Honors Biology Times
Friday, December 07, 2012
By Stu D’ent
In the dawn of time, there was nothing. Then there
was a single carbon atom, alone in the Universe. His name was Tom.
Tom was part of a carbon dioxide molecule floating
alone in the atmosphere. But, billions of years later, you’ll find that Tom’s
life has become much more exciting. Now he is an integral part of the carbon
cycle and the palm of my hand.
We here at Honors Biology Times had the opportunity
to meet Tom over coffee.
Honors Biology Times (HBT): Hello, Tom. Do you have
a last name?
Tom…something (T): Hi there. And the name is Tom.
Just Tom.
HBT: I apologize. Well, can you describe to me just
how the Carbon Cycle works?
Tom, just Tom (TJT): I am quite sorry, but I don’t
actually know how it works.
HBT: What do you do every day?
TJT: Oh, you know the usual. I wake up in the morn-
HBT: Tell me about what happens once you get to
work.
TJT: Oh, okay! It’s actually kind of hard to
explain. Would you mind if I just show you an educational documentary on it
instead? It was narrated by Morgan Freeman.
HBT: That’s not actually how an interview works. It’s
more of a Q&A sort of thing…Maybe another time?
HBT: Why don’t you tell me about the first step of
the Carbon Cycle?
TJT: The Carbon Cycle is actually a really difficult
and complicated process. That’s why they pay me the big bucks.
HBT: I didn’t realize
it was a paid gig. But let’s get back to the topic.
TJT: I can tell you about my simplest transfer, how
about that?
HBT: Yes, please. That’s why we’re here. Just…you’re
wasting my valuable time. Please enlighten me with a description of your
simplest transfer.
HBT: Doesn’t it always?
TJT: Why, yes, I suppose that is true. There was
this one time when-
HBT: The transfer, Tom.
TJT: Right. So the sun shines on a plant and fuels
photosynthesis. Then the plant uses the sun’s energy to convert CO2
into organic material. That’s where I come in.
HBT: Great start. Now, who do you bond with to
become carbon dioxide?
TJT: I like to form a carbon dioxide molecule with
two of my oxygen buddies. They’re twins, Larry and Gary.
HBT: They sound like fun guys. Tell me about the
conversion into an organic material. What’s that like?
TJT: The entire purpose of photosynthesis is to
produce glucose, which I happen to be a part of as well. Basically, after
Larry, Gary and I get together, we enter the Calvin Cycle. In the Calvin Cycle,
we meet up with two other groups of folks we hang out with a lot: ATP and
NADPH! They’re so great. Anyways, we all get together and from glucose (C6H12O6).
It’s pretty much a huge family reunion with the Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
clans all together. Got everything so far? You haven’t written anything.
HBT: Yes. It’s an interview, I’m recording it.
TJT: Recording it without paper? What are you, a magician?
HBT: Just keep telling the story.
TJT: The glucose enters glycolysis. Glycolysis is a
part of cellular respiration, so we’re in a completely different process now. I
hate glycolysis. Do you want to know why?
HBT: I have a feeling that you’ll tell me either
way.
TJT: How do you know me so well? We just met?
HBT: They say I can read people.
TJT: I hate glycolysis because that’s when we get
eaten. Have you ever seen the episode of The
Magic School Bus when Arnold eats the school bus? It’s like that, but
gooier.
HBT: Lovely.
TJT: Finally, I move throughout the biotic world as
I move up the food chain. Remember how I started out in a plant? Imagine that
plant was a blade of grass eaten by a cute, fluffy bunny. Next, I enter the
bunny’s body. Bunnies aren’t as soft on the inside as they are on the outside,
by the way. Eventually, I’ll reenter the atmosphere either through respiration
or decomposition if the bunny dies without being eaten. And that’s a day in my
life.
HBT: Wow, it sounds like you’re a pretty busy guy.
TJT: I can handle it.
HBT: I’m so glad you told me about all of this. I
learned in Biology class a long time ago, so I’m glad you refreshed my memory.
TJT: I’m glad to have been invited here. I don’t
often get invited places, people don’t really like me. And then there’s all of
those environmentalists who think I’m killing the ozone and-
HBT: The interview’s over now, Tom.
TJT: Oh, okay.
HBT: Thank you.
TJT: No problem!
As you can see, the conversations I have with myself are quite interesting.
Your blog post was really funny. I enjoyed reading about Tom. I like how you personified your atom, just like I did in my blog post. You made your story as a news report which was different from what I did with my story. Your story was really enjoyable and interesting but the only thing I was confused about was at the end when you said you have interesting conversations with your self.
ReplyDeleteThis essay is really creative and interesting! You used the interview format to describe the whole process of photosynthesis! And you have jokes in your essay!!! That's the best part! Although you didn't explain the process of cellular respiration, which will make readers understand better, it is still a lot of fun to read your essay!
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