I am a cardiac muscle cell from a mouse.
PART I
1)
a) Mouse.
A model organism can be described as a species that is non-human, which is studied extensively in order to understand a certain biological phenomena. It is expected that what is discovered when studying this particular organism would give insight when it comes to the mechanisms of other organisms. These model organisms are living models that are vastly used as to assist research in human disease, because human experimentation brings about many concerns such as ethics. Since all living organisms have some common descent and show some conservation of their metabolic pathways, development pathways, and genetic material over evolution. It would make their study very informative. Model organisms are used to teach because they allow the student to grasp important concepts and have a greater understanding because students can see and observe real life activity. They can be involved with practical activities and be exposed to the methods used to study these organisms.
b) I am a muscle cell of the heart found in the cardiac muscle tissue. 
2)
a) The cardiac muscle cell originates from a stem cell in the embryo before birth of the organism. Cardiac muscle cells make up part of the cardiac tissue of the heart of the mouse, and the heart is responsible for the transport of blood throughout the body the organism. A cardiac muscle cell last throughout the life span of the mouse, the cardiac muscle cell does not divide because it is highly specialized and lacks this ability. Once a cardiac muscle has differentiated form a stem cell it remains this way until death. 
b) A cardiac muscle cell also known as a myocardiocyte, contains myofibrils also known as muscle fibers. These are composed from long proteins such as actin, myosin and titin, and they are organized into filaments. THE cardiac muscle cell contains only one nucleus and a high density of mitochondria. This allows the cell to produce ATP quickly, which explains why cardiac muscle cells are resistant to fatigue.
The nucleus functions in:
· The controlling of the cell.
· Processing various inputs from the cytoplasm.
· Storing information and retrieving it.
· Fulfilling the instructions contained in the genetic material.
The nucleus is a two layered organelle, it contains a nuclear envelope, chromosomes and small dark areas called nucleoli. This organelle basically contains the DNA that codes for proteins which are vital for the cell, such as in cell repair.
The mitochondrion is another cell organelle that contains two membrane layers. The outer membrane has large aqueous channels which are permeable to most small molecules. The inner membrane is impermeable to ions and small molecules, unless they are specific its transport proteins. The inner membrane is folded continuously and it is referred to as cristae, the purpose of this is to increase the surface area. This membrane encloses a space called the matrix which contains the different components that aid in ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production. The inter membrane space is found between the outer and the inner membrane, its purpose is to maintain a hydrogen ion diffusion gradient. Overall the function of the mitochondria is to generate ATP from different precursors during cellular respiration.
biochemoshpit 