Science News

On April 27, 2008, Researches at Virgina Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have discovered a special protein called Heme Detoxification encoded in the malaria genome. The discovery could lead to new drugs being made to prevent malaria. The team has demonstrated that the protein plays a role in protecting plasmodium as pathogens pursue infection of its host. Link

This discovery could lead to many new drugs to prevent the spread of malaria. That would be a great help to us because many people have died of malaria. This discovery could also lead to discovery of new drugs for other diseases. This is another step to curing all diseases.

Eye Dissection/Guest Speaker

Today we listened to Dr. Fong present about her job as an optometrist. She studies eyes and the way they work. She explained to us how the eye works and showed us pictures of the eye. We saw many pictures. Some pictures were from the back of the eye. It was amazing to see it from the back. It showed all the blood vessels and the dark spot where most vision occurs. We also learned that they eye can be a source of other medical observations. You can tell how old someone is by looking at the eye and even if they have high blood pressure. I found that amazing because i never thought that was possible. Eye Link

We then dissected sheep eyes. It was pretty gross but it was also interesting. I got to see the inside of the eye, which was pretty interesting. It had jelly and a hard thing. I found it funny that the inside was shiny green. It was a good experience and i hope that we can dissect more things in the future.

Megabat - Megachiroptera

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Pteropus
Secies: Tokudae

Megabats, commonly known as fruit bats, live only in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australasia, and Oceania.

Megabats range in size from 2 inches to 16 inches. Their wing span can reach almost 5 feet wide. Most bats have large eyes used to obtain light inside caves and forests. These bats do not follow the rule of ecoholocation and instead have an incredible sense of smell. Megabats are also carriers of the Marbug Virus, a disease highly dangerous to humans.

Megabats eat fruits or lick nectar from flowers. The bats often crush the fruit and consume only the fruit juice. They have developed teeth that are able to bite through hard skins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabat

Guest Presenter

Today we listened to a guest speaker named Louise Mead. She talked about evidence of evolution over millions of year and the product of it now. She works for a company that travels around spreading the theory of evolution.

I'm glad to learn about it because i am interested in the evolution theory. It's amazing how different species can have so many similar parts.

Bone Marrow Transplant

December 4, 2007 6:03 PM

A new discovery in bone marrow transplant may help provide an important step in developing artificial nerves. At Kyoto University School of Medicine, researchers published in an issue of Cell Transplantation their discovery. Transplanted bone marrow cells, containing adult stem cells protected by a 15mm. silicon tube supported by bio-engineered materials, help regenerate damaged nerves.

Artificial nerves taken from a variety of cells then transplanted to nerve damaged areas have always been considered as an option other than grafting. Before the discovery of a way to regenerate damaged nerves, scientists have not been able to regenerate axons with sufficient vascularity or length to bridge the nerve gaps.

I feel that this discovery is a starting point for more and more discoveries to be made about nerve damage and regeneration. Many people have nerve damage and never completely recover. This discovery will help set the way for people with those injuries to find treatment in the near future.

Lab

Yesterday, we did a lab experiment in biology class. First we created a gel mold and placed it into buffer. Then we injected different chemicals into each square in the gel mold and turned the electricity. The chemicals moved either to the rite or to the left, determining if it was positive or negative charge.

Snail Experiment

we observed the reactions of vinegar on snails and viewed the bottom of the snail when they moved across the lens. While moving across the lens, we could see the wavey patterns underneath the snail's body.