Lindsey Freeman

Oh the last week, It's been going well so far, got all the work to be handed in/submitted completed within good time and even made a start on learning some lectures. We're having a group meeting today about the #MB1005 tutorial poster, so it will be good to get that underway. I felt this term was very interesting and hopefully the exams will go well. Now just the countdown to flying home! - Lindsey Freeman

I chose this article because of it's current relevance. In our #MB1031 lectures we talked about radiation and it's effect on the human body. Although it has some uses in cancer treatment, the levels that a person needs to be exposed to for damage to be done is very very low. This article highlights just how high the radiation levels in Japan are. - Lindsey Freeman

This is a fascinating article which shows how advanced genome sequencing has become in recent years. This lab can now sequence around 400 genomes in a month and this is done completely by robots. It ties into our #MB1005 module where we discussed the usefulness of genome sequencing in identifying mutations which result in disease. This article also discusses the application of disease causing mutation identification in relation to heir research. It's also interesting to know that all this is going on in a place I've visited! - Lindsey Freeman

I've decided to follow Dr Cann's tips for mydiary to keep things interesting. I would rate the last week a 7 out of 10. I enjoyed the less hectic timetable again, using the time to both work and enjoy the sunshine. The downside was getting the #MB1031 essay back with a not so great mark. So hopefully the report which I've made a good start too will be a lot better. I think this term is going better to last, as I seem to be keeping up better, but slipping back into the habit of not reading over lectures straight away. My target for next week is to get the scientific report finished early in the week, and get started on some lectures to minimise the amount I have to carry home! - Lindsey Freeman

Diagrams are always useful - Dr Chris Willmott

I found this article interesting as although Parkinson's is not believed to be a genetic disorder, this article highlights the use of gene therapy in it's treatment. In our #MB1005 lectures we touched on the moral and ethical issues surrounded gene therapy and diagnostics, and this will be a module studied in our second year. This article details research that was carried out to investigate whether injecting a virus that carries the coding gene for GAD decreased the severity of the patient's symptoms. GAD is an enzyme that catalyses the production of the neurotransmitter GABA and this is seen to be produced in reduced quantities in people with this disease. The research seems to show that there is a marked improvement in patient's symptoms. - Lindsey Freeman

I think I've had a rather productive week. Got the group #MB1031 poster finished in good time, just a few last minute tweeks left before we submit it and I managed to get some good information down in the #MB1004 presentations this afternoon. I'm now looking to a productive weekend. I aim to get the #BS1011 finished off, as I've made a good start already and to make a good start into the #MB1031 scientific report. Overall a good week! - Lindsey Freeman

Same! It would be a good experience to know what these conferences were like. - Rachel Price Tate

This article is highlighting research at The University of Dundee, which has shown a link between the gene 'Filaggrin' and asthma,eczema and an allergy to peanuts. This links in to our #MB1005 genes and medicine module and it's interesting to see, that a defect within one gene can lead to three different conditions being seen in one person. The article also shows a genetic link in allergies as it highlights that certain allergies have been seen to run in families. - Lindsey Freeman

This week is off to a good start. On Friday our #MB1004 presentation went well, and I feel I learnt a lot by preparing it. The #MB1031 poster presentation is now well underway after a very productive meeting with my group this morning. We've got a good topic and I'm enjoying the research and the challenge of producing a poster that goes with it. Hopefully the rest of the week will be just as productive! - Lindsey Freeman

i am with you at both presentations! - Constantinos Lipsos

Probably after Easter. - Dr Alan Cann

Right ok, thanks. - Lindsey Freeman

I chose this article as it very relevant to the #BS1006 physiology we have just started. We have been looking at neurones and their control of our muscles. We discussed about the development of the nervous system and how it then degrades throughout your lifetime. Alzheimer’s disease causes neurones to die off faster and this article shows research into growing replacement neurones. It also ties into our #MB1005 as to grow the new neurones they first had to study the genetics of them. - Lindsey Freeman

I've been feeling very busy of the last couple of weeks, and I feel that my extra reading has taken the brunt of this. I'm glad I got the microbiology essay finished in good time though and I hope that as the new timetable is here, the time pressure won't be as bad. This should allow me to get back on top of my article reading and get sharing more on friendfeed again! - Lindsey Freeman

I think so. I've just read this too. - Stephanie Grace Broderick

24/02/11 I'm feeling a lot more on top of the work this week, and I've got all of the required work completed, which is allowing me more time to read around my lectures. I completed my target of starting on the #BS1009 essay and next week I'm intending on working at it in the evenings, and hopefully getting it completed ahead of the deadline. I've been enjoying the #MB1004 lectures as they are focusing on the parts of A level biology I enjoyed. I'm also happy to have already completed the #BS1011 task already. - Lindsey Freeman

This is a very interesting and relevant article. It shows the transformation of DNA from one organism into the DNA of another which we have been looking at in the #MB1005 module. It shows that when various genomes belonging to animals, plants, bacteria and viruses had been contaminated with human DNA. It also highlights the importance of our practical classes in teaching us basic lab techniques and practises. It shows how our practise within the lab can have an effect on the experiments we are looking at. - Lindsey Freeman

So far this week has been going well. I had a rather unproductive weekend, but started catching up on lost time yesterday and seem to be getting there. Received my exam results and am very pleased, it's nice to have the encouragement that hard work pays off. Last week I set myself a target to get started on the #BS1009 essay which I've managed to do. I've made a rough plan, so my target for this week is to keep slowing working my way through the essay. - Lindsey Freeman

This article relates directly to the #MB1005 module. It explains how researches have identified that faulty DNA located on chromosome 20 influences sleepwalking during the NREM stage of sleep. In the #MB1005 module we have been looking at how even minor changes can have big consequences, like in the example of sickle cell anaemia. - Lindsey Freeman from Bookmarklet

Again, a very busy week, but I've been enjoying the practicals again, and it was great to see how the work we did last week paid off. I also found the talk given on Wednesday afternoon by the clinical scientist very useful as it gave me a good insight into where my degree can take me. The plan for this week is to get started on the #BS1009 essay, so I'm not rushing it and so I can hopefully improve on last semester with regards to essay marks. - Lindsey Freeman

This article details research that has identified 5 previously unknown genes which increase the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease. In #MB1005 we have been looking at how having certain genes/alleles leads to disease. The example we looked at was Huntington's disease where the diseased allele didn't cause symptoms until later life. Parkinson's disease is also associated with a later onset. - Lindsey Freeman

Well this week has felt very very busy, trying to get all the modules organised and get used to the new timetable. I'm enjoying being back and getting stuck into these modules though as they are really interesting and the practicals have been really fun. Although it'll be interesting when we get to the practicals next week to see if our cultures have worked properly! The downside this week is that I'm so tired, but hopefully once this week is over we will all have settled down into a routine again. - Lindsey Freeman

You'll need to arrange a time with them when they are available. - Dr Alan Cann

Kind of unfortunate that nobody could answer this before the exam :{ seeing as we all needed to know the answer if we did one of the organics questions. - Zainab Chaudhary

@Zainab. If there is a question that lots of you need answering then it might be an idea to email the lecturer yourself and then post the answer here. - Roisin Thomas

Hmm its a good one to always have on hand but I don't think you'll specifically need it for any modules. - Lyndsey Wright

Ok, thanks Alice :) - Lindsey Freeman

This article ties in to alot of the topics we have convered this semester within #MB1030. It talks about carrying out genome sequencing to identify genetic disorders and this relates to the cancer genomics essay we wrote about genome sequencing in the medicine of cancer treatment. It also details how the first foetus to have it's genome sequences had it done to check if it would be a carrier for thalassamia, which we looked at during one of our #MB1030 tutorials. - Lindsey Freeman

Me too. I'm very proud of everyone in our group. :) I really enjoyed watching everyone's presentation styles because you all nailed it! - Zainab Chaudhary

has been made = 0 , why is this? - Lindsey Freeman