Thursday, May 21, 2015

WEEK 12 [SEMESTER 2]

Wednesday, 20th May 2015

Class started at 8.30am today and this morning some of my classmates were talking about me in our Whatsapp group. Haha. I didn't meant it as gossiping or some sort but it was because Erra saw me got off the bus at Fakulti Sains and not at the library (which is the supposed bus stop to get off because it is nearer to FBSB). I only read the messages when I arrived at the class though. 

I didn't know there was/were my classmate(s) on the same bus as me this morning. Hehe. 

I would like to explain myself. I got off the bus at the "wrong" bus stop because I went to print the notes for today's lesson, mates~ I'm sorry for my actions that made Erra confused. Hahaa. 


Some new things I managed to jot down today! 

(But there are some things that Dr Wan mentioned today that I already heard of because she already told us about it during last semester but I will still include it. Hehe)


MICROBIAL GROUPS 
  • How to know the suitable temperature for growth of organisms? --> Based on their natural environment which is where you first isolate them.
  • How to isolate microorganisms? Identify habitat > Prepare medium > Isolate the microorganism
  • Why do we want to isolate microorganism? --> To get pure culture in order to obtain single colony > When we have obtained single colony, subculture it (transfer it to a fresh new medium)
  • Why do microorganisms grow? --> Because they get nutrient from the environment that is favourable for their growth or resemble their natural environment. 
  • Gnotobiotic animals are animals that are germ free
"Gnotobiote : 
Germ-free animal infected with one or more microorganisms in order to study the microorganism in a controlled situation."
- The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
  •  Biocontrol agent --> Use other living organism to control growth of other organisms, either by killing them or inhibit their growth.
  • “Daun kapal terbang”  has antimicrobial properties. (I honestly never heard of this leaf, let alone seen one x’D)
  • "Pokok kapal terbang"
  • Where can we find biofilm? Examples : Eyes (Not on our eyes but on contact lenses) and surface of teeth.
  • When do we use trace elements? --> Act as cofactors in enzymes. 
  • There are a lot of other examples of nitrogen fixing bacteria other than the usual Azotobacter, Rhizobium, Nitrosomonas. For example ; diazotroph (Nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes). 
  • K strategist is better than r strategist because K strategist although reproduce slower than r strategist, it is larger which is easier to compete for nutrients. Also, since it is large, it has a larger or more storage to keep more food.
  • r strategist although reproduce faster than K strategist, it has bad aspects too due to the short generation time. They are smaller in size and also die faster. 
  • Autochthonus --> The origins. Just like how aborigin is the residents before us in our place right now. 
 "Formed or originating in the place where found."
  • Allochthonus --> 
 "Found in a place other than where they and their constituents were formed."
  • Allogenic succession occurs beyond our control and due to nature such as flood and earthquakes. 
  • Biofilms are very sensitive to pollution, same as lichen. Thus, when lichen and biofilm  are present at a certain place, it indicates that there is no pollution in that place.

We have finished on the topic of "Microbial Groups" and proceeded to "Principle of Ecology" where Dr Wan showed us the powtoon video that was made by Radin in which he is in the assigned group to make learning materials for that topic. 

We opened the Quizlet that was prepared and attempted to do the quiz. But unfortunately, the Wi-Fi connection in Biotech 1 today was a bit slow.... Everybody was having trouble to connect to the Internet (that includes me too. Haha) 

We managed to cover just a little bit about the new topic with Dr Wan. Dr Wan said that the idea of the assignment is that it require us to read the learning materials prepared by fellow classmates in various forms such as posters, Quizlet etc. After reading the prepared informations, we have to answer quizzes and submit the answer to Dr Wan. I agree with this method since we will are given questions. So.... in order to answer the questions, we of course have to read the notes beforehand or do it while referring the notes. Either way, we will still be learning something. Unless you  copied the answer from friends. Ahaaaa~~~~ That will be less 'fun', I think. The feeling of finding the answer yourself is more satisfactory in my opinion. Hehe. 

Thursday, 21st May 2015 

Our replacement class are supposed to be held today at 4-6pm but due to some circumstances, our usual class on Friday had to be replaced too. 

So, today we had class at 9-11am but the class at 4-6pm was not held because Dr Wan wants to do it on 1st June which is in two weeks time. That made our day less hectic. Hehe. Because if the 4-6pm class was to be held today, our schedule would be like this --> 9-11am BMY3102 | 12-1pm BBI2423 | 2-4pm BCH | 4-6pm BMY3102 ahha! Packed isn't it?! 

But then again, Dr Wan mentioned yesterday... or was it today.. I'm not sure x'D that she had meeting and classes too non-stop from early morning till night. Which is more packed than our schedules. She looks fine and happy during class though. 

We, her students should make Dr Wan as our role model who managed to look and actually IS! energetic :D 

Class started a bit late because some of the classmates were late~

We managed to do some activities today that required us to use our laptop in which one of the activity was... Look at Choy's group Thinglink because he just posted this morning. 

I managed to look at it for a little while. Went through one of the articles about bioremediation. But afterwards... The Wi-Fi failed me~~~~ Haha. 

After Dr Wan finished lecturing on Principal of Ecology, she asked us to share on her Padlet what do we know about 'Biogeochemical Cycles'. 

The link is Padlet.com/zuhainis/cycles

However! 

Here are some points that I managed to jot down today! or new things that I learnt today~~ :D 

PRINCIPAL OF ECOLOGY


  • Microbial loop
"The microbial loop is a depiction of the microbial food web. The pathway starts with dissolved organic matter (DOM) which makes its way through various trophic levels ultimately to the highest trophic levels. This is relevant in aquatic and soil systems. Organisms involved in the microbial loop include DOM, bacteria, micro flagellates, protozoa, nematodes, ciliates, phytoplankton and various other nutrient cycling bacteria [3]. The microbial loop is ecologically significant because it is directly involved in nutrient cycling and primary production of biomass ultimately effecting large-scale ecological functions." 
-  http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Microbial_loop

  • Examples of negative interactions in ecology is? ----> Parasitism, prey-predator, competition. 
  • Why phytoplankton resides on the surface of water? ----> They are photoautotroph which means that they require sunlight in order to carry out photosynthesis to produce oxygen. 
  • Phytoplankton (producer) > Bacteria (phytoplankton die and become dissolved organic matter > Protozoa > Zooplankton > Bigger organisms (example : fish) 
  • Hydrosphere --> waterland while lithosphere ---> land
  • How do microbes contribute to revolution? They remove weaker species through infections. But how exactly they do that? Through interactions such as prey-predator and competition. From what I understand about these interactions is that the 'winner' will have the...hmmm advantage to secure the habitat or the females (for mating of animals) while the 'loser' have to leave and find another place for them to inhabit. I guess the concept is applicable to microbes too. 

In conclusion~~ 

For this topic (Principle of Ecology) --> It is important to know and understands the terms used such as ecology, habitat, ecological niche, biosphere, population etc. 

Other than that, it is also important to know the hierarchy of ecology in order to see how they interact with each other. From organisms that are within the same species to their environments, be it abiotic or non-abiotic. We can see that all the organisms in this world are interconnected with each other starting from organisms/species > population > communities > ecosystems > biosphere.  

Also, the roles of microbes are very very very important for us as Microbiology student to know since other people who don't study this field don't even realize the microbes big contributions to our ecology despite their small, no not small, but microscopic features! Only we understand them. Hahaa

And lastly, we should know some of the methods that can help to ensure the ecosystem is maintained and remain safe and sound from damage and irresponsible acts. 


Monday, May 18, 2015

WEEK 11 [SEMESTER2]

Assalamualaikum and a very good day to you. :D

I will post this entry using the “New Things I Learnt Today” method~

Wednesday, 13th May 2015

  • The ringworms that you can see on cats is one of the example of fungal infection nearest to us.
  • How do we differentiate fungi? We differentiate them based on their spore formation. Each type of fungi have different sporulation method.
  • Thallus (vegetative cell of fungi) is made from mycelium and it will germinate when the condition or environment is favourable for its growth.
  • The first organ that fungi will enter is the lung (because we breathe air) and it can cause lung disease which is also called as “mycosis” (any disease that is caused by fungi).
  • Why do the fungi colonies appear in different colour when grown in a petri dish (for example : the middle part is darker in colour compared to the outer part). The colour changes depending on how long they have grown. The fungi colonies that appear more bright is the most current growing fungi. Like how we human have young and old people but fungi don't use these terms of course!
  • Some fungi can produce exudate in which it is produced only at certain times. The function of the exudate is still unknown and under research.
  • How to stain fungi? By using lactophenol cotton blue stain.
  • There are two types of hyphae namely septate hyphae and non-septate hyphae. The difference is the presence of septa in septate hyphae that act as a separator.
  • “Fungi that grow together within plant”. What does it called? "Endophytes" in which it gives benefits to plants.
  • When will the sporangiospore dispersed? When the sporangium has matured in which the membranes will break releasing the sporangiospore.
  • How to pronounce “myxomycota” correctly? --> “Mikso-mycota” <--
  • One of the harmful effect of fungi is that they can cause asthma to humans. It can cause hypersensitivity that will lead to asthma. The fungi that cause this is called “fungal allergen”.
  • How do we obtain antifungal drug? From fungi and some bacteria.
  • Mycoremediation : Using fungi to treat pollution 
P/S I personally like it how Mashi present her part of the presentation. It's memorable. I still remember her part which is "deuteromycota a fungi imperfecti." Why? It is because they lack sexual reproduction~ I think can remember this until final examination honestly. Hahaa. So random! 

Thursday, 14th May 2015


Our class was held in DKU which is a bit spacey and Dr Wan said she don't like it. Haha. It was okay for me that day. 


Today the remaining of the groups that haven't present yet presented today which is on protozoa and lastly virus. 


Below are some of the points that I got today: 



  • The difference between oogamy and heterogamy -> oogamy ; 1 motile & 1 non-motile. heterogamy ; both motile/non-motile. 
  • The difference between isogamy and heterogamy -> The sizes of the male and female gametes. 
  • An interesting example of chlorophyta which is watermelon snow! Additional information --> 
"Watermelon snow, also called snow algaered snow, or blood snow, is Chlamydomonas nivalis, a species of green algae containing a secondary red carotenoid pigment (astaxanthin) in addition to chlorophyll.
-http://www.netlibrary.net/article/whebn0004337752/watermelon%20snow

Today's presentations by fellow classmates were easy to understand. I was able to listen well :D But I usually didn't write down much when the classmates are presenting. I'm... not sure sure why. Hence, the short and little amount of points that I can include for this today's lesson. It's either I spaced out or busy looking at their faces/gestures unlike when the lecturers are teaching. He.. He.. Can't wait to listen to Dr Wan's lecture about the topics above~

I guess that's all from me. Thank you!

Saturday, May 9, 2015

WEEK 10 [SEMESTER 2]

Tuesday, 5th May 2015 

Today, Dr Wan finished the microbial systematic for bacteria and proceeded with archaea. 

Choy's group presented about "Archaea". 

From my point of view, when I hear "archaea", what I understand most about them is that they can withstand extreme conditions such as high temperature, low temperature, high salt concentration and high or low pH.

To be very honest, ever since last semester, I have always wonder on how do the archaea adapt themselves to withstand the extreme condition? What do they have that the other microorganisms don't? 

Curious~ Curious~ 

However! I have never once search about it. (Sadly) But! I think I did search about it some time during last semester, about how do they survive in high temperature, maybe.

The reason why I blabber about this is because of today's lesson! Today. What's with today? 

After the presentation by Choy's group, Dr Wan told us to be in our group and every group was assigned an extreme condition that the archaea are resistant to and afterwards present it in front of the class. 

Oh, I should mention that we have to find the reasons (about the archaea traits) based on articles or reviews and highlights the points or explaination that we found useful. 

Our group got "low temperature" in which we have to look up on the Net about how do archaea adapt themselves to withstand low temperature. (Which is also called "psychrophile"! I just knew that today!)

It was quite complicated, if i must say myself because of course, we didn't learn in great depth about it. And some of the terms are new and foreign. Our group actually had trouble to understand them but Nurin was able to present it in front based on what we/she understand.

I have to admit that we didn't understand about it 100% (I myself had trouble understanding them too) but we tried. Hehe.

So, today, I gained knowledge about archaea. 

About what, you wonder? 

Specifically, I actually just know today that for each extreme condition, the archaea have different approach to withstand them and does not rely on one feature to do it all.

It's amazing that they have all this different method in order to live. But then again, of course they have to have it in order to survive the extreme condition, right? 

What made me curious is, I'm wondering if they "transform" to have the specific features such as having anti-freezing protein (for archaea that can withstand low temperature)? Do they already have it before they were "born" or after they are "born"? I wonder if you get what I mean...

To put it simply, I'm just wondering that... Okay, for example, this archaea is grown in a low temperature condition. Do they already have the anti-freezing protein? Or they adapt themselves, from a non-anti-freezing organism to anti-freezing organism, the cold temperature triggers the transformation or some sort.  

But, after asking this to myself just now. I think I already have the answer. Of course they have it. Why? Because they reproduce asexually. So.... The genes that enable their parent cells to withstand low temperature will also be transmitted to the daughter cells. Ah. Isn't it obvious, Dayana. x'D 

I believe that this is the best time to use the quote, 

“The more you know, the more you know you don't know.”

-Aristotle

And also this quote,

“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."

-Albert Einstein


Friday, 8th May 2015

Most of our classmates today were absent for their BAKSIS programme and next week it's going to be my turn and some of the classmates that were present today. 

The group that was supposed to present today is fungi but their group members are not present, there were only Aisyah and Syafiq present. So, no presentation by the classmates today. 

At the beginning of the class, Dr Wan said that before we start our lesson for the day, she wants us to answer her quiz first. Quiz on "Prokaryotes"! 

I was surprised and a bit nervous. Because Dr Wan just mentioned during last class that we should be able to differentiate prokaryotes and eukaryotes by now. 

Also, I thought that the quiz wasn't going to take long but you know what? The quiz used up the whole two hours lecture. I guess Dr Wan planned to only do the quiz today? Since there were very little number of us in class today. 

I wonder what Dr Wan going to do next Friday then? Is she going to do another quiz or is she going to teach them and go on with the lecture, as usual, without us? T^T (hehe) You know what Dr Wan said, "Life goes on" = lecture must go on although some of us are M.I.A due to our BAKSIS programme. 

So, today quiz was fun yet very very very informative. I can answer most of the questions. (ceh. haha) but some requires a lot of thinking too because not all questions are direct and some of it are even topics that we haven't learn yet. We are actually going to learn it next semester. 

I guess we were given some "sneak peak" of next semester's topics, then~ 

The quiz questions covers about archaea and bacteria since they are prokaryotes and most of it we have learnt during last semester. 

That's all for this week. Thank you~ :)