Investigations #3

Cystic fibrosis (CF), in short, is an inherited disorder (passed on from parents) that affects the lungs and the digestive system, causing life-threatening conditions.

Children inherit a defective CFTR gene from their parents to get CF. This gene controls salt and water movement in cells. According to The Mayo Clinic, it affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. Normally, the secretions are thin and slippery. However, in those with CF, the secretions are thick and sticky; this clogs up the ducts and airways.

Symptoms for this disorder include:

- baby's skin tastes salty or is unable to pass stool
- trouble breathing or lung infections
- regular diarrhea, foul-smelling and greasy stools

Treatments include chest physical therapy, exercise, medications, pulmonary rehabilitation.

Reference: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/basics/definition/con-20013731

Picture reference: http://www.ivsolutions.com/~ivsolutions/sites/default/files/CF-lung-symptoms.jpg

Reflections #4

As this is my final post on "Reflections", I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on this course for the past semester.

This course was a bit challenging I have to admit. Cell and Molecular Biology was definitely no Histology course. There were no slides or tissue parts I needed to memorize, but rather to memorize cellular processes, detailed diagrams, and minute cell components and their functions.

I hope the next two days will be productive as I review course material that was covered during the semester as I prepare for the final exam on Tuesday. Although I have other classes to study for, I hope I will spend most of my time studying for this one, as it is, as mentioned, challenging.

My professor has been gracious at times in terms of helping her students with grades, particularly for the second exam, but I know she can only do so much from her part, and that I need to be the one doing work and deserving my grade.

Cell, it's been fun. Thank you for a great semester!

My Dictionary #4

This will be my final post on the definitions on new, interesting, unfamiliar terms.

1. Nitric Oxide - This is a signaling molecule that is paracrine in type. It crosses the plasma membrane by binding to a receptor and affects enzyme activity. Just like the G protein, nitric oxide targets the enzyme, guanylyl cyclase, and thus, makes cyclic GMP. In the body, it affects smooth muscles and blood vessels.

2. Eicosanoids -These are lipid signaling molecules that include prostaglandins, prostacyclin, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. They break down rapidly.

3. Ligand-gated channel - Unlike the voltage-gated channel, these channels do not open based on voltage, but they are activated or opened because of some signaling molecule (ligand).

Encounters #3

This past week, we've been learning about the various types of junctions found in between cells.

Learning about this, it made me think of the highways, and roads we drive on, with all of its traffic rules and regulations. There are different types of regulations implemented that maintain a safe driving environment. And like cell junctions, there are certain things related to traffic regulations that help, particularly the lane markings.

For example, in tight junctions (zonula occludens), it is hard or impossible to pass through or communicate. Just like these junctions, there are yellow lines that prevent any lane changing and it is never to be crossed. Another comparison can be found in the gap junctions, which allow for cell to cell communication. This can be compared with the white lane separations as there is a passage of flow or movement allowed.

It is indeed interesting how cell biology can relate to everyday things.

Picture reference:

https://driversed.com/images/v2008coursecontent/Double_yellow_crossing1.jpg

Investigations #2

Known as the second most common and considered perhaps the most dangerous cancer in women, breast cancer is a disease that unfortunately kills people without giving them a way to treat it.

Some basic knowledge: the breast is primarily made up of glands that make milk and ducts that carry the milk from the glands to the nipple. Other than glands and ducts, breast tissue also has fat, tissue, and blood vessels. Breast cancer usually develops in the milk ducts, but can also develop in the cells of lobules and in tissues.

This occurs due to unregulated cell division - the cells continue to divide and the mitotic cycle is mutated. This can cause the cancerous virus to spread and grow in size, affecting a large portion of the breast. 

A quite common yet deadly form of cancer that is killing many women today.

Picture reference:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/nbcf-production-assets/attachments/000/000/112/standard/8e84ec67fe1ce340f406180617b6061e

My Dictionary #3

Treadmilling Effect - The process that occurs in a dynamic cytoskeletal filament where the rate of addition to the plus end is equal to the rate of removal at the minus end; the filament is constantly changing by it remains the same length.


Nucleation - The process when enough subunits come together to form a filament. 


Tubulin - consists of two protein subunits (alpha and beta tubulin) that make up microtubules. Alpha tubulin binds and maintains GTP, while beta tubulin binds and cycles between GTP and GDP.

Reflections #3

Last week was spring break, so we had a week off from Cello and Molecular Biology; I don't mean this as a good thing. I don't mean this "week-off" from the course as a good thing merely because we had an exam this week and I barely studied for the exam during my spring break.

This exam was the first written exam we had as a class, since the first exam was to make a model. Therefore, I didn't know what to expect from this exam, other than the fact that it was going to be tremendously difficult. With this in mind, I still didn't study that much during spring break. I studied when classes began the Monday after, including staying up late the night before (something that isn't advisable). 

Well, the exam was hard -- more than expected. 

Saying that, I think this was a wake up call for me to start spending more time every single day to prepare for this course. How I did on this exam has made me realize that I cannot expect to pass the exam or (even more) this class if I am not prepared and thus stay up late to study for exams.

Thanks, exam. I will now be a better student in this class.