Shwetha Santhosh

<ul>
 <li>
 Student Name: Gopika Anil, Ramya Nambiar and Shwetha Santhosh
 </li>
 <li>
 Name of college: CMR National PU College ITPL
 </li>
 <li>
 Sample: Yeast undergoing budding
 </li>
</ul>

 As students of eleventh grade, we had recently studied about Kingdom Fungi in our biology class. When we were given the opportunity to observe any sample under the foldoscope we chose to take a sample of yeast.


 We knew yeast was scientifically called Saccharomyces and belonged to Division Ascomycota. After we mounted the specimen, we got a pleasant surprise. We were fortunate enough to see a sample of yeast undergoing budding under the foldoscope. On closer inspection we could see a single ovoid bud projecting from the bigger parent yeast cell. Out of the many granules of yeast that we had mounted, only one of the cells had a bud attached to it.


 We usually don’t get the chance to see the physiological activities of unicellular organisms due to lack of easily accessible viewing operators. However due to the arrival of the foldoscope in our college, we have gotten the opportunity to observe many such phenomena invisible to the naked eye. This has helped us understand our curriculum better in school and also inculcate a sense of curiosity in all our minds on the miniscule phenomena happening around us unknown to our eyes.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20181219_104832" class="wp-image-108783 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="108783" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 4A","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1545216512","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.92","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181219_104832" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_108778/IMG_20181219_104832.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 Single yeast cell undergoing budding
 </figcaption>
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Sample of yeast undergoing budding

<ul>
 <li>
 Name of Student: Bindu N, Shwetha Santhosh
 </li>
 <li>
 School Name: CMR National PU College ITPL
 </li>
 <li>
 Sample: Stigma of flower from tree Bombax Ceiba
 </li>
</ul>

 We had recently found a rare flower from the Bombax Ceiba tree. It’s usually called Red silk cotton tree and it blooms only once a year in few selected locations. We carefully dissected the flower and mounted it’s Stigma which was in the centre.


 On viewing under the foldoscope, we got a very clear view of the sample. On closer inspection we were able to see the microscopic projections of the stigma which helps the pollen grains stick onto its surface. We were also able to notice the stickiness of the surface of the stigma.


 With the help of the foldoscope we were able to learn the adaptations of the stigma for its functions. We had previously learnt in our biology class that the surface of Stigma is slightly broad, coarse and has many minute sticky projections which attach to the pollen grains. Due to the adhesive nature of the stigma, the pollen grains remain attached and further germinate on the stigma to give rise to pollen tube and this facilitates fertilization. Stigma plays an irreplaceable role in the flowers’ fertilization.

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="IMG_20181219_105336" class="wp-image-108788 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="108788" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi 4A","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1545216816","copyright":"","focal_length":"4.92","iso":"125","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20181219_105336" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_108787/IMG_20181219_105336.jpg"/>
 <figcaption>
 Surface of Stigma of flower
 </figcaption>
</figure>

Sample of Stigma from flower of Bombax Ceiba

College Name: CMR National PU College ITPL


 Student’s Name: Ramya Nambiar, Gopika Anil and Shwetha Santhosh


 Sample observed: Wing of beetle and housefly


 Site of collection of sample: Neighborhood park


 Beetles are a group of insects that form the order Coleoptera, in the superorder Endopterygota. Usually we believe that beetles don’t have wings as they are found crawling on the ground however they have two pairs of wings attached to their thorax. One pair of wings( the forewings) is hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The elytra, protects the flying wings and body. As it is harder and present on upper surface of thorax, it reduces the flying efficiency of the beetle. Due to the presence of elytra, the beetle’s wings under the foldoscope looks darker and denser than the wings of other arthropods.
 
 Contrary to this, the wings of a housefly seems to be much thinner and looks translucent under the foldoscope. The fly’s wing is made up of chitin which in its natural form is translucent and due to this the wing appears almost glassy. Like other Dipterans, houseflies have only one pair of wings and what would be the hind pair is reduced to small halteres that aid in flight stability. The extreme thinness of the wing helps increase flight efficiency.

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 <img alt="Screenshot_2019-02-24-23-24-43-226_com.whatsapp" class="wp-image-130508 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="130508" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="Screenshot_2019-02-24-23-24-43-226_com.whatsapp" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_130507/Screenshot_2019-02-24-23-24-43-226_com.whatsapp.png"/>
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 <img alt="Screenshot_2019-02-24-23-23-57-010_com.whatsapp" class="wp-image-130509 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="130509" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="Screenshot_2019-02-24-23-23-57-010_com.whatsapp" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_130507/Screenshot_2019-02-24-23-23-57-010_com.whatsapp.png"/>
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How does the wing of a beetle differ from the wing of a housefly?

Name of students: Shwetha Santhosh, Gopika Anil and Ramya Nambiar


 College Name: CMR National PU College ITPL


 Sample observed: Black bread mould grown on bread kept undisturbed for a week


 Site of collection of sample: Bread kept in lab


 Rhizopus stolonifer, commonly known as Black bread mould belongs to Class Zygomycetes of Kingdom Fungi.
 
 It is heterotrpohic and dependant on sugar or starch for its source of carbon substances for food. It uses food matter, generally breads or soft fruits as a food source for growth, nutrition and reproduction.

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 <img alt="IMG-20190327-WA0002~2" class="wp-image-138802 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="138802" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190327-WA0002~2" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_138798/IMG-20190327-WA00022.jpg"/>
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 STRUCTURE OF THALLUS: Rhizopus species grow as filamentous, branching  hyphae that generally lack cross walls and are coenocytic. Mass of hyphae is called mycelium. They reproduce by forming asexual and sexual spores. In asexual  reproduction, the sporangiospores are produced inside a spherical structure, the Sporangium.
 
 Sporangiophores arise among distinctive, root-like rhizoids. In sexual reproduction, a dark zygospore is produced at the point where two compatible mycelia fuse. Upon germination, a zygospore produces colonies of mycelium that are genetically different from either parent.

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 <img alt="IMG-20190327-WA0003~2" class="wp-image-138801 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="138801" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}' data-image-title="IMG-20190327-WA0003~2" data-recalc-dims="1" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_138798/IMG-20190327-WA00032.jpg"/>
</figure>

 R. stolonifer is an agent of plant disease; it breaks down organic matter through decomposition. When kept in a moist environment, such as a piece of bread, the parasite can quickly spread within a few days. Its spores are commonly found in the air. The spores grow most rapidly at temperatures between 15°C and 30°C where they are able to germinate to their full potential.


 USES : Rhizopus stolonifer is important economically as an agent of post-harvest storage decay. R. stolonifer and other species of Rhizopus also produce Ethylalcohol which is the most important fermentation product. Rhizopus stolonifer is also used commercially to manufacture fumaricacid and lactic acid of high purity. The presence of zinc  reduces the amount of fumaric acid produced by the fungus.

Black Bread Mould

Students Name: Ramya Nambiar, Shwetha Santhosh, Gopika Anil


 College Name: CMR National PU College ITPL


 Sample observed: Sample of water from an infected lake


 Site of collection of sample: Lake in Indira Nagar


 When we studied a sample of water from an infected lake, we were surprised to see a small microscopic organism moving in the water. When we studied the organism and researched about it, we learnt that it was a crustacean called Copepod.

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 <img alt="IMG_20190327_090029" class="wp-image-140284 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="140284" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"2","credit":"","camera":"Redmi Note 4","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553677228","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.57","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="IMG_20190327_090029" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_138940/IMG_20190327_090029.jpg"/>
</figure>

 Copepods are a group of small  crustaceans found in nearly every freshwater and saltwater habitats. They belong to subphylum Crustacea of Phylum Arthropoda of Kingdom Animalia. They show extremely fast responses when predators are sensed.


 MORPHOLOGY:. Copepods vary considerably, but can typically be 1 to 2 mm long, with a teardrop-shaped body and large antennae. Like other crustaceans, they have an armoured exoskeleton, but they are so small that in most species, this thin armour and the entire body is almost totally transparent. Some polar copepods reach 1 cm . Most copepods have a single median compound eye, usually bright red and in the centre of the transparent head; subterranean species may be eyeless. Like other crustaceans, copepods possess two pairs of antennae; the first pair is often long and conspicuous.


 OCCURRENCE: Some species are planktonic (drifting in sea waters), some are benthic (living on the ocean floor), and some continental species may live in other wet terrestrial places, such as swamps, bogs, springs, ephemeral ponds, and puddles. Many live underground in marine and freshwater caves, sinkholes or stream beds. Copepods are sometimes used as biodiversity indicators.


 LIFE CYCLE:. As with other crustaceans, copepods have a larval form. For copepods, the egg hatches into a nauplius form, with a head and a tail but no true thorax or abdomen. The larva molts several times until it resembles the adult and then, after more molts, achieves adult development. The nauplius form is so different from the adult form that it was once thought to be a separate species.


 USES: Planktonic copepods are important to global ecology and the Carbon cycle. They are usually the dominant members of the zooplankton, and are major food organisms for small fish such as the dragonet and other crustaceans such as krill in the ocean and in fresh water. Some scientists say they form the largest animal biomass  on earth.

Zooplankton- Copepod

Name: Shwetha S


 College Name: CMR National PU College, ITPL


 Description: We had observed a pinch of salt under the foldscope and we were surprised to see that apart from the miniscule salt granules, there was also minute sand particles mixed with it. The salt we had taken was common salt and it was disheartening to see that there were light brown sand particles in it. It’s safe to say that our salt vendors have been cheating us by mixing particles in our salt. The foldscope helped us observe this so easily!
 
 <img alt="Adulterated Salt" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-49196 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="49196" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="Adulterated Salt" data-recalc-dims="1" height="284" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_49192/IMG_20180719_204924.jpg" width="300"/>

Shwetha Santhosh

Earth

Posts

How does the wing of a beetle differ from the wing of a housefly?

Black Bread Mould

Zooplankton- Copepod

Sample of Salt

Sample of yeast undergoing budding

Sample of Stigma from flower of Bombax Ceiba

How does the wing of a beetle differ from the wing of a housefly?

Black Bread Mould

Zooplankton- Copepod

Sample of Salt

Sample of yeast undergoing budding

Sample of Stigma from flower of Bombax Ceiba

How does the wing of a beetle differ from the wing of a housefly?

Black Bread Mould

Zooplankton- Copepod

Sample of Salt

Locations

Statistics

Type of Sample

Foldscope Lens Magnification