You are here

Blogs

Background PP

Submitted by sworkman on Wed, 04/11/2018 - 01:09

Many of these experiments have a similar design. They have a way of measuring diversity in the species; when the organism is a type of insect the method to measure is usually setting traps and counting the number of different species.

The different insect species in relation to their indication of different environmental factors has been studied and documented thoroughly, but the diversity of these insects has not been tested in this area. This experiment uses a well-tested method to find biodiversity to discover more about the area in which we live.    

ZENK Gene

Submitted by malberigi on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 22:45

When a bird hears a song, cells in the bird’s brain alter their biochemistry to alter gene expression and protein production that reshape cells in the learning center.  Allowing the bird to now do things it couldn’t before being exposed to the song.  One of the genes that contributes to these changes is ZENK which codes for a protein ZENK.  The ZENK protein is produced when a bird hears a song and is a transcription factor that regulates other genes influencing the way neurons interact with other neurons which can alter a bird’s behavior.

Draft 3

Submitted by cfellrath on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 22:15

In both the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cells. Although in the eukaryotic cell the formation of acetyl-CoA, the Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs) and the oxidative Phosphorylation occurs in an organelle called the Mitochondria. The opposite of breaking down glucose is gluconeogenesis, which forms glucose from pyruvate. In the prokaryotic cell the process of the formation of glucose occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. In the eukaryotic cell gluconeogenesis starts in the mitochondria and finishes in the cytoplasm of the cell.

Draft 2

Submitted by cfellrath on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 22:07

The overall delta G of gluconeogenesis is negative. Although gluconeogenesis is considered an anabolic reaction because it is the building of a new structure, it is also a coupled reaction. Gluconeogenesis is couples with glycolysis therefore the energy given off by another reaction that is indirect such as the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and Pi

Week 12 Draft 4

Submitted by jngomez on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 22:06

In Spring 2018, as part of the Writing in Biology course at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, each group designed a distinct proposal project examining a variety of factors. This experiment will examine Morrill buildings III and IV located in the University of Massachusetts, Amherst which are situated at opposite ends of each other. Arthropods thrive where there are plants or where the environment is warm. It is not well understood what other factors contribute to this notion. In this proposal, we aim to observe the distinct types of arthropods living or nonliving. In addition, factors that drive to the diversity of arthropods that are present on the Morrill Buildings III and IV window sills will be analyzed. Each group will be assigned a particular floor of either Morrill III or Morrill IV building. 

Draft 1

Submitted by cfellrath on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 21:59

Glycolysis is only “partial” in the oxidation of glucose because the reaction’s product is 2 pyruvate, 2 ATP, 2 NADH. Therefore the glucose is not fully oxidized of all its potential energy since much energy is stored with the two pyruvates. Pyruvate carried a decent amount of energy is the chain bonds of C-C and C-H. The fully oxidized product would be CO2 with no potential to reduce electron carriers.

Week 12 Draft 3

Submitted by jngomez on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 21:45

At the end of this experiment, it will illustrate what kinds of environments the arthropods thrive in within the buildings examined. This proposal project will provide insight into the Morrill buildings of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the diverse sets of arthropods that inhabit within them. It will enable colleagues to study window sills and take note of what they inhabit and how these conditions contribute to number of arthropods present. Understanding factors that contribute to arthropod presence could be used to develop a management strategy of the buildings.

 

 

Week 12 Draft 2

Submitted by jngomez on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 21:44

We will apply this founding to Morrill Buildings III and IV. The Morrill Greenhouse and Reptile exhibit will serve as factors to the reasons a closer distance to these locations will mean that a higher number of arthropods will be observed. In Morril Greenhouse there are a variety of plant species and arthropods as well that could travel to Morrill III given its very close proximate to the building.  

Week 12 Draft 1

Submitted by jngomez on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 21:38

There are a variety of factors that contribute to the best predicted number of diverse sets of arthropods found indoors.  Homes located in wealthy neighbourhoods have a high number of arthropod diversity. This effect is known as “luxury effect” in which a more biological diversity is present in wealthy areas. There is a high correlation with plant presence and plant associaciated arthropods that find their way into indoor areas such as homes or other surrounding structure. (Leong et al. 2016) This application and idea can be used in our proposal project because observing plants near window sills will account for some of the arthropods found and studied.

Role of Vasopressin in Prairie Voles

Submitted by malberigi on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 16:31

Vasopressin is a neurotransmitter that synapses on V1a receptors in the brain that provide the prairie vole (PV) with positive feedback for its monogamous mating behavior.  This V1a receptor is encoded by the avpr1a gene, which contains more DNA material in the PV than in the meadow vole and might account for more abundant V1a receptors in the prairie vole brain.  In order to test this hypothesis, the researchers inserted extra copies of the avpr1a gene into male PVs to see if more V1a receptors were produced.  The male PV with extra receptors did form stronger relationships with females, even if they had not previously mated with them proving this genes significance in PV monogamy

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - blogs