Writing in Biology

For the treatment regarding the three mi-RNAs in ovarian cancer associated fibroblasts, I tried to figure out downstream targets by which these epigenetic changes of mi-RNAs in CAFs induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition of cancer cells. I proposed a few possible pathways, although these are likely far more complicated, and there are likely many more that I did not cover. What makes mi-RNAs interesting is that because they are so short, approximately 20 bases in length, they often have binding specificity for thousands of genes. This means that treatment involving mi-RNAs usually evolves from an observational study about mi-RNA dysregulation, and the reversal of that phenotype having anti-cancer effects. With mi-RNA treatment, it is often the case that it is discovered that reversal of the phenotype is effective in treating cancer, without figuring out exactly why, because the possibilities are so vast.

0.75 mL of acetic acid and 1.20 mL of isopentyl alcohol were added to a round bottom flask. Four drops of concentrated sulfuric acid was carefully added to the flask before being refluxed in an air condensing distillation apparatus. The solution was boiled for 15 minutes and then the organic layer of the collected liquid was poured back into the round bottom flask and boiled for another 15 minutes. The process was repeated one more time for a total reflux time of 45 minutes. The solution was then cooled to room temperature and poured into a centrifuge tube with 1 mL of water. The solution was mixed and the bottom layer was removed to waste. 1 mL of sodium bicarbonate was used to rinse the solution and the aqueous layer was removed again. Then 1 mL of sodium chloride was used to rinse and the aqueous layer was again removed. Calcium chloride spheres were added to the solution and then the dry solution was moved into a tared vial were the odor was observed. Lastly, an IR test was performed to determine the purity and identity of the isopentyl acetate.

The aim of the project is to gain more insight into the function of the alpha-4 GABAA receptor by the deep examination of subunit expression in the brain and spinal cord of zebrafish. The in-situ hybridization procedure done previously (Monesson-Olson et al., 2018), allowed the visualization of six subunit expression patterns, including that of alpha-4. This gave a rough picture of subunit function. Since the mutation screen revealed interesting alpha-4 subunit activity, further analysis is required. Conducting this fluorescent in-situ hybridization procedure will allow me to identify not just where the alpha-4 subunit is expressed but also what structures it interacts with. Knowing what the alpha-4 subunit interacts with will aid in predicting its function. By extension, this will provide a framework for developing treatments that can suppress the effects of related neurological disorders like epilepsy.

Monticello is located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, which has a four-season humid subtropical climate with all months being well-watered, though the period from May to September is the wettest. Winters are somewhat cool but mild, and Summers are hot and humid. The site was excavated using test units of equal sizes to keep the sampling strategy consistent. Each test unit was excavated stratigraphically using shovels and hand trowels. Stratigraphic layers were differentiated by soil color and texture. All of the sediment removed from the test units was sifted through a screen, and all artifacts were collected and labeled according to unit and layer. Summertime temperatures are high in the region, with indoor temperatures of around 100 °F. Jefferson himself is known to have been interested in ancient temperature-control techniques such as ground-cooled air and heated floors. Monticello's large central hall and aligned windows were designed to allow a cooling air-current to pass through the house.

Many of the countries where most of the cases occur; put these treatments out of reach for many patients because of its complexity. The new drug, fexindazole, is a much simpler treatment in which it can be taken as a once-a-day pill for 10 days without having to be hospitalized. After the DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative), a nonprofit organization, teamed up with drug maker Sanofi, they could test the drug on patients and apply for an EMA recommendation for the drug itself. The EMA has just recently approved of the drug and have expressed a “positive opinion” for the fexindazole, opening opportunities for patients to receive treatment earlier and help slow the spread of the disease as well. 

I have a microbiology exam tomorrow which I have yet to study for. There is way too much information to start now. We have to know a paper by someone who’s last name is Brenner, why we have to know a paper from the 50’s I have no idea. The paper is interesting, it is about proving that DNA codons are in triplets. He does this by doing a few math computations that are very simple. The only reason that the paper has any relevance is that he was the first to publish this thought. It didn’t prove anything about how codons work or their importance. It just proves that codes come in sets of 3 nucleic acids. This is a very informal paper and it almost just seems like the author typed up what he was just scribbling down on his desk one afternoon. I really don’t understand why we need this for our test and why this is important to the class that I am taking. I already know that codons are in sets of three, this has been repeatedly taught in almost all of my science courses since high school. The paper doesn’t even necessarily prove what codons are, it just proves that based off other properties that they most likely function in groups of 3.

From pure trimyristin, which was obtained from extraction, recrystallization and hydrolysis of nutmeg, myristic acid was synthesized in this lab. The yield of myristic acid is 34.5%.

    Recrystallization of trimyristin was processed twice and each melting point was recorded and observed. The tert-butyl methyl ether (3 mL) and nutmeg (1.000 g) were dissolved to obtain crude trimyristin that resulted in a 57.8% recovery yield (0.578 g). A 30.2% recovery yield, based on the original amount of nutmeg, was obtained from the trimyristin after the first recrystallization. The melting point of the first recrystallization was 53-54 ℃, which is 2℃ under the theoretical melting point. We can conclude from this that the product was relatively pure. A sample of trimyristin from the first recrystallization (0.167 g) was dissolved in a minimal amount of acetone in the second recrystallization in attempt to obtain a more pure product. A 49.1% recovery yield was obtained from the second recrystallization. The melting point recorded was 54-55℃, which is only 1℃ below the theoretical melting point and shows that the second recrystallized product is relatively pure.

Trypanosomiasis, human African sleeping sickness generally occurs in 36 sub-Saharan African countries. This disease is a vector-borne parasitic disease and is caused by an infection with protozoan parasites and transmitted to humans by the tsetse fly. This disease not only causes severe disruption in sleep patterns, but changes in behavior, confusion and without treatment the disease can ultimately lead to death. Health officials have reported about 1447 cases of African trypanosomiasis, but many believe that the true number of cases is believed to be much higher that what is reported. Treatments of the human African trypanosomiasis include drugs named eflornithine and nifurtimox, both treatments involve a complicated set of procedures including fusions and pills that are administered in a hospital. 

In the article, Potential winter niche partitioning between Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor) and Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) by Correia, black-capped Chickadee and the Tufted Titmouse competition was compared. Results show that Black-capped Chickadee tended to stay in the niche that was higher in ground than the Tufted Titmice that mostly done ground foraging. Since the Tufted Titmice is larger in size, it is hypothesized that Black-capped Chickadee avoided on purpose not to be on ground so that it would not have to compete. The data was collected by using a JC record to tape the behavior at the bird feeder. The location each bird stayed and forage was taken as data and the dot was used to tell how Black-capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmice interacted with each other.