Broadcasting live from Moscow, Pennsylvania; this is your semi-weekly Lila update!
If you've never driven in a car for ten hours in a day, you probably enjoy having a license way more than I do right now. Despite thoroughly enjoying the mighty hills of Pennsylvania in the setting sun, I was pretty thrilled to arrive at George's and Pam's house, where if you ask the question "can I help you with that?", the reply is always "no, just sit and think maidenly thoughts". Such is the kindness of our hosts, whose goal in life is to cook 10X the amount of (delicious) food necessary.
Lunch was grilled portabella mushroom burgers with feta cheese on top. It was so damn awesome that I stomached a second one against my stomach's better judgment. What followed was a 3 hour food coma on the basement futon...well deserved, in my opinion. I'm now waiting while our fabulous hosts cook what will undoubtedly be a scrumptious Thai food dinner.
It's the last supper, essentially. Tomorrow begins my 9 week long dorm food diet. Hoorah!
(Pictures will come when I have my camera cord)
Over and out.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Surreal Much?
I leave tomorrow...
My brain cannot even register what this means. But it's awfully exciting!
L'ange du Foyer by Max Ernst
My brain cannot even register what this means. But it's awfully exciting!
L'ange du Foyer by Max Ernst
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
T H E R E S E A R C H
For those of you who don't know (or didn't get it when I explained it to you), I'm going to briefly summarize what we're trying to accomplish with these axolotls.
CONCEPTS
Our key anatomical player in this research is the terminal nerve. This nerve is part of the olfactory system and runs from the nasal cavity to the basal forebrain. Scientists originally thought it served a sensory function, but mounting evidence suggests that it's function is modulatory.
Layman's Terms: TERMINAL NERVE IN THE BRAIN ALTERS NOSE ACTIVITY
One thing that the terminal nerve does is release peptides like GnRH (a hormone related to reproduction) and NPY (a peptide related to hunger). These peptides have special receptors in the olfactory epithelium to which they bind, presumably causing differing sensitivity to certain smells.
Layman's Terms: THE NERVE RELEASES SUBSTANCES THAT MAKES THE NOSE MORE OR LESS EXCITED
Since GnRH and NPY are related to reproduction and hunger, respectively, our research goals include linking the physiological state of the animal (i.e. hungry, non-reproductive, etc) to the success of these peptides in modifying the activity of the olfactory epithelium in response to certain smells (e.g. food, other axolotls, etc).
Layman's Terms: THE SUBSTANCES THAT CAUSE CHANGES IN EXCITEMENT MAY WORK BETTER OR WORSE IF THE CRITTER IS HUNGRY OR SATIATED, HORNY OR...NOT
METHODS
We measure activity in the olfactory epithelium using electro-olfactogram (EOG) recordings. To do an EOG, we must first prepare odorants in liquid form, such as food or male axolotl scents. We apply these odorants, along with a peptide or control, to the exposed olfactory epithelium of the axolotls. While we do this, a pipette containing a wire picks up the summed receptor potential of the tissue, which is recorded as a chart every couple of minutes on our computer. Later, we analyze the data. The entire EOG process, from prep to trial to analysis, takes almost a full day.
And that's what I'll be doing...all summer. :D
CONCEPTS
Our key anatomical player in this research is the terminal nerve. This nerve is part of the olfactory system and runs from the nasal cavity to the basal forebrain. Scientists originally thought it served a sensory function, but mounting evidence suggests that it's function is modulatory.
Layman's Terms: TERMINAL NERVE IN THE BRAIN ALTERS NOSE ACTIVITY
One thing that the terminal nerve does is release peptides like GnRH (a hormone related to reproduction) and NPY (a peptide related to hunger). These peptides have special receptors in the olfactory epithelium to which they bind, presumably causing differing sensitivity to certain smells.
Layman's Terms: THE NERVE RELEASES SUBSTANCES THAT MAKES THE NOSE MORE OR LESS EXCITED
Since GnRH and NPY are related to reproduction and hunger, respectively, our research goals include linking the physiological state of the animal (i.e. hungry, non-reproductive, etc) to the success of these peptides in modifying the activity of the olfactory epithelium in response to certain smells (e.g. food, other axolotls, etc).
Layman's Terms: THE SUBSTANCES THAT CAUSE CHANGES IN EXCITEMENT MAY WORK BETTER OR WORSE IF THE CRITTER IS HUNGRY OR SATIATED, HORNY OR...NOT
METHODS
We measure activity in the olfactory epithelium using electro-olfactogram (EOG) recordings. To do an EOG, we must first prepare odorants in liquid form, such as food or male axolotl scents. We apply these odorants, along with a peptide or control, to the exposed olfactory epithelium of the axolotls. While we do this, a pipette containing a wire picks up the summed receptor potential of the tissue, which is recorded as a chart every couple of minutes on our computer. Later, we analyze the data. The entire EOG process, from prep to trial to analysis, takes almost a full day.
And that's what I'll be doing...all summer. :D
Monday, May 24, 2010
Axo-wha......?
Axolotl. (ax-o-lot-ul)
Basically, it's like a baby salamander with all the right parts for makin' babies.
It's a little disturbing that the species is nearly extinct in the wild. The wild populations have recently suffered ecological changes that are hugely detrimental.
As of 2008, wild axolotls are near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and polluted waters. Nonnative fish such as African tilapia and Asian carp have also recently been introduced to the waters. These new fish have been eating the axolotls' young, as well as its primary source of food. The axolotl is currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's annual Red List of threatened species.[update]
The axolotls that we use in the laboratory come from populations that have been captive for decades. Still, it's sad to work with these beautiful animals knowing that their species has basically been blacklisted by Mother Nature.
To quote Wikipedia:
The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is the best known of the Mexican neotenic mole salamanders belonging to the Tiger Salamander complex. Larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. The species originates from the lake underlying Mexico City and is also called ajolote (which is also the common name for the Mexican Mole Lizard). Axolotls are used extensively in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate most body parts, ease of breeding, and large embryos. They are commonly kept as pets in the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Japan (sold under the name wooper looper) and other countries.
Basically, it's like a baby salamander with all the right parts for makin' babies.
It's a little disturbing that the species is nearly extinct in the wild. The wild populations have recently suffered ecological changes that are hugely detrimental.
As of 2008, wild axolotls are near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and polluted waters. Nonnative fish such as African tilapia and Asian carp have also recently been introduced to the waters. These new fish have been eating the axolotls' young, as well as its primary source of food. The axolotl is currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's annual Red List of threatened species.[update]
The axolotls that we use in the laboratory come from populations that have been captive for decades. Still, it's sad to work with these beautiful animals knowing that their species has basically been blacklisted by Mother Nature.
The Axolotl Rainbow
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
