CUBE Kishore Bharati Assistantship Report: 1/08/2024 to 31/08/2024
Number of Chatshaala Sessions Participated : 30/31
I moderated Chatshaala sessions from 1st August 2024 to 31st August 2024, along with other interns.
CUBE Presentation:
As part of the Independence Day celebrations, we coordinated with SN College Alathur and Cubists from SN College Alathur made a presentation on butterflies. Anusree, Amritha, and Sniga presented their observations on the lifecycle of butterflies and presented the photographs of various butterflies.
CUBE Special Chatshaala Session:
We had a special session with Harshad, a PDF scholar from Ahmad University, who is pursuing a PDF on pupal color in Drosophila melanogaster. During his PhD research, he observed pupal color variation in a grass butterfly and published a paper. We had an active and interactive session with him.
Outcome of Chatshaala:
1)CUBE SN College Alathur Engagement:
SN College Alathur is becoming more active. Amritha, Anusree, and Sniga are engaged in the context to curriculum group focusing on butterflies as a model system. Their objectives include studying the lifecycle and identifying various butterflies. Cubist, Prithviraj is also actively observing the lifecycle of butterflies. Other active butterfly collaborators are Suma, Sneha, and Nidhi.
2)Collecting Monsoon Fast Plants:
With the arrival of the monsoon, Cubists are collecting pictures of monsoon fast plants and identifying them. We were also introduced to Wisconsin’s monsoon fast plants.
3)Developing CUBE Centers:
Sakshi and Dhanaraj sent Moina and Hydra to Kiran, who is setting up a home lab ata Bageshwar, Uttarakhand. We discussed goofups that arised during the transfer from Mumbai to Bageshwar and we also discussed about reproduction of Hydra and Moina.
4)Cardamine: Weed Migration and Establishment:
I (Theertha) collected Cardamine in December 2023 from Delhi, and it is now growing well in Kozhikode, Kerala.
Enas collected some Cardamine seeds from Germany to Delhi.
Suma explained how she transferred gene through plant tissue culture, and we introduced a potential alternative floral dip method in Chatshaala sessions.
Kiran also found Cardamine in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand.
We discussed leaf architecture in Cardamine, have either simple or compound leaves. We discussed the gene regulation of Knox in the transition from simple to compound leaves and compared it with the Ultrabithorax mutation, which causes two pairs of wings in Frutflies
5)Seasonomics:
Prithviraj, Babitha, and Cubists from SN College Alathur collected data on mango trees, showing that they have started flowering in Kerala.
- The CUBE SN Varkala and Chempazhanthy group became active. On 31/08/2024, Sailakshmi, a first-year graduate student from SN College Chempazhanthy, joined Chatshaala. We had an active discussion on curd-making in the Homelab.
CUBE Kishore Bharati Half-Month Report: 1st September to 15th September
Number of Chatshaala participated:13/15
CUBE Orientation Programme:
- On 3/09/2024
An orientation programme was held at SN College, Chempazhanthy, organized by Liji. Dr. Arunan MC introduced CUBE to the attendees. Sailakshmi is one of the active Cubists from SN College, Chempazhanthy.
- On 5/09/2024
Another orientation programme took place at SN College, Varkala, organized by Dr. Babita, Head of the Department of Zoology. Anjali is one of the active Cubists from SN Shivagiri School.
Highlights:
1)Sneha Mourya from NES Ratnam College participated in the TIFR Mumbai Open Day programme as recommended by Dr.Arunan .
2)Chitralekha, Enas, and others attempted to standardize the transfer of chlorohydra and moina through postal service. Previously, Sakshi and Dhanraj transferred chlorohydra and moina to Kiran, but that was lost due to improper feed and packaging.
3)Mango flowering data were collected by Prithviraj, Seethalakshmi, and others, showing flowering in respective locations.
According to Seethalakshmi’s data:
Summary of Observation
Month: September 2nd week (14/09/2024)
Total number of mango trees: 6
Flowering: 5 (83.4%)
Non-flowering: 1 (16.6%)
Location: NITK Surathkal, Karnataka
Data Collector: Seethalakshmi C. R.
Anjali’s Summary:
Summary of Mango Tree Observations
Place: Varkala
Date: 7/09/2024
Time: 5:40 PM
Number of trees observed: 12
Flowering: 4
One tree has a small mango
Percentage of flowering in Varkala: 41.9%
By Anjali R. Biju
Summary of Mango Tree Observations
Place: Alappuzha
Date: 5/09/2024
Time: 7:30 AM
Number of trees observed: 8
Flowering: 3
Percentage of flowering in Alappuzha: 37.5%
Data Collected by: Theertha
4)Seed germination studies were set up by Cubists Anjali, Sneha, Chitralekha, Kiran, and Sailakshmi in mustard and green gram. We linked this to seed dormancy, using Cardamine as an example.
5)We discussed curd and paneer making processes in Chatshaala. A TINKE moment for me :all fermentation done with milk will not results in curd.
5)We explored the sensing of smell and taste in butterflies, particularly how they detect host plants for laying eggs. Butterflies are connected to plant biology and neurobiology.
7)We also discussed learning and memory in slugs, seed dormancy in Cardamine, and the culture of fruit flies in the homelab.
8)The isolation of C. elegans from Indian soil was a topic of interest. Amritha and Batul were particularly engaged, and Anjali posed intriguing questions about why C. elegans is important in research.
9)Big Butterfly Challenge:
This challenge has been continued by Cubists including Prithviraj, Anusree, Amritha, and others. Vijaya noticed a large number of butterflies on crotalaria plants.
CUBE Kishore Bharati Assistantship Report: Second Half of September 2024:Theertha MD
Number of Chatshaala Participations: 14/15
I moderated Chatshaala along with fellow interns Enas, Seethalakshmi, Kiran, and Sakshi during the second half of September.
CUBE at the Conference:
Arunan Sir received an invitation for Cubists to present a poster at NIRRH, and we collaboratively prepared the presentation just the night before.
Priti and Sakshi presented a spot presentation at NIRRH.
Akansha, Shahin, and others from Sophia College Mumbai, also participated in the conference.
Active CUBE Groups:
CUBE Patna
CUBE SN Varakala
CUBE SN Chempazhanthy
CUBE Pamgarh
Highlights of Chatshaala:
1)Butterfly Model Systems: Butterflies select specific host plants for laying eggs, which serve as food for the caterpillars once they emerge. Research questions include: how butterflies sense host plants, as discussed by Sneha Mourya and others. We discussed about various receptors:
Chemoreceptors:
Taste: Gustatory receptors
Smell: Olfactory receptors
Touch: Thigmoreceptors
Heat: Thermoreceptors
Mechanical Stimulus: Mechanoreceptors
Light: Photoreceptors
2)Isolation of Soil Nematodes (C. elegans): Cubists are trying to isolate the soil nematode C. elegans from Indian soil. Amritha made this in her home lab in 2023, collaborating with Shalini, Batul, Sakshi, and others.
Methods we discussed:
Take 2 potato slices.
Add soil collected to the periphery of one potato slice (Test) and leave the other without soil (Control).
Add 2 drops of milk to the center of both slices to visualize the nematodes that emerge from the soil.
Replicates can also be conducted to confirm results.
3)Earthworm: From nematodes to earthworms: The primary question addressed was the food of earthworms and how to locate them in the soil.
Anjali, an 11th-grade student, made a tissue paper cup culture in her home lab. Bhagwati and Nidhi from Pamgarh have been culturing earthworms in their college.
4)Snail: We discussed the anatomy of snails and compared it to that of earthworms. We also refered the Nobel Prize-winning work of Eric Kandel related to the response of touch in snail tentacles, as well as the olfactory senses of snails used to locate food.
5)Fruit Fly: Zaheda from Patna starts observing fruit flies in her home lab. We discussed their culture and food preferences in Chatshaala.
*Context to Curriculum:*My favourite discussions
1)A key question raised was about the food of earthworms and how they digest cellulose as animals lack the cellulase enzyme. We also discussed how humans digest cellulose, including the biochemistry behind the structure of cellulose and its differences from starch and other organic molecules.
2)We discussed the homeotic mutations in fruitfly and compared them to double-layered hibiscus. Sailakshmi from SN Varkala found a photo of double-layered hibiscus, which we connected to two-winged fruit flies.
3)We discussed the biochemistry involved in the decay of organic matter.
TINKE Moments:
1)Pyruvate having a vinegar smell
2)Double-layered hibiscus and reduced stamen in hibiscus.
CUBE KISHORE BHARATI ASSISTANTSHIP REPORT:1/11/2024 to 15/11/2024, Theertha MD
1)Number of Days Presented in ChatShaala
14/15
2)Involvement in CUBE ChatShaala Discussion, Daily Map Making, Word Cloud
Participated in ChatShaala discussions: 14/15 days
3)Involvement in MetaStudio
4)Is there any new CUBE Hub, CUBE WhatsApp Group, or CUBE Home Labs Development?
No
5)List and Details of Orientation Programs, Presentations, Workshops, and Seminars
No
6)CUBE Home Lab Update
Data collection of mango trees near my home lab, Cherukkad, Kozhikode
Flowering: 11/30
DNA extraction at home lab using onion
7)Major ChatShaala Discussions:
DNA Extraction at HomeLab:
In ChatShaala discussions, we discussed the DNA extraction method did by Amritha. Later, I attempted DNA isolation in my home lab. The discussions helped clarify the reasons for adding detergent, salt, and alcohol to extract DNA.
Fundamental Discussions:
A)Where do we find DNA, and is the number of chromosomes the same in all parts of the body?
DNA is found in chromosomes. In humans, somatic cells have 46 chromosomes, while germ cells (gametes) have 23 chromosomes. We discussed the number of chromosomes in parents, gametes, and offspring in the context of DNA extraction.
B)Role of Salt in DNA Extraction:
Salt helps precipitate proteins from onion cells. We also discussed the process of salt (NaCl) dissolving in water: when salt is added to water, it dissolves because the covalent bonds of water are stronger than the ionic bonds in salt molecules. We also discussed different types of amino acids, both polar and non-polar, and common proteins like hemoglobin, casein, and albumin.
C)Role of Alcohol in DNA Precipitation:
The attractive force between water and alcohol is stronger than that between DNA and water, which helps precipitate the DNA.
D)Mango Flowering:
We discussed the current mango flowering status in various parts of India.
The gap identified: The concept of the meaning of 11°N (latitude) of equater and the position of the equator in correspondence to India.
Preparation for Exams: Chatshaala discussions
1)Angiosperm Morphology and Plant Systematics - Amrita, SN College
Amrita, a third-year B.Sc. Botany student from SN College, Alathur, and we discussed the Poaceae family (previously known as Gramineae)examples like rice and bamboo. We also discussed gymnosperms (e.g. Cycas, Pinus) which lack fruit, and angiosperms, which are seed-bearing plants with seeds enclosed in fruit. We also discussed about the classification systems of Linnaeus and Bentham & Hooke in botany.
2)Medical Chemistry - Enas, AND College, Delhi
We discussed the effects of drugs like morphine on the human body. We also came across the extraction of morphine and salicylic acid from the opium poppy and willow tree respectively .later , we discussed how ectopic expression leads to decreased resistance against herbivores in Zea mays and the analysis of seed production in hibiscus.
Ideas Raised:
Karyotyping of the ovary , chromosome analysis in Hibiscus
3)Plant Systematics - Sneha, NES Ratanm College
Sneha, who is currently interested in working on Chlorohydra, and we discussed different organisms and categorized them based on similarities. As Sneha mentioned, taxonomy can seem like a boring subject, and most of us agreed.
Developing Context for Curriculum:
A)Respiration in Earthworms and Humans:
Anjali from SN Higher Secondary School set up an earthworm cup culture, and we compared respiration in earthworms vs humans.
Earthworm Respiration:
Atmospheric air
Oxygen dissolves in the mucus of the skin
Oxygen diffuses from the skin into blood vessels
Based on the concentration gradient
CO2 diffuses from blood vessels to the skin
Blood vessels carry oxygen to the heart, and from the heart, it reaches the cells, where it is used to break down glucose into ATP.
Human Respiration:
Atmospheric air enters the lungs
Oxygen dissolves in the alveoli of the lungs
Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli to blood vessels, then to the heart, and finally to the cells, where it is used to break down glucose into ATP.
B)Mango Data Collection: Geography of India
We are currently collecting data on mango flowering in India. We also learned about the latitudes of different places and the significance of 11°N in relation to India’s geography.
C)Symbiosis: Hydra viridissima
We discussed symbiosis in Chlorohydra.
D)DNA Extraction:
We discussed the composition of cell membranes, chemical bonds, salting out, precipitation, polar vs. non-polar amino acids, and chromosome numbers in onions, humans (parents, gametes, and offspring).
October
CUBE Kishore Bharati Assistantship Report: 16/10/2024 to 31/10/2024 by Theertha MD
Number of Chatshaala Attended: 16/16
Major Chatshaala Discussions:
1)Chlorohydra and Moina Sent by Sakshi to Kiran:
Sakshi sent Chlorohydra and Moina to Kiran in two vials, each containing 50 Chlorohydra. According to Kiran, Moina was not present in the vial, but Chlorohydra were present. Currently, she is placing the culture in sunlight.
2)Cardamine Seed Germination Study:
I did a seed germination study on Cardamine in the CUBE homelab in Cherukkad, Kozhikode.
Questions answered:
Cardamine seeds will germinate within four days under proper water conditions. Some seeds did not germinate despite of adequate moisture, indicating dormancy. The study also observed that as the concentration of Clarithromycin increased, the cotyledons changed from green to yellow, and both shoot and root lengths decreased.
3)Butterfly Model System of Sneha and CUBE Sapekshati:
Sneha from NES Ratanm College observed a Papilio caterpillar on a plant. We discussed host plant detection by females, with Hanvita, Ajita, and Himanshu actively participating.
4)Regeneration in Earthworms, Planaria, and Chlorohydra:
Sailakshmi from SN College Chempazhanthi and Anjali from SN School Varakala had interest in earthworms. Anjali started culturing of earthworms in tissue paper cups.
5)Isolation of Earthworms and Soil Nematodes:
We discussed the methods for isolating earthworms and soil nematodes, as both are found in moist, nutrient-rich soil.
6)Effect of Antibiotics on Chlorohydra and Cardamine:
Trimethoprim caused discoloration in Chlorohydra, while kanamycin caused green color changes to yellow in Cardamine seedlings. We discussed the effects of these antibiotics on the 70S ribosomes of chloroplasts.
7)Denaturation of Protein:
Seethalakshmi raised the question of how boiling an egg causes hardening.
8)Budding in Chlorohydra and Plants:
Budding is asexual reproduction in Chlorohydra, while in plants, it is a vegetative propagation method introduced by humans.
9)Survival Strategies in Chlorohydra and Moina:
Autophagy in Hydra and asexual reproduction (parthenogenesis) in Moina may be the survival strategies used by the Hydra and Moina sent from Mumbai to Bageshwar.
Celebration of Goof-ups:
Culture of Chlorohydra and Moina at Kiran’s Homelab:
Regular updates were missing, and an alternative food source for Chlorohydra was not used.
Gaps and Misconceptions:
1)Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes:
We had confusion regarding unicellular and multicellular organisms in relation to prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
2)Biological Oxygen Demand:
We discussed dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand, as well as their relationship with water purity.
3)Autophagy:
We addressed how self-eating plays a role in cell renewal in Hydra.
4)Osmotic Potential in the Context of Osmosis:
We discussed the differences between freshwater and marine water and whether freshwater fish can survive in marine water, including processes like diffusion and osmosis.
CUBE KISHORE BHARATI ASSISTANTSHIP REPORT:1/11/2024 to 15/11/2024, Theertha MD
1)Number of Days Presented in ChatShaala
14/15
2)Involvement in CUBE ChatShaala Discussion, Daily Map Making, Word Cloud
Participated in ChatShaala discussions: 14/15 days
3)Involvement in MetaStudio
4)Is there any new CUBE Hub, CUBE WhatsApp Group, or CUBE Home Labs Development?
Homelab updates:
DNA extraction:CUBE homelab, cherukkad, Kozhikode.
Fruitfly culture:Batul, Kolkata
Mango data collection:Biswayini, himanshu, Arunan sir, Theertha
Developed a CUBE school lab:Bageshwar, Isolation of soil nematodes
5)List and Details of Orientation Programs, Presentations, Workshops, and Seminar
Sakshi presented a poster at NIMHANS, about the role of HIF in regeneration in chlorohydra.
6)CUBE Home Lab Update
Data collection of mango trees near my home lab, Cherukkad, Kozhikode
Flowering: 11/30
DNA extraction at home lab using onion
7)Major ChatShaala Discussions:
DNA Extraction at HomeLab:
In ChatShaala discussions, we discussed the DNA extraction method did by Amritha. Later, I attempted DNA isolation in my home lab. The discussions helped clarify the reasons for adding detergent, salt, and alcohol to extract DNA.
Fundamental Discussions:
A)Where do we find DNA, and is the number of chromosomes the same in all parts of the body?
DNA is found in chromosomes. In humans, somatic cells have 46 chromosomes, while germ cells (gametes) have 23 chromosomes. We discussed the number of chromosomes in parents, gametes, and offspring in the context of DNA extraction.
B)Role of Salt in DNA Extraction:
Salt helps precipitate proteins from onion cells. We also discussed the process of salt (NaCl) dissolving in water: when salt is added to water, it dissolves because the covalent bonds of water are stronger than the ionic bonds in salt molecules. We also discussed different types of amino acids, both polar and non-polar, and common proteins like hemoglobin, casein, and albumin.
C)Role of Alcohol in DNA Precipitation:
The attractive force between water and alcohol is stronger than that between DNA and water, which helps precipitate the DNA.
D)Mango Flowering:
We discussed the current mango flowering status in various parts of India.
The gap identified: The concept of the meaning of 11°N (latitude) of equater and the position of the equator in correspondence to India.
Preparation for Exams: Chatshaala discussions
1)Angiosperm Morphology and Plant Systematics - Amrita, SN College
Amrita, a third-year B.Sc. Botany student from SN College, Alathur, and we discussed the Poaceae family (previously known as Gramineae)examples like rice and bamboo. We also discussed gymnosperms (e.g. Cycas, Pinus) which lack fruit, and angiosperms, which are seed-bearing plants with seeds enclosed in fruit. We also discussed about the classification systems of Linnaeus and Bentham & Hooke in botany.
2)Medical Chemistry - Enas, AND College, Delhi
We discussed the effects of drugs like morphine on the human body. We also came across the extraction of morphine and salicylic acid from the opium poppy and willow tree respectively .later , we discussed how ectopic expression leads to decreased resistance against herbivores in Zea mays and the analysis of seed production in hibiscus.
Ideas Raised:
Karyotyping of the ovary , chromosome analysis in Hibiscus
3)Plant Systematics - Sneha, NES Ratanm College
Sneha, who is currently interested in working on Chlorohydra, and we discussed different organisms and categorized them based on similarities. As Sneha mentioned, taxonomy can seem like a boring subject, and most of us agreed.
Developing Context for Curriculum:
A)Respiration in Earthworms and Humans:
Anjali from SN Higher Secondary School set up an earthworm cup culture, and we compared respiration in earthworms vs humans.
Earthworm Respiration:
Atmospheric air
Oxygen dissolves in the mucus of the skin
Oxygen diffuses from the skin into blood vessels
Based on the concentration gradient
CO2 diffuses from blood vessels to the skin
Blood vessels carry oxygen to the heart, and from the heart, it reaches the cells, where it is used to break down glucose into ATP.
Human Respiration:
Atmospheric air enters the lungs
Oxygen dissolves in the alveoli of the lungs
Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli to blood vessels, then to the heart, and finally to the cells, where it is used to break down glucose into ATP.
B)Mango Data Collection: Geography of India
We are currently collecting data on mango flowering in India. We also learned about the latitudes of different places and the significance of 11°N in relation to India’s geography.
C)Symbiosis: Hydra viridissima
We discussed symbiosis in Chlorohydra.
D)DNA Extraction:
We discussed the composition of cell membranes, chemical bonds, salting out, precipitation, polar vs. non-polar amino acids, and chromosome numbers in onions, humans (parents, gametes, and offspring).
CUBE KISHORE BHARATI ASSISTANTSHIP REPORT: 16/11/2024 to 30/11/2024: Theertha MD
-
Number of Days Attended in ChatShaala
14/15 -
Involvement in CUBE ChatShaala Discussions, Daily Map Making, and Word Cloud
Participated in ChatShaala discussions: 14/15 days -
Involvement in metaStudio
When will you get the ripe mangoes in your place? - #9 by Theertha
- Development of New CUBE Hubs, WhatsApp Groups, or Home Labs
New WhatsApp Group:
Babita a teacher ,created a new CUBE WhatsApp group for SN College, Varkala.
New Cubists Joining:
New members from Sophia College, Mumbai.
Dev, a 7th-grade student from Patna, has started joining ChatShaala regularly.
CUBE Lab Developments:
Mango Flowering Data (November 2024):
Kozhikode, Kerala (Data collector: Theertha): 11/30
Varkala, Kerala (Data collector: Prithviraj): 5/26
Palakkad, Kerala (Data collectors: Anusree, Sneha): 4/10
Amrita: 3/6
Goa (Data collector: Arunan): 2/6
Bangalore, Karnataka (Data collector: Himanshu): 7 observations (Flowering count not clear to me)
Mumbai, Maharashtra (Data collector: Arunan): 5/25
Bhandup West (Data collector: Sneha): 1/5
Warangal (Data collector: Dinesh Datta): 0/1
New Delhi (Data collector: Enas): 0/8
Sapekshati, Assam (Data collector: Biswayini): 0/8
Gujarat (Data collector: Vijaya): 0/4
Patna (Data collector: Dev): 0/1
Chhattisgarh (Data collector: Nidhi): 0/10
5. List and Details of Orientation Programs, Presentations, Workshops, and Seminars
None
6. CUBE Home Lab Update
Cardamine is growing well at the CUBE Home Lab in Cherukkad, Kozhikode.
7. Major ChatShaala Discussions
a) Reasoning for the Loss of Moina and Chlorohydra:
Discussed the survival strategies of Moina and Chlorohydra in unfavorable conditions, such as:
Moina: Production of ephippia (sexual reproduction).
Chlorohydra: Development of male and female sex organs for sexual reproduction.
b) Preparation for Exams:
Amrita’s Exam:
Discussed plant genetic engineering, particularly in cotton, to understand the process.
Spectroscopy and Organometallic Chemistry:
Spectroscopy: discussed about how reflection and absorption of light allow us to see colors, such as mango leaves appearing green due to the absorption of red and blue light by chlorophyll.
Organometallic Compounds: Discussed compounds like hemoglobin and cytochrome and the role of metallic elements in their function.
c) Fruit Fly Media:
Comparative analysis of cornmeal agar media and TRSV media developed by Cubists.
d) Mango Data Collection:
Analyzed the difference between sample and population and the statistical significance of data collected, discussed the India’s geography and climatic zones in relation to mango flowering.
e) Plant Genetic Engineering:
Detailed discussion on the development of BT cotton through genetic engineering:
My understanding:
Cry gene from Bacillus thuringiensis is isolated and incorporated into the Ti plasmid of agrobacterium.
The plasmid is transferred to Agrobacterium (contains Ti plasmid).
Callus (through plant tissue culture)is treated with Agrobacterium carrying the cry gene.
Transformed seedlings are analyzed using antibiotic resistance genes as markers.
CUBE KISHORE BHARATI ASSISTANTSHIP REPORT: 1/12/2024 TO 15/12/2024
Number of days attended in Chatshaala:
12/15
Participation in Metastudio:
CUBE Homelab Updates:
Mango Trees Flowering Status: December 30/11/2024 to 15/12/2024
- Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram
Data collectors:
a) Prithviraj: 62/129 (48%)
b) Adityan: 8/22 (33%)
c) Sailakshmi: 1/1 (100%)
Grand Total: 46.7% (71/152)
Palakkad
Amritha: 0/3 (0%)
Kozhikode
Theertha: 18.75% (3/16) - Karnataka
Bangalore
Himanshu Joshi: 4/12 (33%) - Maharashtra
Mumbai
a) Arunan Sir: 10/30 (33%)
b) Sneha: 4/11 (36%)
c) Anup: 2/3 (66%)
Pune
d) Sad: Number of photos shared: 3
Grand Total: 16/44 (36%) - Assam
Sapekshati
Susanta: 0/13 (0%)
Biswayini: 0/1 (0%)
Borah
Sunil: 0/5 (0%)
Grand Total: 0/18 (0%) - Uttar Pradesh
Noida: 0/1 (0%)
Fruitfly
Batul: Culture and maintenance
Enas: Observing flies, identifying male and female fruit flies
Seethalakshmi: Trapping fruit flies at the college hostel
Arunan: Food preferences test
Butterfly
Babita collected caterpillars from a citrus plant
Cardamine
Theertha: Culture and maintenance
Nail Growth:
Taking observations of nails using voter’s ink:
Vikram
Rafi
Arunan
Major Chatshaala Discussions
Comparison with Thigmonasty and Reflex Action:
Plants often show responses to light, touch, day and night, such as phototropism, thigmonasty, and nyctinasty. We compared the touch response in the Mimosa plant with the reflex action associated with touching a hot object.
Neurons: Gaps and Misconceptions:
1)Dhanraj mentioned that there is a single neuron from the fingertip to the spinal cord, but Sakshi disagreed.
2)Ligand-gated and ion-gated channels in the transfer of impulses in neurons.
3)The role of chemical synapses and the release of acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) to the synapse.
4)The size of neurons. Batul was surprised to hear that the length of neurons can range up to 1.5 meters.
5)Turgor Pressure Mediated Touch Response in Touch-Me-Not Plant:
Plants like Mimosa and Phyllanthus urinaria show responses to touch, mediated through the turgor pressure gradient between flexor and extensor cells.
Mango Data Collection
The Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Manipur, and Tripura, dividing India into two climatic zones: the tropics (0 to 23.5°) and the subtropics (23.5° to 35°). A study from Columbia showed a difference in mango flowering in the tropics and subtropics.
Reflex Action:
Pinprick can be a good example of reflex action.
Current understanding of reflex action:
The pain/temperature sensed by nociceptors of sensory neurons changes the resting potential from -70 mV to +50 mV (or +30 mV) by the opening of Na+ channels, followed by the opening of K+ channels, causing the potential to drop to -90 mV. The signal reaches the synaptic knob, where neurotransmitters are released and bind to the postsynaptic knob, depolarizing the interneuron (ligand-gated). The signal then passes to the flexor and extensor cells of the muscle, causing contraction and relaxation, leading to withdrawal from the pinprick.
Fruitfly: Geotaxis and Phototaxis Behavior:
Fruitflies show innate activity to move according to Earth’s gravity. During Chatshaala discussions, Batul performed an experiment that showed:
Covering the Fruitfly bottle with a black cover: Fruitflies at the bottom.
Covering the Fruitfly bottle at the bottom: Fruitflies at the top.
The next question was whether light could influence this geotaxis behavior in fruitflies. We compared the sleep-wake cycle in humans, fruitflies, and street dogs.
Theme Developed: Isolation of Fungus to Develop Antibiotics
Staphylococcus aureus causing food poisoning was introduced by enas. We discussed about creating a fungal culture setup made by Sakshi using black spores in onions and discussed the possibility of developing antibiotics using fungus to create a bacterial colony.
Major Problems Faced:
This term, Chatshaala coordination was mainly done by Enas, Seethalakshmi, and me. Sakshi joined the discussion on two day, while Dhanraj did not participate in Chatshaala.
Lack of Coordination Among Interns: On 14th August, the server went down, and we shifted meetings to Google Meet, then to Jitsi, and later to BigBlueButton. This affected the smooth coordination of Chatshaala among the interns.