1.31.20 DEFINITIONS

Prokaryotic: Small cells with simple structures that lack a membrane-bound nucleus or internal membrane bound structures.

Prokaryotic cells are comprised of kingdom bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotic: Larger, more complex cells that have a true nucleus, and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic cells are comprised of kingdoms Algae, Protista, Fungi, Animalia, and Plantae.

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching: A technique used to measure the diffusion rate of membrane, by using a powerful laster on a small part of a membrane in order to remove the fluorescent dye. The fluorescence will slowly recover and become fully fluorescent once it is able to diffuse again.

FRAP can be used to determine the rate of diffusion of different membranes.

Chemiosmotic: Theory that explains how most ATP is generated by movement down the election transport chain via mitochondrial membranes.

The chemiosmotic theory was founded by Peter Mitchell, explaining that the breakdown of high-energy molecules, like glucose and other sugars, allows for formation of other energy currency molecules such as NADH and FADH2 which are then used to generate ATP. He suggested that most ATP synthesized is via the electron transport chain.

1.17.20 ENCOUNTER

While watching some TV I noticed my Mom feeding the dogs random bits of food: Cheese, Pork Bits, Grapes.

Grapes?

My girlfriend saw my confusion and mentioned that dogs aren’t able to eat grapes. Just like chocolate, grapes are toxic to dogs. I quickly called out to my mom and let her know what I was told. I instantly did some research and after a general browse and several unsuccessful attempts at finding a study I found the MERCK MANUAL, an online veterinary manual.

The consensus, from the manual and many other google searches, was that dogs just couldn’t have them. There was no clear explanation or chemical pathway discovered, but most dogs that eat grapes experience renal failure. Other symptoms include: vomitting/diarrhea, abdominal pain, dehydration, or fatal renal failure.

What could cause the kidney to shutdown? The chemical composition of grapes include water, sugar, some organic acids, compounds and minerals. Surely one of those dissolved solids in grape juice would lead to some sort of reaction. Is it similar to theobromine in chocolate? Humans are able to metabolize chocolate and grapes, so maybe the grapes have their own unknown compound that cannot be metabolized by dogs. Sadly this pathway has yet to be discovered. Our dogs have not reacted yet, and hopefully they will continue to be ok, but everyone now knows to be careful around the grapes.

The course focuses on the components within a cell and how they work together for cells, tissues, organs, etc. to function. Dogs are able to metabolize Theobromine however they do so at a very slow rate, leading to toxic buildup in their system. The kidney cells are able to take in toxic material and detoxify it, avoiding the buildup up toxic material in the body. This encounter revolves around the dogs renal cells, and their inability to breakdown an undetermined chemical.

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