The Lichen Knowledge Iceberg I Have Constructed On Request

Some of you may be familiar with model organisms in biology but even so, you may think about mice, rabbits or flies rather than ctenophores. The whole purpose of having a model organism is to be able to understand particular biological functions/processes by using an organism that can be maintained easily, has a relatively short generation time and has its genome sequenced (this allows us to really understand their genetic makeup). Since this species of ctenophore (Mnemiopsis leidyi) has had its genome sequenced it allows us to identify key genes/proteins and try to determine their function.

The work I am currently doing for my project is focused on understanding the origin of the nervous system.

There's been a long standing debate amongst scientists over which species of animal first diverged from all other metazoans whether it be sponges or ctenophores. For a long time it has been thought that sponges are the sister group to all metazoans, although more recently studies have suggested that ctenophores are. Sponges are really simple animals that lack nervous systems, whereas ctenophores are more complex and have a nervous system. If ctenophores are then in fact found to be the sister group to all other metazoans, it poses the questions about whether the complex structures such as neurons and synapses evolved once or multiple times independently?

If you check you can see a diagram showing what I mean by the "sister group" to all metazoans. The first pic identifies sponges as the sister group, but with more analysis on a molecular basis, the 3rd pic could be possible.

Since most of the studies on neurons and nervous systems more generally are focused on metazoans, the work at this lab uses ctenophores to understand more about their complex biology with the aim of understanding the origins of neurons.

the deep sea creatures when a scientist shows up with a flashlight outta no where

Take a look at this newly diagnosed Multiple

Myeloma (MM) case!

MM is a type of cancer developed by the overproduction of plasma cells in the bone marrow (B-cell lineage). Plasma cells are responsible for the production of antibodies to fight infection within the body.

Helpful lab findings

C- hypercalcemia

R- renal failure (increased CREA+BUN)

A- anemia

B- bone lesions

Confirmatory testing

1. Serum protein electrophoresis: spike in the gamma wave aka monoclonal paraprotein (M-spike)

2. Immunofixation protein electrophoresis: identifies the type of immunoglobulin (heavy chain) present (IgA, IgG, [gE, etc.)

3. Free Light Chain Assay: determine if the immuglobulin is

Kappa or Lambda

4. Bone Marrow aspiration: take a look at the first picture.

60% of the bone marrow is most likely plasma cells

Different types of MM

-Smoldering MM (increased plasma cells in bone marrow & high protein. Does NOT follow CRAB)

-MGUS (decreased plasma cells in bone marrow)

-Light chain amyloidosis

What a couple of weeks. I've been doing some new experiments and the air conditioning unit in the microscopy room leaked and flooded so the computer has been out of action for a whole week! I've also been chasing up a lot of orders that haven't arrived vet and l'm just sat here like pls

On a positive note, l've been getting good DNA yields

All I wanna do is sleep and eat cake. Is anyone else feeling fed up and overwhelmed atm?

#Trichomonas

Let's learn about the Babesia parasite!

Caused by infected ticks

Leads to anemia & low platelets

Testing: thin & thick smears, morphology, parasitemia levels, PCR

Treatment depends on severity (ranges from antiprotozoal meds or exchange transfusion)

Ring-like formation in the RBCs = Babesia parasite! (Very similar morphology to Malaria)

pssssst...

guess what.

you deserve to be happy.

pass it on.

Zebrafish Stripes Caused by Cells That Chase Each Other

A cellular game of run-and-chase could help form the iconic stripes on zebrafish skin. Contact between two types of skin cells, the black “melanophores” and the yellow “xanthophores,” prompts the melanophores to move away and the xanthophores to follow in hot pursuit, developmental biologists report online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers’ models suggest that such interactions lead to the pigment cells separating into the distinct bands of zebrafish stripes. To understand how interactions between cells might lead to striped or spotted skin, the scientists found a way to grow pigment cells from zebrafish tail fins in lab dishes. Pigment cells of the same type didn’t seem to interact. But when xanthophores and melanophores were near each other, the yellow cells (apparently attracted) reached out to touch the black ones. The black ones, in turn, were repulsed by the overture and moved away. Undeterred, the xanthophores followed. (In the gif [video], a yellow xanthophore chases a gray melanophore across the screen.) Cells from a zebrafish mutant called jaguar, which has broader, fuzzier stripes, behaved differently. Their black melanophores do not run from the yellow xanthophores, and the xanthophores do not chase them as ardently. This, the researchers say, could explain the mixed populations of yellow and black cells in the stripes’ fuzzy borders. The team hasn’t yet observed the cell movements in developing fish, but the work may help explain why mutations in genes that make proteins that are part of cell membranes can lead to different skin patterns in fish. It may also help explain how other animals—zebras, jaguars, leopards, or Dalmatians—get their patterned skin.

Via sciencemag.org

Ammonites were some of the most diverse organisms in the ancient ocean. The Museum holds one of the world’s largest collections of ammonites, containing nearly two million specimens that represent 300 million years of Earth’s history!