User:Sstarko7/sandbox

Assignment 1: Critique a Wikipedia Article Article of Choice: Chlorosome Sstarko7 (talk) 02:12, 13 September 2017 (UTC)

All of the information written in the selected article is directly about or relating to some part of the chlorosome, so the article is appropriately named. For most of the article at the end of each point/topic there are appropriate citations to references to various scientific journals and textbooks which are considered reliable sources. The citations are also formatted correctly and the hyperlinks work at leading the reader to the appropriate webpage. However, in some parts of the article (ex. the introduction, "Structure", and last paragraph in "Organization of Light Harvesting Pigments") there are large bulks of texts that have no reference at all. There seems to be no apparent overall bias however some phrases such as "rather simple" or "somewhat smaller" could be further clarified as they currently are vague as to how simple or small. Additionally, in the section regarding light harvesting pigments, the section goes in depth about experimental methods used to gain the information and focuses little on the actual placement/organization of these molecules. This could be better organized by giving it a more appropriate name or by separating the two topics and organizing them into one section/subsection. Likewise the introduction goes in depth about the actual functions of these structure, which may actually be more suitable being categorized into its own section. Lastly, some images or diagrams may be helpful, especially in the "Structure" section, as there are none.

Assignment 2: Choose your Wikipedia article Sstarko7 (talk) 03:24, 27 September 2017 (UTC) The topic I have chosen is Microbial Ecology. Microbial ecology includes all of the microbes in our world and the interactions they have with each other and with their environment. These include processes and reactions that are responsible for almost every part of every ecosystem, and they affect the energy and nutrient cycles of our world. The significance of this topic to our lives and science is reflected by how much research is done about microbial ecology in various different environments: digestion in mammals, dental plaque , deep within oceans , and acid lakes. Considering what a broad topic Microbial Ecology is and how highly applicable it is, the article chosen is considerably short, lacking in content and structure. The article has various sections however each section is short and does not go in depth. One area in particular that I would like to focus on is the section “Symbiosis”. This section is very vague and states that microbes engage in interactions and that they affect the ecosystem however it does not expand on either of these points. Only one example is given of mutualism however microbes also engage in commensalism, parasitism, competition, and more. The section also requires proper citations as there are no citations given at all. There is inappropriate wording, as the section frequently mentions “some theories” and yet the theories and sources are left unnamed. Through my edits I would like to expand on this section by adding subsections (such as mutualism, parasitism, or commensalism) for various types of symbiosis that exist in Microbial Ecology, give brief explanations of each, and provide examples (such as syntrophy, bacteria/viruses, or microbes in biodegradation, respectively). I am hoping that these edits will help provide a better representation of how symbiosis is a very broad topic in microbial ecology and to help readers understand the importance of microbial ecology through clear examples that are well heard of and relatable.

Assignment 3: Edit your Wikipedia Article Sstarko7 (talk) 21:57, 5 October 2017 (UTC) Original: "Microbial Ecology"

Symbiosis[edit]
Microbes, especially bacteria, often engage in symbiotic relationships (either positive or negative) with other organisms, and these relationships affect the ecosystem. One example of these fundamental symbioses are chloroplasts, which allow eukaryotes to conduct photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are considered to be endosymbiotic cyanobacteria, a group of bacteria that are thought to be the origins of aerobic photosynthesis. Some theories state that this invention coincides with a major shift in the early earth's atmosphere, from a reducing atmosphere to an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Some theories go as far as saying that this shift in the balance of gases might have triggered a global ice-age known as the Snowball Earth[citation needed].

Edits: "Microbial Ecology"

Symbiosis[edit]
Microbes, especially bacteria, often engage in symbiotic relationships (either positive or negative) with other microorganisms or larger organisms. Although infinitesimal in nature, symbiotic relationships amongst microbes are of huge significance in eukaryotic processes and their evolution. The types of symbiotic relationships that microbes participate in include mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and amensalism , and these relationships affect the ecosystem in innumerable ways.

Mutualism
Mutualism in microbial ecology is a relationship between microbial species and between microbial species and humans that allow for both sides to benefit. One such example would be syntrophy, also known as cross-feeding, which is clearly shown in Methanobacterium omelianskii. Although initially thought of as one microbial species, this system is actually two species - an S organism and Methabacterium bryantii. The S organism provides the bacterium with the H2, which the bacterium needs in order to grow and produce methane. Interestingly, the reaction used by the S organism for the production of H2 is endergonic (and so thermodynamically unfavored) however, when coupled to the reaction used by Methabacterium bryantii in its production of methane, the overall reaction becomes exergonic. Thus the two organisms are in a mutualistic relationship which allows them to grow and thrive in an environment, deadly for either species alone.

Amensalism
Amensalism (also commonly known as antagonism) is a type of symbiotic relationship where one species/organism is harmed while the other remains unaffected. One example of such a relationship that takes place in microbial ecology is between the microbial species Lactobacillus casei and Pseudomonas taetrolens. When co-existing in an environment, the Pseudomonas taetrolens species shows inhibited growth and decreased production of lactobionic acid (its main product) most likely due to the byproducts created by Lactobacillus casei during its production of lactic acid. However, Lactobacillus casei shows no difference in its behaviour, and such this relationship can be defined as amensalism.