Ramila Afshari

This article describes treatment where genes are injected directly into the brain. The gene is for an enzyme called glutamic acid decarboxylase that helps to make a chemical lacking in Parkinson’s sufferers, called GABA. The side effects were mild but more research needs to be done in order to understand the long- term effects. - Ramila Afshari

I am much happier with the timetable as it leaves much more time for revision and assignments. The most challenging part of the week was the presentation in #MB1004 as I still get very nervous in front of a big group of people. However I am enjoying relating the things we have learnt earlier in genes #MB1005 to their medical conditions in genes... - Ramila Afshari

This week the biggest challenge was the various deadlines, as a lot of the work took a lot longer than expected. However I really enjoyed the last #MB1005 practical session and found the practice test really useful as it highlighted key areas for revision. The aim for next week is to make sure I understand the work as I go along by reading through the lectures at the end of the day and making more notes during the lectures. i have read up for #BS1006 to make sure I am prepared, and can already see that it is a very interesting topic. - Ramila Afshari

This article is interesting as it demonstrates that the way in which the chromatin is packed plays is different in higher organisms. This relates to #MB1005 as packing histones into chromatin affects many DNA related processes such as mitosis. - Ramila Afshari

This week I have become more aware of the need to organise my time properly due to all of the impending assignments. I found the #MB1005 tutorial particularly helpful as I thought I understood how to determine genotypes from family trees until I tried to answer questions on it. I was also happy that I got the #BS1011 assignment out of the way early in the week when I didn’t have as much work. I found the lectures for #MB1004 hard this week, but understood them better once I read through them again after the lecture I am very nervous for the timed essay tomorrow. - Ramila Afshari

This is article demonstrates the effects that the BP oil spill is still having on the environment. However one organism, the oil eating bacteria, is thriving under these conditions. The mucus that they use to break down the oil is being secreted into the water which is currently being studied. This relates to #BS1009 which shows how different microorganisms are adapted to different tasks and can survive in extreme conditions. - Ramila Afshari

I have really enjoyed this week, as I feel like I am keeping up with the work better and revising as I go along. However I am finding writing scientific reports challenging, as it is something I have not had much experience in. I am looking forward to the lecture tomorrow as we are going to be given some further advice on how to construct scientific reports. The high point for me this week was the IT help session, as I didn't understand much about Excel before and feel that it’s a skill that will be useful in later life. For next week I am going to read around the lectures that have read through this week to consolidate my understanding. - Ramila Afshari

This week has been the most challenging so far, I have found it very hard to get used to the timetable and keep up with things and balance the time between work and my extracurricular activities. I am finding #MB1004 particularly challenging and so have been doing some extra reading. However the most enjoyable part of the week was the# MB1005 practical with the live flies. It was very different to anything I have done before and made it easier to understand hoe certain mutations work. - Ramila Afshari

Throughout the first semester we were made aware of the importance of genetic mapping in medicine. This article discusses how ‘rearrangements’ in the sequence of DNA leads to the mutations which cause prostate cancer. This relates to #MB1005 were we learnt about the different ways the DNA sequence is rearranged to give rise to mutations. This article focuses on how knowing where these mutations are, will potentially enable more effective treatment and diagnosis. - Ramila Afshari

good diary post but it looks like you got cut off. Easier to post mydiary as a heading them write your diary notes in a comment - Dr Jo Badge from iPod

Thank you so much for the helpful comment, I didn't even realise until now that it had been cut off - Ramila Afshari

So far I am enjoying semester two as I am finding the lectures so interesting, and feel that it is easier to read around these topics to gain a better understanding. I am finding that this semester it has taken me less time to get organised as I am now used to how university works, and although the timetable is busy I am spending more time in the library between lectures. I have also... more... - Ramila Afshari

This article relates not only to the genetics section in #BS1015 but also relates to some of the presentations today in MB1030 about genetic diseases and screening not long after the egg has been fertilised. This is a breakthrough as it is simpler then previous methods of detecting abnormalities; all that is needed is a blood sample. However it does come with some ethical considerations. - Ramila Afshari

We studied genes in #BS1015 and thgis artical shows the progress that has been made in gene therapy to treat diseases such as Alzheimer's. - Ramila Afshari

Relates to #BS1015, as it shows the affect a mutation can have on function. It is interesting theory on the cause of Rett syndrome. It also suggests that having a small amount of ‘gene jumping’ is good for the brain as it increases neuron diversity. However if there is too much gene jumping, it can lead to important genes being damaged. It is comparable to the carriers of sickle cell anaemia being less susceptible to Malaria but people with both genes for sickle cell anaemia having serious health complications. Just shows that science isn’t always straightforward! - Ramila Afshari

This article relates to #BS1015, I picked it as it is a new advancement in research relating cancer to gene mutation. - Ramila Afshari

This article relates to #BS1015 as it is about DNA replication. I found it fascinating as it shows one of the ways that DNA can cope with damage and repair itself. - Ramila Afshari

Yeah, I'm trying to figure that one out too. I think I may just put internet links last on the references and sort it out alphabetically then! - Chantale Shum

are we meant to reference in alphabetical order?...i thought we referenced in the order they come in the essay - Naison Chitiyo

alphabetically in name of author - Robert

This relates to what we are learning in #BS1015 about exons (DNA bases that code for proteins) and intons, which don’t code for proteins. It states that most of the genome is junk as only 7% of human genome is similar to that of other mammals. I chose to share this article as it outlines how important some of the genes and puts forward an interesting theory whilst also providing a counterview to get you thinking. - Ramila Afshari

Thank you both for the helpful comments. The pine tree fact was so interesting! - Ramila Afshari

This is a very interesting piece on a new development. It states that by mapping the differences in genetic make up it can lead to a better understanding of genetic diseases and lead to new treatment. This relates to the genetics that we are studying in BS1015, as we are studying the variation in DNA which then leads to variation in RNA and then proteins. It is interesting seeing a benefit from mapping variations rather than similarities and the fact that they are studying a family, I also found the visual aid helpful for consolidating the points made in the article - Ramila Afshari