“Brains Cells Made From Urine” and “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel” Summer

Jonathan Medina
Biology Lab Extra Credit

“Brain Cells Made From Urine” And “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel”
Monya Baker explains in the article “Brain Cells Made From Urine,” how recent studies have shown that the cells in urine can be adjusted and used for brain cells. Baker describes that scientists have been able to trick some cells in urine into neurons that can be used in “therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.” Based on this method researchers have discovered that using cells from urine is more stable than others. Although for many years scientists have used embryonic stem cells, Baker has concluded that this method is easier and faster. Stem Cell Biologist Duanqing Pei, Baker expresses, has recorded that the “kidney epithelial cells in urine” can be adjusted to create stem cells. Pei’s research has proven that this method works. In a study, as written by Baker, Pei’s team tested this method on rat brains and concluded that the cells “had taken on the shape and molecular markers of neurons.” Baker’s research states that Pei and his team were able to test this theory and got to the conclusion that it works.
Aside from Bakers research on stem cells used in brain cells, Nicholas Wade wrote in “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel” that two scientists were able to use stems cell research in animal cloning. Wade states that, “The techniques they developed reach to the beginnings of life
” Wade describes that both scientists were able to foul living cells into generating stems cell and used in animal cloning. Both scientists, Dr. John B. Gurdon and Dr. Shinya Yamanka, discovered that by removing a cell nucleus from a “mature intestinal cell” and placing it into a frog egg without a nucleus the cell will accept and grow with the new nucleus. Wade describes that Dr. Gurdon and Yamanka were able to take cells and place them back in an egg and the egg grow with that new cell. This phenomenon shown in this article expresses a new idea that stem cells can be reprogrammed into new cells.

Work Cited
Baker, Monya. “Brain Cells Made From Urine.” Nature News. 9 Dec 2012. Web. 20 Dec 2012.
Wade, Nicholas. “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel.” The New York Times. 8 Oct 2012. Web. 20 Dec 2012

henrietta lacks

!) personally, the effect of voices desribing the historical events move me in a way that any other scientist would. this would be by passion. the reason i said passion is because of the excitement in their voices speaking about the event.

2) no i do not think it was appropriate  to take the cells froms a biopsy for personal research with out consent because talking something from someone with out them knowing regardless of what it is shows  a great sgin of disrespect eveen if the people is dead or alive.

3)i do not think it was ethical for the lab assistant to go into the morgue to retrieve more celles from the corpse with out the familys consent because their already did it once with out the consent for the family and to do it again is even more disrespectful not only to her that is already dead but to her family that dont kno anything about this and have to find out about this on the net.

4) i do think henrietta’s racial background did factered into the removal of her cells for such purposes without consent because if this was a white woman the case would be different. the reason i said this would be the fact that back in  the 1950’s when this was done there were still segregation between whites and blacks and whites people had the money and power back then.

5)i do think henriatta’s economical status factered into the removal of her cells based on the fact that people with a high economic status always had the reaspect given to them by others and were always seem to be the most important people.

6) yes i do think they are obligated to provide compensation to the lacks family because one they took the cells with out consent and didnt tell any of the family matters that have a right to anything concerning the body. also to have the cells floating around the world and still not telling the family any thing.

 

Bits of Mystery DNA, Far from “JUNK,” Play Crucial Role.

Mariam Gogodze,

Bio 1101 Lab

We could all agree on the fact the everyone is different and everyone has their own lifestyle and their own perception on life. There are millions of mysteries out there in the world, among humans as well as nature and the world phenomena. Medicine has progressed unbelievably and noticeably in the past years. So why is it so hard to treat or even find the cause of the diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and psychiatric disorders. If we know how the body works, and how our cells work, why is it almost impossible to prevent these horrific diseases that turn people’s lives around?

After years of research scientist have discovered a major medical and scientific outbreak. They found out that human genome is full of gene switches that exist in pieces of DNA that once were rejected and considered as junk. But little did we know that they play crucial and huge role in controlling behavior of cells and organs. Many spread and complex diseases appear to be caused by small changes in hundreds of gene switches. The study involves 440 scientists from 32 laboratories from all around the world, that work and will continue working on this idea. Their main concern and question is to find ut how changes in non-gene parts of the DNA contribute to disease progression.

Scientists also discovered that most of the “junk” of DNA is needed and active. Scientists compare this study to the “Google Maps” and “Google Earth”, due to the fact that these programs only show you the directions and the map to the destination, but they do not show you the exact weather, time period and conditions in that place of matter. Human DNA is much more active than scientists have expected. Any slight change in human DNA sequence, and a human is under a risk of having multiple sclerosis, lupus, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease. It is the switches in the DNA that affect and trigger the diseases, it is most certainly not the change of the genes themselves.

This research would not only show and portray, perhaps cure for the diseases, it could also portray and show the genetic changes that trigger and cause cancer. They discovered that in cancel cell DNA, most of the changes were not in genes, they were in the dark matter. For instance in prostate cancer, the group found mutations in significant genes, that aren’t readily attacked by drugs.

This project has began back in 2003 and it has taken the group that long to find and publish their discoveries. But they are still searching and they believe that these experiments and observations will give a huge push forward for science. Before the experiment it was believed that only 5-10% of human’s DNA was being used, little did anyone know that more than 80 % of DNA is being put to use.

Alas, this study is taking a bit too long, but with time it will help to discover and help and perhaps even prevent outbreaks of cancer and other life threatening diseases. It is most certainly a project worth working for.

 

Citation: Bits of Mystery DNA, Far From ‘Junk,’ Play Crucial Role

Review of Article: ‘‘How to Control an Army of Zombies’’

Biology 1101/7952 (Extra Credit)

Natasha Decena

Review of Article: ‘‘How to Control an Army of Zombies’’

Provided in the New York Times is an article, written by Carl Zimmer, titled “How to Control an Army of Zombies” that describes numerous parasites that create “zombifying” effects by altering neurotransmitters in the brains of their hosts. The new fascination is not that these zombie causing parasites exist, but rather the methods in which they are allowed to take control over the minds of their hosts. Most of the observation and evidence presented are based on research pertaining to invertebrates, like insect species, since they contain less neurons in their nervous systems as opposed to vertebrates which contain double to triple the amount, making it more difficult to detect parasitic indication in the nervous system. However, mentioned is of one mainly known parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, known to affect vertebrates, and describes how it goes about invading its host.

Carl Zimmer begins to describe a type of parasitic wasp that takes over a particular species of spider, originating in the rain forests of Costa Rica. What enables the parasite to target the Anelosimus octavius, the spider, is a specific set of genes that is shared between the two. These genes produce proteins that send signals to the brain of the spider to do whatever the parasitic wasp desires. Explained in this instance is that the spider spins a web entirely different to the one it should spin, best suiting for the wasp instead. Once the spider is finished with its duties towards the wasp, it dies, leaving the parasitic wasp to complete its life cycle. In the same context, Baculovirus, a virus deadly towards caterpillar species, also creates a manipulating effect on caterpillars, or insects of similar species; the virus also shares a gene with the species, known as egt. Egt is when there is an encryption to an enzyme that attacks a hormone in the caterpillar, says Dr. David P. Hughes of Penn State University. That signals the caterpillar to stop eating and climb to the tops of trees, where its body dissolves in liquid form, spreading the virus all over the leaves below, restarting the cycle of the Baculovirus once again.

Another parasitic invader included in the article is a thorny-headed worm that operates in the same manipulating conduct; however, this parasite requires that its life cycle be completed by occupying two hosts. The thorny-headed worm lives in microscopic shrimp like specimen called a gammarid. When detecting danger, the gammarid is predisposed to find safety in dark areas underwater; conversely, the worm dictates the gammarid to swim to the surface of the water, exposing it for the consumption of a bird, where it will complete its natural life.

Alternately, vertebrates are also susceptible to the dangers of parasitic invaders, particularly to one known as Toxoplasma gondii. Research made on Toxoplasma gondii has shown that it can reach to the brain cells of its host and form cysts, and is most commonly found it the intestines of an infected cat; it sheds through the feces of cats and can infect humans by handling the infected cat litter. Behavioral changes also occur as a symptom associated with the detection of the parasite. Doctor Ajai Vyas of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has found evidence done on a research of rats and has explained that the parasite increased testosterone levels in the rats, making them more attractive to female rats; thus, spreading the parasite upon mating. In humans, there is a high risk of the development of schizophrenia and changes in one’s personality.

Shelley Adamo of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, co-editor of the Journal of Experimental Biology says that information that has been provided from research is slowly unraveling the complicated biochemistry behind the ways of these parasites. Dr. Adamo also believes that the study from this research, as she refers to as “neuroparasitology”, can best benefit pharmaceutical companies in regards to helping them find new methods of creating effective medicine for mental illnesses.

In closing, it was described that the past decade has been an exciting time for scientists. New data that has been acquired further explains the way in which the parasitic species manages to completely reverse the life cycles of their host, catering to their own needs for survival. Some examples provided showed that these parasites share similar genes with their hosts and are able to send direct signals to the brain assigning tasks, while others manipulate the immune system to attack their prey’s natural defenses. Essentially, Dr. Adamo advocates that something can be learned from these toxic specimens; understanding the biochemistry used by the parasites can serve as an illustration to create improved and more effective medical treatment for mental diseases.

Attached below is the link to the NY Times article:
How to Control an Army of Zombies

Darwin – A Paradigm Shift

Elizabeth Duque

Biology Lab Extra Credit

11 December 2012

 

Charles Darwin established his theory of evolution in 1859. Ever since he established his theory, he impacted the world and our perspective of evolution. Yet, in the 1930â€Čs through the 1950â€Čs the modern evolutionary synthesis developed and redefined Darwin’s theory. But, now scientist are believing that its to abrupt or too “quick,” therefore they began to focus on the paradigm shift.

In “Darwin Still Rules, but Some Biologists Dream of a Paradigm Shift” by Douglas H. Erwin, he gives us a further explanation of how evolutionary biologist tend to revised the Charles Darwin theory and expand it towards the paradigm shift. Paradigm shift is when a significant change occurs. For instance, from one fundamental view to another different point of view. Yet, before the paradigm shift, the modern evolutionary synthesis was introduced first.

The modern evolutionary synthesis; defines evolution as the change over time in this genetic variation and takes into account all branches of biology. According to Douglas, he stated that the modern evolutionary synthesis was created because many biologist disagreed with the Darwinism and therefore they made a new concept which was the modern evolutionary synthesis. Up to this date, it has been constantly used.

The synthesis has been useful, it can hold mutations to DNA, within the species it creates new alternatives of existing genes. As a result it will allow only the best adapted individuals to produce many remaining offsprings. That being the case, this is the primary agent in shaping new adaptations, and Charles Darwin acknowledged that this was a powerful tool.

Philosopher Ron Amundson, claims that the modern synthesis deals with the transmission of gene from one generation to the next.  Also the most recent discoveries in the new field of evolutionary developmental biology, is the gene Pax-6, and its able to control the formation of the eyes in mice and humans.  Another new significant discovery is the Nkx2.5 heart formation and the formation of the nervous system. This contributes with examining the genetic and developmental mechanisms influencing how the form of organisms develop.

The evolutionary theory follows up the study of fruit flies, whom they are in the laboratory capture and therefore they bring the evolutionary change. Hence, evolution itself can be able to change the future evolutionary possibilities.

In conclusion,  Charles Darwin evolution theory has played a big role for our society, humanity, education and world. Yet, many scientist tend to doubt it or revise it. Therefore, modern evolutionary synthesis became established and up to this date it has been quite useful. But scientist tend to move on with the paradigm shift and be part of it as well. In the article, “Darwin Still Rules, but Some Biologist Dream of Paradigm Shift,” it focuses on how scientist are developing the paradigm shift. Unfornately, it will take time until we see new tensions accommodated within an expanded modern synthesis according to Douglas H. Erwin.

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Erwin H. Douglass. “ Darwin Still Rules, but Some Biologist Dream of Paradigm Shift.”  The New York Times.  The New York Times Company. 26 June 2007. Web. 12 Dec 2012.

Gel electrophoresis for DNA

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of different dye mixtures illustrate how things of different electrical charge and size can be separated when applying an electric field and utilizing a molecular sieve (agarose).


We simulate DNA fingerprinting in the lab using a technology referred to as Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. A more sensitive and current method of DNA fingerprinting utilizes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify specific sequences of DNA.

Watch the video below for further elaboration on how this works.
http://youtu.be/GLgt-EGkhZs
(Video from Brightsorm)

Materials and Methods

A laboratory report contains a section devoted to Materials and Methods. This is important because it indicates how to repeat the experiment or exercise as closely as it was performed initially. It reads out a little like a recipe. In a recipe, we know what the input materials are. We often refer to the ingredients as reagents since we often expect some sort of reaction to occur in our scientific inquiry. But ingredients alone do not adequately aid in the reproduction of an experiment. The methodology is equally important. Therefore, the language of the methodology must be clear and precise. We must respect the order in which procedures occur otherwise the outcomes will be different. Below is a food recipe as an example of how culinary experiments are performed. With the provided recipe — a series of materials and methods– we can try to reproduce the dish. We can also identify areas that can be varied with respect to materials and the methodology that would alter or enhance the outcome. In science, sometimes the methodology is fundamentally flawed and must be altered. The transparency of the process is important because it permits a review by peers to review and judge the validity of subsequent results.

How to make Cambodian style fish with spicy tomato sauce

The following is found at Open Source food and is licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0 by user Paula

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Sprinkle fish with cornstarch.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoon of oil and fry fish, when it’s golden brown remove from wok.
  3. Clean wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and fry garlic and onion about 1 minute, add celery, dried chili and tomato, stir and fry 4 minutes.
  4. Add fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar and black pepper.
  5. Pour tomato sauce over fish and garnish with spring onion, basil.

What’s different with these Materials/Methods?

Remember that we use metric units in science. Fortunately, volumetric measurements like tablespoon and teaspoon are standardly converted to milliliters. We’re not so lucky with other types of volumetric measurements, such as the Pint. One needs to be careful when speaking of pints since the imperial pint and the U.S. pint are different measurements. The dry pint obfuscates things further. Regardless of understanding these differences in measure, it is always preferable to speak in a standard term with scientific measurements reported in metric units. Let’s not even begin trying to fathom a conversion for a dash. Methods, in science, are not written out so plainly in a pointed form. The language is more descriptive. As we can see, there are many variations in outcomes for the included recipe. The methodology is a bit vague (lacking temperatures and standardization in cooking vessels). We have to remember that methodology in science should be much more repeatable.

Group# 3 Carbs project

October 18, 2012   (updated)

Carbs project

Group #3

Kristopher; Gaelle; Vicky; Maria; Dominique; Darrel

  1. 3 small cokes
    • Mc Donalds 16 fluid ounces
    • Burger King 20 fluid ounces
    • Movie theater 12 fluid ounces
  2. From ounces to liters
    • 16 fluid ounces = 0.47 liters
    • 20 fluid ounces = 0.59 liters
    • 12 fluid ounces = 0.35 liters
  3. Calories
    • 16 ounces = 200 calories
    • 20 ounces = 240 calories
    • 12 ounces = 140 calories
  4. Sugar packets
    • 16 ounces = 16 sugar packets
    • 20 ounces =  20 sugar packets
    • 12 ounces = 12 sugar packets
  5. Apple juice served
    • 6 fluid ounces
    • 10 sugar packets
  6. Amount of calories in an actual apple juice
    • 95 calories in an actual apple
    • Amount of small apples in a small apple juice 1.5 apples
    • Amount of apples in a 12 ounce coke- 3 apples

carbohydrates project- group 2

Group 2

  • Gabriel
  • Karla
  • Christina
  • Nathanaelle
  • Rashad
  • Jamila
  • Andy
  1. A male of 175 cm and 82 kg weighs 181 lb and is 5’9. The amount of calories this male should be consuming on a daily basis is 2000.
  2. There are three meals per day, and the average colories this male should be consuming is 2000. To indicate the amount of calories per meal we divided 2000 by 3 and arrived at 666.6 calories.
  3. The required calories per meal is 666.6 and a 591 ml coke bottle has 260 calories. To indicate the amount of calories left over for each meal, we subtracted 260 from 666.6 and arrived at 406.6. That is how much calories that should be left over for each meal.
  4. If a 100 ml can of Red Bull is consumed at each meal, to indicate the amount of calories left over for the meal, first we identified the calories in a can of red bull which is 46. Then, we subtracted 46 from 666.6 and concluded that 620.6 calories are left over for the meal.
  5. There are 660 calories in Four Loko. If a 695 ml can of Four Loko is consumed in a day to arrive at the amount of calories left over for the day, we subtracted the amount of calories in this drink from 2000 which is the average intake of calories. After doing this, it should leave 1330 calories for the day.
  6. Regular amount of calories
    • to indicate how much walking he must do to burn those extra calories in a day first, we added 2000 which is the average amount of calories and added it to 666.6 which is calories that is consumed per meal. After doing this, we arrived at 2666.6 and divided that by 133 which is the number per mile. In a day, this male should walk 20 miles per day to burn those extra calories.
    • To burn off those extra calories in a month,he must run 40 miles in 30 days. Running burns twice as many calories as walking, so we simply multiplied 20 by 2.