Writing in Biology

Social Behavior: Birds span wide to short ranges and are found in both isolated to large clusters. The determinants of their lifestyles are secondary to what is most effective to meet their requirements of both protection and food. Typically, there are established territories that are defended and utilized with various methods that are flexible in the setting of a cost benefit relationship. Various species typically have a personal zone of space that they prefer. However, this can be reduced in group settings such as while flying in a V formation or when huddling for warmth.  This behavior is understandably more common in more social species and their desire for personal space is species dependent.

In our daily lives, one of the greatest risks we submit ourselves to is getting behind the wheel of a car. For many, the most worrying thing isn’t their own driving, but how the people around them drive. It only makes sense that we should have some strict limitations on who can drive. We all remember turning 16, and the excitement that came with getting your license. But when you turned 16, did they just hand you a license to drive? No! You first had to prove that you were a capable driver. I think we can all agree that this is a necessary precaution, not just an unnecessary formality. Now when we look at the other end of the age spectrum, we see the elderly. Most of us can think of someone, be it your grandparents, great grandparents, or some other person elderly person, who’s had time catch up to them. Studies show that with age, you can reasonably expect to see up to a 30% decrease in movement speed

DNA extraction is a process used in many laboratory settings. It involves the purification of DNA from a sample using a combination of chemical and physical methods. The purpose of DNA extraction is to obtain DNA in a relatively purified form. Once the purifed form is obtained it can then be analyzed using PCR or sequencing the DNA. In a DNA extraction procedure there are essential components. Theses componenets include maximizing DNA recovery, removing inhibitors, removing or inhibiting nucleases, maximizing the quality of DNA, and double strand vs. single strand (RFLP or PCR). There are a variety of commonly used DNA extraction procedures. Any method one decides to use may be sample dependent, technique dependent, cost depedndent, or analyst preference. 

The job seminar that I attended was for Jesse “Jay” Gatlin. Jay Gatlin is and Associate Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Wyoming. He originally studied mechanical engineering, more specifically studying brake mechanics in cars. A lot of his research lends to his mechanical engineering background, as his lab researches the mechanical properties of spindle assemblies and microtubules in the cell. The major questions in his lab include: how does spindle get bipolar shape, how does cell size influence spindle size, and how is spindle positioning controlled. His lab has a website which includes his staff and his publications. One of them involves him using fluorescent molecules to visualize microtubules.

The solution was permitted to dry for 5 minutes and the product was transferred via pipet into a tared new vial. The mass was recorded and the percent recovery was calculated (0.389 g, 18.87%). The chemical tests known as bromine in dichloromethane and potassium permanganate tests for alkene were performed. Cyclohexene product (~0.25 mL) was added to one test tube and cyclohexane (~0.25 mL) was added to another test tube. 3% solution of bromine in dichloromethane (3 drops) was added into each tube while swirling.

To perform an acid-catalyzed dehydration of cyclohexanol with phosphoric acid to form cyclohexene and water/hydronium. The presence of an alkene will be identified through reactions with bromine in dichloromethane and potassium permanganate. For the potassium permanganate test, cyclohexene product (0.3 mL) was added into a new test tube and an additional cyclohexane (0.3 mL) was added to another tube. 1% potassium permanganate and 10% sulfuric acid (~2 drops) was added to each test tube while swirling.  Color changes were recorded. The gas chromatography and infrared analysis readings were received to indicate and illustrate the degree of purity of the product.

The Nova special The Great Human Odyssey follows the story of Homo sapiens and how we were able to become one of the most successful, and prominent species on the planet. The documentary starts with man’s origin using different fossils to piece together where our species originated. It was found that Humans originated in Africa and most likely the Great Rift Valley. From there the documentary goes on about how man was able to leave Africa taking on many different climates and ecosystems and conquering them all. This documentary does a great job of telling the entire story and kept me engaged the entire time. This documentary also does a great job at using evidence to support all of their claims, and hypothesis and they even let the viewer know where scientists just aren’t sure about things. One of my favorite parts of this documentary is when they begin explaining how humans adapted to living near the ocean. I find it fascinating that after so long humans are still able to do some of these great feats underwater, and it’s as if some people are born to swim. I had never thought of how strange it was that humans were such good swimmers and that we can hold our breath for so long. Humans really are an incredible and adaptive species.

            The end of the documentary had one of my favorite pieces of evidence, which was the sweet potato. This piece of evidence along with the burial site found in North America showed how man was able to colonize the New World. The sweet potato is especially important because it showed that humans were able to cross the Pacific Ocean from Asia and make it to South America. This great achievement would not have been able to happen if it weren’t for our great minds. Humans were able to build sophisticated boats, had intricate and accurate forms of navigation, and knew how to survive. Early man was everything but primitive and without our superior minds and stamina, we wouldn’t be in the same place we are today. 

Neurons are constantly using ATP and need to perform cellular respiration constantly. This requires a large amount of the bodies oxygen and glucose. In addition, the brain has low levels of Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) which is in charge of converting pyruvate into lactate during anaerobic cellular respiration in humans. If the nervous system were to have a higher level of LDH then the cells would be able to operate better under conditions with little oxygen. Brain tissue is also unable to store glucose in the form of glycogen if levels get low having a storage of glucose could be beneficial to brain tissue. The brain is unable to break down fatty acids as a source of energy having a source of energy besides glucose could be beneficial when glucose is scarce.

Acetylcholine(ACh) is a neurotransmitter that is predominantly located amongst the peripheral nervous system but is also found in the central nervous system. Acetylcholinesterase(AChE) is an enzyme that removes excess acetylcholine from the synapse. The removal of the enzyme will cause a buildup of ACh, and in return, this causes overstimulation of glandular cells, autonomic ganglia, glial cells, the central nervous system, skeletal muscle, and smooth muscle. The two types of cholinergic neuron receptors nicotinic and muscarinic will both be affected differently. The nicotinic receptor controls a sodium and potassium ion channel the increased concentration of ACh will cause the channel to remain open. The muscarinic receptor controls the release of G proteins which can do a number of things in a cell-like open or close an ion channel, and activate or deactivate an enzyme.

Tables 1 and 2 both numerically display the results of the spectrophotometer for both the spinach and romaine lettuce chloroplasts at each time interval and for each experimental group. Figure 1 displays an absorbance versus time graph for the romaine lettuce chloroplast reactions. It is apparent that the chloroplast and light group has the highest absorbance value by the end of the 30 minutes, while chloroplast + dark has the lowest absorbance. The chloroplast + light group also had the largest slope at 0.0175 abs/min. The chloroplast + dark group maintained a very small slope, and no chloroplast had a slightly larger slope. Figure two displays an absorbance versus time graph for spinach chloroplast reactions for all experimental groups. The chloroplast + dark group appears to have the highest absorbance at the end of 30 minutes, while no chloroplast has the lowest. Chloroplast + light appear to have a negative slope, at -0.0073 abs/min.