Writing in Biology - Section 1

Domestic dogs also have “the K locus, whose genetic characteristics affect the melanocortin pathway.” (Candille et al., 2007) The β-Defensin gene produces a ligand (named β-Defensin) that competitively binds to MC1R. DefB103 or K alleles are discussed in this paper (K^B > k^y). Although K^B is a mutant allele, it is dominant because it has a higher affinity for MC1R than k^y. According to a diagram by Candille et al. (2007), in the presence of Agouti and functional MC1R, there is a stronger affinity for the K^B allele to bind to the receptor. When bound to MC1R, β-Defensin induces synthesis of eumelanin.

The overall objective of our proposal is to create a phylogenetic tree to determine the reliability of HOXC genes as an indicator of phylogeny. By aligning the sequence, the genes will become easy to compare and allow for the creation of a phylogenetic tree, as proposed. The sequencing data can also be used to determine how conserved the HOXC gene is. By understanding the evolutionary and genetic differences of HOXC genes between different species, the function of HOXC genes, which are currently unknown, can be better understood. The creation of a phylogenetic tree will allow for the determination of reliability to use HOXC genes as an indicator of phylogeny. If the phylogenetic tree proves to be reliable, this would be a phylogenetic tree of vertebrates that can be used in order to trace the evolutionary history of vertebrates. If new species were to be found, its HOXC gene can be sequenced to determine its phylogeny accurately.

Embryosis is the formation of an embryo. There are two main steps to this process: blastulation, and gastrolation. To begin, the sperm and egg cell must fuse to form a zygote. The fusion of sperm and egg allow the genetic material to merge, all cells are pluripotent at this point. Next there is clevage, compaction, and differentiation forming the blastocyte. The overall size of the blastocyte is not much bigger than the zygote, due to compaction. There are many more cells in the blastocyte because of clevage, with some differentiation between the inner cell mass and surrounding cells. Gastrolation is the formation of three distinct layers in the blastocyte which will differentiate into different tissues in the bdoy. The top layer is the ectoderm, the middle layer is the mesoderm, and the bottom layer is the endoderm. The ectoderm differentiates into the nervous system and the skin. The mesoderm differentiates into the muscles; the endoderm differentiates into the internal organs. This process is virtually the same for all mamals. The outcome is very different because of the genetic information fused, resulting in a wide range of organisms.

Seeing in our full range of colors is something a lot people might take for granted daily. A common alternative is a condition called color-blindness, the most common type being red-green color blindness. Color blindness occurs because the color photoreceptors in our eyes, known as cones, have a deficiency in responding to the proper wavelengths of light. Color blindness is therefore not actually a type of blindness, just a deficiency in perceiving color. In red-green color blindness, the affected individual has difficulty distinguishing between red and green, primarily, but color blindness often affects the whole visible color spectrum. This condition is an X-linked recessive disorder, which means that males are more easily affected by this than females. This is because males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, and therefore only need one recessive X  chromosome from the mother to have this condition. This is different from females that need two copies of the recessive X chromosome, one from each parent. Multiple companies now sell glasses that can correct for the wearer's color blindness. This is the best fix we have currently, as there are no surgical procedures or drugs to take that can help curb the condition.

Different partitioning genes (encoding Par proteins) allowed the zygote to part into two poles. Par proteins turned out to be homologous in most eukaryotes (including humans). Loss of posterior PARs lead to expansion of anterior and vice versa. This all suggested a competition of some sort between the different PAR proteins. Kinase domains in the proteins anterior Par kinase domains phosphorylated the lipid binding domains of posterior Par proteins to stop them from accessing the membrane vice versa.

Recently in my lab I have been segmenting light sheet microscopy images of the entire slug brain. The animal used was an adult sea slug with a fully developed nervous system. Sea slugs are interesting neural subjects because their digestive system extends right through the brain. The adult slug brain contains 2 rhinophore ganglia, 2 cerebral pleural ganglia, 2 pedal ganglia, and 2 buccal ganglia. I have also used the software to identify the eye in these images, the optic lobe, and the statocyst, a small sensory organs that aids in balance and orientation. The different ganglion lobes are connected to each other via commisures, although these are harder to see than the bright ganglia in the light sheet images. 

In addition to brain segemntation, I am also completing behavioral hormone experiments in juvenile sea slugs. The hormones in question have already been tested in adult slugs, so hopefully the results of my experiments can give some insight about sensory organ development in this species. 

This poster, titled “Permanent Chemotherapy Induced Alopecia in Young Breast Cancer Patients” does not have an attractive design. White space and alignment is good but the coloring is poor and does not catch your eye. The font and typography is consistent and clean throughout the poster. The layout of the poster is appropriate, except for the lack of an abstract. I do not think posters usually have abstracts, and that the conclusion usually just summarizes everything. Each section is focused and clear with the direct message presented appropriately.

            The writing is presented in bullet points, something that makes the main information easier to catch but looks a little unprofessional. There are no typos on this poster, and overall it seems correct and informative about the findings of alopecia in breast cancer patients. I think the only things I might change about it are the coloring and possibly adding one more figure on the left side. 

Unfortunately, without government intervention and funding the widespread implementation of seaweed aquaculture cannot provide its benefits towards climate change mitigation. Despite all its benefits, seaweed aquaculture is not a ‘silver bullet’ for carbon sequestering. Overall, macroalgae do not have a large impact on the increasing carbon problem the world is facing. The issue is as mentioned, that governments have yet to realize this resource is at their fingertips. Governments have implemented all sorts of tactics to try and mitigate climate change, most of which are expensive, require land use, and are not particularly powerful weapons against carbon. Therefore, seaweed aquaculture is ripe with untapped potential. Taking some of the strain of world-wide agriculture off the land benefits CO2 reduction, and provide an extra food source for humanity. Macroalgae has also been investigated as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels, and an alternative to livestock feed. Using macroalgae for these purposes would greatly reduce CO2 production from fuel burning and livestock. Seaweed farming, if supported is a fully sustainable and carbon neutral industry with the ability to be established in a variety of environments across the world.

When first studying the replication of DNA, it was unsure in way the DNA was actually replicated. The three models that were studied by scientitsts were the conservative, semiconservative, and dispersive model for DNA replication. The conservative model shows that two newly synthesized molecules of DNA come together while the original helix is joined back together. The semiconservative model shows that each parental strand is a template strand for the newly synthesized DNA molecule and one new strand is joined to one parental strand. The dispersive model shows that parental strands are dispersed into two new double helices. After experiements done by scientists, we know today that the DNA replication is semiconservative.

Yes, I think the title describes the subject of the paper well. The abstract summarizes the essential parts of the study and gave a brief description of the paper in a nutshell. It was also at the appropriate length. The plot sizes need to be explained more thoroughly, as this section has a large amount of given proportions without much information about the locations. There are no inaccuracies in this area. I do not think anything needs to be omitted, just a more thorough explanation of the sites. Each table and figure clearly presented important results. The tables are crammed together and need a larger space between them. This would make the tables and figures more effective. Data is not given in more than one place and units, standard errors, deviations, axis labels and legends are present. The legends are in the right format but are not on their own page. All the figures and tables seem necessary for the paper and no other figures or tables need to be added.