Writing in Biology

Rod and cone cells are proven photoreceptors of the eye, and responsible for scotopic and photopic vision.  Natural circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follows a daily cycle.  This rhythm is tuned to environmental influence and can be reset with exposure to light.  Mice and people that lack rods and cones still posses the ability to reset their circadian clock, meaning rods and cones are not the only way to perceive light.  Retinal ganlion cells (RGCs) are specialized neurons that receive visual information from photoreceptive neurons (rods and cones) on the retina and project into the brain.  Melanopsin has been identified with green flourescent protein (GFP) labeling to be present in RGCs which were previously thought to act only as output cells from rods and cones.  Melanopsin is a protein that, according to the amino acid sequence, is very similar to proteins found in rod and cone cells such as rhodopsin and color opsins.    Circadian rhythm experiments have concluded that eyeless mice are unable reset their circadian clock, but mice genetically modified to lack rods and cones can reset their circadian clocks.  This means that the mechanism for setting this circadian clock lies within the retina and is still photosensitive in blind animals.  Recent experiments tested if melanopsin could act as the mechanism to set circadian rhythm, modify pupil size, and influence conscious visual perception.

            Using a dynamic approach to modeling disease allows for a vast amount of advantages when addressing public health problems. Many results of mapping and modeling a progressive disease demonstrate epidemiological aspects that can be useful in discovering why the disease came to be and how it could be treated. Additionally, models can demonstrate the efficacy of routine screening and other forms of preventative care for those who are more at risk of certain diseases and conditions. Identifying important forms of upstream prevention can drastically reduce the spread and severity of disease. Modeling can also be useful in discerning the relationships between multiple interacting diseases, shedding light on feedback loops that amplify symptoms and chronic conditions. Disease modeling can also be used on a single patient level, where certain input signs and symptoms can lead to an output that would not have been reached by traditional means. Overall, the benefits of using simulation dynamics for modeling disease are immense, and can steer public health officials and medical practitioners to a sound and logical answer to questions that seem to have none.

The stomata serve a vital function to plants as a whole. They are the structures which allow transpiration to occur, keeping the plant from drying up by promoting water flow. The stomata are small openings on the bottom sides of leaves. These openings lead into the spongy mesophyll, where gas exchange occurs. This gas exchange allows the plant to photosynthesize as well as perform transpiration. In order to prevent excessive water loss in the case of a drought the stomata are bordered by guard cells. When water is plentiful the guard cells fill with water, causing them to open. When water is scarce however, the guard cells lose water and shrink. This shrinkage causes them to close the stomata shut, preventing further water loss of gas exchange. 

Due to the passive nature of water movement in plants, water has a very specific path that it must take through the plant. Water starts in the soil, where the roots absorb it into the system of the plant. From the roots, water travels through the root cortex and the root endodermis. Once it passes through these structures, the water finall enters the xylem, which acts as a long tube that runs directly through the plant. Transpiration in the leaves helps to pull water through the xylem up the stem. This is where the water reaches the leaf mesophyll, at which point it evaporates and exchanges out of the leaf through the stomata. This evaporation helps to pull more water up into the leaf. 

Camellia Japonica is found in mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and southern Japan. It can usually be found 980-3,610 feet above sea level. It usually grows from 4 to 19 feet tall but has been known to grow up to 36 ft. It usually flowers between January and March. When found it the wild the flowers of the Camellia tend to have six to seven white petals about 4 cm long, however red petaled variants can also be found. It is known as the “Common Camellia,” the “Japanese Camellia,” or the “Rose of Winter.” It is also the state flower of Alabama. This plant is usually found as a shrub, however proper pruning can help the Camellia to form a tree. Wild Camellias can live to be 100-200 years old.

Step 1- The lungfish points it's head and mouth out of the water. It then opens its mouth using the sternohyoideus and expanding its buccal cavity taking air into its mouth. The mouth remains open.

Step 2- The lungfish opens its glottis allowing the air in its lungs to exit out its mouth mixing with the air in its buccal cavity. The air is able to exit the lungs through elastic recoil and contraction of smooth muscles.

Step 3- The mouth closes and using brachial constricting muscles and the lungfish forces the mixed air into its lungs

Step 4- The lungfish closes its glottis and hold the air into its lungs. The lungfish then submerges.

The plastid is an organelle found in plant cells that is undifferentiated and takes on many roles depending on what the cell needs it for. In photosynthetic cells in leaves, the plastid is known as the chloroplast and its main function is to create sugar through the process of photosynthesis. In petals, the plastid turns into a chromoplast and is used to create pigments to color the cells. In roots, the plastid becomes an amyloplast which uses dense starch to sense the direction of gravity so the roots know where to grow. The undifferentiated plastid is very similar to a stem cell in which it contains the DNA to become any one of these organelles. One thing that makes the plastid different from stem cells is its ability to become undifferentiated again. Some plants are able to take the differentiated plastid like a chromoplast and turn it into an undifferentiated plastid so that it can perform another task. This remarkable organelle is just one thing that makes plants so spectacular, and successful.

The plumage characteristics in the phylogenies and the table were chosen based off of the color patterns of specific anatomical positions of the bird. Most of the positions were in areas that would be easy to see from far away, or that might be used in species recognition. In addition, the majority of the plumage characteristics were classified by if they were colored brightly, colored cryptically, or multicolored. In our table characteristics were mapped out using a numerical system to indicate if they had a specific trait or if the trait was absent. Some plumage characteristics were given a binary code of 0', and 1's while others used 0's, 1's, and 2's. If the color was also involved in the identified characteristic the box was colored the same color. On the phylogeny, the characteristics were only mapped if they were present. If the characteristic was not there it was left blank. In addition, if the trait was colored it was given a colored bar of that color to see if it was a significant factor in species differentiation.

The plumage characteristics in the phylogenies and the table were chosen based off of the color patterns of specific anatomical positions of the bird. Most of the positions were in areas that would be easy to see from far away, or that might be used in species recognition. In addition, the majority of the plumage characteristics were classified by if they were colored brightly, colored cryptically, or multicolored. In our table characteristics were mapped out using a numerical system to indicate if they had a specific trait or if the trait was absent. Some plumage characteristics were given a binary code of 0', and 1's while others used 0's, 1's, and 2's. If the color was also involved in the identified characteristic the box was colored the same color. On the phylogeny, the characteristics were only mapped if they were present. If the characteristic was not there it was left blank. In addition, if the trait was colored it was given a colored bar of that color to see if it was a significant factor in species differentiation.

This research could explain the presence and development of all types of cancer in humans and animals. If Dr. Farkas is able to identify the exact biomolecular processes that lead to cancer and the metastasizing of cancer, her specific research in circadian rhythms, macrophages, and the nucleic acid delivery systems could all be effective and precise forms of cancer treatment. Currently, the lack of precise understanding at the biomolecular level is a road block in cancer research. One novel successful application at this level is antibody-drug conjugates, which can be created to suit the exact need of each type of cancer and specific situation. These anti-body drug conjugates could specify between healthy and unhealthy cancerous tumor tissue. In order for this to be done, there must be a clear understanding of the target, the antibody to be used against the target, any effector molecules and the connection the antibodies have to the toxic effector molecules. In other words, the antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) can be manufactured in order to direct a drug—in this case, a cytotoxic drug or agent since it is meant to be toxic for living things—to the desired cell, thus designing the antibody drug conjugate so that the antigen expressed on the surface of the cell can be attacked by an antibody. This is the concept, however Dr. Farkas’ research is instead on a new delivery system that would include gold and fatty acid nanoassemblies. Oftentimes this includes oils, metals, and lipids in the building process.