news flash

104% on Plant Molecular Genetics final! Whoop! (If I do say so myself.)

Poo on finals

I met with my committee yesterday and told them about my crazy project. I myself do not think it could possibly work but I guess it's worth a try.

They asked me a few questions and I cried a little and then they stopped asking questions, which was embarrassing and also nice.

I took one final yesterday at 7 am - Biochemistry, done.

I took one final yesterday at 9 am - Plant Molecular Genetics, done.

I only have four more classes to take for my PhD, three next semester and one in the fall, which is good because after next fall I have no more funding.

After I do one more take-home final the semester is done. And I will be home in less than a week!!!!

But seriously, poo on finals.

Hers a song for you and for me....

Foreigners.

Eric says that I speak paywee as my native language.

I 1z 7#3 P0|<3m0N M4573r

I Is the pokemon Master...

And finally...

I sent this website to Mark but he didn't seem impressed even though he's been asking me to make him sideways corduroy forever.

http://www.cordarounds.com/

So there you have it.

towel technology advances.

Check it:

There must be someone we know who needs this. It's not me though.

puzzlers

Eric and I have moved up to doing all the puzzles in the Collegian every day. Even the word find. Also Eric is a crossword champ. He owns his puzz on a daily basis.

ownt.

We have to present our grant proposals. Paul presented his today. He proposed knocking out an enzyme pathway. I pointed out that the same enzyme was in two different pathways, and the second pathway hadn't been circled or noticed. I thought maybe Paul had some clever explanation for why it didn't matter. He just hadn't even seen it.

We were supposed to be working on these projects all semester.

it's been a long day.

Grant proposals are done! Never wanna do that again! Yay 7-11 and apple juice slurpees!

Investigator: Eric L. Patterson

Performing Institution: The National Center for Germplasm Resources and Preservation

A Structural and Genetic Study of Arecaceae Embryos to Define Orthodoxy and Recalcitrance in Cryopreservation

Abstract

Cryogenic germplasm storage is quickly becoming one of the greatest resources for the preservation of agricultural and wild species. While many orthodox plants such as corn or wheat are easily stored, other important germplasms remain recalcitrant to storage because of seed water content, protein and lipid structure. Many species in both categories of storage behavior can be found in the Arecaceae (Palms). The Arecaceae are of large agricultural importance and offer seeds with diverse habits and life histories. Understanding the parameters and molecular basis of recalcitrance in palm seeds will help us optimize preservation conditions such as timing, temperature, and duration.

To identify and classify seeds that are recalcitrant, we have to define recalcitrance. To do this we will take embryos from a variety of palm seeds at a variety of developmental stages and analyze dry matter content via light and electron microscopy. We will be able to break up the palm seeds into groups that are orthodox, intermediate, and recalcitrant by their biochemical and visual traits. After classification, we will focus on the orthodox group and look for a molecular basis for their cryo-tolerance. We will develop microarrays with candidate genes identified in the oil-palm genome as well as more distantly related plants like rice and sugarcane. Then embryos can be screened at different developmental stages to find differential expression of the candidate genes. With this data we can begin to time dehydration and freezing of cryo-tolerant species of palm to optimize preservation and post-freezing germination.

A Test of the Complexity Hypothesis for the Continued Existence of the Chloroplast Genome

Investigator: Margaret B. Fleming

Institution: Colorado State University, Department of Biology

Abstract: The persistence of the chloroplast genome has long been an unexplained phenomenon, given that motive and means exist for chloroplast genes to relocate to the nucleus. Multiple hypotheses have been presented to explain this phenomenon, including the hydrophobic hypothesis, the Colocation of Redox Regulation hypothesis, and the complexity hypothesis. Briefly, the complexity hypothesis states that the evolution of photosynthesis prior to the endosymbiotic event permitted highly complex regulatory systems to develop. These systems, once transferred into the host cell, are unable to migrate to the nucleus because so many elements would be required to transfer at the same time. Such a mass migration would be prohibited by the laws of chance. I propose an experimental test of the complexity hypothesis by identification of a complete chloroplast gene regulatory network containing multiple elements (but a limited number of elements for the purposes of experimentation), followed by transfer of the DNA for the entire system to the nucleus. If the hypothesis is correct and the transfer is successful, there should be no deleterious phenotype related to this transfer, and possibly even an advantageous one will appear. This experiment will have relevance to genetic engineers as well as geneticists, since containment of genetic engineering constructs has long been proposed to prevent genetic drift, yet high rates of chloroplast DNA transfer to the nucleus occur. If complexity is a supportable hypothesis, a more complex insertion cassette in the chloroplast might be sufficient to contain the genetic modification.

Whale: The Younger Years

When the whale was young, far before he called himself the whale or even talked in third person, he was introduced to his compatriot the sea lion. For those who do not know 'za vhale', he is officially a member of Balaena mysticetus or Bow Head Whale. As such he often cruises around in the arctic chillen with the other sea mammals like seal, walri etc. Now, the sea lion was a strong little fellow who the whale adored. Unfortunately after years of mis-adventure they were separated by the 'real world'. No more looking for krill around the arctic circle or picking up hot oceanic vixens. Well the day may finally come when they get to reunite to terrorize the seas. That's right...He's coming to Fort Collins! The one and Only Sea Lion...Dane... Anyways after much excitement and face-melting it seems as though the D might be moving to Fort Collins and kicken it with the whale. "Look on [our doings] ye mighty, and despair" Despite that brief interlude, the whale is rastleing with this squid of a paper and finished his PP (Power point for those not in the know...weirdos) Tomorrow we shall see if it holds any water. (whale joke for those still not in the know...)

A bit of the pup

I got a brand-new pair of roller skates

Victory!

oh, michael macdonald.

I just got the Doobie Brothers. Living on a Fault Line. It was playing in La Familia while I was getting inked.

And it is Awesome!

When I play it I just think of dad sashaying around the living room. I tell this to Eric every time, and he says he'd rather not think of my dad sashaying anywhere. I may have in fact prejudiced him against the fine Doobie Brothers. Whoops.

I have a theory about Pocky

I revise my previous theory about Dennis being secretly a cat. Rather, Pocky is secretly a dog. The evidence:

1)She ate sourdough bread.

2)She ate broccoli.

3)She ate banana.

4)She ate popcorn.

5)She drinks out of the toilet.

6)She smells the drain after I take a shower.

7)She licks out your eye boogers for you.

8)She growls.

Exhibit A:

Caught!

picture time!

In which we show you some skin.

Eric did not get a new tattoo, he just gave himself a rash from his own shaved head.

Ed

Insomnia or Butterflies

The whale is still awake at 1am on a sunday night. The whale starts a new lab tomorrow. The best thing for butterflies in a whale's tummy is grinding until some undefined point at which time he drinks a cup of over sweetened artificial lemonade and passes out from a video-game induced sugar coma.
Also, The Legion now has Vent which escalates my nerdiness and my game play experience. Whether that is a good or bad thing it remains to be seen but at least I don't have to actually socialize with people.
Also my head is now a fuzzy peach like a whale's should be. Streamlined like a torpedo. This is all slang for shaved. I look like a cancer patient, pedophile, racist, slightly militant moby but at least it feels nice and my hats are now Velcro-ed to my head.
That's all...I think I hear my sea-Buns scuffling so it's off to cuddle-topia where I am the snuggle king and all my soft-little servants obey my every whim...

I don't want to know what he's thinking about.

Chubbo's feeling real comfortable with us now. The lights are dim to keep him in the mood.

That's the pillow I got for riding on the airplane, to go around the neck. It's since turned into the "hemorrhoid pillow" since there's nothing else to do with it but sit on it. I mean, we're not going to pretend to be riding on an airplane while we're sitting on the sofa. We'll pretend to be uncomfortable instead.

For Wiley

We found this great wine, you should try it. It's right up your alley. (Don't say "up your alley".)

That's giant 47 pound rooster wine right there. Perfect for hens like you!

It's hard to believe that Eric and I still call each other hens. Maybe we'll both come to Annapolis and get a refreshing new insult to carry back to Colorado.

Best Crossword Ever!

The clue for 6-across was "Wiley". And the clue for 7-down was "small needle case"!

Eric and I do the crossword and the Suduky every day. We usually get A's, Eric sometimes gives himself an A-.

If you have dentures....talk to the crab

We are eating Hutspot... A dish that needs no chewing... I bet pelicans would love it with fish... or CRAB. Anyway, lab switch is coming up which means the whale has to do something with his life and not achieve level 50 in Aion but thats ok. This world is at least 1/6 as cool as fake world. Also I Thanksgiving is coming up which means stress for all but thankfully (Get it...) Margaret has given me a job to do in my fathers shop so I can avoid the tirades of my mother... shes like an older somewhat crazy blue whale.

I have a theory about Dennis

Remember Dennis, Mark's dog? I think he's not actually a dog. He is a cat. Think about it. You know I'm right.

annie had it right with the tyrannosaurus tattoo

I went to Denver yesterday to pick Eric up and watched while he and his friend Chris made concrete and poured it in post-holes they had previously dug. They were at Chris' parents' house. It was a very manly time, with many jokes about sticking things in holes. I only held the wheelbarrow.

Then we went to the natural history museum. They have an exhibit of stuffed mammals. The walrus is enormous but then so is the sea lion. The sea lion is quite tough but the walrus has tusks. The polar bears were eating little seals, so I guess they would beat all comers in a fight.

We looked at dinosaurs, and this museum has the same fossil of the giant fish with a little fish inside it! And whale skeletons! There were skeletons of two fighting meat-eating dinosaurs, and one had another dinosaur's tail in its mouth. But it was a skeleton of a tail. The skeleton turtle had a really tiny neck sticking out of its shell. They were all amazing. And, you could watch the scientists working in the fossil lab, making casts of real bones and then cleaning them up.

Also we saw the gems and minerals exhibit. There are many kinds that grow as little tiny hairs, or spiky cubes. And different versions of the same mineral that are different colors. I found it fascinating but it's hard to convey how stones in boxes could be cool.

And finally we went to the planetarium and saw a movie about black holes. It was extremely trippy because we went into and out of the black hole at the center of the milky way, and then through a hypothetical wormhole. There were flames and groovy colors.

Anyway the dinosaurs were my favorite, and now I want a dinosaur tattoo too.

PS Briefly we had an experiment wherein we spoke in sentences of only two words. It was going well until I had to find parking. We were succinct.

My life is great!

We just got home today, started listening to Thomas Dolby, and investigating my geranium under the microscope. Ze Vhale cut himself while acquiring razor blades to dissect the geranium with, so we're also looking at blood. Right now he's adjusting the Kohler illumination.

We came home after finishing the crossword puzzle together, and he also did the sudoku. Before that we were in RNA Biology, learning about RNA interference.

Yesterday we had band practice at his house, I can switch so quickly now between C and G! And even sing while I'm doing it. Also I can play the snare with brushes.

On one of the snow days last week I found the 7-up series on Netflix. Now he keeps saying that he reads the observer And the times, etc. etc. I did discover that eating greens does not play a significant role At All in the 7-up, and only very briefly appears in 7+7. One day he'll pick up on that too and all will be complete.

He just said he's disappointed in the microscope because it doesn't have phase contrast. Damn. Apparently his blood isn't that exciting without it.

Finally, he said today that he wanted his wedding to center around grape soda and swedish fish, and I talked him in to including meat on a stick in that list. Can't wait.

SNOW DAY

It's official, school's closed at 2 pm. Good thing I didn't go to class this morning! Instead I stayed home all day and wrote my RNA midterm. Questions like: what is your favorite ribonucleoprotein and why is it cooler than the rest? or, what is the source of phosphate at the junction of the spliced exons of Hac1 mRNA under stress.
And I don't have class tomorrow anyway (although I really should start a cloning experiment) but maybe I'll get to stay home once again! WHOOP!
Also Pocky-cat is only ever adorable and sweet. She and Chubbo play a hiding under the sofa game. And she lies on my neck at night like a scarf and purrs.

PS Unfortunately I still have to finish my exam since the amazing internet permits transport via electronic particlessssssssssss
ok bye

Milk is Nature's way of saying I love you.

The man can do no wrong!

John Hartford is the man

:'(

Leviathan!

Holy Barking spiders! Do you like steampunk teen novels about alternative world war one scenarios? If you answered yes then you should read Leviathan by Scott Westerfield. Its bloody brilliant. It took me about 6 hours to read the 400 pages and I was never bored. Anyway, the central powers have created the 1900's versions of mech. warriors and they are at war with the allies (darwinists) who have made giant mutated beasts including a 200 yard long whale/zeppelin called The Leviathan, It basically flies around being awesome 24/7. So read it, enjoy it, digest it, and turn it into clart. (You'd have to read the book)

It is finished

View from above:

My dream of having a whale cruising down my wall has finally come true. Next up: a crab!

Za Vhale and I went to Castle Rock last weekend. We considered going skiing, briefly, but there really isn't enough snow yet. So we were pampered by his parents instead. Fine by me!

The first time I went down there I met Beau.

That was last April, I think. Now he's a little bigger, but still a cutie. And still a super puppy!

He's sure made a lot of meat in a short time.

One day we'll go skiing. It will be a different kind of "relaxing" I hear.

The whale is almost done. We will cut it out and hang it on the wall, and then it will be done.

See:

Let's celebrate. Alright!

I took my Molecular Methods final today. It went pretty well. I knew how to do cloning and immunofluorescence so I will get at worst a B.

When it was over I thought of maybe getting coffee but instead Ze Vhale and I rode our sweet bikes to New Belgium. It was supposed to be a short bike ride and then I would go back to the lab. Instead I got a growler of delicious Stout and we went to Elliot's for perfect olives. But one of my classes is done! Worth a little celebrating, right?

And I told Pat, my boss, today that I would not in fact be applying for the sweet $30,000 for three years grant that I told her yesterday I would apply for. She was quite agreeable to that, so that's another great thing.

Now we're cooking pizza and going to paint and watch some shows. The cats are eating their second breakfast and all is well in our world.

Darn goofy cats

I always think they hate each other but then I catch them doing this:

And this:

whale part 2

What is better than RNA biology? Whale painting of course.

Just a normal Sunday

Crab-zzz

Za Vhale here...There is a crab on my coach. It is asleep...wait it sniffled! It may have awoken... nope, not this time.

Friday was a big day.

Yesterday I took Pocky to the cat clinic to get her spayed. She was crying in the cat carrier the whole time, and wouldn't eat any food, and I got lost and drove like a lunatic. But we got there!

Then I went to school and took a test on protein and DNA secondary and tertiary structures, on which we were promised many questions about amino acids. I learned all the amino acids and there were no questions on them.

I went to "first friday" social hour with Za Vhale. It was in Janice Moore's lab, she studies parasites. No one signed off on the alcohol form because they were all gone, so they spent the extra money on decorations and food. It was halloween and bug-themed. A flowerpot was full of "mud." A sand bucket was full of "sand." And they had larvettes! I ate a bacon and cheese flavored cricket. It was the only package that was open. At first I wanted to find a non-bacon flavored one, since I do pretend to a vegetarian lifestyle. Then Christine pointed out that she wouldn't eat one since she really is vegetarian. I ate the bacon-flavored one directly after. It dissolved into powder as soon as it entered my mouth, so at least it was well flavored powder.

Za Vhale and I also talked to many scary people, like Kevin who is prone to saying one thing and then being silent. You think it's safe to move on and instead he says another, disconnected thing. All I know about him is he drinks diet coke. And we talked to June Medford, Kevin's boss. She went gaga over the peanut-butter filled eyeballs, and refused to try a cricket.

I picked up the cat with Za Vhale, and she was very quiet on the ride home. When we let her out of the carrier she was tripping over her back legs and seemed mostly to be high.

Then I had a party! I made hummus to eat with soda bread, and I made 15 bean soup. We played Killer Bunnies, a card game like magic but with bunnies and weapons and carrots instead of mana etc. We also played Stress, an evil card game for two people, and Set. And everyone was friendly and nice and super competitive. Barbara and Laura and Karen and Torbin came. I didn't take any pictures.

Then it started snowing. And this is what it looked like this morning:

The green leaves and the snow are so weird. PS it's still snowing. Maybe we'll get school off for Columbus Day after all.

granules expert

Annie and Emily are here, which is a good thing because Annie is an expert on granules. Za Vhale and I just saw a dude lecture on stress granules in the cell. I didn't understand what he was talking about except at the introduction and conclusion, but he was a badass who knew what he was talking about. Some other people in the audience asked incomprehensible questions, so I guess they knew what was up too. Annie didn't go to the lecture since she already knows everything about granules.

Now A+E are on their way back from New Belgium, they were only there for three hours, and then I guess we'll party all night long.