Karina Bunting › Comments

I thought this article was relevant to #BS1009, particularly to the recent essay we've submitted. The probiotic bacteria (good bacteria) can help prevent viral infections in our lungs. The bacteria stimulate "inflammasome" protein complexes in our immune system, which will kill any harmful pathogens. - Karina Bunting from Bookmarklet

I am really enjoying the #BS1006 physiology module, I find it really interesting and the practical not only developed my understanding on blood pressure and elctrocardiograms, I also found it fun! This week I am starting our group poster work for #MB1031 on "How wounds scar", I've never done an academic poster before so this could be challenging. Also for #MB1031 today we were given the instructions for the scientific report we have to write; after writing the initial scientific report on isozymes I am feeling more confident on what I have to do. We have also been given our module selection handbooks for next year; it's going to be difficult choosing our modules for next year. - Karina Bunting

I found this article really interesting and I think it can relate to our #MB1005 lectures. Scientists are using genetic engineering to alter the CCR5 gene blood cells, so the HIV virus cannot infect them, it is the first example of a disease resistant gene. Preliminary results appear promising and I am looking forward to hearing about further developments. This technique could be used to prevent cancers. - Karina Bunting from Bookmarklet

interesting article karina,this could be a promising find.. keep it up. - Munaf khamisa

This morning we had our written essay under exam conditions for #MB1031; I found it really hard to fit in everything that I wanted to say, in the 45 minutes provided. Also today was our last #BS1005 genes lecture with Professor Ketley. This weeks going to be intense as a lot of deadlines are coming up: the #BS1009 microbiology practical booklet, the practical report for #BS1005 and the #BS1009 microbiology essay which I haven't even started yet! As well as all this I'm competing at Warwick for an equestrian competition. It's going to be a jam-packed week! However I'm very much looking forward to the tuesday lie in next week! - Karina Bunting

I thought this was relevant to our #MB1005 gene lectures and practicals. It is an example of why labarotary practise must be carried out accurately and under tight control to prevent contamination. Up to 18% of the genomes sequenced in laboratorys are contaminated with human DNA; I thought this was a shockingly high percentage, aprticulary as it could lead to inaccurate results on many diseases, which could affect the health of the general population. - Karina Bunting from Bookmarklet

yes me too!! My graph just don't look right! - Karina Bunting

I will! I'm just finding it difficult trying to remember how to use excel! - Jemma Buchalter

After our last #MB1005 lecture with Dr. Meacock I thought this article was relevant. A single gene, at the centre of genetic recombination could hold the key for speciation. We know that the pairing up of chromosomes, the crossing over and the transfer of genetic material from our mother and father gives us individual uniqueness; however this process could also lead to speciation. The gene Prdm9 which controls genetic exchange, can also make memebers of the same species unable to reproduce with eachother. Therefore by definition two different species will be formed. - Karina Bunting from Bookmarklet

I've just returned from the careers talk; I was particulary interested in the clinical scientist and the laboratory technician. However it sounds like there is a lot of competition for the career you want and a lot of hard work is needed. Although our timetable and the long days are tiring I am finding the lectures really interesting. I'm finding the practicals a lot more difficult than last term, especially as we have so much more to do in them. Overall I'm enjoying this semester and looking forward to learning more. - Karina Bunting

#UoLBioCareers - Dr Alan Cann

After carrying out our first microbiology practical #BS1009 I did some research into the microbes we studied. I found an article about how Staphylococcus aureus, a microbe responsible for high levels of morbidity and mortality, is spread throughout communities via the nasal passage. Scientists found this by carrying out a genetic associations study. As a result they found that nasal carriage and the clinical isolates belong to the same genetic clusters. Therefore S. aureus colinizes in the nasal cavities. - Karina Bunting

Interesting choice of article, i was doing some extracurricular reading so far this microbiology module aswell, seems interesting. - Munaf khamisa

yes me too! I was worried we wouldn't be able to do them, with the fire in george porter. You did yours really well! - Karina Bunting

thank you karina, i thought yours was very clear and well presented =) - Sarah Williams

There hasnt been any email regarding the change of venue so assuming it would be in the same venue. - Syeda Maham Batool

I'm assuming it will still be in that dungeon in the benett link gulshana, besides ur a member of MP5 we know all! - Mayank Patel from iPhone

I would think it'd be in the same venue, as we haven't been told anything else - Karina Bunting

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

I thought this was really interesting because it allows for prenatal genetic diagnosis, which could prevent harm to the fetus from diseases such as rhesus disease, which is when the mother's own immune system attacks a protein on the fetus' red blood cells. It can also tell doctors of what diseases the fetus may get after it's born. However this process is still very expensive and it may also raise ethical issues. - Karina Bunting

well done! - Karina Bunting

Well done! :) - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Well done :) - Jemma Buchalter

Ohhh I wish we didn't have that quiz! I hated it! - Aneeka Ul-Haq

Same, it definately highlighted the things I need to recap before the January exam. - Alice Stephens

I'm definitely the same too, a lot of revision needs to be done over christmas! - Karina Bunting

Gene therapy appears to be the future for treating genetic diseases such as cancer. Jeremy Luban and his team of scientists have discovered a group of proteins which predict the site of gene insertion in the recipient DNA. A greater success rate of gene insertion will result in fewer side effects in gene therapy. - Karina Bunting

hmm I'm not sure when to start writing my presentation... when are you going to start? - Jemma Buchalter

Hey Karina, I've got the same as you :) I'm going to start mine as soon as I can, probably after the BS1015 mock though. - Michael Lam

I thought this would be interesting following the #MB1030 worksession on haemoglobinopathy. Although sickle cell anaemia is fatal, being a carrier for this gene is advantageous because it gives some protection from malaria. - Karina Bunting

I thought this was interesting because it may lead to new avenues of preventative medicine for cancer. It also may be useful for our #MB1030 essay on genomics and cancer medicine. - Karina Bunting

Yes, that's right. - Dr Alan Cann

thank you - Karina Bunting

I agree, presenting back to our peers before the real thing is a really helpful way of getting more confident when giving your presentation! - Jemma Buchalter

yeah I agree hopefully, this practise presentation will help boost our confidence for the real thing and give us helpful advice! - Karina Bunting

The exercise is to develop your communication skills, not to make you an expert in the topic from your article. Therefore you are not expected to have to go and do a lot of extra reading - you are really summarising the paper for your group in an engaging manner and in about 6.5 minutes! - Dr Chris Willmott

Thank you very much! - Karina Bunting

What made you find this interesting...? - Hollie Smith

I found this interesting because it highlights the fact that cancer is such a complicated disease to treat because cancer cells are all different, so respond to drugs in different ways or not at all. Also in Professor Fry's lecture he mentioned that they are researching all Nek proteins, in order to control the growth of cancer cells. In this article it's believed that the gene BCAR4,... more... - Karina Bunting

I was doing some work for my practical write up- is it possible to go to the session on Thursday? - Rachel Bell

I have already surrendered to this... - Alex G. Sarov

thanks for posting this, it was really useful. - Karina Bunting

Yeah I found it really useful. I'm really glad it helps! :) - Gulshana Choudhury

I thought this article was significant in the war against cancer - Karina Bunting

Nope. - Dr Alan Cann

i dont think mine has appeared either! i think we should all go! - Sarah Williams

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

This could explain my attention problems during freshers week! - Karina Bunting

There's a help session tomorrow in Charles Wilson 304 at 1pm. - Dr Alun Salt

yeah I'm having trouble too, i'm going to try again now, but if I still can't do it, I'll come along to the help session. - Karina Bunting