How does your garden grow! JT

Our Broccoli has gotten extremely larger from the last time we looked at it. It doesn't just put out more and more mass.  So what exactly does it do?  Well each of the cells go through mitosis.  Mitosis is where a cell divides and creates basically a replica of itself.  A cell first goes through interphase where the cell duplicates its organelles and copies its DNA.  DNA is a pretty important thing in cells because it is what makes the plant different than any other plant. The DNA is copied through a semi-conservative replication.  The process involves a couple enzymes and it occurs in the nucleus. The helicase unwinds the double helix and the DNA polymerase adds new nucleotides and copies the DNA.  It is semi-conservative because one strand is copied backwards and the other one is copied normal.  This is the longest phase by far.  After interphase prophase happens.  Prophase consists of the chromosomes condensing and the nucleus disappearing.  Microtubles are also formed.  Next, metaphase begins.  In metaphase the chromosomes line up and prepare to be split.  Then, anaphasae occurs and the chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cell.  Finally telophase takes place.  The chromosomes reach opposite walls and the cell begins to divide.  Cytokenisis finishes it off and there is 2 new cells.  Seems like a lot just for growth, but there are tons of cells constantly at work doing this and growing the plan or repairing it.  For example, our plant has lots of holes from bugs eating it away and the holes will slowly form again because mitosis is happening.  Also at the tips of the leaves the plant will be growing as well.

Enzymes are a crucial part of any living organism's life.  Plants use a vast amount of enzymes, but where do they get them?  If a cell is told a specific enzyme is needed, then it will begin protein synthesis, because enzymes are proteins.  Protein synthesis occurs in the nucleus and ribosomes.  Before anything happens the cell must create mRNA.  This is made during transcription when a copy of the DNA is created.  The mRNA has 3 letter sequences on it that are codons and they are codes for amino acids.  After the mRNA is made it is sent to the ribosomes to begin translation.  Translation is where the ribosome reads each codon using an anticodon and creates the correct amino acid.  Once it is complete you are left with a new protein which if was asked for would be an enzyme.

When I went out to the garden to check on my broccoli plant, the results were surprising. My team's broccoli plant had become the biggest plant in comparison to all the other team;s plants in the planter box. I looked even closer at the plant and took notice it was sprouting broccoli buds. They were pretty big, too when compared to the buds on everyone else's plant buds. I figure it will take some time for the broccoli buds to fully sprout, but if we keep an eye on them and make sure they are getting the resources they need, they will be fully grown soon enough.
I feel as though the broccoi plant may need to be moved to a arger planter box with more space in the near future however. It is starting to tower over the other plants. It may enagage in competition with the other plants for resources and make the other plants malnourished.
The rubisco enzyme catalyzes the carbon fixing step at the beginning of the Calvin cycle. This allows the plant to revive sunlight, water, and nutrients through photosynthesis. This also works with enzyme CEPC for the plant.
Overall, our plant has been thriving despite the competition and other limiting factors around it. I predict our plant will soon have full heads of broccoli ready to be harvested and tasted.