Sunsets are my favorite time...they are beautiful, and lonely in a good way, and bittersweet.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Binding Assays
A binding assay I was working on. I was pretty proud of this image that I took. :-)
During my last couple of weeks, I did a lot of binding assays on the BTC3 cells. We wanted to find out how well the heterobivalent ligand that we had created would bind to the cells at different concentrations, from 2.5 nM all the way up to 100 nM. We also measured how well it would bind if it was in competition with one of the monovalent ligands.
First, the heterobivalent ligand was labeled with Cy-5 (a fluorescent dye). We measured its binding (which had a high affinity and bound tightly) at different concentrations, then using new cells, would incubate them with a monovalent ligand for five minutes to take up all the receptors for that ligand, then add the multivalent ligand. We found that while binding was diminished, it was still high and tight, showing that our ligand bound with great specificity and tightness. My data was in the form of imges such as these, which I used to analyze pixel intensity, which correlated to binding of receptors. The flourescent outlines of the cells shows that this ligand bound to the cell's receptors.
During my last couple of weeks, I did a lot of binding assays on the BTC3 cells. We wanted to find out how well the heterobivalent ligand that we had created would bind to the cells at different concentrations, from 2.5 nM all the way up to 100 nM. We also measured how well it would bind if it was in competition with one of the monovalent ligands.First, the heterobivalent ligand was labeled with Cy-5 (a fluorescent dye). We measured its binding (which had a high affinity and bound tightly) at different concentrations, then using new cells, would incubate them with a monovalent ligand for five minutes to take up all the receptors for that ligand, then add the multivalent ligand. We found that while binding was diminished, it was still high and tight, showing that our ligand bound with great specificity and tightness. My data was in the form of imges such as these, which I used to analyze pixel intensity, which correlated to binding of receptors. The flourescent outlines of the cells shows that this ligand bound to the cell's receptors.
Bike Prayers
Sunsets are also good times to pray and think.
I biked about two miles to work every morning. After deciding that riding a bike on speedway while listening to an ipod wasn't such a great idea, I decided to use my bike rides to pray and think. At first, I felt awkward with what seemed like a long time to talk to God, but after a while, I started to really look forward to the time, using it to thank Him for the many ways I am blessed, pray for friends and family, and give Him my worries. The coolest thing began to happen: I would feel very strongly led to pray for a friend that I might not have even thought about for days or weeks, then talk to them later that evening and find out that something had been going on in their life that they needed prayers for at the time I was praying for them. God is awesome. The more you seek Him, the more you will find and the more you will want to seek.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
--Psalm 37:4
I biked about two miles to work every morning. After deciding that riding a bike on speedway while listening to an ipod wasn't such a great idea, I decided to use my bike rides to pray and think. At first, I felt awkward with what seemed like a long time to talk to God, but after a while, I started to really look forward to the time, using it to thank Him for the many ways I am blessed, pray for friends and family, and give Him my worries. The coolest thing began to happen: I would feel very strongly led to pray for a friend that I might not have even thought about for days or weeks, then talk to them later that evening and find out that something had been going on in their life that they needed prayers for at the time I was praying for them. God is awesome. The more you seek Him, the more you will find and the more you will want to seek.Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
--Psalm 37:4
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Border issues...not so black and white
The water tanks left out in the desert by Humane Borders.
The wall on the border of the US and Mexico, built by the US.
Flag above a water station.
In the beginning of July, we took a trip to the border to learn about the issues surrounding illegal immigrants crossing into the U.S. By the end of the trip, I realized just how much more complicated the issue was than I had ever imagined.
In the beginning of July, we took a trip to the border to learn about the issues surrounding illegal immigrants crossing into the U.S. By the end of the trip, I realized just how much more complicated the issue was than I had ever imagined. Many of these people decide to make the trip to the US in desperation from extreme poverty. They want to be able to help family members survive. I have a friend from New York who told me that in Mexico, he would work for $5 a day. In the US, even working at minimum wage, he was able to send money to support his family in Mexico. These people are not making the trip to try to steal rights from Americans or be crafty and get around the system. Just like us, they care about their families, and will do anything they can to improve the lives of their loved ones.
The trip across the Sonoran desert is long, harsh, and unbearably hot. Most have no idea how much water they will need to just simply stay alive in the desert, let alone while walking the many miles to the US. And far too many die from lack of water. To add to this problem, the US is building a wall along the border. This does not have the desired effect of keeping people from crossing the border, it just forces them into even harsher and more unforgiving terrain where they are more likely to die and their bodies even less likely to be discovered.
Humane Borders is the organization that we traveled to the border with. This organization, run by a church in Tucson, puts out water stations in the corridors that are most traveled by the immigrants to try to prevent unnecessary deaths. The sad fact is that some vigilantes dislike the idea of illegals so much that they tamper with the water in the tanks.
I've learned that it's not about politics, it's about people's lives.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Tucson Tamale Company aka: The Best Food in Tucson
The Madison and Tucson flavors, with rice, beans, and tomatillo salsa. Deliciousness!
Tucson has some really good Mexican food. But the best food I've eaten the entire summer has been at the Tucson Tamale Company. It is well worth the two bus rides it takes to get there. This place seriously has something for everyone: whether you are a vegan or meat-eater, or need to eat a gluten-free diet, you can find a delicious tamale that will satisfy you. To date, I have eaten at least 14 tamales. My favorites are the Tucson (grilled jalapenos mixed into the masa then stuffed with a blend of 4 cheeses) and the Madison (black beans, roasted corn, and cheese blend). You can get two (big!) tamales for $4.99. If you're ever in Tucson, seriously, go there.
Tucson has some really good Mexican food. But the best food I've eaten the entire summer has been at the Tucson Tamale Company. It is well worth the two bus rides it takes to get there. This place seriously has something for everyone: whether you are a vegan or meat-eater, or need to eat a gluten-free diet, you can find a delicious tamale that will satisfy you. To date, I have eaten at least 14 tamales. My favorites are the Tucson (grilled jalapenos mixed into the masa then stuffed with a blend of 4 cheeses) and the Madison (black beans, roasted corn, and cheese blend). You can get two (big!) tamales for $4.99. If you're ever in Tucson, seriously, go there.Thursday, July 9, 2009
4th of July Parade at Summerhaven
The entire group. We were dressed as (from left): a electrophoresis griffin with an attached glial cell, nematode, albino mouse, computer, chick embryo, plant, paramutated corn, Beaker, smooth muscle cell/Biospherian, Manduca Sexta. Couldn't you tell? :-P
Our prize for Most Original.
The PCR song...oh yes, one such thing actually does exist... Check it out on youtube if you are still curious.
Beaker! This is probably half the reason we won...
:-)
What do a griffin, Manduca Sexta, paramutated corn, and Beaker all have in common? They were all members of UBRP's prize-winning parade group in Summerhaven on July 4th. We arrived on Mt. Lemmon by midday after a rousing van ride practicing the PCR song and eating cherries and coffeecake, and climbed into our costumes. We were a motley group whose costumes seemed to confuse the public (however this is understandable as most of us do readily mistake the griffins in our backyards for chickens or turkeys). We scoped out the competition of bagpipers and the Yankee Doodle group of cute children while formidibly shouting "tRNA!" and "Biology!". To make up for the lack of sparkle-covered ponies and adorable kids in our group, we handed out candy to children with winning phrases such as, "Do you like candy? See, science gives you candy. Do science." and "Science invented sitting down". We knew our message had gotten across when after the parade, a child saw our group and shouted to us, "Go science!" We were rewarded for our efforts with a blue ribbon for most original. It must have been the PCR song that clinched it... PCR, when you need to detect mutations, PCR, when you need to recombine...
What do a griffin, Manduca Sexta, paramutated corn, and Beaker all have in common? They were all members of UBRP's prize-winning parade group in Summerhaven on July 4th. We arrived on Mt. Lemmon by midday after a rousing van ride practicing the PCR song and eating cherries and coffeecake, and climbed into our costumes. We were a motley group whose costumes seemed to confuse the public (however this is understandable as most of us do readily mistake the griffins in our backyards for chickens or turkeys). We scoped out the competition of bagpipers and the Yankee Doodle group of cute children while formidibly shouting "tRNA!" and "Biology!". To make up for the lack of sparkle-covered ponies and adorable kids in our group, we handed out candy to children with winning phrases such as, "Do you like candy? See, science gives you candy. Do science." and "Science invented sitting down". We knew our message had gotten across when after the parade, a child saw our group and shouted to us, "Go science!" We were rewarded for our efforts with a blue ribbon for most original. It must have been the PCR song that clinched it... PCR, when you need to detect mutations, PCR, when you need to recombine... Sunday, July 5, 2009
Grand Canyon/Sedona/Montezuma's Castle/My parents rock
The Grand Canyon is just as breathtaking and amazing every single time.
Sunset at the canyon
:-)
Montezuma's Castle..a cliff dwelling.
Sedona...we didn't see very much of it because we decided (semi-spontaneously) to keep driving and go to the Grand Canyon.
My parents came to visit about two weeks ago and we had a wonderful time!I got to give them a tour of my lab and explain what I'm working on. Over the weekend, we drove to Jerome, a ghost town with an interesting history, then headed up to Sedona. Once we got to Sedona, we decided that it would be worth it to continue driving to the Grand Canyon because we were so close anyway. That was a fantastic decision to make because it was absolutely amazing, like always. I think that even if I saw the Grand Canyon every single day, it would never cease to blow my mind.
We drove back to Jerome to spend the night, then went to Montezuma's Castle, a cliff dwelling the next morning. It was pretty neat. On our way back to Tucson, we stopped in Phoenix and had fun getting together with friends we hadn't seen in a long time. It was a really fantastic weekend and I was sad when it was time for my parents to leave.
My parents came to visit about two weeks ago and we had a wonderful time!I got to give them a tour of my lab and explain what I'm working on. Over the weekend, we drove to Jerome, a ghost town with an interesting history, then headed up to Sedona. Once we got to Sedona, we decided that it would be worth it to continue driving to the Grand Canyon because we were so close anyway. That was a fantastic decision to make because it was absolutely amazing, like always. I think that even if I saw the Grand Canyon every single day, it would never cease to blow my mind.We drove back to Jerome to spend the night, then went to Montezuma's Castle, a cliff dwelling the next morning. It was pretty neat. On our way back to Tucson, we stopped in Phoenix and had fun getting together with friends we hadn't seen in a long time. It was a really fantastic weekend and I was sad when it was time for my parents to leave.
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