Sam Rowbotham

Leukaemia is a form of cancer which affects the white blood cells, where bone marrow produces immature white blood cells rather than normal ones. This means therefore that these blood cells cannot fight infection as normals ones can. This article shows the most common mutation is in the Npm1 gene, as well as 2 other types of mutations which are less common. This is an interesting discovery which puts genetics to use - #BS1005 - Sam Rowbotham from Bookmarklet

Had a relatively busy weekend with going to the BSS ball, swimming in varsity and various other things including finishing my last practical report for #BS1008. Glad to have just handed that in. Got my #BS1009 practical booklet back and extremely happy with my mark, especially with the amount of effort I put into it which I think is really reflected in the mark. I also got the results of the #BS1008 ecology practical back and I am really happy with the mark in that as well. The last week has been relatively relaxed in relation to university work but started to crack into my revision now to take the pressure off over easter. Got to give this week an 9/10. - Sam Rowbotham

This article reminded me of the condition Xeroderma Pigmentosum which was mentioned in the lectures in #BS1005 and i've recently come across in my revision for this module. This disease is a recessive genetic disease, where the ability of the body to repair damage done to DNA by UV light is reduced. The mechanism of repair which is used is SOS repair which is where random DNA bases are used to repair DNA. It is a highly flawed process which results in the production of the melanomas found in Xeroderma Pigmentosum sufferers. - Sam Rowbotham from Bookmarklet

Been getting a lot of revision done over the last week to prepare for my exams next term, even spent my whole Sunday in the library starting my revision for #BS1005. Started picking my modules for next year and the 3rd year and keep changing my mind constantly between the modules which I want to do and balancing those with the modules I have to do to remain on the genetics degree. Had my last #bs1006 practical today which I really enjoyed and now just have to do the write up and have my last #bs1008 practical tomorrow. Really enjoyed the range of modules this term and hoping my exams reflect this. - Sam Rowbotham

Last Week was a really good week with the start of 2 new modules which I think could be my favourite two modules of the year. Introduction to physiology, #BS1006 seems to be very similar to my A level PE course which is really good and environmental and evolutionary biology, #BS1008 relates very well to A level biology. Had the first practical for #BS1006 on thursday, which involved taking blood pressure and heart rate before an after exercise and doing a ECG. Although simple, I found the experiment interesting, especially comparing your results to other peoples. Really enjoying the new change in timetable, just going to make sure I try and use the spare time to catch up on my revision notes. - Sam Rowbotham

This article on Huntington's disease relates to the tutorial in #BS1005 which we had last week, when we had to work out the chances of children getting the disease by looking at their pedigree. This article is really interesting as it explains a bit more about the symptoms of huntingtons disease and what is done once the symptoms start to present themselves, as no cure is currently available. - Sam Rowbotham

Been a very busy week so far with so many deadlines close together, luckily I have managed to hand everything in on time so far and im pretty sure ive done them to the best of my ability. Have planned my time well this week, staying up till 12.30am the last few nights to get all my work finished. Had the last #BS1005 practical today which I am disappointed about as they really were the most interesting practical, although I think I was actually better at the #BS1009 ones which finished on tuesday. Looking forward to the change in modules and timetable next week as I can use the extra time to do revision notes for the modules which I have just finished and try and get ahead on the work i'll have to do over easter. - Sam Rowbotham

This article relates to the lecture which we just had in #BS1005 on the Lac Operon. The Lac Operon is a system which is used by E.Coli which allows the bacteria to produce proteins specifically when they are needed. When lactose is not present as a substrate, the repressor protein binds to the operator stopping transcription, however when lactose is present, the lactose binds to the repressor protein stopping it binding to the operator, allowing the LacZ, LacA and LacY genes to be expressed to utilize the lactose. - Sam Rowbotham

Had quite a busy end to the week as usual with a 9-6 day on Thursday. Actually really enjoyed the practical in #BS1013 on Friday, despite most people saying they hated it. Got a lot of work to do this weekend as I have a lot of deadlines coming up over the next weeks; practical report in for #BS1013 on Tuesday, practical booklet for #BS1009 and essay for #BS1005 in for Thursday. For this weekend I am going to concentrate heavily of my essay for #BS1005 as it is going to take a while to get my head around what I need to do. Looking forward to the change in my timetable after next week, so the workload can reduce a little! - Sam Rowbotham

Its a nice feeling..I think I may always do mine on a thursday too. Dont have to be worrying on Wednesday evening! - Paul Allen

Had a good end to last week and start of this week. Really enjoyed the practical in #BS1013 on friday and the write up was nice and simple as well which always helps. Started writing my essay for #BS1009 and need to start the essay for #BS1005 as soon as I can. It is definitely my aim to finish both the essay within the next week so organisation is going to be key. Had a good start to this week with another interesting practical in #BS1009, have to say I think they are my favourite practicals. Hopefully will be a good end to the week as well. - Sam Rowbotham

This article relates to the lecture which we had today on adaptive radiation, although unlike the lecture, this article focuses on the adaptive radiation in Pseudomonas rather than Stickleback. This article talks about the development of a special genotype called Wrinkly Spreader (WS). - Sam Rowbotham

Really enjoyed this week so far, although there has been a lot of hard work to be doing, 7/10. Handed in my practical report and tutorial essay on tuesday for #BS1013, very happy to have them out the way. Today I started my #BS1009 essay as well and I dont think it will be as hard as I originally though. Really enjoying the start of the new animal lectures in #BS1013 also, especially with the new lecturer who I had for my tutorials. I think I am more organised than last term, finishing my essays with more time to spare, which is useful as this term we seem to have more work to complete. - Sam Rowbotham

This article is interesting related to both the lectures and last weeks practicals in #BS1005 by discussing different mutations in Drosophila which can cause seizures. - Sam Rowbotham

Had a lot of deadlines for this week and had to spend the weekend at nationals swimming for the uni, so forgot to do my diary for last week. Last week was another jam packed week as I was trying to get ,my essay finished for #BS1013 for my deadline yesterday, luckily managed it. When combining this with a very long practical report also for #BS1013, it made for a very busy weekend. Still really enjoying the #BS1005 modules, especially the practicals and the lectures with Dr.Meacock and looking forward to the animal lectures from #BS1013. - Sam Rowbotham

In the #BS1005 lecture this morning, Dr.Meacock mentioned that there is a high correlation between mutations and the increase in colon cancer which is elaborated on in this article. - Sam Rowbotham

This article is really interesting, very related to the lecture we had this week in #BS1005 (Genes), to do with the effects of transposable elements, which can jump between chromosomes, causing genes to become inactive when they jump into the middle of a gene. - Sam Rowbotham

Had a really busy first week back and the new timetable is really different to the one last term with 9hours of practicals. Really enjoyed starting the new modules, especially the #BS1005 Genes module as this is the area I will be carrying on with next year. The work is already piling up with an essay for #BS1009 and #BS1013 and a practical report to write for #BS1013. Also trying to keep on top of my lecture notes by typing them up as I go along in the modules, so I am trying to keep as organised as possible. - Sam Rowbotham

True.. Theres alot of work and we've only had one week!! - Neelam Dave

This relates to Christine Wells' lectures in #BS1015 on Metabolism including catabolism and anabolism and discusses how different features of these processes can increase the risk of getting a cardiovascular disease. - Sam Rowbotham