particularly powerful, especially in comparison with its Senate counterpart, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.
Recently, Ways and Means has become one of the more important committees in a policy sense, due to its wide jurisdiction. Major issues that have gone through this committee including welfare reform, a Medicare prescription drug benefit, President George W. Bush's tax cuts, and NAFTA and other free trade agreements. Also, given the wide array of interests that are affected by the committee, a seat makes it very easy to collect campaign contributions.

Essay 1

A. Interphase is the longest phase of the cell cycle, and is broken into three sub phases, G1, S phase and G2. In G1, a newly formed cell synthesizes materials needed for cell growth. In the S stage, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the genetic material of the cell, is replicated. At this stage, DNA consists of long, thin strands called chromatin. As each strand is replicated, it is linked to its duplicate by a structure known as a centromere. When the S stage is complete, the cell enters a brief stage known as G2, when specialized enzymes correct any errors in the newly synthesized DNA, and proteins involved with the next phase, mitosis, are synthesized. The purpose of this phase is for the cell to grow and replicates its DNA and centrioles. During interphase, the cell obtains nutrients, and duplicates its chromosomes.

B. In mitosis, two daughter cells are created , each having a full diploid set of chromosomes, both are identical to the parent cell. Replication of the genetic material results in "duplicated" chromosomes, each of which consists of two sister chromatids. Mitosis involves the separation of these sister chromatids. Meiosis is both similar and different from mitosis. It is similar to mitosis in that each cell engaging in meiosis must first replicate all of the DNA in the cell. In this manner every chromosome is copied and consists of two identical “sister” chromatids. It is however, different from mitosis primarily due to the events of Meiosis I and II. In Miesosis 1, homologous chromosomes pair up at the cell equator and are then separated from one another. Prophase I, occurring in Meiosis I, is when it becomes possible for homologous chromosomes to exchange their DNA by “crossing-over” at the chiasmata. After Meiosis I the daughter cells contain a haploid number of chromosomes. During Meiosis II, the sister chromatids are then separated. This separation is similar to the nuclear division associated with mitosis except for the fact that the cells are haploid in meiosis instead of diploid as they would be in mitosis.
C. The law of Independent assortment states that the emergence of one trait will not effect the emergence of another, or (during gamete formation )the segregation of the alleles of one allelic pair is independent of the segregation of the alleles of another allelic pair. Since the chromosomes separate independent of each other, the gametes can end up with any combination of paternal or maternal chromosomes. In fact, any of the possible combinations of gametes formed from maternal and paternal chromosomes will occur with equal frequency.
Essay 2
A. The cell cycle consists of three principle stages, Interphase, mitosis and cytokenesis. During Interphase, the cell grows while obtaining nutrients, engages in its primary function as a cell and toward the end of the stage the cell replicates its DNA in anticipation of mitosis. Mitosis is the stage wherein the cell duplicates itself creating two daughter cells which are genetically identical to the parent cell. The primary result of mitosis is the division of the parent cell's genome into two daughter cells. The genome is composed chromosomes, masses of tightly-coiled DNA that contain genetic information. Because each daughter cell should be genetically identical to the parent cell, the parent cell must make a copy of each chromosome before mitosis. This occurs during the middle of interphase, the period that precedes the mitotic phase in the cell cycle where preparation for mitosis occurs. This is followed by Cytokenesis ,which is simply the final division of the cytoplasm of the cells, during which each cell forms its own cell membrane.

B. In order to control cell growth and division, it has been found that the primary method of cell control involves the interactions between enzymes and the proteins that inhibit or activate them. These enzymes phosphorylate and dephosphorylate proteins to control the activities of other cellular enzymes which tell cells when to grow or stop growing and when to divide. If DNA in a cell becomes damaged, cells can arrest progression through the cell cycle at distinct points (called checkpoints) and induce the transcription of genes whose products facilitate DNA repair. In response to DNA damage, eukaryotic cells arrest either in G1 or S phase, to prevent replication of damaged genes, or in G2, to avoid the segregation of defective chromosomes.

While Bledsoe appears to be very appeasing and behaves as if he was in service to Norton, his behavior is only superficial, with Bledsoes real concern being his continued power and role in the school with Norton existing only as a tool to achieve that end. One of Bledsoes first reactions to seeing Norton back is the exclemation of “Mr. Norton, Mister Norton! I’m so sorry!” (103.7)which seems to mimic what a servent or slave might say to “Mister” Norton to console him and avoid any anger he may bare from his experience. This servile behavior seems to be expected by Norton who does not ask for Bledsoe to visit him but rather “sends for him”. It is revealed later to IM that Bledose is deceiving Norton,

1. In chapter 4, IM drives Mr. Norton back to the college. Re-read pages 99.5-104.5; characterize the relationship between Mr. Norton and Dr. Bledsoe. Cite examples to prove your answer.
ciufo888 (5:22:26 PM): 2 What does the reader come to realize about Dr. Bledsoe that IM does not? Cite specific examples.
ciufo888 (5:22:34 PM): 3. On pg 107.9, Ellison characterizes Mr. Norton as "St. Nicholas." Why? What is his point? Why does Norton leave earlier than expected; what is the implied metaphor.
ciufo888 (5:22:51 PM): 4. In chapter 5, the "legend" of Dr. Bledsoe's rise to power at the college is recounted by IM. Read the entire account; what is the implied metaphor Ellison creates with a part of that legend?

5. What is the effect of Barbee's speech on IM; what is the effect on the reader?

6. What is the significance of Reverend Homer A Barbee's name and his physical abilities? How is this significance reinforced by his speech? What is the purpose of his speech?

7. At the end of the celebration/speeches, the orchestra plays Dvorak's "New World Symphony," but IM keeps hearing his mother and grandfather's favorite spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Why does Ellison end the chapter with these details? What is his point?

8. Speculate about the symbolism of Bledsoe's name. Cite evidence to support your answer.

ciufo888 (5:22:56 PM): 9. Telling the truth and telling lies comes up a few times in chapter 6. Record some examples, and summarize the points made.

10. Chapter 6 ends with one of the prototypes from chapter 1 being repeated.

3.Characterize the IM-Norton relationship off campus; what does this relationship tell us about each man?
The first social trait described of Norton is that he was “an easy, informal man” (37.6), and this trait allows for him to reveal his personality and motivations to IM quickly and this frankness is eventually reciprocated by IM to the same ends. For the most part however, IM wishing only to please Norton only listens and agrees to what he says, but grows bolder with the leeway is he allowed which eventually leads them to the next major stage of the novel. From the beginning IM flatters Norton in the hopes of “a large tip, or a suit or a scholarship…” (38.5) and Norton for a large period of time flatters himself by describing the college he helped create as a “wonderful institution” (38.7) and telling IM of the “vision” (39) of the schools founder. When questioned by IM , Norton reveals that he is involved for selfish reasons, that IM’s “people were somehow closely connected to your destiny” (41.8). These are all fronts for self glorification by participating g in “the white mans burden” (37.6) to allegedly look after and provide for African Americans. Norton ironically states that he has “seen the fruits produced by the land your great founder has transformed from barren clay to fertile soil” (45.8) when much of the area surrounding the college, the real world, was described earlier in the chapter as barren. This surmises the differences between Norton and IM, that Norton only seems the good he has created for Blacks while Norton sees the still gaping dispossession imposed upon African Americans in the country. It is perhaps for this reason that IM subconsciously chooses to take Norton where he does, to show him that reality.

4.How do the whites treat Trueblood? Explain why.
By Truebloods own admission the “white folks” treat him “fine” (68.2). This is extremely odd as he openly admits to incest, which most people find to be a revolting crime, but even Mr. Norton gives him a “hundred dollar bill”(69.4) after hearing the story. The reason the whites treat him fine is the same reason that the blacks at the school “don’t like [him]” (68.2), his actions and his apathy about them “brought disgrace upon the black community” (46.3) and made their strive for equality that less legitimate. It invokes for the whites the mentality of “They just nigguhs, leave ‘em do it” (58.6), which makes them seem to be animals, not people that the whites have to watch over. The weakening of the basis for equality is what makes the whites treat him fine and its why he gets “more work now than [he] ever did have before” (53.5).

5.What significant inference can we make about Nortons reaction to Truebloods story ; cite evidence by page and position.
It is quite obvious that Trueblood's story takes a tremendous toll upon Norton as he becomes “a little faint” (69.7) and starts “gasping for breath” (71.6). This physical reaction is a result of the incredible shock Norton receives after learning that the taboo incestuous actions of Trueblood not only occurred, but he has little or no remorse for them and what’s more the white community seems to care little for his actions. Norton, at least a part of him, is obviously disgusted by Trueblood's story, as he demands that IM “Take [him] away from here” in a “sudden frenzy” (69.5). However the gift of a hundred dollars to Trueblood does some seem to sync with disapproval and disgust. Norton’s description of his daughter is slightly parallel to Trueblood’s description of his daughter , which could possibly mean Norton had similar feelings told his daughter and almost approved with or at least had sympathy for Trueblood’s action. While the self disgust Norton would have felt after this could have caused his ill state, it is more likely that it is simply the horror of the scenario and the realization that similar events might not be that uncommon which caused Norton’s physical reaction.

6. What causes the riot at the Golden Day, and why is Supercargo unable to stop it?
Norton’s presence in the Golden Day, an institution which has likely seldom seen a white patron much less one of the wealth and importance of Norton’s caliper, causes an uproar which leads to the riot and chaos in the bar. In the coarse of carrying of carrying Norton to the bar he is identified as “Thomas Jefferson”, “John D. Rockefeller” “ Mister Eddy” and “the Messiah” by the patients of the local insane asylum. One man then punches Norton, and IM notices “several men rush for the door” (79.4) in anticipation of the impending riot that punching a white man might bring about. The commotion is enough to warrant their attendant, Supercargo’s warning: “I want order down there, and if there’s white folks down there I wan’s double order” (82.6) The patients, already agitated and excited from their explanations of why they’re there proceed to attack Supercargo , and propelled by the fear he instills in them , the feeling that “he’s always in their mind”
(84.6) they throw liquor bottles at him , and he falls down the stairs where they then beat him despite Norton’s pleads for them to stop.

7.What information is the reader given about the veteran who helps; how does he see IM and Norton?
The vet who helps Norton recover from the turmoil in the Golden Day is revealed to be a former doctor ,and a very good one as he can diagnose a condition of Norton’s of which “only a few men in the whole country possess the knowledge” (90.7).After saving a life the vet was forced out of town by members of the KKK, which is what assumedly drove him to the asylum. He also admits to having escaped the asylum to join the Army corps in France and that he stayed after the armistice to “study and practice” (90.9). Before anything else , the vet considered Norton to be “only a man” (86.5) , and he conveys that Norton is a “great white father” and simultaneously a “lyncher of souls” (93.5), and that he is a firm believer in the supremacy of the white race. He insists that IM also believes this and has himself become a “walking zombie” and a “mechanical man” (94.3). The vet accuses IM of “repressing his humanity” in order to serve the vision of the white man.

8. What are the effects of the Golden Day on Norton and vise versa?
Norton and the Golden Day effect each other in the exact same way, each causes a sort of self-realization resulting in chaos, while literal for the Golden Day, it is intellectual and social for Norton. The Golden Day, through the vet, informs Norton that he is just a man and that the rest of the Golden Day “might suddenly realize that you are what you are” and that if this happened his “life wouldn’t be worth a piece of bankrupt stock” (93.3). While the Golden Day proves to be tumultuous for his physical health, the social supremacy he believes to be endowed with dissipates with the vets words and he becomes angry at the anarchy within his own mind. The events of the Golden Day force him to confront the accusation of being a “trustee of consciousness” (89.8) as well as the real reasons he is involved with the fool and why he “supports” the school. The people of the Golden Day are divided in thought between Norton, and all whites for that matter, being a “great white father” or a “lyncher of souls” (93.5) , or perhaps they see him as a combination of both. It is clear that his arrival spurs their reanalysis of why they’re there: for “therapy” while the therapy is prevented from having any effect. The helplessness of their condition in all respects results in the small riot in the Golden Day, which frightens Norton as it qualified the vets later statement that he would be helpless if the black populace Norton kept under his thumb ever turned on him and the white “authority”.

Steven Goldstein
AP English 12
Invisible Man; Chapters 1-3

Identify 5 episodes that occur in chapter one which serve as prototypes for the novel; what does each episode share with its late repetitions?

a. Advise from an older man
The first time in the novel when IM receives advise from an older man occurs early in the first chapter with the recollection of IM’s grandfathers death. IM recalls how , on his deathbed, his grandfather commanded that his son “keep up the good fight…” , that is to continue an alleged battle against white supremacy, even though that is never clearly made the target. These comments to “ Overcome ‘um with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins” and to “agree ‘em to death and destruction” (pg.16) while not made directly to IM, never the less had a “tremendous impact”(16.5) on him. Going along with this advise was described as “treachery” (17.2) to most African Americans, as shown by how quickly the “young children were whisked from the room” (16.4) after these words were spoken. IM in his early life admits to not comprehending the full scope of what his grandfather meant in this type of suggested passive resistance or retaliation but he does imply that he wanted no part of it. When he meets success and is honored by Whites he feels he’s carrying out his grandfathers wish “in spite of himself” (16.8) and describes it as a “curse” (17.4).

b. White manipulation of Blacks on Blacks
A clear instance in which Blacks are set against themselves by the Whites is during the “battle royal” (17.7). During this brawl set up by the whites consisting of only Blacks, each man was told to “run across at that ball and give it to him right in the belly.” (21.2) by a White observer. This was followed with “ if you don’t get him, i'm going to get you” (21.4). This threat of personal harm was only a component of the motivation fed by the Whites for the Black men to attack one another. They were instructed to “mix it up” (22.7), to attack one another without purpose other then please the White man. Amid the cries of “Slug him black boy! Knock his guts out!” and “Uppercut him! Kill him! Kill that big boy!” the motives of the Whites present become exceedingly apparent, and that a very intentional but subliminal play of the Blacks on themselves. Tatlock, one of the fighters present claims he’s going to “break [IM’s] behind” (24.9), not for the Whites but for himself. The only motivation for him of coarse is the reward for winning, a reward which was created by Whites to get the Blacks to fight other Blacks.

c.Sexual Taboo of White Women
When IM first begins describing the white women “dancing” before the battle royal it is conveyed to the reader that not only are white women considered absolutely forbidden to blacks, but that it has been reinforced by the defense mechanism of finding all features of the women to be repulsive. Her eyes are compared to a “baboons butt” (19.4) , and her hair to a “circus kewpie doll”. Discordantly he describes her other features as attractive, almost in spite of himself. The only way he can find to prevent attraction, and the certain doom that it would conatate if the whites suspected it, is to convince himself that she is unattractive. Another black man forced to watch tries to “hide himself [his erection] with his boxing gloves” (20.2) while full of fear that a white man should notice, suggesting a horrible punishment if that should be the case.

d.Identity on a piece of paper
Throughout the first chapter are scenes wherein the identity of IM, both actual and social , is represented on a piece of paper, beginning with the speech he is to deliver after the battle royal and ending with the scholarship he receives to the state “Negro college”. Before the battle royal IM feels as though he was “Booker T Washington” (18.2), because of the stock he had invested in that speech. His identity became the words of that speech which we later find to be a passive call for “social …responsibility” (31.1), not the “social… equality” (31.2) which a real fight against discrimination would require. He was ignored in this speech must as the concept of social responsibility, basically a euphemistic way of putting the idea of the “White mans Burden”. Only if it deviated into the idea of equality did it receive any attention. After the speech IM is given a brief case in which he can store “important papers” (32.3) that will “shape the destiny of your people” (32.3), of coarse these papers would be meaningless as the destiny suggested is one of complacent servitude. After being awarded a scholarship to a “Negro college” IM becomes overjoyed at his opportunity to be educated, even though it is by definition a lesser education than he as citizen is entitled to.

e. “Keep This Nigger Boy Running”
In a dream IM discovers an envelope “stamped with the state seal” (33.3) and like a set of Russian dolls he discovers another envelope inside that one and so on. These envelopes are, according to IM's grandfather in the dream “years”. Finally when he gets the letter he reads the letter which quite simply reads “To whom it concerns, Keep This Nigger-Boy Running.” A directive to make sure that the blacks, especially the ones who become well educated and might seek equality are kept in a system of dependence and reliance on the white social order under the guise that it is furthering their condition. This message is passed on from year to year, from generation to generation. It first takes form in IM’s attendance of a state run “College for Negroes”. An institution supposedly there to further black education and equality but in reality it is only another means of control which is imposed over IM by whites.

2. In chapter 2, examine the choice of details in the description of the campus and surrounding area.
Ellison uses a very naturalistic tone in the second chapter to describe the campus of the college IM is attending, and he includes vibrant imagery not only of the apparent beauty of the campus itself, but of the stagnation present just beyond the campus. The campus grounds are pleasantly pictured with “Honeysuckle and purple wisteria” (34.4) as well as with other pleasantries. There is more hidden symbolism present here with what the author chooses to include in his descriptions of the “white economics cottage…whiter still in the moonlight” and the “black powerhouse” (34.8). The economics cottage being white conatates that that the education they receive is still controlled by Whites, and that even though its at a Black college, it is still under White supervision. The black powerhouse conveys a message in the same context, that the source that drives the college in spite of the white leadership is the Blacks who attend it. The “Earth shaking rhythms” (34.9) the powerhouse “drones” in the “dark” is an apparent parallel to the slave spirituals, which occurs at the same time that “A Mighty Fortress is Our God’” (35.5)is being played by students across the campus. Up the road from the college is the “insane asylum” (35.2) and its proximity to the college, more specifically being “on up the road” suggest that attendance at the black college and participation in an institution in that context can lead to insanity of sorts. The other paths leading out of the college lead to “empty fields” , “sun shrunk shacks” (35.7) and a chapel. All of these are suggested to be the expected destinations for the students, that they should be “blind robots to visitors and officials” (36.1) and do as they are expected.

Steven Goldstein
AP Biology
1 / 7 / 06

Lab 3: Mitosis and Meiosis

Lab Partners : Dan Moy
Scott Wozniak
James DeSiena

Introduction:

Lab Objectives:
-To recognize the stages of mitosis in plant or animal cell
-Calculate the relative duration of the cell cycle stages
-Describe how independent assortment and crossing over can generate genetic variation
-Use chromosome models
-Demonstrate the role of meiosis in forming gametes
-Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis in plant and animal cells

Hypotheses
-The stage of cell division most frequently seen is the stage which the cell is in for the longest time
-The most observed state of mitosis in both the plant and animal cells will be interphase

Materials
Whitefish cell slides pop-beads
Onion Root cell slides

Procedure
1.Obtain 1 slide of Onion root tip cells and one slide of whitefish cells
2. Observe the slides, looking for cells in the different stages of cell division
3. Draw an example of each stage of mitosis and record the number of cells in each stage for both slides.

Questions
1. If the area observed on the root tip had not been undergoing active cell devision than the vast majority of the cells observed would have been in the prophase state, as they would have already completed cell division.
2. From the data collected we can assume that cells are in Interphase for the longest interval of time.
3.Onion Root tip “time in cell cycle stages” pie chart of awesome





Anlysis questions
1. During mitosis, the chromatin first begins to condense and becomes visible in the light microscope as chromosomes. The nucleolus disappears. Centrioles begin moving to opposite ends of the cell and fibers extend from the centromeres. Some fibers cross the cell to form the mitotic spindle.The nuclear membrane dissolves, marking the beginning of prometaphase.Spindle fibers align the chromosomes along the middle of the cell nucleus. This line is referred to as the metaphase plate. The paired chromosomes separate at the kinetochores and move to opposite sides of the cell.Chromatids arrive at opposite poles of cell, and new membranes form around the daughter nuclei. The spindle fibers disperse, and cytokinesis or the partitioning of the cell may also begin during this stage. Cytokenesis then occurs , in which the two daughter cells are split and gain their own membranes.
2. The primary difference between plant and animal cells in mitosis occurs during the process of cytokensis. In animal cells, cytokinesis occurs when a ring of actin and myosin filaments constricts the plasma membrane at the equator. Eventually, the parent cell is divided into two cells. In plant cells however a number of small vesicles fuse at the metaphase plate to form the cell plate. Over time, the cell plate reaches across the cell and joins with the plasma membrane. The purpose of the rigid inflexible cell wall in plants is to prevent them from growing too large and preventing other cell division.
3. The function of centrosome is to ensure the quality of cell division, rather than directing it. Cells that have lost their centrosomes arrest in the following cell cycle. It is not yet clear whether this is because the centrosome plays a role in cell cycle progression or whether the arrest is the result of a generic stress response. Centrosomes are not necessary in mitosis, as in laboratory experiments cells continue to undergo mitosis after the centrioles are removed, albeit with some positioning errors in cytokenesis.
Analysis and Investigation
1.In mitosis a parent cell creates two products which are exact replicas of itself, while in meiosis a parent cell creates four products which are genetically unique. Mitosis does not encompass a pairing of homologous proteins and the “crossing over” of DNA that occurs during meiosis. Lastly, mitotic results contains the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell, with meiotic cell division products being haploid, with half the chromosome number of the parent.

3.Meiosis I begins with a tetrad and separates the homologous pairs. Meiosis II separates the two sister chromatids.
4. Ogenesis produces an egg cell, while spermatogenesis produces sperm cells.
5. In meiosis the chromosome number is reduced to n so that it can be fertilized. Also, meiosis allows for crossing over, which results in variations in organisms.

Conclusion:

Sources of Error: The most prominent source of error is possible discrepancies in the frequency of cells in the stages of mitosis observed. This occurred because cell stages observed at random always have a probability of being clumped in the areas viewed. Also, only cells where the stages of mitosis were clearly reckognizable were counted, some stages which may have been less apparent through the microscope would thus have have been underrepresented.

2. What is the primary function of the prologue?

Ralph Ellison uses the prologue to effectivly present the reader with the themes , philosophies and struggles of the protagonist (who represents the average African-American of the time) without actually introducing any of the characters and without betraying too much of the story. The self proclaimed “invisible man” makes it clear that he is only invisible because “…people refuse to see [him].” (pg.3). The narrator, whos name is “Jack”

Steven Goldstein
AP Biology
12/ 20 / 05

Lab 5: Cellular Respiration

Lab Partners : Dan Moy
Scott Wozniak
James DeSiena

Introduction: The process of cellular respiration involves several reactions which effectively release energy from compounds through metabolic oxidation. These reactions are assisted by enzymes are take place in every cell. Optimally, that is if enough oxygen is present, the glucose can be entirely oxidized which releases energy. Oxygen is consumed in the process, and CO2 is produced and stored within the seeds. Though there are several ways to calculate the rate at which glucose is oxidized during cellular respiration, the one which this lab utilizes is the measuring of the volume of Oxygen of the samples. The CO2 that is produced in the process is stored as a solid, and the reduction in gas volume equals a net loss in pressure in the tube. Therefore, if cellular respiration occurs, a net loss on pressure will be observed.


Lab Objectives:
-To use a computer and a Gas Pressure Sensor to measure pressure changes
-Study the effect of temperature on cell respiration
-Determine whether non germinating or germinating peas respire
-Compare the rates of cellular respiration in germinating and non germinating peas

Hypotheses
1. The pressure in the tube with germinating seeds will decrease the most as more respiration is occurring.
2. The pressure in the tube with the non germinating seeds will only slightly decrease
3. There will be no change in the tube with only beads
4. The pressures of the test tubes with seeds will decrease faster and more extensively in the room temperature experiment then in the experiment with ice water.

Materials
Vernier probe absorbent cotton
KOH non absorbent cotton
Germinating and non germinating peas ice
Beads ring stand

Procedure
1. Connect probes to pressure sensors and computer
2. Prepare two water baths
3. Add ice to one bath so that it reaches 10 degrees C
4. Obtain and label test tubes
5. Place a small wad of cotton in each test tube
6. Add KOH
7. Place 25 germinating peas in the first test tube
8. Add non germinating peas to the second test tube
9. Add beads to the third test tube
10. Secure test tubes to the ring stand and connect them to the probes
11. Submerge the test tubes in the bath
12. Collect data
13. Stop recording after 20 minutes
14. Repeat with the ice bath.

Questions
1. There is evidence that cell respiration occurred in peas. The pressure in both of the tubes with peas showed a decrease, which will only occur consistently and by large quantities if Oxygen is being taken out of the air in cellular respiration.
2. Germinating pea cells require more cellular respiration as they are growing and thus more cellular respiration occurs.
3. The higher the temperature, the more enzyme reactions can occur due to entropy and as cellular respiration is an enzyme aided reaction, the higher the temperature , the more respiration that will occur.
4. The role of the control resperometer was to observe general changes in atmospheric pressure around the tube that would be uniform in all three tubes. Any change observed in the control would have to be considered in analyzing the data from the other two test tubes.
5. Germinating peas are growing and require the ATP from the cellular respiration to facilitate that growth.

Conclusion: As predicted in the hypothesis, the germinating peas underwent the most cellular respiration, with a -.9931kpa/sec rate of reduction. The non germinating peas also seem to have undergone a slightly less amount of respiration with only a -.91 kpa/sec decline. However, the beads test tube showed, in both the cold and warm water trials that it had a greater loss of pressure than the non germinating peas. Because pressure correlates to the amount of cellular respiration that occurs , as well as fluctuations in surrounding atmospheric pressure, either the non germinating seeds were releasing gas which would increase the pressure( which would explain why the regular atmospheric decrease would be higher) or there was a problem with the peas themselves or in the bead tube. Regardless, there was undoubtedly a significant amount of cellular respiration taking place in the germinating peas in both trials as a result of the large amounts of ATP converted from ADP that the cell requires in order to undergo mitotic division and growth. The hypothesis concerning the difference between the cold and warm water trials was also correct, less cellular respiration took place in the cold water ( shown by smaller decreases in pressure). This is because enzymes are less active in cold water due to less heat caused entropy. With less movement within the cell, the enzymes which enable the oxidation of glucose can not occur as often, thus reducing the amount of respiration which can occur in the cell.


Sources of Error: The most likely source of error, especially for the non germinating peas, would be that some KOH was on the side of the test tube and came into contact with the peas, and would have skewed the data. It is also possible that the rubber stoppers were not tightly inserted into the test tubes, allowing for air leaks which would have shown a pressure reduction. In addition, any drafts or air currents moving in the room and around the test tubes could have possibly altered the pressure around them and altered the input the probe received.