Roisin Thomas

"This series of interviews, representing various ethical perspectives tackling controversial subjects arising out of recent scientific advances, is freely available." - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

I just told my old Ethics teacher about this, she is so excited! Thanks for this Roisin :) - Lyndsey Wright

This website is brill. It's helped me with my summer project already. - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

Like :-) - Dr Alan Cann

I really struggled to get my head around the Q cycle but I think I know what's going on now. I made a little video of me explaining it in the hopes that A it might help others and B if I'm wrong someone can tell me. - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

You're welcome. :) - Roisin Thomas

I agree! - Joshua Bower

Sample questions are available for #BS1009, as for other courses. We do not make complete short-answer past papers available. - Dr Alan Cann

I got my first choice, too :) Will be investigating the pharmacological profile of Kv currents of arterial smooth muscle cells - Joshua Bower

That's great! Really pleased for you. I really didn't think I'd get my first choice so I'm on cloud nine at the moment! - Roisin Thomas

#MB2050 Seems induced pluripotent stem cells may not have the advantage of avoiding an immune response after all. - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

Wow. This reminds me of "Treasure your exceptions!" - Dr Meacock, #MB1005 / #BS1005. - Zainab Chaudhary

Not "like" the situation, like the article - Dr Chris Willmott

"How discoveries made in both animal and clinical research made it possible." - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

Well done that's amazing :) - Laura

Congratulations :-) What are you going to be doing? - Dr Alan Cann

Thanks. I’ll be trying to identify the ligands for Collectin Kidney 1 protein. It’s a complement protein that’s coded for by a gene that is associated with a disease called 3MC syndrome. I'm so pleased. The lab experience should help with my 3rd year project. :) - Roisin Thomas

I'm not sure but I think it might be 2pm? - Laura

Thanks Laura. - Roisin Thomas

Really interesting videos of a workshop about the importance of getting your info from decent sources when writing about science. Also discusses issues about the media linking (or rather not linking) to primary sources. - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

This is depressing. - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

If you know Henrietta's story you might be interested in this. If you don't know her story you can follow the links. It's really thought provoking. - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

Do we need to choose 3 modules per semester for 3rd year or is it 2 and our 3rd year project counts as one? It doesn't say in the handbook. - Roisin Thomas

Phew! That's a relief. I've been given the wrong green form so it's probably easier to understand if you have that. - Roisin Thomas

Time is flying too fast. Having a bit of a tough time recently with my son so keeping up with everything is hard. Luckily I started the BS2014 essay early or I would have been in big trouble this weekend. I just need to edit and make sure my references are all in order. Have struggled a bit with a couple of topics this semester. I find enzyme kinetics and electrophysiology really difficult to get my head around. Tutorials have been really useful though and I've managed to get some really helpful books from the library and the second hand bookshop. Hoping things settle down soon because March is full of deadlines for me and I can't afford to ask for extensions. I don't want anything to cut into revision time over easter. On a brighter note, I saw my first daffodil today. Spring is on its way! - Roisin Thomas

It’s been a really good week so far. I love being back at uni. I had a test on protein structure and amino acids that went really well on Tuesday. I managed to get a stack of books for my modules from the library before they all went which will save me some cash and help with tutorial work. I managed to find time for a haircut so I can now see through my fringe. I’ve been doing some research for an upcoming essay, which I’m really enjoying for once because it’s not last minute. This means I can afford to get sidetracked when I find other interesting stuff along the way and it’s also easier to take the info in when I’m not stressed. I was introduced to Refworks today, which is just the best thing since sliced bread and we were shown how to do really refined literature searches which is going to be a great time saver. I also finished my application for funding for my summer research project. I’m really, really looking forward to it. My supervisor said I could do it even if we don’t get funding and is letting me start it after the summer exams to minimize childcare costs. Happy Friday everyone. :-) - Roisin Thomas

The beginning of this week was spent revising for my last exam. I think it went well. I used a mind mapping app that I recently downloaded to make sure I could follow all of the pathways I needed to remember. It was a good test to see if I really understood them and it helped me find some areas that I was weak on. I spent a large part of yesterday catching up on lost sleep and housework and today I've packed away semester one course materials so I have space for this semester's stuff. I've been in contact with my project supervisor for the summer project and I have to start work on my part of the application for funding. I might need a reference from my tutor but I haven't met him yet because I switched degree streams so I'm not sure what to do about that. I might see if my previous tutor can do one instead. I have a test on protein structure next Thursday so I need to revise for that but I promised my daughter I wouldn't work this weekend (before I knew about the test) so next week... more... - Roisin Thomas

I'd definitely ask your former tutor for a reference as the new one won't know you. - Dr Alan Cann

Thanks. I never really had any particular problems so only saw her to get results and discuss changing courses. So she doesn't really know me either. I think I'll have to make sure I make more of an impact on my new tutor as it occurs to me that I don't want my final reference to be based purely on my results. I'm not quite sure how to go about that though. - Roisin Thomas

Wow. I wish we could do this. I always waste the beginning of exams by going into panic mode. I wonder if doing it before you go into the exam room works. Might be worth a try. - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

Have just done this and now my heart is racing and I feel sick! - Roisin Thomas

It actually went really well so maybe there is something in it. :-) - Roisin Thomas

I didn't manage to get all of the work I had planned done today so I am staying up to finish it. I have a table with each lecture on and I get to colour the cell in once I've revised the lecture. I have certain cells allocated to certain days and I can't rest until I've coloured in all the cells. I reckon I am either going to end up getting a first or losing my sanity. - Roisin Thomas

I think I've already lost my sanity, either that, or I never had any in the first place. It sounds like a bit of a plan brewing there :). I'm just the same, I can't rest until those cells have a lovely pink colour to them :D. x - Jaspreet Seehra

Christine Well's lectures usually have a summary of the vital things at the end - I can't remember if they did this time, but last year I used those as a revision guide. Alternatively, try emailing? - Alice Merrill

Thanks Jaspreet. - Roisin Thomas

Anyone know where I can get a toy bow and arrow? I'm not up to wandering around looking from shop to shop and I've tried toys r us. - Roisin Thomas

I hadn't tried dominoes and got one from there in the end. Thanks. - Roisin Thomas

It just shows how far I've come since last year. My mum won't believe it! - Roisin Thomas

I have that book. It must be good. :-) - Roisin Thomas

Sucks :( - Lyndsey Wright

Aww thanks Lyndsey. You were too. You looked so comfortable up there! I had to put my hands in my pocket at one point to hide the shaking! I was very confident in my mind but my body didn't get the message. One kid not too bad, just a medium temp, but the little one went up to 40 degrees earlier. The medicine is bringing it down though. Thank God for Calpol! (Actually..thank science!) - Roisin Thomas

There's something that you'd need to do regarding absences. It's on blackboard under the BioSciences Office Link. Just in case you are not in for the lecture, I will be recording that as well. He went really fast today and I wasn't able to properly keep up.. :-S - Jasper Estranero

They are... trust me! She is a note machine! - Lyndsey Wright

My sons school is closed and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get someone to look after him or even if I can get in myself as my village is covered in sheet ice. I've never missed a lecture and I'm worried I'll miss something I'll need in the exam. I'll email Prof Fry for permission to record if someone can do it. - Roisin Thomas

That's great thank you everyone. - Roisin Thomas

"People often ask if there are short cuts in spotting nonsense. In reality, it’s not easy to do in a checklist, because there are so many elaborate ways to distort evidence, but for me there is one very clear risk factor. The entirety of science is built on transparency, giving your evidence, and engaging with legitimate criticism. If you hear of a company refusing to hand over the evidence they say supports their claims, whether they are a drug company or some dismal cosmetics firm, all you know is that you are being deprived of information, and that vital parts of the picture are missing. If you hear someone is threatening to sue their critics, again, all you know is that people will be intimidated from raising legitimate concerns, and again, you are being deprived of information." - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

Felt like a scientist from an old horror film what with all glass and tubes and bubbles in the organ bath. Only the dry ice was missing. Had to resist the urge to shout "It's alive!" every time the illeum contracted. ;) - Roisin Thomas

"the study suggests that you can’t understand an animal’s evolution simply by considering the evolutionary pressures that act on its genome. You also have to consider the genes of the bacteria and other passengers that live inside it, which also create variations in its behaviour and affect is chances of survival. Sharon calls this the hologenome – the combined genes of a host and all the microbes it contains." Fascinating stuff. Got me wondering if there could ever be antibiotics to cure a broken heart! - Roisin Thomas from Bookmarklet

Hologenome seems to be a neologism for metagenome? - Dr Alan Cann

I suppose that hologenome means its associated mechanisms rather than the method of recovery of the genome? I'm not certain they're meant to mean the same thing. - Alex G. Sarov

Anyone know of any books or websites that can help me interpret the RNA smears and bands from an electrophoresis gel where transcription has taken place? - Roisin Thomas

i'm having trouble too!!! i don't know what i'm missing, but i can't find the answer!!! i've been struggling with this report for 4 days now!!! :S - Andria Pelava