Friday, December 25, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Year 1 Summary...
Its already the 11th week of this semester. Mann..time flies..
There are so many things to update.
AAR concert, Broga hill, Jogoya, Lab sessions, Birthday parties etc.. Too many!
After each event we'll be really semangat and say 'Lets update pangeelapong!'
Then,
when we're back home, gone la the semangat..
So, this semester..
More assignments, More pictures, More outings, More last minute works, More friends, More fats
And..
Lesser sleep, Lesser time to meet up with Jess and Ronald, Lesser money and Lesser brain cells
Every Thursday is the happiest day cuz we only have class till lunch time and after that the bioscience will meet up with the I-WHOs. And we'll hang out till after dinner!
Anyway, i'll just upload some photos we took this semester..
AAR Concert on the 30 Oct 09
Broga hill on the 19NOV at 430 am
95% of biotech year 1 + carsie
After Broga hill, makan session @ Jogoya and movie @ Pavilion
Htennek Minnie Ron Jess and Stef
Its Christmas Month!!!
Christmas decos are so beautiful..
okayy.. so, there're more pics to upload.. and i am tired of uploading now..
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
End Sugar Subsidy?!
"KUALA LUMPUR: The Government may remove its subsidy on sugar as a way to get Malaysians to become more healthy.
The removal of the subsidy could increase the price of sugar by almost 70%, and this should discourage people from consuming so much of it.
Currently, the Government spends about RM720mil a year subsidising sugar."
The Star, December 2, 2009
Wow, our Government is sooo thoughtful.....
so called want the Malaysians to become more healthy~
just because MAYBE our Government is running out of money, they plan to stop subsidizing for sugar....
FUNNY BETUL.
If our government really stop sugar subsidy, this will really increase the burden of the Rakyat instead of helping the Rakyat...
Besides, if our government really want us to become healthy, then they should make us stop eating nasi lemak, roti canai.... etc
In my opinion, if government doesn't "masuk pocket" so much, they sure be able to subsidize for sugar which only costs about RM 720 million a year~~~
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
A Busy Week Passes By
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wet Floors
Friday, November 6, 2009
Rainy Days At Nottingham
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
PCR Amplification in Plant Genome
We were grouped into pairs and the pairs shared great similarity to the other laboratory practicals. I was paired with Stefanie, whom I am most familiar with as a lab partner. We picked a location opposite of Kian Min's while Kenneth and Carmen's group worked side by side. The members of Pangeelapong of the Bioscience tribe were already present; I looked out for another individual and could not find her there :( Bearing perseverance, I focused on the first protocol of the 3 parted experiment.
Plant Genomic DNA Extraction Protocol. We were given a piece of cabbage each. Stefanie and Kian Min first assumed that they were gas masks given. Yet, eventually they realised that they were actually cabbages, as mentioned by the lecturer, Dr. S. We began our experiment obtaining a small portion from the cabbage and mincing it into small slices and eventually inserting them into a microcentrifuge tube. We then began mincing it further using a sterile homogenizer which looked much like a small blue torpedo. Initially, Kian Min's group and I were manually 'mortaring and pestling' the cabbage pieces until we were introduced to an automated device which acts like an egg beater. It did assist in the process of mincing it. When I first heard its loud sound caused by its vibration, I knew Kenneth would be having different thoughts of this apparatus :x
Though I've often heard of this and seen this in movies, having first-hand experience was a different approach. We watched as the lab assistant inserted the tubes into the centrifuge. She then keyed in the degree of revolutions and its duration. Moments later, the device was switched on and the loud sound emitted was noticed. With 5 minutes on the countdown timer, we left the centrifuge to return to our benches to prepare for the other procedures. Around this time, Dr S. began checking on every group to ensure that at least a member of every duo knew how to use the micropipette. Due to the lack of attention paid, I am unavailable for comments in regards to Carmen's and Kenneth's group. However, I must say that my group did give a good show to deserve a nod from Dr S.! Dr S. also gave a similar response to Kian Min's group.
Centrifugation was performed various times to separate the substances within the tubes. Later on, the solution was placed in a spin column. This was done to lay the DNA onto a thin membrane in the spin column which shares a high affinity for the DNA. Hence, centrifugation was done and the flow-throughs were removed. Finally, after applying the final solutions, we obtained our DNA in the purest form as a flow-through. And into the ice it went... Hence, our extraction protocol was brought to an end.
Next was the main of our entire experiment; we were to be performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the DNA obtained. This task was relatively easy - we were required to mix a special PCR cocktail with a small portion of the DNA. Stefanie had no problem performing this task when she attempted to. And hence, having mixed the cocktail with the DNA, the small tube was then inserted into the PCR Machine. This saves us the trouble of having to heat the temperature of the mixture to 95°C for 45 seconds, then reducing the temperature for 49°C for another 45 seconds and then raising the temperature to 72°C. All for the sake of denaturation, annealing and extension. We moved on after that to lunch. And it was at this moment my lunch offer was turned down :(
We returned after lunch to proceed with Gel Electrophoresis. This was another highlight of this experiment - we rarely get to do this so do ignore the excitement gained from such simple procedures. Stefanie and I opted for the first group - to have our sample of the DNA inserted right next to the ladder. This was my first time inserting a mixture into the well of the agarose; hence, I was slightly nervous. The procedures were as shown as the lab assistant from a year ago - we were required to pipette 10µl of DNA to be mixed with 2µ of the loading dye. This was then released onto a thin parafilm sheet. I mixed both the solutions and pipetted the mixture into the well. My attempt was successful, despite being slightly flawed - I had poked the agar :O but then, it wasn't that disastrous and hence, it was still good to carry on. After this, groups took turns to insert the wells and the rest of us were left with nothing to do. And hence, Kenneth began his moments of crapping again.
When the PCR Machine was done with our little tubes, we obtained them and repeated the process. This time, it was Stefanie's turn for my group. She performed the task remarkably well and hence, deserves much praise which I include here :) And our well was filled perfectly this time, as compared to the first attempt.
When the first gel's run was complete, it was taken into a huge transilluminator to examine the migration of the DNA. The DNA appeared smeared and dragged towards the opposite end. Dr S. then mentioned that she was never so confident about the DNA which was being examined. She also explained that it could be due to the flaws in our techniques which had led the DNA to be denatured. Despite all the bad news brought upon us, she unveiled the greener side of the grass; she told us to wait for our PCR-ed DNA to be viewed under the transilluminator and hinted to us that it would appear better. Hence, we kept our hopes high as the lab assistant transferred the 2nd agarose.
And alas, we were showed the 2nd agarose, run with the PCR-ed DNA. It was of a greater quality and even Dr S. admitted that she was very much satisfied and amazed with its quality :)
Our lab then ended with the few of us deciding to check on our tissue cultures. However, the room lacked the special casings for our shoes and hence, we had to forfeit our plan. We then bid our goodbyes to the lecturer, the lab assistants, she, and the others and left. Today had been quite a fair day - I had my mood lifted tremendously. And I wonder why (;
Friday, October 30, 2009
BBQ session at TTS
Its a very karma-fied week for the pangeelapongers. And its always the instant karma type. Once we say or do something not so nice bout others, Shoop! something not so nice will happen to us the next second.
This karma thing always happen to htennek, jess and me. Ivan seldom say something not so nice, although its always in his mind. But as long as we didnt say it out or show it, its fine. Minnie is just like a chicken.. dont wanna do something not so nice because he's afraid of karma, especially after seeing the effects of karma on the 3 more straight forward and honest pangeelapongers a.k.a jess, htennek and me. But this doesn't mean he's nice.. cuz he's just like Ivan. As for carmen, she's always nice=) the nicest pangeelaponger..
Its been so long since i blogged here..
We finally have a bbq party on thursday!! Using the earnings from pangeelapong. The makan session supposed to start at bout 6plus 7. But, in the end, the pangeelapongers including ronald got to starve ourselves till almost 9. By the time when the food are cooked, Jess had to leave already=(
Anyway, it was a fun night! Thanks TY and Boon Shan for the Bbq pit..
The preparations:
mashed potato
marinated chicken
the pit
htennek praying happily before eating
the contributors and the posers
look at Jon's face..Lol
couple of the night
multi tasking.. sms and bbq
group pic 1:
group pic 2:
pangeelapongers