mqpham's blog

Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium describes the stability of genotype frequencies in a population that is not evolving. In order for this to occur, the population's genes cannot undergo any mutations, only random-mating, no gene flow (migrations), an infinite population, and no natural selection. Likewise, if there is any fitness in a genotype, HW equilibrium will not be observed. If a population is in HW equilibrium, certain genotype frequencies may be expected. The following equation is used to define the state of genotypes of two alleles: p2+2qp+q2=1. If a genotype frequency is found, its allele frequencies may also be calculated. If the expected allele frequencies (calculated from the equation) match that of the observed frequencies, then the population is in HW equilibrium.

Next Generation Sequencing (https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(17)30060-5)

NGS is a proposed method for large-scale biomonitoring. It involves use of technology to monitor the current status of ecosystems around the globe. In reaction to the out-dated methods of sampling the environment for diversity, NGS biomonitoring proposes that the diversity and interactions in ecosystems can be updated automatically. It involves technology that will automatically sample the DNA of organisms in the environment and update the information that will be sequenced to determine the interactions between the present organisms. This information is then updated into a universal could that stores the information to keep track of any changes across of the ecosystems across the globe.

Narrative to Exposition

I woke up. I brushed my teeth and took a shower and put fresh clothes on. I had breakfast, which was a cup of scrambled eggs, half a cup of corn beef hash, and 2 link sausages. I also had a glass of almond milk. I read three chapters of a book on the fall of the Mexica Empire. I went to orgo class and arrived one minute late at 9:06AM. After orgo, I went to physics, then French, then history, then I attended my writing in biology class.

Categories:

Self-care:

I brushed my teeth. I took a shower. I got dressed.

Breakfast:

I ate a plate of food with 1 cup of scrambled eggs, 1/2 cup of corn beef hash, and 2 sausage links. I one cup of almond milk.

Classes:

I attended organic chemistry. I attended physics. I attended French. I attended history. I attended writing in biology.

The reliability, validity, and trust of this website, https://www.sierraclub.org/home, is generally acceptable, but not for research purposes. The web address ending with ".org," indicates that it is a legitimate organization. Furthermore, there are 3.5 million members of the organization. However, it is politically charged. The organization first requests a donation upon visiting the website in order to "Fight Back," and "Protect America from Trump." Though the website is biased, it mainly focuses on the environmental status of the Earth and how to protect it. Still, the political language could suggest that certain pieces of information may be presented in a way that would alter our understanding of the science. It is confirmed in the terms and conditions that the money that is donated are not tax deductable, therefore all funds that are donated are directly used to benefit the "cause." On the surface, this is lobbying for advocacy. However, they do state that " The Sierra Club offers competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan." Thus, it is unclear where the donations go to supporting because the organization is supposedly "non-profit."

The researchers, Laurent Debarbieux et al reveal the effectivness of treating P. aeruginosa lung infections by using bacteriophages. The researches used mice as their test subjects, different primary colonization and chronic strains of the bacteria P. aeruginosa to infect the mice, as well as the bacteriophage they called PAK-P1. Their hypothesis was that if bacteriophages are effective in attacking only the bacteria, the bacteriophages will significantly reduce the bacteria in the victims and thus save them. The dependent variable was therefore the survival of the test subjects, the mice; and the independent variable is the amount of bacteriophages. The controls were infected mice not treated with any bacteriophages. Experimental evidence reveals that timing and dosage of bacteriophages mattered in saving the lives of the mice. Even though the research revealed bacteriophages' effectiveness in treatment in vitro, the researchers were questioning its effectiveness in vivo. The research performed is therefore significant in the medical field, possibly leading to medication that will use the virus to save humans infected by the lung bacteria, P. aeruginosa.

In the research done by Laurent Debarbieux et al on treating P. aeruginosa lung infections through bacteriophages, the authors used mice as their test subjects, as well as different primary colonization and chronic strains of the bacteria P. aeruginosa, and the virus they called PAK-P1. Even though the research revealed bacteriophages' effectiveness in treatment in vitro, the researchers were questioning its effectiveness in vivo. Through this article, they revealed their research on the effectiveness of treatment of bacterial infections with the bacteriophages. Their hypothesis: if bacteriophages are effective in attacking only the bacteria, the bacteriophages will significantly reduce the bacteria in the victims and thus saving them. The dependent variable was thus the survival of the test subjects, the mice, and the independent variable is the amount of bacteriophages. The controls were infected mice not treated with any bacteriophages. Experimental evidence reveals that timing and dosage of bacteriophages mattered in saving the lives of the mice. This is therefore important in possible treatment with humans.

Update on the Unknown Organism (Larva)

The larva was given a peel of clementine skin. The organsim reacts be exploring the peel and proceeds to crawl beneath the tender, white, inner portion of the skin and appears to be eating the peel. Later, the organism remains still, lying beneath the peel. When disturbed, the larva retreats and clings onto the white portion of the skin. Over the course of three days, the organism changes physically and behaviorally. Changes include darkening of the skin, the spots along the side of the organsim, as well as the legs.There is also a decrease in activity and lesser response to disturbances (such as shaking the container). On the third day with the peel introduced, the organism does not seem to be eating the skin, but simply remains still, rarely moving beneath the white side of the clementine peel. 

Update on the Unknown Organism (larva)

The larva was given a peel of clementine skin. The organsim reacts be exploring the peel and proceeds to crawl towards the tender white inner portion of the skin and appears to be eating the peel. Later, the organism remains still, lying beneath the peel. When disturbed, the larva retreats and clings onto the white portion of the skin. Over the course of three days, the organism changes, darkening in color, and growing in size. Other changes include darkening of the spots along the side of the organsim as well as darkening of the legs.There is a decrease in activity and lesser response to disturbances. By the third day, the organism does not seem to be eating the skin, but simply remains still beneath it.

There is an organism, possibly a larva, ressembling a catapillar or maggot. It is 2cm in length and 4mm wide. The organism's body consists of 12 segments, off-white and yellowish in color. The body's segments also divide into smaller segments.The organism moves slowly with alterations between contracting and elongating movements, with seven or eight pairs of legs to assist. Movement reveals the body's soft tissue, which is connected to a firm head with two round parts, possibly eyes, and what appears to be a mouth, brown in color. Tiny clear hairs pertrude from the body.  There are darks specks on the organism along the sides, eight pairs of specks total. The skin is slightly transparent. A dark line down the center of the organism extends from the head to the end of the body. This could perhaps be the spine, but after light is shined through the body, the line appears to be luminescent. The organism reacts to light, turning away from it, suggesting it could live underground.

There is an organism, a larva of some sort ressembling a catapillar or maggot. It is 2cm in length and 4mm wide. The grub's body consists of 12 segments, off-white and yellowish in color. THe organism moves slowly with alterations between contracting and elongating movements, with seven or eight pairs of legs to assist. Movement reveals the body's soft tissue, which is connected to a firm head with two large eyes and a mouth, brown in color. Tiny clear hairs pertrude from the body. The body's segments also devide into smaller segments. There are darks spots on the organism along the sides, eight pairs of specks total. The skin can slightly be seen trhough. A dark line down the center of the insect extens from the head to the end of the body. This could perhaps be the spine, but after light is shined through the body, the line appears to be luminescent.