Fiona Harrington

Well done :-) - Shubnum Razak

I agree. It helps a lot with the calculations for the chemistry module as well :) - Ni Ni Moe Myint

well done fiona, i think i may need to visit the help session this week! - Sarah Williams

im sure if you were only a teeny bit over you wont have been marked down! - Sarah Williams

I was worried I'd go over, so I think I went too fast! - Karina Bunting

Relating to #BS1015 lectures about genes and RNA and as I have the topic of gene therapy for my #MB1030 presentation tomorrow, I thought this was an interesting addition as they have discovered that gene expression of genes that code for complex structures, such as ribosomes, are not coordinated or co-regulated. They have called them “clueless” genes as they sometimes act like unrelated genes. "To assess the coordinated expression of particular genes, Dr. Singer and his colleagues measured the abundance of messenger RNA molecules transcribed by those genes in individual cells. The messenger RNA molecules made by clusters of clueless genes exhibited no more coordination than the messenger RNA from totally unrelated genes did." These genes’ essential tasks require them to be "on call" 24/7, while other gene clusters remain silent until special circumstances induce them to become active. The researchers found that these induced genes, in contrast to the "clueless" housekeeping genes, act... - Fiona Harrington

well done! - Karina Bunting

Well done! :) - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Well done :) - Jemma Buchalter

found I kept getting some of the answers just off ones given - maybe i need to be more careful with my rounding? - Fiona Harrington

I thought this was an interesting article to do with the metabolism of the C. elegens nematode, relating to Dr Wells #BS1015 lectures. Scientists have discovered a new metabolic state correlating with long life upon activating life extension in the nematode C. elegans, in a report published in The FASEB Journal. "Scientists compared one class of long-lived C. elegans, called the Mit mutants, with non-mutant wild type C. elegans. Their comparison showed significant metabolism changes, suggesting that their cellular engines had been reconfigured to run on new fuels and to make new waste products, leading to increased lifespans. To determine the cause of these metabolism changes, scientists created a new method for collecting cellular waste and studied it to identify the specific chemical reactions. They found that that the worms achieved long life through changes in how their cells extracted energy (metabolic state)." "This research on worms shows that the secret to a long life comes... - Fiona Harrington

an example too of the relevance of simple model organisms which we were discussing in #MB1030 - Dr Chris Willmott

Ive begun mine too fiona and im also finding it very interesting =) - Sarah Williams

I thought this was interesting as it is an interesting add-on to my #BS1015 revision for amino acids. Scientists have discovered that some amino acids play an important role in human nutritional health; arginine has benefits in growth and embryo development in pigs, sheep and rats, also aiding in fighting obesity. Elevated levels of leucine may contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance. This is important when formulating balanced diets and to prevent growth retardation and chronic diseases. - Fiona Harrington

yep the #MB1030 presentations are on friday 10th december between 2-5. we will be assigned topics for the presentation on friday 26th november - Shubnum Razak

thank you!! - Fiona Harrington

Researchers have discovered new proteins to do with centrosome separation which has given important insights into the key process in cell division. This can led to new approaches to the targeted treatment of cancer; and was carried out at Leciester by Professor Andrew Fry!! He said; "Our research has identified new proteins that control centrosome separation as well as assessing the relative contributions of these together with previously described regulators. Importantly, this work suggests exciting new approaches to the targeted treatment of diseases characterized by deregulated cell division, such as cancer, as inhibitors of centrosome separation have the potential to prevent uncontrolled cell proliferation. "Moreover, combining drugs against different regulators may reduce cytotoxic side-effects by allowing reduced concentrations of each inhibitor to be used in patients. "In order to undertake proof of principle experiments, we are now in the process of developing inhibitors... - Fiona Harrington

#MB1030 - Fiona Harrington

Well done, I've just started it! 3 questions complete, though because i didn't do A level maths im finding it more difficult. - Alice Baxter

It's good that you have a room to yourselves, but this announcement is relatively short notice, and some of your group members might not see it. Sending out a direct message is the best way on Friendfeed to get specific people's attention. - Michael Steele

It also helped me differentiate between the L&D-isomers of amino acids. - Feyisayo Fadero

I thought this was interesting as the researchers may one day develop methods for blocking the protein's (which directly impact obesity, cancer and diabetes) efforts to perform demethylation in human cells. The proteins studied do not go through DNA or protein modification like other cells, but, most likely, by RNA modification. The intermediate was found to be zwitterionic, which offers new clues regarding the chemical steps of the biological demethylation process. - Fiona Harrington

What module is this relevant to? Don't forget to include module hashtags if you want to get marks :) - Joshua Bower

#BS1015 - Fiona Harrington

I thought this was an intersting article as it links in with Prof Cundliffe's lecture and my #BS1010 essay on antibiotics. The researchers have, through experiment, discovered when a plasmid with the gene for antibiotic resistance is inserted into bacteria, some integrated with DNA from the resistance gene into the genome; the bacteria had been immunized against acquiring the resistance gene. The researcher Professor Moineau said "This phenomenon could explain, among other things, why some bacteria develop antibiotic resistance while others don't." - Fiona Harrington

Good job, everyone! :) - Joshua Bower

I think this is an interesting add-on to Professor Cundliffe's lectures on RNA for #BS1015 - Fiona Harrington

I think this is a brilliant development in the human genome project, and links into #BS1015 lectures on DNA - Fiona Harrington

What module does this relate to? I've seen the programme myself, I really enjoyed it. - Lyndsey Wright

I think this programme actually relates to all the degree streams, not just Med Gen, and to most biology modules. - Dr Alan Cann

I absolutly loved it! The BBC does amazing documentary, especially science ones, a few months ago there was a series called Life, if anyone hasnt already watched i absolutly recommend it. - Ismahane Messahel

Make sure you read the information on Blackboard for session 1 and follow the instructions. - Dr Alan Cann

welcome to friend feed fiona!! - Karina Bunting