Writing in Biology

Product determined to be cyclohexene with a yield of 28.1%. The results of this experiment are summarized in the table below. Gas chromatography characterization was performed with two peaks being shown. One with a retention time of 0.349 and the other with a retention time of 0.396. The area of the second peak accounted for 99.95% of area, with the other accounting for 0.05% of total area. This indicates that the product sample used contained almost pure product, with very little second substance being detected. IR Spectrometry characterization was also performed. Analysis of IR spectrometry indicate characteristic absorptions of cyclohexene. A =C-H stretch is seen at a wavelength 3062, as well as a -C-H stretch between wavelength 3000-2800. A characteristic C=C stretch is also seen at wavelength of 1653. Also of note, -OH band stretching at frequency 3400-3350 is absent, which is a characteristic of the reactant cyclohexanol and is not present in the IR spectrometry of the product. All of these factors indicate the reaction product was cyclohexene and not cyclohexanol. Chemical tests were also performed to distinguish the product as an alkene from an alkane. In the dilute bromine solution, reaction product remained colorless and the negative control cyclohexane solution turned a reddish brown. In the potassium permanganate chemical test, the reaction product formed a brown precipitate, which is characteristic of an alkene, will the alkane control did not form any precipitate.

To a round-bottom flask placed in a 30mL beaker was added cyclohexanol (2.0 g, 0.02 mol) with 85% phosphoric acid (0.5mL). The solution was heated using a sand bath and distilled using a fractional distillation apparatus. Upon completion of fractional distillation, the solution was washed with water (1-2mL) and saturated aqueous sodium chloride (1-2mL). After washing solution, the organic layer was transferred to a clean vial and CaCl2 spheres were added. The vial was capped and the contents gently. The product of cyclohexene was allowed to dry for 5 minutes and a yield was obtained of (0.562g, 28.1%). Chemical tests were performed of the cyclohexene product. A 3% solution of bromine in dichloromethane added dropwise to cyclohexene solution (0.5mL). Separately, a 1% solution of potassium permanganate was added dropwise to cyclohexene solution (0.3mL). A gas chromatography and IR spectrometry were preformed to determine purity and properties of obtained product.

The job seminar was very interesting, it was about how they could change the spindles and what possible applications they could have. One drawback to the seminar was that there were some technical difficulties so Professor Gatlin was unable to talk for the entire time. He began the seminar by giving an overview of cells and microtubules. One of the most interesting points that he brought up was that cell structures scale along with the size of the cell, similar to how organs scale inside different species of animals. His lab had an experiment where they controlled the size of the droplets of cell extract, and they found that the spindle size correlated with the width of the droplet. He then described the future uses of his research. He proposed that he can develop layered hydrogels in order to measure the forces that are exerted by the microtubules.

I would recommend that the biology department hires Professor Gatlin. I find it very interesting that he is from a mechanical engineering background. It gives him a different perspective on how the mechanical processes of the cell transpire. He made the seminar entertaining, because he was a pretty funny guy. His power point contained many videos and animations that really helped him get his point across. I would love to have a class with him as a teacher.

Plants can grow in all types of environments and there are many factors that can contribute to their survival. Understanding how these environmental factors influence the health and diversity of different species is critical to many fields like landscaping, farming, and conservation. This research project could provide information that could help people know what species of low living plant species could thrive in certain locations of land. For example, we could find out what species that should be included in grass seed that would provide a more resistant turf in a sunny backyard with little foot traffic, or a shady plot of grass right next to a busy roadway.

German Shepherds should be the dog breed that is saved. German Shepherds are the most logical of the dog breeds to save, because of their wide variety of uses. German Shepherds can be used as police dogs, guard dogs, hunting dogs, guide dogs, and even acting dogs. This array of potential jobs would allow service dogs to still be available when other dogs go extinct. The German Shepherds could also be used to breed other breeds and try and diversify the pool of dog breeds again.

German Shepherds are an adorable species, ranging in a tan and black mix to a fully black coat. There are countless images on the internet of German Shepherd puppies tilting their heads to try and understand their owners. They are an extremely intelligent and obedient dog, which is just one of the reasons they should be the species that is saved.

An inhibitor we would use to target TLR3 is (R)-2-(3-chloro-6-fluorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamido)-3-phenylpropanoic acid (4a). This inhibitor is also referred to as compound 4a. It is an antagonist to TLR3 signaling and it inhibits the expression of downstream signaling pathways that are assisted by the TLR3/dsRNA complex. This compound is able to inhibit TLR3 signaling without affecting other types of TLRs. This illustrates it's highly selectivity characteristic. It also holds the property of being low cytotoxicity. In order to further emphasize that it directly binds to TLR3, a fluorescence anisotropy assay will be used to demonstrate that it competes with dsRNA, which is known to be involved in activating TLRs.

An inhibitor we would use to target TLR3 is (R)-2-(3-chloro-6-fluorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamido)-3-phenylpropanoic acid (4a) a compound known as 4a. It is an antagonist to TLR3 signaling and is also known to inhibit the expression of downstream signaling pathways assisted by the TLR3/dsRNA complex. This compound is able to inhibit TLR3 signaling and does not affect other types of TLRs which illustrates its highly selectivity characteristic. It also holds the property of being low cytotoxicity. In order to further emphasize that it directly binds to TLR3, a fluorescence anisotropy assay demonstrated that it competes with dsRNA, which we know is involved in activating TLRs.

The equilibrium is driven towards the product by removing some of the product and permitting it to condense and remain in the side arm of the distillation head, throughout the reaction time. The collected water separates from the desired n-propyl propanoate product in the side arm which when tipped back into the RB flask, the water layer remains and the n-propyl propanoate is back in the flask. In addition, for this experiment sulfuric acid serves as a catalyst which goes into the reaction the same way it came out. This strong acid speeds up the reaction towards equilibrium because it is a fast proton source for the oxygen carbonyl to pick up. It eventually gains back its proton from a protonated oxygen to prove itself as a catalyst. 

There are numerous intricate processes involved in the determination and evolution of
male guppy coloration. Since guppies exhibit sexual dimorphism, sexual selection is likely a
prominent factor in varying levels of male showiness. The more ornate a guppy is, the more
likely it is to obtain a mate, reproduce, and pass on its genes. However, theses elaborate colors
also pose a threat to survival, as they attract predators. Therefore, the varying environments and
substrates will affect survival, because certain environments will provide more protection and
hiding spots from predators. Several hypotheses for varying levels of male showiness are:
1. When predators are present, the type of substrate will affect survival, resulting in a
change in spot brightness over time.
2. As predation increases, male guppy spot brightness will decrease, because higher spot
brightness attracts predators.
3. In the absence of predation, and at low predations levels, spot brightness will increase
due to sexual selection.

This experiment uses the diversity of insects on different parts of the UMass campus in Amherst, MA to indicate different factors about its microclimates. There has been a great deal of research focused on finding what different insect species says about the area they live. This experiment is designed so different groups can set up traps in various spots so they might be compared and conclusions can be drawn. This project would tell us a great deal about the environment in our area.