BioEntrepreneurial Idea

I believe that almost every teenager has a problem of acne, which can easily take away a person's self-esteem and increase the feelings of anxiety, insecurity and self hatred, resulting in withdrawal from the social environment into a private world of pain and shame.






So, I think that people would surely pay for an acne product that can guarantee that it can eliminate all the acnes in an hour and no acnes can ever grow back again without any negative impact on the skin. Also, the product needs to be suitable to use for people at all ages and it has to be cheap so that more people can afford to buy it.


If there is really an acne product like this, I believe that many people will buy it or at least I will. Therefore, I am optimistic about the future of this product.

Biological Breakthrough

Nanodevice Synthesis Revolutionizes Biological Sensors

An interdisciplinary team of engineers in the Yale Institute for Nanoscience and Quantum Engineering has invented a synthesizing nanowires (NWs), which allows their direct integration with microelectronic systems for the first time, as well as their ability to act as highly sensitive biomolecule detectors that could revolutionize biological diagnostic applications.

This study focuses on device and sensor performance, the strength of the approach lies in seamless integration with CMOS technology.

These NWs are structurally stable and demonstrate an unprecedented sensitivity as sensors for detection of antibodies and other biologically important molecules.

The sensor also has the ability to differentiate between immune system cells based on their function and with label-free reagents.

Schematic of nanowire sensors operating in solution.

Reflection:

I think this invention is an essential breakthrough in science.

It was a remarkable collaboration, not only of biomedical, and electrical, but also of mechanical engineering with chemistry and applied physics.

I think this sensor will solve many medical problems to cure different diseases and save more human lives.

I believe that these nanosensors can soon replace current technology with a solid-state device and the results promise to radically change the way we assay for these cells.

Cardinal Health - global healthcare company

Cardinal Health is an $87 billion global manufacturer and distributor of medical and surgical supplies and technologies dedicated to making healthcare safer and more productive.

Their customers are located on five continents and include hospitals, medical centers, retail and mail-order pharmacies, clinics, physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare providers.

They distribute an unrivaled selection of medical products and supplies to hospitals, laboratories, surgical centers and physician offices. They also provide integrated supply chain and logistics solutions to help control costs, improve efficiencies and increase effectiveness.

On the other hand, they develop and manufacture essential medical and surgical products used in healthcare's most frequently performed procedures. Products include infection-prevention supplies, such as gloves, masks, drapes and gowns; interventional radiological products; respiratory care products and services; surgical instruments; and clinical laboratory products.

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My Reflection:

After learning about the information about Cardinal Health Inc, I understand more about the organization of biological companies. I think their jobs are very important because everyone can be sick at anytime, so that someone has to figure out the ways to cure the patient in an effective way. I especially appreciate Cardinal Health company 's slogan "Our mission is to make health care safer and more productive." I think that human lives are really valuable and all people have a right to live healthily. Therefore, I hope that the health companies can develop more medicines and treatments to cure all diseases. Furthermore, I think this career is very appreciatable and I wish that more people will work for healthcare companies.

Guest lecture: Anatomy and Pathology of Eyes

Today, Dr. Pamela Fong had a guest lecture in my biology 2nd period class.

First of all, Dr. Pamela Fong showed us a poster about the eyeball to give us a detailed explanation of the structure and function of the eye.

I learned that despite its small size, the eye is actually a very complex structure.

It is consist of numerous different parts and each part has a unique function.

For examples, retina is the lining of the eye which contain millions of light-sensitive cells called rods and cones, while rods respond best to dim light and cones repond best to bright light and enable color vision.

After that, Dr. Fong used a eyeball model to continue further explanation.

The greatest part of the lecture is the photos of real eyes.

Dr. Fong showed us several different characteristics that different eyes have.

For instances, the eye of a person that has blonde eyes is redder than other eyes.

She also explained the different effects of eye diseases to the internal structure of the eyes.



Finally, we had an interesting sheep eye dissection lab.

Even though I thought touching the sheep eyeball is kind of disgusting, I still participated and finished the dissection at last.

I was able to look into the real eye and it really helped my understanding of the structure of eyes a lot
and I always think that it is better to learn science through real experiences.

From the dissection, I learned that if the lens is unclear that means the sheep is a old sheep.

I think that this guest lecture is very educational and it really gave me a lot of information about the anatomy and pathology of eyes.

I also think that we should have more guest lectures in the future because they always give me additional knowledges other than the ones in the book.

Archaebacteria - Halobacterium salinarum

Taxonomy:
Domain - Archaea
Kingdom - Archaebacteria
Phylum - Euryarchaeota
Class - Halobacteria
Order - Halobacteriales
Family - Halobacteriaceae
Genus - Halobacterium
Species - Halobacterium salinarum




Characteristics:

1. Halobacterium species are rod shaped and enveloped by a single lipid bilayer membrane surrounded by an S-layer made from the cell-surface glycoprotein.

2. H. salinarum is an obligate aerobe.

3. It reproduces by binary fission.

4. Does not form spores.

5. Most are not motile.

6. Approx. 0.5–1.0 µm (microns)





Habitat:

Halobacteria can be found in highly saline lakes such as the Great Salt Lake, the Dead Sea, and Lake Magadi. Halobacterium can be identified in bodies of water by the light-detecting pigment bacteriorhodopsin, which not only provides the archaeon with chemical energy, but gives it a reddish hue as well. An optimal temperature for growth has been observed at 37oC. To survive in extremely salty environments, this archaeon -- as with other halophilic Archaean species -- utilizes compatible solutes (in particular potassium chloride) that acts as a sort of antifreeze/coolant to keep the cell metabolism functioning.





Predators:

Filter feeders such as brine shrimp


Prey:

Decomposers, halobacteria feed on dead matter and wastes.



Anatomy:

Archaebacteria have a cell type that is described as prokaryotic . Prokaryotic cells have a cell membrane, like all cells do, but there is no internal compartmentalization of function. In other words, prokaryotes do not have internal organelles, such as mitochondria or a nucleus. The DNA in a prokaryotic cell is a loop-like molecule suspended in the cytoplasm (it appears as the bright red squiggle in the diagram, left).




Historical information:

Biologists have discovered fossils of these organisms preserved in rocks over 3 billion years old, making these incredible creatures the oldest known lifeforms on Earth.



Interesting notes:

1. Despite its name, this microorganisms is not a bacterium, but rather a member of the Domain Archaea.

2. Halobacteria are a candidate for a life form present on Mars!!! Archaebacteria emerged at least 3.5 billion years ago and live in environments that resemble conditions existing when the earth was young.

3.H. salinarum has also been found in high-salt food such as salted pork, marine fish, and sausages!!!

4. Bright red pigment in cells. Halobacteria can survive in dry conditions for years. Food preserved in salt from brine ponds will spoil, because the halobacteria decompose it.

5. Halobacteria can survive in extremely high salinity, 25–35%. Normal seawater is 3.5% saline.

Agenda 1/24: Guest Lecture

Louise Mead of the non-profit organization, National Center for Science Education gave us an educational lecture about evolution.

Her lecture had 6 major parts:

1. the "Big Idea" of Charles Darwin;
2. the processes or mechanisms of evolution;
3. the patterns of evolution;
4. approaches to understanding divergence;
5. evidences; and
6. Louise Mead's own research on salamanders.

According to the lecture, evolution can be defined as descent for modification or common ancestry. Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, proposed that all species of life have evolved over time from one or a few common ancesters through the process of natural selection.

As shown in the image above, scientists group species by different characteristics, including hair, pre-orbital fenestra, amniotic egg, four limbs, hair, bony skeleton, and vertebrae. Louise Mead explained that the organisms could either suvive or extinct. Yet, many extant and non-extant animals are very closely related. For examples, crocodiles, birds, and dinosaurs shared a common ancester. Moreover, she also clarified that humans are not descended from chimpanzees, gorillas, or bonobos, but the fact that we actually share a common ancester. As shown in the figure below:

The processes of mechanisms of evolution are: natural selection, genetics drift, evolution development("evo-devo"), and mutation. Louise Mead said that mutaion is a very significant factor of mechanisms because without mutation, there would not be evolution.

The patterns of evolution are also very important. Speciation is a process that happens of geological years. Louise Mead showed us a map of the world million of years ago in order to provide us a vision of how geography changes over time. She also used examples such as butterflies and Ensatina eschscholtzii to help her explain.

There are many approaches to understanding divergence. For instances, examine patterns, geographic matters, and test for sexual compatibility.

Lastly, the evidences for evolution are biogeography, comparative anatomy, comparative biochemistry and molecular biology, fossil records, and developmental biology. They have strongly supported the process of evolution and shaped the idea over many decades and are still being discovered.

Reflection

I like the lecture alot because it was very informative and easy to understand since Louise Mead used many pictures to explain. Also, she gave us many useful examples which we did not learn from the class. For examples, the world map that showed how geography changes over time. Moreover, her special lecture, which is different from normal biology lesson, helped to build up my interest on learning evolution. Futhermore, she made the lecture even more interesting by giving us the historical information about evolution and real life information from news article couple days ago, which showed how evolution relates to life today. However, I wish we could have more time because Louise Mead wasn't able to finish the whole presentation.

South Korea tries to contain oil spill

Summary: SKorea tries to contain oil spill

Seoul, South Korea tries to contain 2.7 million gallons of oil from a supertanker spill and keep it from reaching the country's west coast. Maritime authorities set up a five-mile fence to try to contain the oil slick, which measured 4.6 mileslong and 1.2 miles wide. Many people, including navy and other government vesses, plus four helicopters, were involved in the cleanup operation. The accident occurred near Mallipo beach, about 90 miles southwest of Seoul. The area is known for scenic beaches and is also home to a national maritime park and an important rest stop for migrating birds. The Coast Guard and Maritime and Fisheries Ministry also added that cold winter temperatures could help slow the spread of the oil slick by freezing it, although the cleanup operation would likely ake at least three or four days.

My Reflection:

I wish their plan will be successful because the environmental damage would continue until someone find a way to stop the oil spill. As I watch the news, the oil spill brings a lot of problems to the people and animals living near the coast. For example, many birds were killed by the incident. Therefore, the future environment would depend on the containment operation.