Aneeka Ul-Haq

*The animal half - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Okay, thanks! Just confirming - I thought that too. Either that or I'd missed some major revision right there :P :D. Good luck on the exam! :D - Aneeka Ul-Haq

My last graded diary entry! Ah how fast this term has gone. I've definitely achieved a lot this term, though. I've managed to relax since semester one, balancing work and life and generally enjoying university a lot more. My essay marks have been improving which was reflected this week when I received my #BS1009 and #BS1013 essays back, an also so have my practical write-ups. This term saw a harder set of #BS1011 assessments for me, but this was solved by attending the help sessions regularly to fully understand the statistics, which I find hardest. I've been trying hard this term and I'm happy with the results. This week itself has also flown by, with only one lecture tomorrow before we break up for Easter. I plan to revisereviserevise but I also have some work experience lined up which should be interesting. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Aside from linking to #BS1005, I think lots of people will find this interesting because it describes how a gene can increase the risk of an allergic reaction occurring. This specific article mentions peanut allergies, but this discovery could open up new doors in discovering causes of different allergies in diffeent people, and their hereditary characteristics. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

A condition called pre-eclampsia has been found to possibly link with defective genes, linked to what we've studied in #BS1005. MCP 1 and factor H were found to play a role in this, because of their link to regulating the immune response. It reminds me of the example of cases of downs syndrome in older women - an example used by the lecturer. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Another good week so far - the free time is great because it gives me some time to relax and some time to revise. It's good because it's a lot less pressure - something I know a lot of other people have also said. Just one and a half more weeks until we finish! I honestly cannot believe how fast this year has gone! I hate the feeling of missing out on half the year - it's like.. where have I been? Hahah! But so far soooo good, and I hope it keeps going this way! :D - Aneeka Ul-Haq

This relates to #BS1005 - it talks about how genes can affect an animal in their behaviour. The behaviour mentioned fleeing and foraging, something we've looked at in #BS1008. To summarise, it says that there are genes that relate to behaviour, whether it's fleeing or staying. The specific action is controlled in genes. - Aneeka Ul-Haq from Bookmarklet

It's been another wonderful week so far, but the thought of choosing my modules for next year has thrown me. I'm one of those people that changes their minds often and will always have the fear that I might have made the wrong decision! It's like a minor version of UCAs all over again, haha. No I'm kidding. UCAS was awful compared to this. It's interesting to see what could be in store for us in the future modules, though. Tomorrow I begin my first #BS1006 practical, which seems interesting as everyone's had good things to say about it so far! - Aneeka Ul-Haq

This is interesting, an article on how killer wales hunt for prey when avoiding being heard themselves, described by the BBC as 'hunting in stealth mode'. I think this relates to #BS1013 as we have studied adaptations in hunting for prey in certain animals, but we have mainly studied land animals. I think it also relates to aspects of #BS1008 as it touches on their behaviour, which is what we looked at in the last lecture. - Aneeka Ul-Haq from Bookmarklet

Best. Timetable. Ever. It's only been one day into the week but I've been able to get so much revision done just by having a few extra hours per day - and then I'm not staying up 'til ridiculous o'clock trying to finish things off. I know, I shouldn't get too ahead of myself - things could get busier again. But the timetable is still pretty awesome. Just had my first #BS1008 lecture and it seems very interesting, especially as it's a side of biology I've never studided before. I was excited about #BS1006 and wasn't disappointed. Hopefully, it'll continue this way. #BS1011 seems to be getting harder and harder, though, and my makrs unfortunately worse. However going to the help sessions has helped me a lot this week so I think this will become regular so that I can get the maximum marks I can get. I'm also having a good time in other aspects of university. I've had fun with all my extra curriculars. Also, running for #BSSElections webmaster is quite new to me, in terms for running for a position, and so far it's been exciting. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

I think a lot of people felt a bit over worked this week. A hint was probably the amount of people falling asleep at yesterday's #BS1013 lecture! Speaking of which, I'll miss now that they're over - it explored a part of science I'd never covered before and found it thoroughly enjoyable. Anyway, it's a shame all of our deadlines were this week. I found it difficult to prioritise which work to finish first and it was definitely hectic! Personally, I'm glad that this was our last long Thursday. After the #BS1009 essay, things should get easier. I enjoyed #BS1009 so I'll also miss that, but hopefully our new modules will be great, and I look forward to studying them! - Aneeka Ul-Haq

And also - when the heck did it become March already?! :P - Aneeka Ul-Haq

What a coincidence that I find this after I hand in my #BS1013 essay. A bad one - this would have been a great resource to back up what I was discussing about the cold affecting the fur and feather colour of animals. This touches on this but delves further into the genetics side, which also relates to #BS1005. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

In reference to the Normal Distribution Video. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

http://youtu.be/_XAAFWvlaFg ;-) - Dr Jo Badge

So, I washed my lab coat immediately but my practical booklet, surprisingly, still smells like fish. Or maybe that's my mind playing tricks on me, haha! Well anyway, #BS1013 practical yesterday was quite an interesting one. Despite the smell, it was pretty good and fun. I rate this week 10/10 because I handed in my #BS1013 essay, and did the presentation and felt good about how both went. I think that this week I have to concentrate on #BS1005 because I'm still very stuck - but my tutor says he'll mark harshly if he gives me more help. On the plus side, I'm extremely happy to see there's only 5 more uni days of the horrible timetable until the week after's more relaxing one! Woohoo! - Aneeka Ul-Haq

This is very well linked to #BS1009, discussing Polio and Cholera - two infections described in Dr. Heaphy's lectures, that are linked in Haiti. It describes how both are carried in faeces and water, which would mean that an outbreak would be terrible in Haiti where this can be common. - Aneeka Ul-Haq from Bookmarklet

One more day and yet another week has flown by this semester. Taking on Dr. Cann's tips, I rate this week 10/10 (but that's me being optimistic :P) so far because, aside form yesterday, I've been on top of all my work. SMART target? Next week, write my #BS1013 essay before it's due so that I can re-draft it as necessary, and hopefully get a mark that I'll be proud of. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

I agree- at first I felt like it was a waste of time and I was making little progress. It would have been useful to have step by step help because I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to excel and really struggled. However, the staff student ratio was poor and when you eventually did get help, one question was answered before they moved on, leaving you equally stuck, only one step further. I had done about half of the assignment after the full hour with a little help from my friends though :) - Catherine Walker

Luckily I think I've managed it :) - because Thursday's session is during my practical for #BS1005. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

This is an interesting article that focuses on the genetic tests that could help find a cure for prostate cancer. This relates well to #BS1005 because in this module we are exploring genes and chromosomes that give us different information about cells, their behaviour and our phenotypes. This article relates because the genes tested for different properties which could relate to prostate cancer. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

This article talks about how microorganisms found in the guts of mice have different personalities to those that do not have these "gut flora". Mice seem to have different behavioural habits and development is different compared with normal mice if found to have these bacteria. This relates to #BS1009 because it emphasises the importance of small organisms in large-scale changes in animals. This article discusses the importance of these particular bacteria in mammalian digestive tracts which relects just this - microorganisms can have major effects on animals. - Aneeka Ul-Haq from Bookmarklet

This week, like the last, has been a blur. It's odd, because it feels excrutiatingly slow during the actual weekdays - it's only in retrospect I feel like time flew by. This is probably because of all the work I have yet to do! Practical reports, essays, lecture notes, AND revision? I really am enjoying this course but sometimes I am a little jealous of my housemates having to do less work (or that's what it feels like) because it's hard to balance university life. That being said, I feel like I'm doing a much better job of things this semester than last. Although the #BS1011 assessments seem harder, the modules are far more enjoyable (despite 3 practicals a week... I like practicals, but this is a lot!) and the topics far more interesting. This is great because it gets me more enthusiastic about them, and I know from past experience that I'll do better overall if I enjoy the modules. Fingers crossed it stays this way! Now off to finish that #BS1013 report. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Ditto. - Yewande O

When is it in actually? - Nathan

I know you will haha. Well it's long looking back, but when you get going it's totally okay. - Aneeka Ul-Haq

- After a great holiday and an awful lot of exams, semester two began; and so far, it's off to a great start! I'm already enjoying the modules more than I enjoyed them at the beginning of last semester (although it has only been three days, I hope this doesn't change), and particularly enjoy Animal and Plant Physiology. This particular module wasn't what I expected - but this is good because I wasn't sure I'd be looking forward to it. However what I'm learning about how plants and animals interact with each other fascinates me. On another note, my new year's resolutions are going well - I'm looking through my lectures before I go to them and make sure I know exactly what I need to before I finish. A good start, fingers crossed it's less hectic than last time! - Aneeka Ul-Haq

OH! But I certainly hope Thursdays don't feel as long as they're timetabled for! - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Same to you :-) - Michael Steele