Category Archives: Biology

Elementary and secondary school students who later want to become scientists and engineers often get hands-on inspiration by using off-the-shelf kits to build and program robots. But so far its been difficult to create robotic projects to foster interest in the wet sciences biology, chemistry and medicine so called because experiments in these field often involve fluids. Now, Stanford bioengineers and their collaborators have shown how an off-the-shelf kit can be modified to create robotic systems capable of transferring precise amounts of fluids between flasks, test tubes and experimental dishes. By combining the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit with a cheap and easy-to-find plastic syringe, the researchers created a set of liquid-handling robots that approach the performance of the far more costly automation systems found at universities and biotech labs. We really want kids to learn by doing, saidIngmar Riedel-Kruse, PhD, assistant professor of bioengineering. We show that with a few relatively inexpensive parts, a little training and some imagination, students can create their own liquid-handling robots and then run experiments on it so they learn about engineering, coding and the wet sciences at the same time, he added. A paper describing the workwas published March 21 inPLoS Biology. Riedel-Kruse is … Continue reading →

Topics to be covered include fisheries biology and aquaculture. A short course in marine biology will be held from Wednesday to May 24 by the Department of Biology of the University of Maltas Faculty of Science. Topics to be covered include physical and biological aspects of the marine environment, changing patterns of species in the Mediterranean, marine vegetation, human influence on the marine environment, fisheries biology, aquaculture and marine conservation biology. The course, entitled Topics in Marine Biology, is open to people who have successfully completed the course An introduction to marine biology or who hold a certificate in intermediate biology or equivalent. Lectures will be held on Wednesdays between 6 and 8pm. Two practical sessions will be held on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. One will be conducted on a vessel offshore and will involve collection of data and demonstration of the use of remote sampling gear used in marine biological studies. For further information call James Fenech on 2340 2272 or e-mail [emailprotected]. Visit link: Short course in marine biology - Times of Malta … Continue reading →

As she prepares for the future ahead of her, Ashley Cronin utilizes immense perseverance and determination to guarantee success. An active member of various extracurriculars and a standout student, she strives to achieve her goals on a daily basis. Regarding academics, Ashley has taken on many rigorous classes throughout high school. Some include AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, Honors Biotechnology, and Honors American Lit. She is also in the TMHS Nursing Assistant Certification class. Her favorite class proved to be AP Biology. It was a lot of work, she states. But I found out the biology was my passion. In terms of extracurriculars, Ashley is on the yearbook staff, National Honor Society, and is a founding member and Co-President of the Red Cross Club. She also used to run track and cross country. Last year, Ashley and a few other students were inspired to start the Red Cross Club in order to provide a club and resource for students with an interest in the medical field. There was already a club geared towards community service here at TMHS, she stated. But there wasnt anything really for kids leaning towards the medical field, and since Im also interested in that, … Continue reading →

By combining the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit with a cheap and easy-to-find plastic syringe, the researchers created a set of liquid-handling robots that approach the performance of the far more costly automation systems found at universities and biotech labs. We really want kids to learn by doing, said Ingmar Riedel-Kruse, PhD, assistant professor of bioengineering. We show that with a few relatively inexpensive parts, a little training and some imagination, students can create their own liquid-handling robots and then run experiments on them so the students learn about engineering, coding and the wet sciences at the same time, he added. A paper describing the work was published March 21 inPLoS Biology. Riedel-Kruse is the senior author. The lead author is postdoctoral scholar Lukas Gerber. The robots are designed to pipette fluids from and into cuvettes and multiple-well plates types of plastic containers commonly used in laboratories. Depending on the specific design, the robots can handle liquid volumes far smaller than 1 microliter, a droplet about the size of a single coarse grain of salt. Riedel-Kruse believes that these Lego designs might even be useful for specific professional or academic liquid-handling tasks that normally require robots costing many thousands of dollars. … Continue reading →

Evolutionary biology professor explains how to 'Walk the Tree of Life' Science Daily Greene and Cissy Ballen of the University of Minnesota have just published a paper in PLOS Biology, "Walking and Talking the Tree of Life: Why and How to Teach About Biodiversity," discussing why the evolutionary TOL approach to biodiversity is best, ... See the original post: Evolutionary biology professor explains how to 'Walk the Tree of Life' - Science Daily … Continue reading →

Recently published in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, a new study finds that machine learning and open access data can predict the ecological niche of rabies virus in Alaska and identify variables correlated with the detection of the virus. Here to tell us more is author of the study, Karsten Hueffer. Karsten Hueffer, PhD, FHEA 24 Mar 2017 Pixabay Rabies virus is dependent on host ecology and presents a significant public health threat throughout the world, including the Arctic and Subarctic where it is maintained by the arctic fox and possibly the red fox. In Alaska it is limited to the coastal regions of northern and western Alaska. The reasons for the limitation to these enzootic areas (areas where a disease regularly affects animals) is not well understood. Openly accessible data and machine learning offer opportunities to predict the ecological niche of this important pathogen. Using non-simplistic approaches can identify predicting variables that correlate with the occurrence of rabies virus detection. Our new research shows that rabies cases are closely associated with human infrastructure. By using only cases from enzootic areas these approaches could even predict areas of high risks of rabies occurrence outside of the enzootic part of Alaska, such as … Continue reading →

WKU biology graduate Adam Edge of Shepherdsville is the lead author of a paper titled Examining Human Perception of Elephants and Large Trees for Insights into Conservation of an African Savanna Ecosystem that has been published in the journal Human Dimensions of Wildlife. Adam Edge Edge, who was a student in the Honors College at WKU and a FUSE grant recipient, conducted the work in South Africa in conjunction with Dr. Michelle Henley, Co-Founder and Director of Elephants Alive, and under the tutelage of Dr. Jerry Daday, Associate Professor of Sociology and Executive Director of the Center for Faculty Development & the Online Learning Research Office, and his Honors thesis advisor Dr. Bruce A. Schulte, head of the Department of Biology. The study used a questionnaire to determine the perceptions of residents and tourists on elephants, large tree and elephant management practices in the Associate Private Nature Reserves around Kruger National Park in South Africa. Elephants modify savanna habitat by breaking and feeding on tree branches and even knocking down trees. The objective was to evaluate peoples perceptions toward elephants, a primary draw for tourism, and habitat with intact trees and those modified in form by elephants. (More: Read the … Continue reading →

March 22, 2017 by Andrew Myers Elementary and secondary school students who later want to become scientists and engineers often get hands-on inspiration by using off-the-shelf kits to build and program robots. But so far it's been difficult to create robotic projects to foster interest in the "wet" sciences biology, chemistry and medicine so called because experiments in these field often involve fluids. Now, Stanford bioengineers have shown how an off-the shelf kit can be modified to create robotic systems capable of transferring precise amounts of fluids between flasks, test tubes and experimental dishes. By combining the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit with a cheap and easy-to-find plastic syringe, the researchers created a set of liquid-handling robots that approach the performance of the far more costly automation systems found at universities and biotech labs. "We really want kids to learn by doing," said Ingmar Riedel-Kruse, assistant professor of bioengineering, who led the team that reports its work in the journal PLoS Biology. "We show that with a few relatively inexpensive parts, a little training and some imagination, students can create their own liquid-handling robots and then run experiments on it so they learn about engineering, coding and the wet sciences at … Continue reading →

Elementary and secondary school students who later want to become scientists and engineers often get hands-on inspiration by using off-the-shelf kits to build and program robots. But so far its been difficult to create robotic projects to foster interest in the wet sciences biology, chemistry and medicine so called because experiments in these field often involve fluids. Now, Stanford bioengineers and their collaborators have shown how an off-the-shelf kit can be modified to create robotic systems capable of transferring precise amounts of fluids between flasks, test tubes and experimental dishes. By combining the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit with a cheap and easy-to-find plastic syringe, the researchers created a set of liquid-handling robots that approach the performance of the far more costly automation systems found at universities and biotech labs. By combining the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit with a cheap and easy-to-find plastic syringe, the researchers created a set of liquid-handling robots that approach the performance of the far more costly automation systems found at universities and biotech labs. We really want kids to learn by doing, said Ingmar Riedel-Kruse, Ph.D., assistant professor of bioengineering. We show that with a few relatively inexpensive parts, a little training and some imagination, students … Continue reading →

Kickstarterhas always been a platform to bring your ideas to life. Over the years weve seen some great ideas and even some terrible ideas but in the end, it comes down to the backers to make it happen. One thing Ive always enjoyed searching on Kickstarter are the different type of games (board games and video games) people or even companies try to make. Over the years weve had a chance to take a look at a few of these different type of games but one that seems really interesting isCytosis: A Cell Biology Game fromGenius Games. It combines science, in this case learning about the human bodywhere players compete to build enzymes, hormones, and receptors and fend off attacking Viruses. Players utilize the available organelles within the cell to collect cellular resources such as mRNA from the Nucleus, Lipids from the Smooth E.R., ATP from the Mitochondria, or transport Carbohydrates into the cell via endocytosis through the Plasma Membrane.Players may also utilize the organelles to Translate mRNA into Proteins (either on the Free Ribosome in the Cytoplasm, or in the Rough E.R) or add glucose or lipid tags to their hormonesor hormone receptors in the Golgi Apparatus.Players score health … Continue reading →