Writing in Biology

In this lab, several chemical tests and MP determination were performed on an unknown compound to determine the structure and the identity of the unknown. Also, an HNMR of the unknown was analyzed to confirm the identity. In the first test, unknown #36 was mixed in 2,4-DNP in a test tube. Two drops of the unknown were mixed. A yellow-orange precipitate formed, indicating the carbonyl group is not conjugated. Schiff's test was then performed where unknown #36 (1 drop) was added to the schiff's reagent (0.7 mL). A pale pink color was observed, indicating that unknown must be a ketone. The final test was the iodoform, where the unknown (1 drop) was dissolved in 1,2-dimethoxy ethane (0.5 mL), 3M NaOH (0.5 mL) and iodine solution (0.75 mL) and mixed thoroughly. A yellow precipitate formed, indicating it was a ketone. 

We conducted a survey for students at UMass Amherst to collect their thoughts about how gene editing should be used and regulated in the medical field pertaining to the ethics. Survey options consisted of 4 options: strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, and strongly disagree. We used a Likert-scale for the data to be easily analyzed via a median or mode and displayed in a bar graph. It is the most widely used approach in survey research. A survey pertaining to 3 different scenarios regarding germline gene editing was sent out to 40 UMass students. Each scenario included 3 survey questions. We analyzed how students believe gene editing should be controlled and therefore what regulations need to be executed. Visual representations of data from surveys demonstrated these conclusions. The data collected regarding the ethics of the 3 scenarios will be pooled together as a consensus overview of germline gene editing and displayed via a pie chart.

Modern gene editing tools have the potential to treat diseases from a new perspective. A commonly popular technique used frequently to achieve gene editing is a CRISPR-Cas9 protein complex. With the use of CRISPR-Cas9, specific genes are targeted and the DNA sequence is then modified. Researchers are currently practicing gene editing in various subjects and performing the techniques in experimental research. On the other hand, scientists are delaying the use of gene editing for safety concerns and regulations. For our project, we will be discussing the ethics and various applications of germline gene editing. Germline editing changes the human embryo genome at an early stage. Germline editing also can have an affect on every cell including sperm and egg cells and also may potentially be passed onto future generations.

Evolutionary development is a branch of study that began about 20 years go. Since then, two lines of research have diverged. One focuses on typological, focusing on descrete and qualitative changes in phenotype. The other is research done through investigating complex phenotypes by quantitative developmental phenomena. However, there is potential for the two to be used in explaining processes and mechanisms for evolutionary development over time. In recent years, evolutionary development offers insight on specific molecular connections between genotype and morphology. Still, the importance of how the morphology interacts with the environment will make the final determination on the fitness of the genotype. Therefore, evolutionary development has a greater potential if it is broadened from the fine details of the genotype all the way to how those genotypes affect resource use (Irschick, Albertson et al, 2013).

I could help them figure out whether or not it was typical "middle age forgetfulness" by suggesting they should have a neuropsychological evaluation. They are the most common way to diagnose major NCDs. The tests are extensive clinical reviews which assess learning and memory. I could even adopt my own version of this if my family member is unwilling to get evaluated. I could ask questions about their day or questions about things that they definitely should remember. Although this is not as reliable, it is a good indicator if they should actually get professionally evaluated or not.

Although both antigen types present as attractive targets for the development of cancer-eradicating immunotherapies, expression of TAAs in normal cells can trigger central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms that ultimately lead to selection of T cells with low-affinity receptors. Attempts to combat this effect through targeting of TAAs via high-affinity T cell receptors have been found to result in severe toxicities due to normal tissue destruction (Parkhurst et al. 2011). Unlike TAAs, tumor-specific neoantigens are not subject to central or peripheral tolerance and lack the ability to destroy normal tissues since their mutations arose from the tumor itself (Lu et al. 2016). Due to this key difference in the development of these antigens, the researchers will use tumor-specific neoantigens for the identification and subsequent targeting of pancreatic cancer cells through immunotherapy.

Researches had found neurons in the amygdala which are known as “stimulation neurons”. The stimulation neurons allows animals to stimulate and predict decision making processes of others. Researchers hypothesized that the dysfunction of the neurons would lead to a disrupted social cognition. Meaning that people with autism would have likely have less active neurons. While people with overactive neurons would have social anxiety. With this knowledge, researchers have a more specific direction for studying how the stimulation of neurons have an effect on people.

The hypothesis that body temperature stays constant after exercise was not supported due to the differences found in the mean and the data that wwas shown on the graph. The graph shows for the majority of the time that at rest the body temperature is higher than after a minute of exercise. This is consistent with what others have found in published papers (1.) Body temperature is higher at rest and tends to cool down during exercise since sweat is being produced in order to cool the body. Which means that the temperature reading after exercise will be lower than before it. There could have been errors with the way people were taking their temperature, there could have been inconsistencies on where they were positioning the thermometer. For a clearer picture of thermoregulation, a better thermometer would be use that would be better at picking up the exact temperatures to create more accurate and consistent data.