Remi Mckenzie

This links to BS1009, with the idea of co-evolution. This article explains how moths (which were previously thought to be deaf) have been found to have increased sensitivity to the call of bats ,eventhough moths ears are the simplest in the insect world. - Remi Mckenzie from Bookmarklet

The term is coming to an end once again and I'm looking forward to going home, unfortunately this means that exams are ever closer. This semester I feel I have put greater effort into review lectures to hopefully take the pressure of exam time,as I need to do well so that I can take part in the eramus programme. I have enjoyed the modules alot more this semester and finally feel like this is the right course for me. Eventhough I have settled into the social side of university pretty quickly it is sometimes at the expense of the academic, so I feel I need to work harder to strike the balance.i.e better time management and realising I can't do everything all the time. The recent second year course options has had me thinking about my future career and what I want to do, so I plan on using this easter break to do some more research into careers after a science degree and think more about which direction I want to go in (more than likely a non-science field) - Remi Mckenzie

This article relates to # BS1008. It shows that even through devastation ( The earthquake and Tsunami that took place in Japan) evolution can take place. In this article it discuss how the Tsnami in particular change environments, where only more resistant species of plant could survive and allowed invasive species to literally take root, but also how large dead trees carried on to the mainland areas could carry rodents, reptiles and insects that could adapt and eventually colonize these mainland areas. - Remi Mckenzie from Bookmarklet

As we are coming to the end of second semester, I feel as if the time has gone so quickly. Already I am begining to decide which modules to choose next year ( but need to have a meeting with the personal tutor) and exams are looming around the corner. I am pleased with the grade I recieved for my BS1013 essay that I managed to complete during the most hectic week of my life at uni thus far ( yes 5am and I was still in the library) Definately enjoying the new timetable but I think im getting a little too relaxed and need to use the time more productively. I'm also looking forward to the Biological Sciences Ball this friday as desert sounds amazing! Hope its a good one :) - Remi Mckenzie

#BS1008This links to our environmental and evolutionary biology module and since we did cover mating system recently :), i thought this was quite relevant. It descibes the modifications of the male anatomy but also explains why men don't have whiskers and explains how humans have developed larger brains. - Remi Mckenzie from Bookmarklet

Good find haha - Yewande O

I am very relieved to have recieved our new and improved timetable, which allows me to be a little more sociable to say the least. I am also glad to be starting the evolutionary and physiology modules as I think they should be very interesting. So far ive had a very productive week and its never too early to start putting the beginings of revision notes together as I want very little stress when exam time comes around. :) x - Remi Mckenzie

Its only tuesday but there is alot of work to be done and won't be sad to say I cant wait till this week is over! I am looking foward to the new and improved timetable as I won't feel so rushed and have more time to do the basics such as thorough lecture reviews. Currently I am finding microbiology very interesting and it ties in nicely with our upcoming essay, which shouldnt be difficult. On the other hand im not looking forward to the genetics mock as I am a little behind with it and still in the process of writting the essay.But hey doing biological sciences at the third top university for this course has got to be worth it! :) - Remi Mckenzie

http://books.google.co.uk/books... - Remi Mckenzie

Whilst researching for my presentation on 'C4 Carbon fixation & its evolutionary advantages', I came across this journal on google scholar. I wanted to know more about plant evolution.I have only read some of it (as it is the whole book I think.lol) but it describes plant evolution, slightly differently to animal evolution as they are so highly adapted to their particular environments.... more... - Remi Mckenzie

Using the weekend to do some much needed work! Im glad that I find most of these modules more interesting, which makes the heavy work load a little easier going, I'm still trying to adapt to three practicals a week, by the end of the week I start to feel pretty tired, which is where we have the bulk of the practicals. Otherwise I am preparing for the University Debate Championships, which will begin the end of this week and if all goes well might get my name on a trophy :) - Remi Mckenzie

Did you get cut off here? Use the first post as a heading then write a comment underneath, comments can be much longer than posts :-) - Dr Jo Badge from iPod

#BS1012.This links to my presentation, which was "Geographic trends in species diversity". Basically this is an example of an endemic species, which is a plant or animal only found in one specific region. But what is also interesting about this story is the reappearance of this fly after dissappearing for nearly a century. - Remi Mckenzie

I feel this is a dangerous question! lol......To be honest I do more often than not find Google Reader an annoyance, generally I find youtube or BBC iplayer documentaries more useful. In the beginning it was okay as I felt I had more time to look through them and genuinely find something I found useful or interesting, but as the coursework, essays and assignments poured in, it fell lower down my priority list. I also think google reader is quite time consuming as alot of the journals I find take a while for me to understand and then try and relate to a topic we are currently studying. On the other hand I do realise that it adds to my wider understanding and in some ways wider reading, which will only benifit me in the future, but until I feel more confident with my course material and overall time management I think I will be more of a chore for me personally. (But I do relaise I should make more of an effort) x - Remi Mckenzie

okay :) - Remi Mckenzie

This links to #BS1015 tutorial topic, which was the nobel prize awarded for the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in 2004, this article demonstrates just one of the many uses the protein (originally found in jellyfish) has in molecular biology and medicine. - Remi Mckenzie

Before I came to university I hardly ever used any of the icons in my toolbar, but recently I have been saving alot of good or aites I regularly visit to my favourites that I separate into folders, but I have also added to my main toolbar, sites such as Google reader and University of leicester home page. In the past , especially when we had the water essay, I did find a good journal and so I saved the file pdf straight onto my computer. - Remi Mckenzie

Found this video that linked with todays biochemistry lecture, but also my research for my nobel prize presentation. It explains the process of FRAP to show movement of phospholipid or protein. - Remi Mckenzie

# BS1003 After todays lecture, I wanted to find out more about all this 'Junk DNA'. This artucle shows that in recent years researchers have found out non-coding DNA plays a cruical role in whether genes are active or not, but also shows how it could link to schizophrenia, diabetes and other ailments. - Remi Mckenzie

#BS1003 - Remi Mckenzie

You need to use an indirect Athens login (you no longer get a special Athens user/password, the complicated random string of letters you see written on lots of computer screens round the uni since it has no personal info with it). Use the 'Login via your Institution' link, then select 'University of Leicester' and enter your cfs details. - Pat Heslop-Harrison

Just a little bit of inspiration for the #BS1015 essay - Remi Mckenzie from Bookmarklet

I came accross this when signing up to google reader,makes you think about bacteria in a completely different way, not just E-coli in a petri dish.lol - Remi Mckenzie

Finally got my google reader to work!!! Wow.....its an old one! x - Remi Mckenzie

yes, I am :) I can't find the other 2 guys though. Have you found them on friendfeed at all? - Zoe Edmonds

My first target is to improve my time management. To do this I will organise my self- study, assignments and practicals in terms of my module courses, with deadlines. This way I will be able to organise my week by seeing an overview of everything I need to do. My second target is to review my lectures within two days, but using the lecture powepoints as references, as to what to read up on and investigate further ( as sometimes when I start reading I get caught up in reading pages and pages of information ,that you don't necessarily need, i.e stryer.) Thirdly, Learn how to produce / add summarised notes, rather than re-writting my old notes, which can be very time consuming. Similarly, remeber to always read up before lab sessions and research any words or concepts im not familiar with, so that I don't feel too left behind or stressed in practicals. Lastly, (eventhough not a specific target, to have the confidence to remember that university and A-levels is a MASSIVE JUMP, and will take sometime for me to ADJUST. :) sorry turned into a mini-essay.lol x - Remi Mckenzie

I think to truly answer this question we have to analyise "people" a little more closely. In the previous reflections I have read, I think a little too much credit has been given to the plagarist, so to speak.If I am person who is self-motivated and wants to work hard , then yes, for that person to plagiarize is to only cheat themselves. In contrast, If I am a person who can't be bothered, doesn't really care about my own personal achievement, but rather how I am percieved by the examiner ,then just as long as I get a 'good mark' or some kind of advantage, then I would have to disagree with the statement because to plagiarize would seem like an easy and favorable idea. Therefore the only person who does get cheated in this kind of circumstance, is the person who never got credit or the full recognition for their own work. - Remi Mckenzie

So what should the penalties for plagiarism be in your opinion? - Dr Alan Cann

I needed a quick refresh on the basics of Professor J Schwabe DNA replication lectures, before reviewing the RNA work. Sometimes you have so much detail you forget where it all fits into the bigger picture. Hope its a help :) - Remi Mckenzie