rdigregorio's blog

The study of proteins is important in fields like genetics, biochemical research, and medicine because the role they play in most if not all biological functions can be used to understand how diseases work, and more importantly how to treat them. The function of the protein comes from its structure, so an understanding of how the protein is built could shed some light on how it works. The goals of this lab were to successfully purify and crystallize the protein using methods such as chromatography, which is used to separate molecules by size; a Bradford Assay which determines the concentration of protein in collected solutions and subsequently the volume for the gel electrophoresis; an SDS-PAGE which confirms the presence of GFP protein in the solution; and finally handing drop vapor diffusion which ultimately crystallizes the protein. Throughout this lab, we feel as though we obtained an ample amount of 6xHis-GFP protein due to the bright green color of our eluate samples. Though we did not make a large GFP crystal, we successfully made scattered GFP crystals under 25% PEG 8000 precipitant concentration.

The study of proteins is important in fields like genetics, biochemical research and medicine because the role they play in most if not all biological functions can be used to understand how diseases work and more importantly how to treat them. The function of the protein comes from its structure, so an understand of how the protein is built could shed some light on how it works. The goals of this lab were to successfully purify and crystallize the protein using methods such as chromatography, which is used to separate molecules by size; a Bradford Assay which determines the concentration of protein in collected solutions and subsequently the volume for the gel electrophoresis; an SDS-PAGE which confirms the presence of GFP protein in the solution; and finally handing drop vapor diffusion which ultimately crystallizes the protein. Throughout this lab, we feel that we obtained an ample amount of 6xHis-GFP protein due to the bright green color of our eluate samples. Though we did not make a large GFP crystal, we successfully made scattered GFP crystals under 25% PEG 8000 precipitant concentration.

For our project we wanted to determine the places students travel to most frequently  while taking the PVTA. Participants of our survey were asked to select the place they transport to the most from a list that included both on and off campus destinations. These main six destinations are class, Hampshire Mall, downtown Amherst, off campus housing, traveling to campus and Northampton. We hypothesize that each of the six destinations that we chose, each will be visited by an equal number of students. The null hypothesis that there is a significant difference between the locations that students decide to travel. From the data collected we were able to analyze and conclude which are the most popular places students travel to.

The height is the most uncertain thing we measured because we mostly had to rely on estimation and obscure math. The height of the library could not simply be measure like that width or length due to it’s vertical nature. The height could also be an issue as we measure the height of a single stair, counted the amount of stairs per floor, and then multiplied those number be the number of floors in the library. However with so many different factors the room for error increases exponentially. Additionally we might have been unable to take into account differences related to step height. Also, our lack of access to the upper levels of the library prevented us from being able to take into account the different dimensions of these floors that could have affected their height. The length and width were also uncertain in terms of the variations in brick length, but the height was the most difficult attribute to access. Based on the several issues noted above we estimated that we would arrive at a standard deviation of 1200m^3.

The methods we used for measuring the library was to find the height of each stair in centimeters (cm) in the indoor staircase and multiply that number by the amount of stairs on each floor. Then multiplying that number by the number of floors to get the height. To get the length and width we measured the outside of the building by finding the length of a single brick (cm), at the base of the library, and multiplied that by the number of bricks on that side of the building. Finally, we multiplied the three dimensions together, after converting to meters, to get our calculated value for the volume of the library (m^3).

After collecting data of the observed behaviors and placing them into behavioral categories, we concluded the categories to be normal, innate behaviors of young foals. Each behavioral category is seen multiple times in the total 48 minutes and 55 seconds of footage and a total number of 65 individuals behaviors were documented. The playful behavioral category had 11 specific behaviors performed by the foals that were described and documented (Table 1). The aggression category shows 9 different behaviors of the foals (Table 2). The feeding behavioral category had a total of 10 unique foal behaviors (Table 3). Locomotion behavioral category of the foals had a total of 7 behaviors (Table 4). The grooming behavioral category had the most classified behaviors with a total of 15 (Table 5). The affection behavioral category had the least amount with 3 behaviors (Table 6). The behavioral category of observation had a total of 8 behaviors listed (Table 7). By weeding through the repetitions and similarities of the collected behaviors, we were able to formulate a well organized set of tables and learn about the constant signals that Morgan horses use to communicate.

These seven categories were broken down into playing, aggression, feeding, locomotion, grooming, affection, and observation. The playful category includes behaviors such as chasing bucking, nipping, or behaviors that displayed foal excitement. Aggressive behavior was categorized by actions such as ears back, pursing lips, pushing and any behavior in which the foal appeared agitated. The foals spent a large amount of time feeding, either grazing in the grass or nursing from the mares, which prompted a feeding category. Running, trotting, cantering, rearing, and other types of movement that changed of location of the foals were classified under locomotion. Grooming movements such as tail swatting, mane shaking, itching, etc.are innate behaviors of the foals, occuring often and seemingly unknowingly to the foal. The foals showed affection to the mare through behaviors such as necking and nuzzling. Observation included behavior such as surveying, sniffing, sticking their head through the fence and any behavior that involved the foals assessment of their surroundings. There is one table for each category that we organized, and at least three behaviors in those categories. Every table lists the behavior and is accompanied by its description, and a still image of the horses performing the behavior.

As female foals grow, like the foals observed here, they continue to practice behaviors that their mothers preform. When they reach about 4 months old, they begin to break away and behave on their own gradually. One way that they do this, is by grazing more often, as opposed to nursing (Crowell-Davis, 2007). The foals’ large amount of time alone indicates there independence from their mothers and can be an important sign of growth for the young females (Crowell- Davis, 2007). The other behaviors that they do on their own, grooming and observation, are also significant to their growth because it also shows how independent and aware they are. It shows the higher mares that soon the foals will be able to fend for themselves.

The sequential analysis generated a chart of 11 playful, individual behaviors that were scored as bouts for a total of 7 minutes and 54 seconds. The catalog of behaviors shows the probability (out of 1) of one behavior occurring after another in sequence. With this information, a Kinematic Graph was formed. This explains the relationship between the most frequent play behaviors that occured in sequence (Figure 2). The thickness of the arrows that connect the different behaviors show how often the sequence occurs. This makes the interpretation of the female foal play behaviors easier to interpret to analyze the foal to foal communication.

The sequential analysis generated a chart of 11 playful, individual behaviors that were scored as bouts for a total of 7 minutes and 54 seconds. The catalog of behaviors shows the probability (out of 1) of one behavior occurring after another in sequence. With this information, a Kinematic Graph was formed which explained the relationship between the most frequent play behaviors that occured in sequence (Figure 2). The thickness of the arrows that connect different behaviors show how often the sequence occurs. This makes the interpretation of the female foal play behaviors easier to interpret to analyze the foal to foal communication.