Monthly Archives: January 2016

Skype chat with stem cell researcher

Posted on by
Reply

In class today we had a skype chat with a stem cell researcher named Dr. Cheris Seg.  I learned a lot about stem cell research and I got to ask her some questions about what she does.  Here is what I learned:

There are 3 types of stem cells: HIPSC stem cells (Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells), embryonic stem cell, and adult stem cells.  Stem cells are basically generalized cells that are not cells to a specific organ.  The stem cells can go thrue process that can make the cells specialize into specific cells, which is a very big medical advancement.

Our question was: What is the most recent advancement in stem cell research?

Answer: The fact that we no longer need to use embryonic stem cells from aborted fetuses, we instead can use pluripotent stem cells where there is much less controversy around harvesting these stem cells.

I DID HAVE A PICTURE BUT EDUBLOG WOULD NOT LET ME PUT IT ON THE POST (SORRY)

 

Mutation Project-Hypertrichosis

Posted on by
1

MUTATION STORY

Hello, my name is hypertrichosis and I am a genetic mutation.  I am made from insertion which is adding amino acids to change the genetic code on my host’s body.  My host’s body is named Franklin.  I change the genetic code in Franklin’s body to make his hair grow uncontrollably all over his body, even in places where hair is not supposed to go such as on his forehead and nose.  Franklin could not control his hair growth at all which caused him to live a different life than most other people.

The main cause of mutations like me happen because you add amino acids into the genetic code which changes the way you’re normal cells function which will make it so the hair will grow excessively in either one bizarre place (localised hypertrichosis) or through the whole body (generalised hypertrichosis).  Franklin has generalised hypertrichosis so it is very difficult to control his hair growth.

THE MAKING OF MUTATION STORY

Ask: What causes this type of mutation?

What affects does it have?

How can I make an interesting story out of this information?

Acquire: I got the information by doing a quick google search.  I used a few different websites as you can see in my sources category.

Analyze: In this stage I basically just thought to myself: How can I make this information work with the goal of this project.  I then began to write in my own words the information that I wanted to use in my story.

Apply: As I was applying the information, I referred to the questions I asked at the start and I wrote the story according to those questions. (as well as the criteria sheet questions).

Assess: When I was finished with the story I reanalyzed it.  I think the information process went well.  I maybe could have done more just to make the story more interesting but I think I got a good result none the less.  The information fluency process can be applied with a lot of other things in school too, so it’s a useful thing to know.

 

 

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrichosis

https://www.google.ca/search?q=hypertrichosis&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiq6qazr6LKAhVO0GMKHTHRD3YQ_AUIBygB&biw=1280&bih=752&dpr=1.5#imgrc=TJegKVbh83xIIM%3A

 

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=hypertrichosis

 

Edible DNA Model

Posted on by
Reply

In science class today we made a DNA model with marsh mellows and licorice.  We used the colors of the marsh mellows to associate the model with the code TAC GTA TGA AAC.  The green marsh mellows Guanine (G), the pink is Cytosine (C), the yellow is Adenine (A), and orange is Thymine (T).WIN_20160108_09_43_02_Pro