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The tandem pull of the sun and the moon
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wFriday, April 27, 2001 |
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Ahhhhhh...
The exam is over. I think I did ok... maybe even really well. Its sorta had to tell with the first exam -- you don't really know what they're going to test you on. But it looks like I studied all the right things, except for maybe identification of mutants. I remembered Antennapedia -- if you knock out this gene in drosophila, they grow legs where their anntenas should be. :) And the eyeless mutant... knock out "eyeless" and you get this fly that looks like a big strawberry -- eyes develop all over the ball of cells. Fortunately, I knew enough about basic drosophila gene interactions that I think I was able to "wing" it.
Exhausted now, I think some nappage is in my future, right after some beerage.
posted by
Just Mary at 6:23 PM
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A Geekitude Moment
Bah! lost a long post yesterday... frustrating. And you, Gentle Reader, won't know what was on my mind.
Neener neener.
Very cool lecture yesterday, about alternative gene splicing, given by a guest lecturer. Used to be, the so-called "Central Dogma" of biology was one gene-one protein. But it turns out that when genes are being processed to be turned into proteins, not only are big chunks of non-coding DNA (introns) chopped out, but chunks of the amino acid sequences can be rearranged to create create variants on that protein, AND entirely different proteins. This is called "alternative gene splicing" and it's pretty amazing stuff. I knew about intron splicing and had heard of "alternative gene splicing" but only in a peripheral sorta way.
One of the paradoxes of molecular biology was why humans had less DNA than some less complex critters. Well, its because we have mechanisms in our body to rearrange that code to create entirely new code to generate new proteins. I mean, WOW. The DSCAM gene in Drosophila, the fruit fly -- 4 pieces of coding DNA -- 38,000 possible protein products. Holy rotting fruit, Batman!
Okie, so maybe no one else reading this will go "wow" but I think its pretty cool. And when you consider evolution on the genetic level -- how new body forms and adaptations arise, this gets even more exciting. Revolutionary, even.
Ironic somehow, when I think about biology on such a technical level, (really, any level, organismal or molecular) I still get back to this sense of awe... the fact that we exist, and the fact that we are so complex yet elegant... I can't even get to the words to describe my amazement. Its a spiritual feeling, akin to what I used to feel as a catholic schoolgirl, praying to God. And its entirely why I study biology -- it blows my mind.
Tomorrow is regurgitation day, as I have a midterm, so I better get back to it. Damn I love this stuff...
posted by
Just Mary at 10:26 AM
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wTuesday, April 24, 2001 |
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Busy day today so far. I'm psyched cuz I actually got out of bed at 8am. Yay for me! I've been having insommnia for a couple of months now and my sleep schedule has been totally messed up. I'm working on getting it back to "normal," meaning waking up in the morning and going to sleep at night. This is not my common state, however. When I was a child, I'd stay up til 4 or 5 in the morning, reading by my nightlight or a flashlight. I had to be secretive because my mom would yell at me to sleep if she knew I was up.
This habit has carried on throughout most of my life. Early morning classes when I was first in college were anathema. I avoided 'em like the plague. Later, when I was working at that very progressive company in san francisco, I was allowed to come in when I wanted. They knew I'd work more than 9 hours in a day, so if I came in by 10 or 10:30, all was cool. They were pretty flexible with me because I so often sweated blood for the company -- if there was an emergency or whatever.
Unfortunately, most of the world doesn't click for those with different circadian rhythmns. And I am finding that I do better if I can get on a regular schedule. 7am wake up and midnight sleep are my goals.
I think I mentioned today was busy... my financial aid for school has been completely messed up because I took last quarter off after having surgery. So I'm pretty much almost broke. Literally. Rice and beans is the culinary menu this week. Some checks bounced over the weekend so today I went to the bank, returned a book to the bookstore I purchased in Feb that I haven't touched yet (Ecology of Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents by Cindy Lee Dover) and sold some CDs... mostly from my complete Acoustic Disc catalogue I owned. Checks are covered, money left over and $17.90 in cash. I'm rich! heh.
I didn't go to my Stats class. Again. But I have appts starting at 2pm and I needed to get cash in my account and... well... excuses excuses.
I think I've been avoiding my life, for the most part. My mom dying a year and a half ago, pretty much threw me for a loop. I did ok until the anniversary of her death last fall. Hung on til the quarter was done and then proceeded to kind of fall apart. Depression sucks. And then I got sick and needed surgery. And I pretty much isolated myself. So now I'm trying to get back to where I was, get back on top of my life. Its damn hard crawling back, but I'm doing it.
posted by
Just Mary at 11:41 AM
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wMonday, April 23, 2001 |
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So this week, I turn 39. 39! How did I ever get to be 39? Its not as significant as 40, I guess. But it still gives me pause. Here I am, almost 39, still single, and an undergraduate in college. Heh. Not exactly in the same place as most of my peer group. But then again, I don't think I've ever been in the same place as my peer group. So it goes...
At some point, I'll figure out how to use blogvoices. But then again, maybe I won't. Its kind of fun to post, knowing that no one will talk back. James may be onto something ;)
posted by
Just Mary at 4:12 AM
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A spring tide, if memory serves me, is one of the largest swings in tidal distance. At least it is on the central coast of California. Lots to see as the tide uncovers the beach. Lots of nutrients washed up by the tide on its return swing.
In that respect, it speaks to some of the work I'm doing on myself these days, trying to get a grip on where I've been and where I'm going.
posted by
Just Mary at 3:59 AM
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