Writing in Biology

Haploids HB1, HA1, and HA2 could not grow on their own as they could not synthesize their own adenine. This makes sense because they all had an ade mutation that makes them mutant deficient for adenine biosynthesis. Haploid HA0 could grow on its own, meaning that it can synthesize its own adenine. Again, this makes sense because this haploid strain had no mutations in any of its ade genes. The cross between HB1xHA1 did not proliferate. Because the cross contained one MATa and one MATα, sexual reproduction is possible. However, because it did not proliferate, it means that their alleles are not complementary. Next, the cross of HA1xHA2 did not proliferate. In this cross, both the haploids were MATa, therefore sexual reproduction is not possible and no proliferation is expected. The cross HB1xHA2 did proliferate. Both of these haploids could not grow on their own, however, when they were crossed they were able to proliferate. This cross contains one MATα and one MATa, thus the proliferation is caused by the complementation of their alleles. Finally, the cross of HB1xHA0 was able to proliferate. This cross needs to be furthered examined because although HB1 is MATα and HA0 is MATa, one cannot assume they sexually reproduced. As we know, HA0 is able to proliferate on its own, so either their alleles are complementary and it proliferated or it’s just HA0 proliferating and HB1 dying off.

Finally, the cross of HB1xHA0 was able to proliferate. This cross needs to be furthered examined because although HB1 is MATα and HA0 is MATa, one cannot assume they sexually reproduced. As we know, HA0 is able to proliferate on its own, so either their alleles are complementary and it proliferated or it’s just HA0 proliferating and HB1 dying off.

Next, the cross of HA1xHA2 did not proliferate. In this cross, both the haploids were MATa, therefore sexual reproduction is not possible and no proliferation is expected. The cross HB1xHA2 did proliferate. Both of these haploids could not grow on their own, however, when they were crossed they were able to proliferate. This cross contains one MATα and one MATa, thus the proliferation is caused by the complementation of their alleles.

Haploids HB1, HA1, and HA2 could not grow on their own as they could not synthesize their own adenine. This makes sense because they all had an ade mutation that makes them mutant deficient for adenine biosynthesis. Haploid HA0 could grow on its own, meaning that it can synthesize its own adenine. Again, this makes sense because this haploid strain had no mutations in any of its ade genes. The cross between HB1xHA1 did not proliferate. Because the cross contained one MATa and one MATα, sexual reproduction is possible. However, because it did not proliferate, it means that their alleles are not complementary.

Their physical and anatomical characteristics are tightly connected to their behavior. Being in a semiarid desert environment, their major concern is finding shelter from the hot sun and sand. They are able to use their long claws to burrow into the soil during the day when temperatures are too hot. Once the sun goes down and temperatures drop, their concern switches to finding food and water. Their large sensitive eyes and ears give them the ability to successfully hunt at night as well as to evade any predators, such as snakes. Their large ears contain membranes much similar looking to a tragus in bats to keep sand out of their ears when they burrow, as well as increase their ability to pick up vibrations of predators and prey through the sand. They lure prey such as grasshoppers using their white haired tipped tail which simulated a plant. Once within sight, the American Rhingon uses its claws to quickly grab and hold onto its prey. American Rhingon’s are able to stay hydrated by using their elongated noses, much like an elephant, to consume dew that accumulates on the shrubs after the dramatic temperature changes during night and day. This species has a reduced number of sweat glands that has been adapted to conserve water. Since they have a limited number of sweat glands to keep cool, they apply a coat of saliva on their body using their tail as a brush to spread the saliva

After having created a working map for our genomic DNA, identifying our gene of interest and doing extensive research on its possible functions, we needed to perform several experiments to find out more about our gene. The purpose of this lab was to use a reverse genetics approach to explore our Brachypodium distachyon gene of interest and its function by experimenting with mutant and wild type samples. We effectively worked from the mutant phenotype to explore the gene’s function. In doing so, we took several approaches to examine the phenotype, genomic DNA, phylogenetic relationships, and histology of the samples to identify the gene’s possible functions.

I can't really say much about how I feel about human artificial selection because I haven't gone through anything that would need me to worry about this topic. It's exciting to know that it could help us get rid of certain genetic diseases, but it's also worrying that one can get other diseases from it. It may be beneficial for one person in a family, but it'll probably cause problems for the further generation(s). If people are fine with their future descendants taking on the troubles later on for their own benefits, then I guess it's their call. If artificial selection were to be a thing, I guess the future generations can also continue to use that to get rid of their new diseases from the artificial selection their ancestors did. 

There's so many ethical issues that comes with artificial selection. I don't know how I feel about people in the future wanting to genetically modify their babies to become the best humans they can be. It's a good thing for them, but would it be fair to the rest of the people? Genetic engineering would most likely cost a fortune so it'll be that only the rich would be able to afford it. It'll probably become another business and political issue for us to deal with. 

Their life span averages at twenty years. They do not hibernate and their pituitary glands are not terribly overworked, as conserving water is not a main concern in the tropical rainforest (Pituitary). Like most carnivores, their digestive tract is relatively short, and they are equipped with many enzymes to digest meat. Scientists decided to name this species Magnacide dynaphyll by using various Latin roots. The generic name, Magnacide, is a mix of magna and cide, meaning big sharp tooth. The specific name, dynaphyll, is a mix of dyn, a-, and phyll, meaning powerful, green, and on the shore.

Our proposed research question is: How does microinvertebrate soil diversity vary with proximity to trees, water sources, and buildings. Groups will collect soil samples at varying distances from these three variables, then count and identify the species present. Information obtained from the soil samples will help in quantifying species diversity and soil diversity. Species diversity is an indicator of tree and soil sustainability that will provide data for future tree and soil management and be beneficial to the UMASS Amherst campus local climate.

The method that was used involved intracortical brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) implanted into the brain, which consisted of just under 200 microelectrodes connected to a neural decoder. This system translated the firing of action potentials and their frequency power into commands that were sent to the FES system. The functional electrical stimulation (FES) had electrodes under the skin on the muscle of the patient that would stimulate contraction when signaled. In this experiment, a mobile arm support was used against gravity and for abduction and adduction movements. Fig. 1A shows these systems attached to the patient. In fig. 1B, graphs are shown demonstrating the neural patterns recognized for different movements involving the extension and flexion.