Blogs

         Chromosome mis-segregation can lead to a number of physiological issues both in the short and long-term. The cause and effects of various chromosomal mis-segregation events and their molecular pathways are still not fully understood. Despite being shown to cause decreased cellular proliferation, aneuploidy is seen in an astounding 90% of solid tumors and 50% of blood cancers. Continued research is needed, however studies have shown that aneuploidy and CIN can both promote and inhibit tumorigenesis. A greater understanding of the role aneuploidy plays in tumorigenesis could shed light on the possible development of new cancer therapies in the future.

         Chromosome mis-segregation can lead to a number of physiological issues both in the short and long-term and its effects are still not fully understood. Despite being shown to cause decreased cellular proliferation, aneuploidy is seen in an astounding 90% of solid tumors and 50% of blood cancers. Continued research is needed, however studies have shown that aneuploidy and CIN can both promote and inhibit tumorigenesis. A greater understanding of the role aneuploidy plays in tumorigenesis could shed light on the possible development of new cancer therapies in the future.

Aneuploidy is defined as the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell. It does not however, include a difference of one or more complete sets of chromosomes which is defined as polyploidy. Aneuploidy has detrimental effects on the cell physiology, the integrity of the genome, and inflicts tremendous damage to DNA. For this reason, constitutional aneuploidy, or aneuploidy in every cell of an organism that originates from mis-segregation in germline cells is often lethal. One of the only exceptions in humans is trisomy of the 21^st chromosome, which leads to Down’s Syndrome. Although aneuploidy severely interferes with the physiology of the cell, aneuploidy and chromosome instability has been paradoxically shown to cause the formation of tumors.

Chromosome mis-segregation and aneuploidy in somatic cells is an extremely rare event due to the cellular machinery in place to prevent it. The main player in ensuring chromosomes segregate properly during anaphase of mitosis is called the spindle assembly checkpoint. SAC is only silenced when amphiletic attachment of kinetochores to microtubules has occurred and anaphase commences. If incorrect attachment has occurred, SAC is turned on and recruits a host of different proteins including those of the MAD and BUB family, which catalyze the inhibition of APC/C  that keeps the cell in metaphase. This highly conserved machinery leads to segregation with great fidelity. 

    This experiment, which is to be conducted by Steven Brewer’s Biology 312 class at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, will aim to observe the effects of tree management techniques on a variety of factors. These factors include type of tree, number of tree cavities, number of dead branches, wildlife use, and understory diversity. The results of these observations will allow us to identify ways in which tree management techniques affect the surrounding ecology as well as the health of the tree. In the future, data drawn from this experiment can be used to improve tree management techniques both for the University as well as serve as a case study for other urban and school tree management protocols.

When I had to think of the significance that the research my group might conduct, I thought about what is already known about the UMASS campus, including its reputation, its goals, and the possible potential of this university. If sustainability and taking care of the environment is something that UMASS strives for and cares for, then this kind of research can provide some kind of data to management facilities, students, and research facilities. This information can include not only ways to create a sustainable environment but also a means to evaluate whether or not all of the hard work that people have put into the "campus climate" is actually paying off and worth it. For instance, if you look at all of the trees on this campus, you can tell how much work has been put into managing them. However, it is important to ask yourself if it was all worth it. What kind of benefit does it bring to our society? Is it sustainable for the present-day and more importantly, for the future? Our research can provide some kind of feedback on that by measuring biodiversity/species diversity in the soil around various campus trees because species diversity is a great indicator of sustainability. Sustainability is important for the college campus.

- a successful proposal and grant application is key to pursuing your research
- "your proposal must establish a connection b/w your project's goals and the agency's philanthropic interests" (pg. 205)
- you basically have to kiss-up and try your best to be the best because there is always competition and you need to stand out
- follow instructions exactly and concisely
- if there are no instructions provided then include the following: Abstract, Background (inc. statement of need). research design, significance/impact and should answer these questions: Why this project? Why you? Why at your institution? Why this sponsor? Why now?
- the abstract should highlight all of the other sections, the first sentence is a lot more important that you think and it needs to be concise, informative, and complete
- do not forget your statement of need
- in the introduction/background include the background, statement of need, and the hypothesis is optional (don't overdo it)
- the research design must include the rationale, experimental design analysis, expected results, but alternative strategies are not always needed
- the significance/impact section should be one paragraph, focusing on the benefit your research would bring to field and society

I believe that it can sometimes be difficult to come up with the significance or impact that your research will provide. This is because you can't predict the future of science. However, one thing you can know for certain is that your research (if valid) will give other people something to think about and maybe use for their own research, like a continuation of your research. Your research can provide that foundation for future breakthroughs and can also possibly teach something to young scientists that are out there.
When I had to think of the significance that the research my group might conduct, might bring. I thought about what is already known about the UMASS campus, including its reputation, its goals, and the great potential this university has. If sustainability and taking care of our environment is something that UMASS strives for then this kind of research can provide some kind of data to management facilities, students, and research facilities. This information can include not only ways to create a sustainable environment but also a means to evaluate whether or not all of the hard work that people have put into the campus micro-climate is actually paying off. For instance, if you look at all of the trees on this campus, you can tell how much work has been put into managing these campus trees. However, it is important to ask yourself if it was all worth it? What kind of benefit does it bring to our society? Is it sustainable for the present-day and more importantly, for the future? Our research can provide some kind of feedback on that by measuring biodiversity/species diversity in the soil around various campus trees. Species diversity is a great indicator of sustainability.

- the LCR was first identified and characterized in Globin genes
- in the human visual system, an LCR has an important role in choosing either red or green opsin in a mutually exclusive manner
- each cone expresses only one pigment
- an LCR stochastically chooses one of the 2 promoter sites of the red-green pigment locus
- the physical interaction b/c the promoter and LCR activates the transcription
- b/c the red and green pigment genes are located on the X chromosome next to each other, this mutually exclusive acivation alone ensures monoallelic expression, you get equal # of red and green cones b/c its random, randomly interact w/ the 2 promoters
- monoallelic because it is on the X chromosome (cells randomly inactivate X), this is why males are more likely to be colorblind
- there is positive and there is negative LCR regulation
- since these notes are on the Olfactory Receptor cell and the rule how one olfactory neuron has one receptor, I will talk about positive regulation in regard to Olfactory Receptor gene expression
- structures of the transgenic and endogenous MOR28 genes (make two mice and cross them together)
- the transgenic MOR28 (Tg B6/lacZ) has a C57BL/6 background and is tagged w/ tau-lacZ
- put reporter at the end of the gene, a way of looking at where the gene is espressed, adding a gene
- the endogenous MOR28 (129/GFP) has a 129/Sv background and is tagged w/ gap-GFP
- GFP was introduced into the 129/Sv background by the knock-in method
- this shows that there is monoallelic expression of the odorant receptor gene and axonal projection of olfactory sensory neurones

Throughout the course of our existence the human race has been thought to be responsible for a staggering level of extinction events. However, through the means given to us by modern medicine, we now have the ability to save one individual breed of man’s best friend, the canis lineage, from a rapidly spreading retrovirus. Before a decision is made I believe that an intrinsic worth or value should be assigned to each breed that is determined by their practical use and popularity. From this value, we can then identify the most prefered breeds and then make a decision based on this value from a nation-wide voting system that is similar to the system used in presidential elections. After personally weighing the importance of the breed to mankind and their popularity I believe that the German Shepherd should be vaccinated against the retrovirus.