Chemotaxis Lab

Submitted by mkomtangi on Wed, 04/18/2018 - 14:28

I began my experiment by collecting and labeling two petri dishes, I then added molten GYE to the label portions of my plates and let it solidify. After I added molten water agar into the halves of the petri dishes, again letting it solidify. I then put two pieces of filter paper on the plates creating a bridge for the bacteria to move throughout, I then inoculated the organism on each strip of paper at opposite points from each other, creating a diagonal cross.

    My results for the experiment were again conclusive to my hypothesis. The Serratia marcescens showed large amounts of growth on the inoculated region of GYE and minimal growth on the inoculated region of the water agar, indicating that the organism was attracted to the GYE agar and moved in the directions towards the agar. As for the Enterococcus faecalis, there was hardly any growth on the inoculated water agar, and there was minimal growth on the inoculated GYE region of the dish, proving the the organism is nonmotile, as it hardly moved towards the chemical attractant.

 

MIE 290H Assignment: Fifth Paragraph

Submitted by oringham on Wed, 04/18/2018 - 13:10

It has been scientifically demonstrated that the use of mathematical models can be beneficial in predicting outcomes of epidemic, policy implementation, and other public health related endeavors. These models can depict scenarios at a community, country, or even global scale. However, there are caveats to the usage of these models. An especially important one to consider is the data of which these models are based on. Models rely on the inputs from equations, which are formulated on the basis of data collected that pertains to the event being modeled. If there is inaccurate collection of data of which the model is based on, then it is likely that the model will not accurately predict the events that it is meant to model. This can lead to detrimental and costly results, as the action taken based on the model could fail or have adverse effects.

MIE 290H Assignment: Fourth Paragraph

Submitted by oringham on Wed, 04/18/2018 - 13:08

Developed or undeveloped, inequities in healthcare are seen all over the globe in all different sectors of society. It is vital as a global community that these inequities are recognized, and that change is enacted in order to establish healthcare reform in unequitable areas. For this to occur, it is important that substantial evidence and data is collected so that reasons behind inequities in health and wellness resources can be detected. Both developed and undeveloped countries lack proper data collection methods and important accessibility and maintenance of data collection. Improvement of this is necessary in order to meet the goals and standards of the WHO (World Health Organization) to identify and solve problems with inequities in heath care across the globe.

Monarch Migration

Submitted by malberigi on Wed, 04/18/2018 - 13:03

These fall monarchs look exactly like all other monarchs. However, they are physiologically different, and emerge from the pupa in a state called reproductive diapause. Diapause is basically a period of suspended development; these individuals do not have the mature internal sex organs (Monarch Butterfly Fund).  This allows them to stay alive until the next spring, when they’ll be able to fly north and lay eggs. This migration is the key part to success of the monarchs’ annual life cycle. At the end of the winter, monarchs end diapause, becoming ready to mate and lay eggs as they move northward. Once they become reproductively active, they’ll only live another few weeks. Their eggs then mark the start of another annual life cycle, as the first generation of monarchs is born again.

Yeast Genetics Intro #2

Submitted by mrmoy on Wed, 04/18/2018 - 00:11

In this experiment, the yeast mutants requiring adenine was examined. Yeast cells cannot produce their own adenine, but if adenine is in the medium, then cells can convert it to adenosine monophosphate (AMP). The process of converting adenine to AMP requires multiple enzymes. As a result, any single mutation could result in an adenine requiring mutant or a mutant deficient for adenine biosynthesis.

 

Yeast Genetics Intro

Submitted by mrmoy on Wed, 04/18/2018 - 00:11

Throughout the history of science, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) has served as a model organism. Yeast is a unicellular, eukaryotic microorganism that can exist stably as both a haploid and diploid and can reproduce either sexually or asexually. When yeast are in the haploid state they exist as either the MATa or MATα. Yeast cells can remain in the haploid state, or one MATa and one MATα cell can sexually reproduce to produce a diploid cell.

reflection

Submitted by lgiron on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 20:31

Engaging in physical activity for me personally was not challenging at all. Since elementary school I have always been on sports teams and enjoyed working out at the gym. Starting this activity was not a challenge for me because I have already been physically active and include physical activity in my daily schedule. Whenever I sign up for classes for the next semester, I always edit it and put in time slots when I have to go to the gym, I treat it as another class that I have to take. I am also in ROTC and have to wake up early in the morning Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to do Physical Training which also helps me get the recommended amount of physical activity in. I’ve always had the motivation to go to the gym and get into shape, however the only variable that would cause me to not go to the gym and get physical activity is that sometimes I am way too busy to go to the gym, I genuinely think that I cannot make time for the gym with these circumstances because I wake up very early 3 times a week, before the gym opens, and have to prioritize academics over physical training. I believe this is acceptable in my case because I am very active compared to most people.

 My motivation comes from the goals I have set for myself, both short and long term. In the short term, I want to look good and feel good about myself, to not be self-conscious, in the long term, I want to be physically fit, so I can have a healthy life and be able to be physically active with my kids, if I have kids. I’d also like to go to Ranger School when I graduate college and one thing that is essential to passing the school is being physically fit. Having these goals are what keep me going when I don’t want to go to the gym or get out of bed, knowing that the little things you do day by day, such as going to the gym, is what is going to make a big impact in the long run.

In the end, I am very proud of myself for what I have been able to accomplish. I am not a body builder, but I do think I am overall one of the most fit people my friends know. I have had many people come to me asking if I can help them train or lose weight, and though I don’t have much experience with weight loss, I take pride when my friends ask me to help them. I also try to convince friends to come workout with me because it’d good for you, it’s fun, and you feel great.

Training Program

Submitted by lgiron on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 20:23

The exercises I like to do at the start of my workout are primarily free weights, this is because it requires more stability control with the muscles at work. I then like to transition to the resistance machines since my muscles are beginning to get a bit fatigued. This is a program that I have been following for most of my experience of working out, I like that it targets all of the major muscle groups while giving rest days between the same two groups. I generally being at a lower warm up weight but do not include it in my workout since it is low in weight and used to warm up the muscles.

My Back/Biceps and Chest/Triceps are pretty straight forward and do not have much variation, but my Cardio days are a bit different each time. Days that I do my Cardio workout, I like to start with my runs. For my runs, they can be either a 5 mile run, a timed 2 mile run, or a sprint circuit. I start with stretching to ensure I don’t injure myself during the run then do whichever I am able to do depending on weather. After the run, I do my legs and abs. I do legs after running because usually my legs feel like they are going to give out mid run.

Personally, my goals are not to become a body builder, but to maintain physically fit due to being in the Army and a Firefighter and maintain good body composition. For this reason, I don’t tend to stray off of my usual weight load increments, therefore I do the same weight most times, with occasional increase from the normal.

When I started working out I did not know much exercises for each muscle groups but as time went on I started picking up new exercises. I’ve tried most for each muscle groups and have stayed with the most I like the most, so I can say I enjoy doing the workouts. I recently have incorporated more shoulder workouts, such as the front and lateral dumbbell raises which now are one of my favorite workouts overall. One thing I would change about this program is to add a few more ab exercises because I go through the ones I have within 20 minutes.

In the end, I am pleased with my training program and it has done its purpose thus far in keeping me physically fit. Personally, it is a good program but can be molded to another person with different goals.

Lichen

Submitted by malberigi on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 19:54

A lichen consists of two or more partners that live together symbiotically, with both of them benefitting from the alliance.  One partner is a fungus termed as the mycobiont.  While the other is either an algae, photobiont (usually green) or a cyanobacterium, sometimes called blue-green algae although it is more closely related to bacteria than algae. The algae or cyanobacterium is able to use sunlight to produce essential nutrients by photosynthesis that feeds both organisms.  The fungus creates a foundation, known as a thallus, in which they both live.  The fungus also produces chemical compounds that may act as sunscreen to protect its photosynthetic partner.

Viatmin B6 Part 2

Submitted by malberigi on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 19:53

The many B vitamins found in beer, including B9 and B12, are all derived from the starch by which the drink is fermented.  Normally beer is made from malted barley, cereals, hops, yeast, and water, and provides others minerals to the body such as magnesium, potassium, and silicon.  It has been researched, though not intensely, the health benefits of beer especially in comparison to other forms of alcohol.  A beer, on average, will have less calories and sugar than a mixed drink of similar alcohol content.  Beer also provides protection against heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions in the same way red wine does.  Beer has also been studied to prove that it can reduce the risk of developing kidney stones by an incredible 40%.  Although there are many health benefits involved with the consumption of beer, these conditions change once the drink as been abused over a period of time.

Pages

Subscribe to Writing in Biology RSS