Drafts

The modern gene editing tools have the potential to treat diseases with a unique approach. With the use of CRISPR-Cas9 protein complex, specific genes are targeted and the DNA sequence is then modified. Researchers are currently practicing with 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 increased regulations. For our project, we will be discussing the controversial ethics of gene editing and managing more focused topics about the various applications of gene editing. In addition, surveys will be conducted for each topic to collect the opinions of students at UMass Amherst.

Volunteer plants are plants that grow in addition to planted plants. In potted plants there appears to be a greater diversity of volunteer plants. When multiple plants are potted in soil togther, there appears to only be one continuous volunteer plant throughout the soil. While observing a few different species of trees, we were wondering if there was more growth of these volunteer plants in individually potted plants or plants that are potted together. Does one type of volunteer species grow at a faster rate than others? To study this we could measure the growth of each volunteer species at the end of each week and see which has the largest growth. We could also compare the growth of the volunteer species in individal potted plants to the growth in plants plotted together. 

Compass and some navigation skills are innate for birds. But there are some other components to help birds to orient themselves. In order to migrate, birds must have landmarks to guide them back home. Birds will remember the sights from the sky and uses that to take them back home. Some water, coastal birds would use flow of water and current to navigate themselves. This is not an inurt characteristic so young birds must learn from the older birds how to remember their route to home. This discovery allowed humans to train pigeons to send letters far away and come back after delivery.

The ab initio protein prediction and the homology based protein prediction had a substitution that involved 4 amino acids becoming 140.  Ab initio methods are purely based on theoretical trends of transcription and translation, while homology based methods compare the reference sequence to known sequences.  I believe the homology-based protein prediction is more accurate. In both DNA and protein level homology searches, the “G-type lectin S-receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase” terminology was repeated in results with high levels of homology.  This makes me confident to say that the Bradi1g25180.1 gene encodes a G-type lectin receptor kinase. However, the functions of many of these G-type lectin receptor kinases are not well characterized. Sun et al implicated an Arabadopsis thaliana G-type lectin receptor kinase called GsSRK to salt stress.  They showed that is is upregulated when a plant is under salt stress, and also showed that its overexpression leads to increased salt tolerance. Unfortunately, they did not perform a knockout of this gene. To my knowledge, there are no papers that have studied a knockout mutation of a G-type lectin receptor kinase in any organism.  

The vaccine that the scientists have developed should be used to save the German Shepherd.  The German Shepherd is above all known for its intelligence, and is also loyal, confident, and courageous (American Kennel Club).  These dogs have the intelligence to adapt to any situation. They are docile and obedient yet can be aggressive when necessary. Their superior intelligence makes them comparatively easy to train.  Due to these character traits, it comes as no surprise that they are one of the top service dogs (Hayner, 2019). Service dogs are used for a wide range of things. To name a few, they assist the blind and the deaf, and they are often used as police dogs.

It is well established that German Shepherds have characteristics that make them a good service dog.  The heritability of these characteristics must be taken into consideration. In their study, Wilsson and Sundgren noted a high heritability on average for numerous behavioral characteristics in German Shepherds.  Their findings are important because they give us confidence that the descendents of the German Shepherds we save will be able to maintain their integral role in our communities. German shepherds improve the quality of life for many people and play integral roles in keeping our communities safe.  The extinction of the German Shepherd would leave big shoes to fill. Although with proper training, other dogs theoretically would be up to the tasks, it makes sense to save the German Shepherd, as they are the gold standard for service dogs.

Sources:

“German Shepherd Dog Dog Breed Information.”  American Kennel Club.

https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/german-shepherd-dog/

Hayner, LM. (2019).  Let’s Meet Some of the Best Service Dog Breeds.  Dogster.

https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/best-service-dog-breeds

Wilsson and Sundgren (1996). The use of a behavior test for selection of dogs for service and breeding.  II. Heritability for tested parameters and effect of selection based on service dog characteristics. Elsevier.  53 (2-3): 235-241.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159196011756

The fatal canine retrovirus spreading quickly through the global domestic dog population in conjunction with the limited doses of vaccines available necessitate choosing one mother and litter of a particular breed to receive the vaccine, and the best candidate for this is the labrador retriever. The labrador retriever is among the most common breeds used as both pets as well as work/service animals, and it is one of the healthiest of the larger dog breeds, therefore administering the vaccine to this breed would be the most effective use of it in the time constraints we are presented with. The lab is among the most popular dog breeds not only for families seeking beloved pets, but for people seeking work animals or those with disabilities seeking assistance animals. Certain temperaments and physical traits are preferred for service animals, and labs exhibit the necessary intelligence, energy, and gentle-natured that makes them one of the most common breeds for this kind of work. By giving the vaccine to labs, we would be preserving a breed who performs a vital function for those with illness or impairments. Similarly, they were originally bred for sport, and still display the moderate to high energy level and hardy physique for all kinds of physical labor, whether it be hunting, fishing, or other activities. This allows people to train and use them as work animals, which provides economic benefits. Even when only considering them as pets, by administering the vaccine to labs and preserving a breed that is known to have relatively few health issues and long-lifespan compared to other pure breeds, future dog owners can keep their beloved pets around for a long time and can likely anticipate comparatively fewer vet bills than they would with alternative breeds.

If all domestic dogs are being killed at a terrible speed and predicted to be extinct and there is a vaccine that can save one pregnant mother and her puppies the breed of dog that should be saved is Labrador Retrievers. Labrador dogs are hard working dogs and can be spotted in many different scenarios. This dog is always focused and gets the job done. They can be seen working at airports as security, working with the police force, being a guide dog, and being a faithful companion to children.  After all they are the most popular dog in America they have intelligence and friendliness. The breed is highly energetic but at the same time obedient and well trained. This would be the ideal dog to save one that can work and help the government but also be a loyal companion and friend.

The hypothesis is rejected because the reaction occurred slower then the control's reaction did. The reaction decreased. Not only that but the reaction did not last as long as the control's. At five minutes the reaction had stopped all together which might have been because there was no more substrate. It might have also been because of the high temperature the hydrogen peroxide was placed in, which is where the yeast was also held. Since the temperature was at 65 degrees Celsius, that might have been too high for the protein causing it to become denatured. Once denatured it loses its shape. No more substrate the reaction cannot continue. Connecting this lab to the real world, enzymes are found in many parts of the human body from the mouth, used to breakdown food this called saliva. To the stomach as well to the digestive system. These enzymes work best at certain temperatures, which is evident in the lab conducted. The body regulates the temperature which ensures that the enzymes work at their best and are not denatured.

The equation we found for the period of a pendulum was T= 2π(√L/g). Given that pi and g are constants with actual numeric values, this means that the only actual variables in the equation are T (period) and L(length) meaning that there has to be a relationship between the two variables. To verify the equation that we found, we have to identify the independent and dependent variables. Independent would be the period and length would the dependent as it’s the only variable we can actually change ourselves. Given that we want a linear relationship, we have to make sure that the formula follows the y = mx+ b format where the dependent variable is multiplied by some constant to get y. To get this we have to change the equation so that L is isolated on the right side of the equation. Therefore T2 = (4π2/g)L. This means that when we graph the data, we have to square the period that we find to get a linear graph. To actually get the data, we decided to use a piece of string attached to a mass (mass is not important to this lab, so we choose a random value) and then swung it from a constant angle (which again, also didn’t really matter as angle was not included in the equation) and calculated the period of the swing. Then we recorded what we found.

The shoe price of the rubber sample, shoe, depends on the durability of the product a cheaper shoe will last a lot less to the consumer in comparison to an expensive shoe which can be seen in the durability table. With each sample there is a six month difference in durability between the previous sample and it can be seen that the most expensive sample, 2, does not last the longest but it does have the highest coefficient at .88. A higher coefficient was dependent on the force of friction that was found, a smaller friction force would lead to a smaller coefficient, this can be seen in the coefficient data table.