URC Poster

The creator of the poster I reviewed presented information on primary tumors and brain metastasis. It was nicely laid out with pictures pertinent to the topic. He provided enough detail with statistics and information on diagnosis, signs/symptoms, stages of growth, treatment and environmental effects without overwhelming. The only critique I would offer would be to avoid yellow ink as it is difficult to read.

Three Major Themes of Biochemistry

I would identify proteins, DNA and cellular energy as the three major themes of this course. Proteins encompass chapters 3-8 including amino acids, enzymes, and enzyme mechanisms. The DNA topics include nucleic acid structure, replication, transcription and translation. Cellular energy topics include thermodynamics, carbohydrates, glycolosis, citric acid cycle, lipid metabolism, electron transport, oxidation and phosphorylation. All of the topics are interelated. Enzymes affect DNA through direction of translation and transcription, methylation and cleavage. Enzymes direct the various processes of metabolism such as isomerization, phosphorylation and oxidation. Although I had an overview of the larger processes involved I did not have an understanding of the cellular level. I have learned where these processes occur, the multitude of steps involved, and how the intricacies of these processes disease happens.

How would you explain the connection between glucose entering the body and energy created by the body to a friend?

Glucose enters the body through carbohydrates ingested as part of our diets. It is then processed in the body through a series of steps involving a variety of enzymes. These steps include glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and electron transport. These enzymes convert glucose into a form of energy known as ATP that the cells use. This process is reversible with modification through a process called gluconeogenesis, self regulating (if there is too much ATP the process slows if there is too much glucose the process increases) and continuously occurring.

What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?

The second half of the semester has proven to be more relevent to topics that we experience on a daily basis and therefore our real life base of knowledge. I have learned about enzymes which as I am more aware of them realize they are all around us. My friend was drinking an energy drink which contained D-ribose, we use enzymatic cleansers in the hospital where I work to remove biological residues (lipase was one), and they are utilizing enzymes to neutralize an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While I, without additional research, don't know what each of these enzymes provides I have a greater understanding of their importance. I learned the internal mechanisms and causes of a family disease, diabetes, and how all the systems affect each other. Although I had a good understanding of the big picture, how food affects the body, mood, etc of someone with diabetes, I did not understand the way the metabolism worked and how the different organs and organelles of the cells participated. I also learned through my biochemical connections presentation how delicate these systems are and how one dysfunction (ie - GLUT4) can cause major problems.