Author: Madeline

Madeline Warren

5 December 2019

A group of scientists discovered six new species of fish while exploring in the Amazon Rainforest. The six species included Ancistrus Patronus (pictured), commonly known as Bristlenose Catfish. The fish are found in rivers in the Amazon Rainforest (Live Science). Lesley de Souza is a Marine Biologist, who stumbled upon the species while she was searching for catfish in Brazil (National Geographic). de Souza said she was fishing for food and that later on, she realized she had eaten some of her findings. She was with her advisor Jonathan Armbruster, a Marine Biologist who specializes in fish. The pair along with their colleagues examined many types of catfish while in the Amazon (National Geographic). Armbruster was also the photographer who took the pictures of the newly discovered fish. de Souza published a scientific journal with the crew’s findings in February of 2019.

Much of their history is still unknown, but the Bristlenose fish have sharp, pointy tentacle-like facial features that help ward off their predators (Live Science).  The features are also used for mating. The female fish spot the attention-drawing tentacles on the male and assume he has enhanced protective skills and can fend off threats to future children, therefore, making a good mate. This species is called Ancistrus Patronus, which means “protector” and is one of the six discovered by de Souza and her team (Live Science). Due to the deforestation of the Amazon and other threats, de Souza explained that the catfish may be at risk, but that these findings will help with conservation because it will allow other scientists to understand and study the creatures residing in the region (National Geographic).

Figure 1: Armbruster, Jonathan. “Ancistrus Patronus or ‘Protector’ Was One of Six New Species of Bristlenose Catfish Discovered in the Amazon.” Live Science, 13 Feb. 2019, www.livescience.com/64763-catifsh-species-head-tentacles.html.

Works Cited

Arnold, Carrie. “New Species of Spiky-Faced Catfish Discovered.” Six New Species of Bristlenose Catfish Discovered in South America, 11 Feb. 2019, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/02/bristlenose-catfish-discovered-amazon/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2019.

“These Newfound Catfish Species Are Either the Ugliest Fish Ever or Super Adorable.” LiveScience, Purch, https://www.livescience.com/64763-catifsh-species-head-tentacles.html. Accessed 5 Dec. 2019.

Madeline Warren

18 November 2019

Summary of More Food, Less Hype

On his talk show, Bill Nye Saves the World, Bill Nye discusses many scientific subjects affecting the modern world. In the fourth episode of the first season, Nye examines genetically modified organisms. At the beginning of the episode, he demonstrates an experiment for the viewers using strawberries. He mixes dish soap, water, and salt and places strawberries into a bag. He then smashes the strawberries and strains them. After he pours the mix into a glass dish with the strawberry pulp and adds rubbing alcohol. Lastly, he extracts some of the DNA from the strawberries. Although Nye has not always supported GMOs in the past (Washington Post), he explains in the show that after he watched a debate about them and after researching his own, he ultimately says “I believe the advantages of genetically modified crops outweigh the downsides. (Saves the World). He then talks to a correspondent who visited a farmers market to get the shoppers’ opinions on GMOs. He found that many people are still unsure about them. Nye talks to a panel of experts to discuss further. The panel includes the Executive Vice President, and Chief Technology Officer of Monsanto, a fifth-generation farmer from Iowa, and a Professor of Agricultural from North Carolina State University (Saves the World).

Explanation of How Biology is Integrated into the Show

A Genetically Modified Organism commonly known as GMOs is “an organism that has had its genetic material … altered in a laboratory” (Access Science). The biology of GMOs and whether or not they are ethical is discussed throughout the show. The organisms are modified by putting in or taking out “genetic sequences.” These changes made to the genetic material are man-made as opposed to letting them grow on their own (Access Science). The three panelists and Nye agree that there are more benefits to using GMOs than not. Benefits include an increase in crop growth and a decrease in pesticides needed to be used on crops. (Saves the World).

Critique of the Biology in the Show

Nye’s opinion changed on the topic of GMOs and it has earned him more than a few head turns. An adaptation to Nye’s book, Undeniable, includes revisions to his GMO chapter. In his original chapter, Nye said he believed it would be almost impossible to eliminate the risks of GMOs. After visiting scientists at Monsanto, and doing his own research, Nye changed his views. He said “I’m very excited about telling the world. When you’re in love, you want to tell the world” (Washington Post). Some scientists were unhappy with Nye’s findings. Many believe he got caught up in the corporate side of GMOs and that his connections with the company are controversial. Despite some people being skeptical, Nye reassured his fans and doubters that the company alone was not the reason for his change. And that it was in fact due to his is own scientific examination (Washington Post). A scientist from the University of Florida claimed Nye is a hypocrite, comparing his GMO findings to the findings of those who do not believe in climate change and evolution (Washington Post).

An Explanation for How the Biology Relates to the Topics Discussed in Class

GMOs were discussed during Unit 2 of our Biology class. After the lecture on DNA and Biotechnology, everyone in the class explained their previous knowledge and opinions on them and whether or not they agreed or disagreed with the use of them. Many people in the class reported having a neutral opinion or did not know much about them at all. A handful of people had prior experiences with them growing up and remembered hearing their parents discuss them. A few individuals went all the way to say they thought they were “unnatural.”

Figure 1

Fig. 1 Bill Nye poses on the promotional poster for his Netflix show. “#TvPoster Bill Nye Saves the World (2017) [1500 x 2222]” by junaidrao is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Works Cited

“More Food, Less Hype” Bill Nye Saves the World, season 1, episode 4, Netflix, 21 April 2017. Netflix, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80117905?trackId=14277281&tctx=0%2C0%2Ce0d45a96-44d2-4974-80c7-3a6d5aeb4376-584323745%2C%2C. Accessed 18 Nov. 2019.

Kollipara, Puneet. “Proof He’s the Science Guy: Bill Nye Is Changing His Mind about GMOs.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Apr. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/03/proof-hes-the-science-guy-bill-nye-is-changing-his-mind-about-gmos/. Accessed 18 Nov. 2019.

AccessScience Editors. “Genetically Modified Organism (GMO).” AccessScience, McGraw-Hill Education, Sept. 2019. Accessed 18 Nov. 2019.

 

 

Madeline Warren

10 October 2019

Elizabeth Hattie Alexander spent most of her scientific career as a physician. Her most noteworthy scientific discovery was helping to find the cure for influenzal and bacterial meningitis. (Science Online).

Personal Life and Education

According to AccessScience, Alexander was born in Baltimore on April 5, 1901. She had seven siblings; one older and six younger. She received her high school diploma from Western High School for Girls. In high school, she participated in and excelled at Track and Field. In college, Alexander earned average grades and was a mediocre student. Many people including her professors expected little from her, but Alexander aspired to a doctor. She attended Goucher College and in 1932 she earned her bachelor’s degree (Britannica Academic). She was a bacteriologist for three years before attending John Hopkins University (Access Science).

After she graduated and received her M.D., Alexander accepted multiple internships. These included ones at the Harriet Lane Home, in her home town of Baltimore. She worked there for one year before accepting an internship in New York City at “the Babies Hospital of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.” (Science Online). In these positions, she got her first exposure to the disease and shortly afterward began her work for a cure. Eventually, Alexander was given a full-time job at the hospital as a pediatrics doctor. She worked there and as a professor until her death in 1968. Alexander died of cancer (Access Science). She was 67. (Gale).

She also worked as a professor at Columbia University for over two decades (Gale). Alexander was loved by her students and peers alike. They were impressed with her work in the medical field and her passion (Access Science).

Alexander was named the president of the American pediatric society in 1964. She was the first woman to hold the title (Science Online).

Contributions

At the time Alexander entered the medical field, there was little to no treatment for the illness and “was fatal in 100% of cases” (Access Science). Her and a colleague named Michael Heidelberger conducted trials using rabbits. They took samples from meningitis patients and injected it into the healthy rabbits. The rabbits would make “antibodies” to fight off the infection and they used those to “develop an anti-serum” that was used to cure the sick patients.

Influenzal Meningitis fatality rates went from 100 to 20 percent, due to the work of Heidelberger and Alexander. They accomplished this in two years. Alexander continued her fight against the disease and rates successfully dropped even lower-to ten percent (Access Science).

Alexander then began finding a cure for the bacterial version of the disease, with the help of Grace Leidy, her assistant. Together they experimented with DNA and its genetics to figure out why it was rejecting treatment for the bacterial illness (Access Science).

Implications of Work for Everyday Life

Access Science and Britannica Academic explain that Meningitis can be a viral or bacterial disease. It was a common illness and caused many deaths in young children and babies during Alexander’s lifetime. Her work as a physician and bacteriologist was crucial in curing the sickness. Without her efforts and findings, influenzal meningitis fatality rates would still be much higher (Access Science).

Event in History

Alexander lived from the years 1901-1968, and she experienced both World Wars. She was in college during the years between World War 1 and World War 2. During the first year of the Second World War (in 1939) the first cure for the viral disease in infants was found by Alexander (Britannica Academic).

Similarities

Elizabeth Hattie Alexander was a dreamer. She had immense goals for her life and herself while in college as she knew she wanted to go into the medical field and help people (Science Online). I am similar to her in the sense that I too have set goals I hope to accomplish in my future career in the field of Journalism/Communications. I aspire to be an influential Journalist. Particularly one who writes with honesty and one who writes to inform the general public on important topics. I find a sense of joy in helping people and I want to make an impact as she did. Alexander kept her courage and ambition despite being doubted by many. Eventually, she went on to make one of many important scientific discoveries, and a cure for a life-threatening disease. It is for those traits that I find her extremely admirable.

Figure 1

Works Cited

Oakes, Elizabeth H. “Alexander, Hattie Elizabeth.” Encyclopedia of World Scientists, Revised Edition, Facts On File, 2007. Science Online, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=11992&itemid=WE40&articleId=298380. Accessed 29 Sept. 2019.

“Alexander, Hattie Elizabeth.” AccessScience. https://www-accessscience-com.lcc.idm.oclc.org/content/alexander-hattie-elizabeth/m0090590. Accessed 29 Sept. 2019.

“Hattie Elizabeth Alexander.” Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2011. academic-eb-com.lcc.idm.oclc.org/levels/collegiate/article/Hattie-Elizabeth-Alexander/124900. Accessed 10 Oct. 2019.

“Hattie Alexander.” Notable Women Scientists, Gale, 2000. Gale In Context: World History, https://link-gale-com.lcc.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/K1668000009/WHIC?u=lom_lansingcc&sid=WHIC&xid=b81e1729. Accessed 10 Oct. 2019.

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