OH! DEER! ( Factors Relate to Population Size)

   "OH! DEER!" is a simulation the class has played in order to understand the factors affecting population sizes. The simulation makes the knowledge " jumps out " of the textbook and teaches us as we play. Two most important factors that affects population size we have learned from "OH! DEER!" are density-dependent factor and density-independent factor.

    Density-dependent factors occur when the increasing population are facing a limited resources. This was introduced to us in the first part of the game, when the class was divided into two groups -- deer and resource. Individuals in both groups had to choose what they are (resource) or what they consume (deer) with options of water,shelter and food. As the game progress, the resource reduced as the deer consumed it. Soon enough the resource available was not able to meet the need of the deer. This was where it reached the carrying capacity.Consequently, dead deer will eventually turned back into resource as it decomposes by the fungi over the time. 

   Density-independent factors are factors such as flood, drought, forest fire or predators. This was presented during the second part of the game where factors of flood and such were inserted into the game in which gave a limitation on resources. As result, the deer population started to shrink due to a shortage of supply or the death from predator.Similarly to the predator who consume on the deer, they will face a density-dependent factor when their resource -- the deer is short.

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

( Photo Credits to Elaine Li)




Cyclic Light -dependent reaction is an alternative pathway for non-cyclic pathway in a condition of the absence of  limited factor NADP+.




Alternative Pathway of CAM and C4 occurs when water or carbon dioxide are limited.
C4 --> different reactions take place in different part of the cell by the use of oxaloacetate (4C).
CAM --> different reactions occur in different time period of a day.










Fermutation occurs when oxygen is not available.

20 Points On Krebs Cycle

1. It was discovered by Hans Adolf Krebs in 1930s.
2. Hans Adolf Krebs was awarded Nobel Prize for his work of Krebs Cycle.
3. It is also known as the citric cycle since citric acid is the 6 carbon molecule that initiates the Krebs cycle.
4. It takes place in mitochondria which is the energy generator for the cell, specifically it occurs at the matrix of mitochondria. 
5. It has 8 steps and each step is catalyzed by a specific enzyme.
6.  Overall chemical equation for the Krebs cycle: oxaloacetate + acetyl-CoA + ADP + Pi + 3NAD⁺ + FAD → CoA + ATP + 3NADH + 3H⁺ + FADH2 + 2CO2 + oxaloacetate
7. Oxaloacetate is the final product of the Krebs cycle then it goes back and combine with acetyl-Coa again to start a new cycle.
8. Acetyl-CoA is formed from pyruvate oxidation where a pyruvate molecule releases one carbon and oxidase by NAD+ then combine with the enzyme CoA. 
9. Acetyl- CoA (2C) enters the cycle releases CoA and combine with oxaloacetate(4C) to form citric acid (6C)
10. Citric acid(6C) undergoes isomerization to form isocitric(6C).
11. Isocitric(6C) converts into α-ketoglutarate (5C), one carbon and two hydrogen atoms are lost during the process which reduces NAD+ into NADH.
12.  α-ketoglutarate (5C) converts into succinyl-CoA (4C). A Carbon is lost, enzyme CoA is added, and two hydrogen atoms has reduced NAD+ into NADH.
13.  succinyl-CoA (4C) converts into succinate (4C).  Enzyme CoA has been released, GDP has reduced from the process in which then later oxidased by ADP in order to produce ATP. 
14. FADH 2 through the reduction from FAD+ during the conversion from Succinate(4C) to Fumarate (4C).
15. Fumarate(4C) converts into Malate (4C) by an addition of water. 
16. NADH is produced from the conversion from Malate(4C) to Oxaloacetate(4C).
17. Krebs cycle will occur twice since glycolysis can generate two pyruvates. 
18. Energy is produced in step 3.4.5.6 and 8.
19. NADH & FADH2 produced from the cycle will move into Electron Transport Chain in order to convert into ATP.
20. The carbon dioxides formed from the cycle will move out of the cell as metabolism wastes.