Cracking the Code of Life: Reflection

sHello again! Today I will be talking about and reflecting on the documentary “Cracking the Cod of Life” on PBS that discusses the Human Genome Project, its effects and the issues that surround it.

Source: PBS

The documentary mainly discusses the Human Genome Project (HGP), the process of completing the project, how it could help genetics and determining disease and other various effects. The documentary did a very good job explaining what the project was, in simple terms, what its goals are and what the main “players” are, for example DNA, genes, and proteins. It provides scientifically accurate information in a simple manner, which I thought was great.

Simple diagram of the relationship between DNA and genes
Source: deskarati

The documentary also discusses genetic disorders and issues that are caused by faulty genes and what the HGP will be able to do to help identify what genes cause what disease.  By using examples of diseases like cystic fibrosis and Tay Sach’s disease, I was able to better understand how one mutation in one letter in one gene can affect people’s lives greatly and how this project can help fix this problem.

Difference between healthy CF gene and mutated CF gene.
Source: genome.gov

The groups and people who actually researched and completed the HGP are discussed, like Celera. Celera is the outside company who worked on the HGP that forced the government, or public, program to move faster. Private businesses and the pros and cons of them in the science industry were discussed and I personally think some involvement is good, but companies should not be able to patent genes because it prevents others from possibly researching and finding a cure to a disease in that gene.

 

Finally, the documentary discussed ethics associated with genes, gene alteration, medical privacy and more. The HGP and learning more information about genes could eventually lead to tests being created to identify whether you have a certain gene for a disease and possibly even influence how your child will look, though the latter is unlikely. I personally think parents should not be able to alter their child’s DNA to make them look a certain way, for a disease I see the benefit, however changing a child’s appearance is not in the natural order of things. The knowledge we will have must be used wisely, as with any amount of knowledge, the power can be abused and alter the way life should be and the natural order of things.

Source: hawaii.edu

After watching this documentary, I greatly appreciate the work scientists did for the Human Genome Project, it is a great step forward in science that will help us understand all other parts of human life. Though this knowledge could lead down a society altering road, I believe that the benefits will outweigh the negative possibilities. Finding, identifying and eventually coming up with a cure to a genetic disease is a possibility now due to the HGP, and that could change many people’s lives. Science and discovery such as the Human Genome Project are vital to furthering our understanding of humans and life. I would strongly recommend to watch this movie if you are interested in science, genetics or just want to know more about why genetics is so important. Thanks for reading!

Save the Bay: Post Trip Reflection

Hello again! Today I will be reflecting on my experience participating in Save the Bay volunteering for a school trip!

 

My AP biology class had the opportunity to work with Save the Bay as part of their restoration and DIRT project. We collected data, which included location salinity, pH levels, moisture content and physical attributes of soil of various plots in the Palo Alto marshlands. This field trip is considered to be citizen science. Below is a video giving an introduction to Save the Bay.

 

 

Citizen science is when data is collected and analyzed by the general public, usually as part of a collaborative project with scientists. Citizen science is important because it brings science and research to the community so they are more informed about scientific issues. By participating, citizens can do seemingly complex scientific research so scientists will have more data to analyze. As a citizen scientist, I believe we made a difference in how we view the environment as well as helping Save the Bay analyze dirt samples to make sure the dirt is healthy and life sustaining. I’m very happy I had the chance to participate in citizen science, as it allows normally people without a special degree to research and get their hands dirty.  Doing this research, I was able to learn some scientific facts that I would have otherwise not known.

 

Permission to use by: Mrs. Girard

 

 

I learned a lot on this trip and here are three scientific things I learned:

– Simpson’s Diversity Index. This is an equation that we used to measure the amount of plant diversity in each 1 meter by 1 meter plot. The values range from 0, with no diversity, to 1 with lots of diversity by taking in account the number of species and the number of each species.

– That the marshlands have many non-native plant species that take away nutrients from the native plants. Non-native plants include Alkali health, and pickle weed which have medical uses and can be even used as food.

-Salinity in the soil increases as it gets closer to the waters edge. This is due to being covered by water when the tides are high. This also means that the soil has a lot higher moisture content than soil not covered by water.

 

To find out some more facts about plants and animals at the marshlands, visit Virtual Marsh, run by the restoration team!

Permission to use by: Mrs. Girard

I also was able to make direct connections with what was learned on the field trip and what we are learning in biology. First, the moisture readings for four out of our five sites was at 0%, showing how little water there is in the soil. This connects to my biology class because in biology, we focused on FLOW, a documentary informing the public on the reality of water and its availability around the world (click here for a link to my opinion on FLOW). This documentary discusses the scarcity of water in various places and how we need to be aware of how much water is being used, and this is important for Californians right now because we are in such a severe drought. This severe drought is resulting in plants not getting enough water, and thus, dying. Along with this connection, we learned how certain plants (pickle weed) adapt to deal with the changing tides, because sometimes these plants are covered in water, while other times they are feet above water. These adaptations are caused by genetic mutations to survive and thrive. In biology we learned about evolution, which is how and why organisms adapt, and pickle weed is a perfect example of this. Along with learning more about science and biology, this trip created memories too!

 

Pickleweed
Permission to use by: Mrs. Girard

This field trip created a lot of little memories with my classmates, but the one that stood out was eating pickle weed. I never knew you could eat those plants, so when people started eating bits of pickleweed, I was surprised. However, after trying it, I realized the plant tastes pretty good. It had a unique, salty taste and I will never forget picking a wild plant and just eating it. That experience was really fun, along with many others, however there are some things I would change about the program.

 

Permission to use by: Mrs. Girard

I thought the research and investigations done were fun and will help the Bay, I, however, would have liked more interaction or information on the animals in the area, if possible. I’m very interested in animals, so I was slightly disappointed there wasn’t very much information regarding animals, however, I understand that the program was focused on dirt and plants. I also felt like we didn’t get to see much of the Bay itself, we saw the marshland we were working on, however I think it would be fun to take a quick hike to actually go to the edge of the Bay and be able to see it from a different angle then normal. Aside from these suggestions, it was a great experience!

 

Permission to use by: Mrs. Girard

 

I personally had a great time and I thought that the field trip was worth it. We got to experience real, scientific field work while also helping out the environment and helping preserve the Bay. Even though it was a bit chilly and windy, I really enjoyed myself working in nature, taking down data and doing so with my friends. I definitely think future classes should go because it was a great chance to do something different!

 

If you want to volunteer, visit http://www.savesfbay.org! Thanks for reading!

 

 

Save the Bay: Pre-trip Thoughts

Hello again! Today I will be discussing the upcoming field trip that my AP Biology class is taking, what I hope to get out of it and my general thoughts on field trips and interactive learning.

 

Source: fccb.org

 

My AP Biology class is participating in a volunteer program through Save the Bay that looks at dirt in the tidal marshes and asses pH levels, salinity levels and more. The DIRT program is an interactive and hands on way for students to get involved in helping restore the SF bay and keep it clean. We are going to be volunteering our time for a great cause and I’m very excited for the field trip.

 

In my opinion, field trips are great opportunities for students to expand their learning outside of the classroom and apply their classroom knowledge to real world situations and problems. This type of volunteer, science related field trip not only shows up what we can do to help save the bay, but it also relates to what we are learning in biology and it applies what we learn to help society. Field trips are often seen as a waste of time or chances for students to not go to school and learn, however, if done right, field trips are just as valuable, if not more valuable, than in-class learning.

 

Source: designarchives.aiga.org

 

 

I hope to learn more about the Bay’s ecosystem, its state and what I can do to increase awareness of this problem. I also want to learn about plants, animals and other factors that I wouldn’t normally learn in biology class. Learning about certain species or soil samples is something that is not covered in school curriculum, and I personally enjoy learning about the real world applications and topics, not just memorizing a textbook. With this learning, I also hope to make an impact on the environment and how we as a society approach the Bay and its conservation.

 

Source: spur.org

 

This volunteer project is supposed to inform the Save the Bay organization about soil data that will help volunteers and members of Save the Bay to know what plants should be placed where and what the ecosystem needs, in terms of nutrients. I hope this data provides them with this information and helps keep tidal marshes healthy and thriving, with the little area they have to grow.

 

I’m very excited to volunteer and get my hands dirty for this amazing cause. Make sure to check out Save the Bay’s website, http://www.savesfbay.org, to find out more information about their cause.

 

 

Heart Disease in Women: A Healthy Solution

Hello again! Today I will be talking about what other members of my Sports Med and myself did to increase awareness of heart disease and help prevent heart disease!

 

We used the Design Thinking Model to create our product, which is this website. There are five steps: Empathize, Design, Ideate, Prototype and Test. I will describe briefly what we did for each step to create our website to help lower the rate of heart disease in women!

Design Model Thinking Process

We initially began our project learning about heart disease in women, who’s affected, what the causes are, what the symptoms are and other statistics on how many women are killed each year and more. We empathized with those with heart disease, learning what they are going through, why and how there is no real cure to heart disease, only ways to manage it. Women that have heart disease, we realized, are usually older, in less physical form than they should be and often genetics play a role. However, because heart disease is so prevalent and widespread, there is no real definition for women who have heart disease, any women can get it, which is the scary part. Check out this video, a PSA I helped create, for some more quick facts on heart disease.

We learned that heart disease in women is usually caused by other factors in one’s health, which lead us to believe that if the initial health of a women can be kept on track, the number of women with heart disease could be lowered. If a women has previous health issues, her likelihood of developing heart disease increases. Health issues are caused by poor diet, lack of exercise and lack of healthy habits. Overall health, specifically diet and exercise, I believe, is what I defined as the main problem that could, and should, be addressed.

To address this problem, my group members and I brainstormed and came up with various ideas. Because of the limited amount of time we had to work together, we concluded that a virtual product would be best so we could collaborate on our own time and in our own homes. We wanted to make a product that could be seen by many people and could offer a simple solution to a complex problem. We determined that diet and exercise are key, controllable factors that we could inform, give ideas on and motivate people to live healthier lifestyle. We brainstormed solutions that were virtual, and could address health, and we could have done an app, a Facebook group or page, or various other virtual products. However, we decided to create a completely new website.

 

The prototype that we decided to create is a website, helpforhearts.wordpress.com, that gives information on heart disease, as a background, places to donate and volunteer, but mainly it lists healthy recipes and workouts for people to refer to so they can improve on a certain portion of their diet or daily exercise. Many people don’t know that healthy can taste good, and so the goal of the website is to create a location where people at risk or that have heart disease can go on, search a recipe for dinner and have a multitude of healthy options that will help improve their health and heart disease.

The home page of our website

The website is only recently published so we cannot say whether it has made an impact or not yet, however there have been a couple of visitors, which is a positive sign. There are multiple tabs, drop down menus and features that make the website, in my opinion, visually appealing. We have asked some people, and they said that they enjoyed the website, finding it helpful with tips on being healthy for diet and exercise. We hope to gain more feedback on what we should improve and how we can bring even more awareness to this disease and how to prevent it. I cannot determine whether impact on heart disease itself has been made, however, I hope that this website gives people more ideas and creative ways to stay healthy and fit, while enjoying themselves!

 

Researching women and heart disease, coming up with solutions and creating this website was a great experience that I learned a lot from. It is a horrible disease that needs more awareness and solutions and I hope the website and tips help the goal of more awareness and more prevention.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and remember to check out our website to see how you can help!

 

 

Sources Used:

Women’s Heart Foundation

CDC

The Heart Foundation

American Heart Association

Mayo Clinic

 

My Opinion on Do Now: Project-Based Learning

Hello again! Today I will be sharing my opinion on the KQED Do Now regarding Project-Based Learning.

 

Project-based learning is the idea that students research and discover the topics themselves. Students make conclusions on a topic on their own and there is an emphasis on teamwork and becoming more skilled in practical techniques such as research and problem solving. Lectures and traditional schooling techniques are kept to a minimum and the classes are a lot more hands on. Some schools have implemented this project-based strategy of teaching, but the majority of schools still use traditional note and lecture classes.

Picture found here: goo.gl/R4fl4M

 

Here’s a video that discusses project-based learning and the keys to its success:

 

I believe that project-based learning can really benefit students if done correctly. It provides opportunities for students to learn about the topic in their own way, discover the information in a unique way and look at real applications to topics that are normally simply talked about in textbooks. Information would be more memorable and the process of discovering the answer is emphasized. The process becomes another part that students learn, as well as the information for the class.

Picture found here: http://goo.gl/CeNfUx

I am in a class, AP Biology, that has taken on this approach of project-based learning. It is not completely project-based, however, we have done projects and researched topics on our own to help our understanding of the material. For example, I have a post, here, that was conducted individually as a research project to help us understand photosynthesis. The class is focused on labs and group work, rather than lectures and notes, and I think for that class it works with moderation. There should be a mix of project-based learning and lectures, as the material is complex.

Picture of a chromatography lab done in biology that we did to learn about the different pigments in plant leaves

There are many upsides to project-based learning in that the topics covered are gone further in depth, the work done is applicable to real life and communication and teamwork are key. However, I am concerned that it may not cover enough information, due to the fact states still give out standardized tests. Even though project-based learning is effective, in my experience, it takes longer to fully understand the topic, and this could hinder students who want to take AP tests or are required to take standardized tests. Because of this, I emphasize my point that project-based learning should be used in moderation and traditional methods should still be implemented so students can get a basis for the projects and get a feel for the information before they apply it.

Picture found here: http://goo.gl/SGZs5R

I think that my high school should implement project-based learning because of the many benefits and the lack of standardized testing that public schools often require. If project-based learning is approached and done correctly and with the students’ best interests in mind, I think it could be beneficial at my school and at many other schools that have the resources to make it work.

 

 

Here are some websites that have more information on project-based learning if you would like some more information about the movement:

1. Project Based Learning: BIE
2. New Tech Network
3. US News Article on PBL

Comment with your opinion on project-based learning and thank you for reading!

My Opinion on the Response to the Ebola Outbreak

Hello again! Today I will be discussing and giving my opinion on the Ebola outbreak that has taken more than 2,000 lives. The Ebola virus has been around for years, however, there has never been an outbreak as large as the one during 2014. This deadly virus has no known cure or vaccine, which makes it even deadly for countries without proper medical supplies and facilities. The West African countries affected do not have the ability to contain the virus and don’t have enough high quality medical supplies to prevent the virus from spreading and killing people. This epidemic needs to be contained and I believe it is necessary for countries like the United States to help fight Ebola.

 

Pictures found here and here

The US and other powerful first world countries should begin to provide more relief, supplies and even share knowledge on a treatment for Ebola with the countries of West Africa. I feel like it is the duty of countries with more resources to help those with little resources or else many more people are going to do when those infected could be saved. The US could assist countries in controlling the epidemic by giving them medical supplies, creating isolation units and even preventing family members and others from contact with infected people. These would be difficult to successfully get to the right people, however, once the supplies and personnel reach the hospitals and clinics, I believe any support would help the situation.

Picture found here

I also think the US and other countries should continue to research a vaccine and collaborate with one another to find a vaccine quicker. There are concerns that the vaccine would get into the wrong hands, however I believed if the virus is handled and transported properly and the proper precautions are taken, the benefits will outweigh the risks. Sharing knowledge and resources are the most important and helpful actions the US can take to assist those in West Africa and prevent an even bigger outbreak. To learn more about the Ebola virus, what contributions are being made and how you can help, click on the following links:

1. World Health Organization and information about the disease itself
2. Doctors Without Borders efforts
3. Red Cross efforts

Also, CBS and BBC each have good news and video coverage of Ebola and what’s currently happening. I watched some and found them very useful, so I encourage you to check them out as well! Feel free to leave comments and give your take on the situation. And as always, thanks for reading!

FLOW: Response

Hello again! Today I’m going to be talking about the movie FLOW and the associated problems with water control and distribution in the world.

The film, FLOW: For Love of Water, is a documentary that discussed water, water in poorer countries and areas and the privatization of water in the US and other countries abroad. Water is a precious resource and before watching this film, I had not realized how limited water is to poorer nations and as a resource in general. Nations in Africa, areas in India and other underdeveloped areas must walk miles to get unfiltered, unclean water because they do not want to pay the high prices of tap water set by greedy, multi-national corporations.

 Pictures found here and here

Seeing videos of people walking miles for unclean and unsafe water was a real wake up call to me. I knew not everybody had access to clean water, but I did not think that people would be forced to put their lives on the line because they have no other source or the source is too expensive. Big corporations, like Nestle, try to “donate” and make it seem like they are putting real effort in to making wells and making water cheaper, however, big corporations only care about profit and their stockholders and even these “relief efforts” make profit for the company.

 Picture found here

FLOW opened my eyes to the reality of the water crisis worldwide and I have realized that more action from, people that are more privileged and have the ability to donate, is necessary. I am going to be more aware of the water I use and how to conserve it, as well as participating in any efforts to help those without water through donations and other relief efforts. There is a YouTube video below that briefly addresses the water crisis as a whole, I encourage you to check it out! If you want to get more involved and donate, learn more or help with efforts to improve water distribution worldwide, click here, here or here for more information and places to donate.

Thanks for reading!

 

Disclaimer: FLOW, the pictures and the YouTube video are not created by me.

Introduction to Sports Physicians

Hello again! Today I’m writing about who Sports Physicians are, what they do and why they interest me!

You’ve probably heard of Physicians before, they are the normal doctors that you go to see for your check-up. However, Sports Physicians are different, more specialized doctors that prevent and treat injuries and conditions that relate to sports and athletics. Sports Physicians help athletes diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injuries, and they are often the athlete’s main doctor. They work in a wide variety of environments, ranging from hospitals and clinics to colleges or professional sports teams. Some Sports Physicians even have the training to perform surgical procedures, but most don’t and instead focus on the general care of the athlete. Sports Physicians are very flexible in that they have many choices in where to work, what to specialize and even what type of athletes they work with, whether it be professional or amateur.

Picture found here: http://goo.gl/VE7zGD

The variety of options and choices is the main reason that I’m interested in Sports Physicians. I’m not sure what I would like to do, but being able to work with athletes and sports would be amazing, as I am very passionate about athletics. It also incorporates biology and human physiology, which I enjoy learning about. The occupation itself is very interesting, however it is a very long road to become a Sports Physician.

Picture found here: http://goo.gl/ND72GC

After you get a Bachelors degree with a foundation in biology, chemistry and physics, you must take the MCAT, or the Medical College Admission Test. Then, you must apply and attend a medical school for another 4 years to become either a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or a Doctor of Medicine (MD). There are differences between the two degrees, but MD is the most common. After medical school is complete, you must complete residency programs to become either a Primary care sports physician or an Orthopedic surgeon, both of which are a type of Sports Physician, with a primary care sports physician being more flexible with what they do. There are other steps such as fellowships and certifications, which are the final steps to officially becoming a Sports Physician.

 

It’s a long process to become a Sports Physician, however, I think it would be rewarding to have the ability to help athletes become healthy, pursue their dreams and be a positive figure in many people’s lives. I encourage anybody interested in sports and biology to look into becoming a Sports Physician, as it combines the best of both worlds.

 

To learn more about Sports Physicians, click here, here or even look at the references below which I used to learn more about Sports Physicians. I have also linked a YouTube video that briefly explains what a Sports Medicine Physician does from a doctor’s point of view.

 

 

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed my brief overview on Sports Physicians!

 

 

Works cited:

Anderson, L. C. “Ethical Issues Concerning New Zealand Sports Doctors.” Journal of Medical Ethics 31.2 (2005): 88-92. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Web. 7 Sept. 2014. <http://www.amssm.org/BrochureImages/WhatisaSportsMe-1.pdf>.

“How to Become a Sports Doctor.” InnerBody. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Sept. 2014. <http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-a-sports-doctor.html>.

“Sports Medicine Physician: Education and Training Requirements.” Education Portal. Education Portal, n.d. Web. 08 Sept. 2014. <http://education-portal.com/articles/Sports_Medicine_Physician_Education_and_Training_Requirements.html>.

“What Are Some Popular Sports Medicine Careers?” Degree Directory. Degree Diretory, n.d. Web. 08 Sept. 2014. <http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_are_Some_Popular_Sports_Medicine_Careers.html>.

 

 

 

 

Properties of Water!

Hello again! Here is an extra credit assignment for AP Biology explaining a little experiment that Abi Grassler and I did with a coke bottle, water, toothpicks and mesh. In the video, we explain what is going on at the molecular level that makes this experiment happen. I hope you enjoy it!

Introduction to the diets of Dolphins

Hello! This is my first blog post and I’d like to talk about my research I did this summer and how it got me excited for AP biology.

So this summer I was part of an internship at the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab in the Mehta Lab. This internship allowed me to research and look at the diets of marine mammals in the family Delphinidae.

 

The research was conducted to gain more insight into what Delphinidae eat, because eventually the data will contribute to a marine mammal database that has information on diet and all other components of marine mammals’ lives. My mentor had done diet analysis for phocids, and decided that I could undertake the task for other marine mammals, and I chose to do Delphinidae.

 

I was the main researcher on this project, but I was mentored and guided by Sarah Kienle, and Rita Mehta, Chris Law and Vikram Baliga all gave me advice and helped me when needed.

Before I even started looking at diet information, I familiarized myself with Delphinidae and found that not just dolphins are in the family, but also whales such as Killer Whales, Pilot Whales and Right Whale Dolphins. Once I did this, I mined through databases and other works of literature to find all possible diet information on the 39 species of dolphins.

Picture found here

I took the data I found in literature and in papers and calculated the overall diet composition for each dolphin species using an equation. I am not sure if I am allowed to share this data publicly yet, so I’m not going to provide the exact results. However, I will give some basic information on my results. I found that overall, within Delphinidae, the major prey species is Actinopterygii, or ray-finned fishes. Cephalopoda, or squids, are also a large portion of dolphins’ diet. Each specific delphinid species has a different major prey species, however that would be a lot of information and detail for this brief overview.

Picture found here

I’m not going to go into more detail about the results, however, the results are complete and can lead to future studies relating to dietary data. The results will eventually be put up, on a database I believe, however I am not sure how soon or exactly where it will be.

 

The data collected from this project is valuable because it provides insight into what exactly Delphinidae are eating, that means we know what to feed them if they are in captivity and how fluctuations in fish and squid numbers will affect dolphins. Also, by knowing what they eat, we can also look at the morphology of Delphinidae and see how diet and morphology correlate. Finally, by learning what fish Delphinidae eat, scientists can see if the fish being consumed have high levels of mercury or other toxins and eventually see the chain reaction in the food chain. To learn more about dolphin diet and mercury, watch the video below!

 

 

I’m very happy that I got the opportunity to do this research and it really showed me what I’m interested in and what researching involves. I’m looking forward to more research opportunities and chances to work with marine mammals!

 

Pictures from:

The group picture I have permission from Chris Law to use