Maryam

It's in the Assignments section. The blood pressure values are on there but I can't find the class heart rate values. Is all the information we need for the write-up on blackboard already? - Nan Pu

Oh thanks! I never thought to check there. Ive not done the write up yet so im not sure if everything we need is up there but i would think that it would be as it is the end of term and everyone has (i think) done the practical - Maryam

Should we be taking an average of the values for our calculation? - Gifty george

This article relates to a few of our modules, #MB1005 Genes, #MB1004 Membranes and receptors and the long gone but cant be forgotten #BS1009 Microbiology. Bacteria colonize the gut in the days following birth, during a sensitive period of brain development, and apparently influence behaviour by inducing changes in the expression of certain genes. This study suggests that gut bacteria may influence behaviour and cognitive processes such as memory by exerting an effect on gene activity during this initial brain development. Jane Foster and her colleagues compared the behaviour of germ-free mice, which lack gut bacteria, with normal mice. Ordinarily, mice will avoid open spaces to minimize the risk of being seen by predators. The germ-free mice, on the other hand, behaved quite differently - they entered the open areas more often, and continued to explore them throughout the duration of the test. The researchers then examined the animals' brains, and found that these differences in... more... - Maryam

I just took a big sigh when i handed in my #MB1031 scientific report on colour blindness. That was the last officially marked assignment before the holidays and although i put it off to the last minute (actually yesterday night), i think ive done an ok job..hopefully im right. This week has gone fast too and i am not complaining this time! If the exam timetable comes out tomorrow like Dr Cann said, im going to draw out a draft revision timetable so i dont end up wasting valuable time. Over the holidays i also need to make sure i do my part for the #MB1005 Genes poster presentation we have to do in May. I met up with my group on Tuesday and weve allocated everyone with a subheading to research and wirte up. We will probably meet up again closer to the presentation date to make sure we all undersatnd eveything on the poster and a bit more too as we were told we will be questioned on more than just what weve put on the poster. - Maryam

Its a bit late in the day to be writing this (or should i say its a bit too early in the morining) but i thought i should get it done before i get caught up once again in the very fast moving weekday uni life. This past week has been nice and relaxed like the calm before the storm i guess with the storm coming in the form of exams but its been good to just relax for a couple of days and not have to worry about deadlines. The #MB1031 science report is due on Thursday and from reading the diaries of other students it seems as though i need to work a bit more faster so i have the report completed in plenty of time. I have completed the #BS1011 assessment for this week (nice and short with just five questions) but am hesitant to submit it without first attending the help session tomorrow and running through it once more. Ive made my module choices for next year and have checked them for clashes and got the approval of my tutor so am now just waiting for May to come round so i can submit them. - Maryam

Well done on getting your choices sorted! I'm still pondering over mine. Thank God the report is out of the way though ;D - Zainab Chaudhary

Yh im glad ive finished with the report too. I found the first one on LDH much more easier though so i wish that was the real one - Maryam

Some time after Easter. The timetable is published by the University not the School. - Dr Alan Cann

In both the #MB1004 M&R and #BS1006 Physiology lectures we have been learning about synapses and how cells communicate with eachother. Recent research has shown how a single protein may trigger autistic spectrum disorders by stopping effective communication between brain cells. This helps to link in what we have been learning to a clinical/pharmaceutical setting. The gene which codes for the Shank3 protein in mice was mutated and the animals were seen to exhibit signs of autism. Shank3 is found in the synapses - the junctions between brain cells (neurons) that allow them to communicate with each other. Healthy connections in these areas are thought to be key to effective regulation of social behaviours and social interaction. This is important therapeutically as drugs can be developed to restore synaptic function by correcting or replacing the defective protein. - Maryam

We usually do, there's been no email saying we haven't and there are still two lectures up on blackboard for this week, so I think we still have it? I don't understand why everyone's been asking this question ._. - Zainab Chaudhary

because on the timetable it says no lecture - Maryam

Oops! I didn't look at that. :( Sorry. - Zainab Chaudhary

This article relates to what we have been learning in the #BS1006 Physiology lectures on nerves, synapses etc. Paralyzed limbs of patients can be treated with grafts which can lead to some degree of functional recovery when a short segment of nerve is damaged. However, it is not as successful when regenerating nerves over distances greater than a few millimeters. Scientists have developed artificial nerve grafts made from hollowed-out pig veins filled with spider silk fibres to get round this problem. Animal experiments have showed that the grafts can enhance the regeneration of peripheral nerves over distances of up to 6cm. Pig veins have been used the regenerated nerve will not function properly unless it is populated by Schwann cells, which produce myelin and this is important for the conduction of impulses (what we learnt about in todays #BS1006 lecture). - Maryam

This week has been a good one although I cant remember much of it for some reason. Maybe its because its jst gone too quick. Just now i had a very constructive meeting with one of my group members for the #MB1031 poster presentation and we got a lot done in a short time which was great. Its a pity the presentations are not going to be held on Tuesday as i was looking foward to getting them over and done with. Oh well. Not having a practical class this week has been a bit weird as ive not had to lug my labcoat all the way to uni (it takes up a suprising amount of space in my bag) but im not complaining! I wish FF had a spell checker that way i wouldnt have to read through my posts to check them- lazy me. I found last weeks #BS1011 to be relatively easy once i read through the information and example given, hope this weeks isnt too bad. - Maryam

What strike is that? =S - Rachel Bell

@Rachel it will vary. You should assume lectures are on unless you hear otherwise. The difficulty with the #MB1031 poster session was that it involved 12 staff some of whom have indicated they would not be in. - Dr Chris Willmott

Thanks for the reminder :) - Shubnum Razak

There are also module descriptions on the school office organised by year and course if you want to look through them that way. - Dr Jo Badge

I know a few people who are allergic to nuts to different degrees so this was an interesting article to read. It relates to our #MB1005 Genes and Medicine module. Scientists have identified a gene responsible for some of the allergy cases (called Filaggrin). The Filaggrin gene makes the skin a barrier to allergens and mutations in this gene decreases the effectiveness of the barrier. Since there are many types of nut allergies and to different degrees, there is still much work to be done to understand the full link between genes and peanut allergy but this discovery has been a significant breakthrough. - Maryam

i wouldnt call someone who cant eat snickers because they are allergic a fool - they cant help it - Maryam

lol no problem..didnt mean to come of so harsh - Maryam

If you'd like feedback, send me a direct message. - Dr Alan Cann

This week has been great though im still slightly behind on my lecture notes. The #BS1006 Physiology lectures are really kicking off and have been interesting so far and very engaging (todays lecture was exceptionally unique~ i dont think we are going to be told to blow balloons in any other lecture) Im growing on the #MB1005 Genes module now that it is more clinically focused so i dont find it as difficult to concentrate in the lectures. Im setting myself a new target: to get work done or at least started on the day it is set, that way it wont be a last minute job. Cant guarantee its going to work but Im going to give it a try anyway. I have a presentation on ACh to do today for #MB1004. I find presentations so much more easier to do now compared to the start of uni but i just dont like it when the questions are asked! - Maryam

With all these group presentations for #MB1004, #MB1031 and one after the holidays I think for #MB1005, im going to have to work even harder than usual to keep up to date with everything. Group work is not my stongest point as I ususally like to get everything over and done with ASAP and I often find that not everyone wants to take this approach. What irritates me the most about group work is when everyone dose not pull their weight but i guess thats to be expected as thats what its going to be like after uni as well...this week has zoomed by which im adapting to in a way i guess. My diary is packed full of what needs to be done as i spent time last week writing in every week 'Friendfeed, #BS1011, My Diary, Google Docs' just to make sure i dont forget to do one of them by accident. Im glad the #BS1009 practicals are over and the workbook has been handed in though im still wondering how many bacteria there are in a 50cc bottle of water..Has the answer gone up yet anywhere? Ive read in... more... - Maryam

I think the #BS1009 prize is going to be given out in a lecture. - Dr Alan Cann

Leaving my opinions on sharing breast milk as a desert aside, I though id share this article as it fits in well with our #BS1009 Microbiology lectures and practicals which are sadly coming to an end. (Only slight sarcasm intended because I did enjoy most of the practicals!) We innoculated pasteurized and unpasteurized milk in one of the practicals and counted the colony forming units. The unpasteurized was found to have a greater number of cfu and just makes me wonder how many harmful bacteria/microorganisms might me lurking in this new type of ice cream. Yuk. - Maryam

Yes, the "with a shot of Bonjela or Calpol" thing was definitely wrong! - Dr Alan Cann

Cant deny that I only opened this link because of the strange and slightly amusing title! Just shows how important a good title is if you want people to read your work. This article is interesting as it suggests male monkeys wash with their urine to signal their availability and attractiveness to females. Scientists found that the female monkeys' brains became significantly more active when they sniffed the scent of urine produced by adult males. I find it amazing how animals use smell to communicate their sexual status. Like Prof Kyriacou explained in #MB1031 aboout how in certain mole species the males spray their partners with a smelly protein so other males are not attracted to her. Here, smell is being used to attract the opposite sex and communicate their social status as higher status males produce more testosterone which causes the females to react differently. - Maryam

Was browsing through posts and it went something like this: MyDiaryMyDiaryMyDiarySexy monkeys wash with own urineMyDiaryMyDiaryMyDiary. Wait, what? Prof Kyriacou's lecture was really interesting! I wish he got to finish it :{ - Zainab Chaudhary

lol Zainab glad it grabbed your attention! - Maryam

..though I want to complete the #BS1011 assessment ~ have heard its easy this week but not checked it yet myself. - Maryam

I found it difficult to keep up on friday but maybe I will have printed off the slides by today's lecture as that can make a big difference for me ^_^ - Zainab Chaudhary

I have enjoyed this week even though the work never seems to stop flying our way. Particularly enjoyed the #MB1005 practical as i understood everything that I was doing and we managed to complete both worksheets as a table in record time, hand them in and still finish early. Usually I find myself carrying out experiments or inoculating something or the other and not really understanding why untill after Ive completed the worksheet for the experiment. Im looking foward to the #MB1031 essay on Monday and I know it will be reasonably easy as long as I plan and prepare properly. Ive completed the #BS1011 assignment ~ short and sweet! I find im really tired when I get home after Uni and so find it difficult to get any work done so ive decided to squeeze in as much as possible before and during Uni. If I still cant manage Ill just have to wake up earlier. Lets hope it doesnt come to that! - Maryam

Although I found this article difficult to understand, I think I kind of get the gist of it. It links in very well with our MB1005 Genes and Med lectures and practicals. As we all know, the genome is spatially organized within the nucleus of a cell. Individual chromosomes are non randomly positioned and the position of individual genes can reflect their expression. In this article, two examples of gene relocalization associated with transcriptional activation are discussed and along with their mechanisms. - Maryam

At this rate I think Im going to be starting all my diary entries with 'This week has gone really fast..' or something along those lines because they just seem to zoom by! Overall I think this weeks been good. I had a chat with my personal tutor about my results and was warned that I should not start slacking off. I was very pleased and surprised with my #BS1011 result for the Excel workbook as I had not used Excel for at least 4/5 years and was very worried but the help session was very useful and Im now more confident in using it. Im still trying to adjust back into using Google Reader~ currently I have over a thousand unread entries and I dont want to just mark them all as read as then I will most probably end up missing something interesting. Im settling into the busy timetable and learning how to juggle the workload and have learnt that for both #MB1005 and #MB1004 I enjoy doing practical write ups more than doing the actual practical! Strange I know : ) - Maryam

Since Dr Heaphy in #BS1009 never fails to mention something or other about freezing cells which can be used many years down the line like Henrietta Lack's cervical cancer cells (and he loves the BBC website!!), I thought id share this article which explains how human smooth muscle cells can be added to artificial tubes to make blood vessels. The cells grow and tube breaks down as the cells build their own scafold out of collagen. The 'new' tube can then be stored for upto a year and can be implanted in anyone needing a graft. It would mean patients no longer have to wait to have a vessel grown form their own cells (which takes long) but human trials still need to be carried out and it is not guaranteed that the vesswel will carry blood for even 10/15 years. - Maryam

This week has flew by which is good as it shows im enjoying myself but also a bit scary as that means exams will be upon us in no time! Its also been a very busy week as Ive been trying to keep up with recapping my lecture notes and finishing of tutorial questions for #MB1005 and #MB1004 if ive not got round to finishing them in the study sessions. The careers session held on Wednesday was interesting, pity I could only make it to the second half but Im planning on being there from start to finish for the session this coming Wednesday. This semesters #BS1011 is much more challenging than last semesters which is good in a way as it keeps me focused even though it can be frustrating. But thats why the help sessions exist! - Maryam

The results will be available about the same time, but best to e-mail them requesting a time to meet - Dr Chris Willmott

This is not really related to any of the modules but it was just something I found really interesting to watch. Its not very long but I think its amazing that people still live like this even today. Its especially thought provoking when he says that "These are the last few free people left in this world". Definitely recommend if you have a few minutes to spare. - Maryam

I watched this too. Not sure what to make of it, but I suspect the future is bleak for that group. - Dr Alan Cann

The first week is coming to an end already and it doesnt even feel like I was ever away for the holidays. Im thinking this diary thing is a good idea as it will probably help to clear my mind a bit and hopefully the reflection will guide me as to what I need to do/improve. I'd love to keep a proper diary but at my house theres no guarantee ... - Maryam

..it'll stay private! I think nearly all the 'My Diary's' Ive read so far have mentioned the long timetable so Im going to skip that. The best part of the last few days has definitely been the practicals for both #MB1004 and #BS1009. It really feels like weve moved onto something more advanced compared to the spectrophotometer used in nearly every practical last term. I've already... more... - Maryam