Prokaryotic Cells, Virus,Viroid and Prions

             
        Good Morning,

              Today I would like to share what I have learned thought the week. This week, we learned a topic about prokaryotic cells, virus, viroid and prions.The first thing that was taught to us during lecture was The Cell Theory and Modern Cell Theory.There are many scientist involves; that later then contribute to the cell theory.The scientist were Robert Hooke, Anton van  leeuwenhoek, Schleiden and Schwann Rudolf Carl Virchow and Louis Pasteur. Although there were many great scientists, we only discussed in detail a few of them.During my leisure time, I watched a video that was recommended by Dr. Parameswari which is The Wacky History Of Cell Theory .It really helped me to understand better on this topic. So far this video is my favourite because of  its cute illustrations and the content was fun .Based on what I 've learned,The Cell Theory of Life are made up of three basic components, which are :
   

                     We also learned about prokaryotes which consist of archaebacteria and eubacteria.There are also exceptions to Cell Theory such as Viruses, Prions, Mitochondria, Chloroplast, Muscle Cell and Fungal Hyphae.We learned to differentiate the characteristics of an archaebacteria and eubacteria and its similarities. We were assigned to make a flyer entitle 'most wanted' or ' least wanted' based on a bacteria and its advantages or disadvantages. I was quite sad that I didn't get the chance to draw as my other group member volunteered to draw it. Her drawings were absolutely better than mine which means that I have to practice harder.Besides that, we also learned the differences and similarities between a prokaryote and eukaryote. We did a venn diagrams as shown below but not quite similar in terms of contents.

                               Last but no least, we discussed about these acellular pathogens which is the virus, viroid and prions.Before this, all I have ever heard was virus.Now I realize my knowledge were very limited.From what I have learned, virus is a non-living particle but as it enters a living organism 's host body it started to have a living thing's characteristics and invaded the host's cells. It could
 cause cancers and other deadly diseases. Meanwhile, prion is a nonfunctional protein  that acts as an infectious agent which propagate by transmitting a mis-folded protein state and implicated in a number of diseases in a variety of mammals.Examples of diseases caused by prion is Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. Last but not least, viroid is an infectious agent that affects plants.These pathogen seemed to be nothing but a tiny snippet of naked RNA yet it induced diseases lead to dramatic economic losses in agriculture and horticulture worldwide. Now I know that all those strange looking vegetables and fruits are caused by viroid.Yukks~

I have learned a lot this week yet there are still many more to learn.I haven't yet to learn the theory of endosymbiosis. I wonder what it is all about.

Natural Selection & History of Life

                                                    Hi There,


            This week is the second week of lecture and previously we had discussed most things on Evolution.As for this week, we had finished discussing on natural selection and the history of life. Basically, theory of evolution is about all species evolving over time due to  variation, mutation and natural selection. We had also given the task to watch in advance a video entitle Selection in Action which explains natural  selection and artificial selection. We even had to make a comic strip on natural selection which was fun but tiring since it took hours for me to draw. Luckily, my hobby is in fact drawing cartoons.We did a comic strip that shows natural selection involving white and black moths.

         In addition,we also did an SCL activity on biogeography, embryology and anatomy which consist of  anologous structures and homologous structures in animals whether they are from the same species or different species.Then, we continued our discussion  on  the new technology which furthers our understanding of evolution.It was quite interesting.

       The next few hours of lecture , Dr. Parameswari had taught us a new topic which is History of Life. I didn't expect that it is about earth trillions or billions years ago we're there 's absolutely no living things. I was expecting to learn something more simple. How naive could I be? Based on my understanding after the lecture, I have learned that there are only inorganic compound on early earth, but then suddenly due to chemical evolution, organic molecules started to form. This is based on the prebiotic broth hypothesis which was then experimented by Miller and Urey. I was amazed that these scientist succeed to prove the theory and produced simple amino acid. I wish I could do the experiment someday.

I have also learned that RNA existed first before DNA because of its characteristic which it can self-replicate. This then led to the existence of protobionts which consist of microsphere, coacervates and liposomes. Hence, prokaryotes existed which continues to evolves into eukaryotes.These kind of knowledge are new to me and it is interesting to know how lives came about.Since, this topic has all been covered, next week we will learn about prokaryotic cells,virus, viriod and prions.I can't wait~

Evolution

Hi! Good morning,

                       Today I would like to share about the things that I've learned in Cellular And Developmental Biology classes. On the first day of class, we were given an overview of subtopics that we are going to learn though out  half of the semester.The subtopics are:
                
           Week 1-Evolution on Earth                                           
                     2-History of Life                                                               
                     3-Prokaryotic Cells, Virus,Viroid and Prion                                                               
                     4-Endosymbiosis Theory                                                             
                     5-Division Cycle of Plant Cell and Totipotency                                     
                     6-Pollination & Development of Plant Embryo
                     7-The Regulation of Developmental and Differentiation  of  Plant Embryo  

           During the first week of lecture, we have learned about Evolution. Even though, I've learned evolution before when I was studying in Perak Matriculation College, I did not quite understand the topic itself. All I knew was that it involves changes of organisms and its surrounding. It did not trilled me. However, as I was learning this topic, I've learned a lot of new things such as the theories of evolution based on different scientists in the past, variation, adaptation, natural selection and etc.

    

         We also watched a video which is Endless forms Most Beautiful.From watching the video, I've learned on the background story of Charles Darwin and how did he come to a conclusion that every organisms are connected through an ancestor and evolves over time due to external environment but not an adaptation but rather due to mutation, variation and sexual selection.Due to my personality, I would like to know why Darwin says that we are from monkey.To me, it just didn't make sense.  Although, watching the video wasn't all that exciting but from there, I manage to understand the theory brought up by Charles Darwin. At least, there are some parts of it that make sense.

               During our SCL activities, we discussed about Darwin's Observation based on the video. Based on the video, he had observed many kinds of animals from  different species. The examples include ; Giant tortoises, swimming lizards, finches and more.Each of these animals even when they are from the same species, they had characteristics that differs them from one another. This findings had led Darwin towards the understanding of variation and the theory of natural selection.

            During the first week of lecture, although we had covered most of the contents in evolution, yet we hadn't discussed in details the theory of natural selection and the new technology  of evolution.Since my perception on evolution has changed, I'm curious to know more about it. 

Introduction

Hi there,

Let me introduce myself briefly, I am an officially amateur blogger named Siti Zahra  and as for short people called me Zahra.This is actually my first time making a blog which is quite difficult for me to figure out what all the buttons are for~Seriously, can't they make it more easier for me?-and as of yesterday,2nd October, i've turned 19 years old! Woohoo.

                              Besides the fact that I've became a year older, I've just started my course on Bachelor of  Biology Cell and Molecules in Upm,Malaysia and I'm currently taking Cellular and Developmental Biology classes under Dr. Parameswari 's guidences.Dr. Parames have taught me a lot on the first few weeks and with that in thought,I would like to share on what I have learned so far through this blog.I hope this blog will benefit not only me but other people as well. Fuhh!! I've finish my introduction, so shall we get to the point.The faster, the better right? So that people won't yawn reading the blog, I'll will also attach some videos and pictures that are related to the discussed topic.