Writing in Biology

It is crucial to note that Group 6 did not have a 50 mM NaCl brain to image and therefore could not accurately compare data with the class average for this salt concentration to draw any conclusions that may or may not have matched the prediction and supported the hypothesis. However, upon examining the system H2O and nanopure lines against the 50 mM NaCl and 100 mM NaCl lines throughout the brain for the class, there is no clear trend of the two salt lines with increased cell counts. This does not match the prediction and support the hypothesis. Although 50 mM NaCl had higher counts than the system H2O and nanopure in the hypothalamus, 100 mM NaCl had similar cell numbers to the two lines without salt. A similar result is seen in the class data of the lateral recess: 100 mM NaCl had slightly higher counts than the system H2O and nanopure lines, but 50 mM NaCl had lower counts than the two lines without salt. Perhaps this Group 6 100 mM NaCl brain is a true outlier in cell proliferation numbers due to experimental treatment, or perhaps differences may be explained through variation in cell counting and techniques. The members of Group 6 obtained this brain from a separate experimental vial given by a TA and did not dissect it themselves, which may have contributed to the variation in cell numbers seen.

The use of cannabis has become widespread, especially among young adults. It was found that the use of cannabis was associated with an increased risk of depression and suicidal ideations within young adults. An active ingredient in cannabis is THC, which affects the bring by binding to the cannabinoid receptors. When THC binds it disrupts various mental and physical functions. A natural neurotransmitter that binds to the cannabinoid receptor is anandamide, which influences pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, sensory and time perception. THC acts as an agonist and binds in the cannabinoid receptor.

Although statistical analyses have not yet been performed on these data, the Group 6 100 mM NaCl brain had higher average cell counts than those of the class in most regions of the brain, most noticeably in the hypothalamus and the telencephalon. This result alone matches the prediction that by altering salt conditions, cell proliferation rates will increase. This result alone also supports the hypothesis as well. It is crucial to note that Group 6 did not have a 50 mM NaCl brain to image and therefore could not accurately compare data with the class average for this salt concentration to draw any conclusions that may or may not have matched the prediction and supported the hypothesis. The system H2O and nanopure brains of Group 6 had slightly lower average cell counts than those of the class. It is important to note that during imaging of the nanopure brain, the telencephalon was cut off, therefore no accurate cell count could be obtained. These slight differences in cell counts for the system H2O and nanopure lines could be due to variation in counting as the greatest difference throughout individual regions of the brain is approximately 20 cells, exhibited in the lateral recess. For the system and nanopure lines, there is a difference of approximately 35 cells in the hypothalamus, yet this is a summation of the posterior and lateral recesses, which have differences of approximately 15 and 20 cells between Group 6 and the class averages, respectively. With other individual regions of the brain exhibiting these slight differences in counts as well, it is likely that the system H2O and nanopure lines vary due to counting or respective techniques.

Depending on their native environment, different species of fish respond to osmotic changes in different ways. Some fish are able to live in multiple salinity concentrations and are known as euryhaline, while others are only able to survive in one and are known as stenohaline. Both stenohaline and euryhaline fish tightly regulate internal concentrations of salt and water by tending to excrete more of the substance present in their environment: marine fish excrete large amounts of salt and little amounts of water, whereas freshwater fish excrete large amounts of water and little amounts of salt (Karlstrom 2019). This ionocytic regulation itself is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in the brain, which can be further investigated through the zebrafish, a freshwater model organism. It is hypothesized that as a response to changing osmotic demands, the zebrafish hypothalamus alters its dopamine hormone output in the short-term to the pituitary (which in turn regulates prolactin and ionocytes) and in the long-term alters cell proliferation rates to establish new regulatory populations of dopaminergic neurons. If zebrafish are exposed to altered salt concentrations in their environment, cell proliferation rates of dopaminergic neurons in the hypothalamus will increase as a long-term response to this new, stressful osmotic demand.

Multiple sclerosis is an often disabling disease that affects the nervous system and disrupts the flow of information and communication between the brain and the body. Most people are diagnosed with MS a little later in their life-time and the cause of the disease is still unknown. It seems that different environmental factors that one experiences can alter the likelihood and chances of an individual from developing multiple sclerosis. One of these factors includes the migration from one geographic area to another. Gender is also another factor, as more women are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than men. Diseases like multiple sclerosis is devastating to me, as with all the research being done today, we still haven't found the specific reason for the onset. There is no cure for MS, but there are treatments that aid patients with slowing the progression of the disease.

There is a chip that was created by biotechnology researchers of InSilixa that can identify microbes from cheek swabs or blood samples in merely a couple of hours. This chip was able to make these identifications by sequencing genomes in five differenent chemical procedures and matching them to known pathogens. The chip was also successful in identifying mutations in seven antibiotic resistance pathogen sequences and was able to identify 54 mutations in tuberculosis that caused antibiotic resistance. This can help physians and medical providers identify and diagnose known pathogens in little time. 

All different kinds of birds from sparrows to hawks form flocks. They can number in the single digits or be composed of thousands of individual birds seemingly acting like one cohesive organism. The main benefit gained from flocking, especially for small birds, is safety in numbers. Although overall a flock is much more conspicuous and easily targeted by predators than a solitary bird, for the individual the likelihood of becoming a victim is greatly decreased due to the higher availability of targets to choose from. A flock also benefits by being much more vigilant than an individual could be and is able to recognize threats much sooner and alert the other to flee the danger, overall increasing all birds likelihood of survival from predation. 

The Saiga antelope of the Eurasian steppe is perhaps one of the strangest looking ungulates on the planet. Characterized by very distinct bulbous downward facing nostrils along with long pointed horns, the saiga looks like a cross between an elephant and a regular antelope. Unfortunately, as of February 2018, this weird but beautiful mammal remains critically engendered and continues to decline in population. Saiga face an unfortunate gauntlet of factors that are leading to its rapid decline, but arguably the most impactful has been habitat loss due to human agricultural development and climate change coupled with illegal hunting. Recent efforts in Russia and other countries within the saiga's range have decreased poaching rates but climate change and human encroachment continue to decrease available feeding grounds. The rate of decline of this species rivals that of any other animal in terms of the size and speed at which the population fell. In the 1980s there were over a million Saiga on the Eurasian steppe, but in just 30-40 years that number has fallen to under 50,000 with an estimate of the population of S. t. mongolica, a subspecies found only in the Mongolian high plains, being under 750 mature adults worldwide.

The Saiga antelope of the Eurasian steppe is perhaps one of the strangest looking ungulates on the planet. Its very distinct bulbous downward facing nostrils along with its long pointed horns almost give it the look of some strange deer/elephant hybrid. Unfortunately, as of February 2018, this weird but beautiful mammal remains critically engendered and continues to decline in population. Saiga face an unfortunate gauntlet of factors that are leading to its rapid decline, but arguably the most impactful has been habitat loss due to human agricultural development and climate change coupled with illegal hunting. The decline of this species rivals that of any other animal in terms of the size and speed at which the population fell. In the 1980s there were over a million Saiga on the Eurasian steppe, but in just 30-40 years that number has fallen to under 50,000 with an estimate of the population of S. t. mongolica being under 750 mature adults worldwide.

Walking into a building that I've been coming in for years, but it was different this time. Instead of shopping, grabbing a bite or even hanging out with friends I was coming to work. One of the tallest buildings in Boston that is & I was working for the president and CEO of Partners Healthcare. This man was responsible for about nine hospitals within the Massachusetts area. Not only was it him, but there were vice presidents and presidents of multiple areas of administration in healthcare. I was both new and nervous, but was willing to put in work and learn as much as I could being here. Everything was modern, clean and very professional looking. As I entered the lobby, I was asked for my ID and granted access to one of the 20 lifts that are located at the Prudential. I took the lift up and was ready to start my day.