Adopt a Microbe

          The biggest project ever I had done for subject Microbiology is ‘Adopt a Microbe’. This project required me to pick a microbe and make a scrapbook about the microbe. At first I thought it is hard because the task was given on my first met with the lecturer. I do not know much about microbes at that time. The due date was Week 14 which I thought quite long. This also made me thought that it is hard because I need 14 weeks to complete that.

          The first few week I started to find an interesting microbe for me to adopt. I gone through the internet to find microbe that gave benefit to human’s skin. Because at that time I suffered a very serious acnes problem on my skin. I tried a lot of products that remove bacteria on my skin then I found that maybe the products killed some of them that actually protecting my skin from acnes. So that was why my acne keep going serious. After a few hours, I short listed a few bacteria that can help to protect us from disease. I picked Staphylococcus epidermis as my microbe. It is a type bacteria that can help to boost immune system. Next, I find more information about the microbe to complete my scrapbook requirements. By the way, the information needed were name, nutrition, metabolism, significant, characteristics, ecology and some pictures.

          At this time, I had found enough information to start my scrapbook. I use Cliptomize to make my scrapbook. Some of my friends use PowToon but I was short of time to use that. But I am satisfied with what I had done. In my opinion, I thought it was quite interesting. If I was given the same chance again I would definitely use PowToon. For 3MT slide I just highlighted the ecology of the bacteria as it had 3 types of interaction with human. They were mutualism, commensalism and parasitism.

          The most challenging time was when I need to present the bacteria. During 3MT, I was very nervous. First because I was alone, second because 3 lecturers were evaluating me. I was very grateful because I was one of the earliest presenter so I did not need to hold my nervousness for a long time. When presenting I was trembling a little bit for first few seconds. Then I can go on smoothly even not so smooth because I forgot some of the information that I remembered before. So what had been done were done. I accepted what the result was.

          In conclusion, this project taught me to be creative, independent and confident. It was a good experience to present my microbe in front of people so my second try should be better in the future. Lastly, I hope I can answer the final examination questions greatly and pass with flying colors.

Yakult's Trip

Last time, I had a trip to Yakult’s factory with my classmates and my lecturer. The factory is located at Seremban. At 8.15 a.m., my classmates and I departed from our faculty with bus. We arrived there around 9 a.m. I was very excited to see inside of the building.

Yakult's Factory

As I entered the building, the lobby was full of sakura flower. I felt like I was in Japan for a while. It was a very beautiful scenery with a bench under a big sakura tree. Then, we are told to go to the lecture hall upstairs to hear a talk about their product.

I received many new information about Yakult drink actually. They were so interesting but I am just gonna highlight some of it. I learnt something new there when I knew there were some requirements for a bacteria to be in cultured drink. The bacteria need to reach our intestine alive, live in our intestine and proven to be beneficial for us. This requirement matched with Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain, which could reach our intestine alive and had higher resistance to gastric juice and bile. There were also a term called Shirota-ism which means preventive medicine that leads to healthy intestine to achieve a long life with an affordable price. Bad balancing of intestinal flora were caused by stress, aging, infection, unbalanced diet and consumption of medicine (antibiotics). Since 50% of our immune system were in our intestine, we really need to have a balanced intestinal flora. This could be help by taking cultured drink such as Yakult. The benefit of drinking Yakult are increasing good bacteria, decreasing harmful bacteria, reduce the production of toxin,improve bowel movement (for constipation and diarrhea), and boost immune system by making NK cells to function more effectively to detect and destroy cancer cells. There are also 30 billion Shirota strain per bottle.

In the lecture hall

After the talk, we go for a tour to see the making of Yakult drink. I did not remember much the step because we could not took picture. What I remembered were firstly they cultured the bacteria in a tank then transfer to a mixing tank before sent to storage tank. The next step was packaging process. I love to see this because the flow looked wonderful and made me felt like in Willy Wonka's factory.It looked very tidy,clean  and systematic.

Steps to make Yakult drink

Mixing tank

Packaging process

After the tour finish of course it was picture time. Everyone took pictures around the lobby with friends and some selfies. During that time I managed to buy Yakult drinks for a dozen. It was much cheaper than in stores. Then we took class pictures as a sign we had been there.

The lobby and counter to buy merchandise

Class picture

After that, we got on the bus and departed to the campus. Around 12.15 p.m. we arrived at the faculty. It was a great trip even only for a couples of hours. I gained many new knowledge about Yakult and hope to use that knowledge in my daily life. 

Yakult Ace Light & Yakult Ace

Microbial Ecology

After a long time, at last Dr. Wan came into the class again. Not to just to meet us but also to teach us topic 9: Microbial Ecology.I thought last time was the last class ever for this semester but I was wrong. I was happy plus excited when I heard the news.

For this class the learning concept was very different from before. We actually need to teach our friend in relay. Each group divided the subtopic to every member. The person who in charge of the subtopic need to understood and find extra information about that topic. Then, the group will explain what they had found to the other group. For example, Group 1 to Group 2 and so on. The explanation was just like simple discussion while facing each other.

I got the subtopic about negative interaction between organisms. This activity had thought me how to deliver information effectively to the other person and gave me the satisfaction when the other person understood the info and can pass to the other group.

But if I could rewind the time, I wanted to do the session again because the last group's conclusions disappoint my expectation. They said there are no new information delivered to them other than information in the notes. Before that, when I explained to the group before them, I included new example of the negative interaction but they did not pass down the information. There must be something that happen between the discussion that caused this situation. I hope to fix that if I can turn back the time.

Overall, the class was different. The lecturer did not give lecture but just be there and in the other hand, students teach each other with lecturer's guide.

Microbial community in freshwater

Eukaryote Games

This is the last day of lecture with Dr. Wan. I am feeling a little bit discouraged because I will miss the way of her lecturing. The last topic is about eukaryotic cells.

To learn this topic, we dont need to sit and hear the lecture but we play games. There are 6 groups in my class so there are 6 games overall. Every group have different ways to play the games. The games are Kahoot, flip card, word puzzle, treasure hunt, bingo and musical chairs. All of the groups are so creative to create new games rule based on a classical one.

Kahoot

Flip Card

Crossword Puzzle

Treasure Hunt

Musical chair

Bingo

My group organize the bingo. During the discussion for the game, several days before we play the games, the discussion was very effective and everyone gave out ideas of their own on how to play the bingo. Of course there are some clash of idea and some argument happen before we can decide the best way. The activities teach me on how to cooperate with my group members and how to be considerate on others and follow the majority opinion.

I cannot pick which group is the most fun because all of the games are fun but not very perfect so none is the best (I am a little bit perfectionist). The most creative one is the treasure hunt because the idea is new but the game rules can be improved a lot more. Musical chairs is the funniest game for me. It is very funny to see my friends scramble for the chairs but the way of giving mark is a little bit weak. The game that I think need to be improved a lot in the future is the flip cards game. The rule is too tight for a 15 minutes game. If we play for an hour then it will be very boring. The game also exceed 15 minutes and the progress was very slow. The probability to find the right answer in the flip cards were low in the time given. They should decrease the number of flip cards.

For my group, I had heard comments that a lot of them said they are not satisfied with the answer given. In the future, my group should check the answer again and again as a lot of the questions are taken from the internet so we aspect that the answer are all correct.

Lastly, I enjoyed the activities and it teach me a lot of new knowledge mentally and physically.

Memories for last class

Prokaryote Quiz.

In this lesson I still learn about prokaryote. We learn about the transport system on the plasma membrane such as active transport, passive transport and osmosis. 

But this week my lecturer held a test in the class. She conducted the test by displaying the question on the screen in front of the class and we all answer the questions together but cannot discuss or copy our friend's answer.

I think I learned the most in this way of learning because I answer the question based on only what I remembered in our lesson before. I did not study before the test start. This resembled the percent of my focus in the class. I am glad I can answer 70% of the question correctly. That is because maybe my focus is only 70% in the class. I also know the technique to deal with the question that I cannot answer. I just use my logic and a little bit telepathy to sense the right answer. Sometimes I get the right answer but sometimes not.

In conclusion, if I were to turn back the time and do the class all over again, I will read the notes to top up the 30% and pick the answer not based on telepathy.

P/s: Telepathy that I mean here is the good feeling that I feel when I choose an answer.

Microscopy & Prokaryote

In this topic, I learned about types of microscope. Before this I believe that there are only 3 types of microscopy technique. They are light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). I am surprised to know that there are more than 3 types of microscopy technique. Their name are also very alien to me such as confocal microscope, Normaski differential interference contrast (DIC) micorscopy, phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscope. Every and each of them have different ability. Some create 3D image, can analysed the thickness of specimen, can see outer layer of the cell, can see through the cell and can see the colour of specimen. Even the same specimen that had been put under these microscopes can produce different micrograph. 

Different types of microscope

Phase contrast micrograph

DIC micrograph

SEM micrograph

I also just know that there are also many types of stain other than gram-positive and gram-negative. These types of stain have different purpose. For example, there are special stain for flagella. This is to enhance the shape of flagella under the microscope so that we can observe it more clearly.

Flagella stain. We can see the flagella clearly here.

Before class, we were given task to make an online mind map about prokaryote. But during the class all of us need to write the mind map on the whiteboard again together. I was thinking the word that I remember from the mind map and quickly go in front and wrote 'glycocalyx' before anyone wrote the same word because everyone was scrambling to write on the board. It was funny because everyone was like pushing each other to write their word because maybe they also felt like me. The funniest part is when the mind map is complete, it did not look like completed. Just see the picture I attached. From this activity I learn more about team work, communication and the art of systematic.

Expectation

Reality. Reality hurts.

The other activity that I think help me to learn is when we use quizzlet. We need to put terms that we remember with its definition in 20 minutes. Then take the test about the terms that we had typed in. Generally, I make the questions and I answer the questions. In my mind I thought "You should get full mark at this rate seriously". But I get 1 wrong because I type 'ENDOSPORES' instead of 'ENDOSPORE'. So annoying. This reminds me that I am more intelligent than the computer so why make them do all of my work. I am motivated to not too rely on computer when completing my assignments.

So at the end of the topic I should know how to differentiate between different types of microscope so when I meet one after this I am not too amazed as a biotechnology faculty's student.

Just for fun

Introduction to Microbiology

This semester I am learning the subject Microbiology.This is my first time learning about microbes in details. Before this, I only know about the types of microbe such as bacteria, algae, virus and fungi.My first impression of the subject is nothing. I just thought of it as a subject that I need to take in my course and just learn about it. But I love to see the creatures under the microscope. I like to search them under the microscope and when I find them I feel very satisfied with my own effort.

In the first class I thought the class will be like the other class but it was very different from the other class. The class is not very formal. It was just like a gathering to learn about microbiology.

The first topic that I learn is Introduction to Microbiology. I learn a lot of new and interesting facts in this topic. I am very fascinated when I know that bacteria can be in a form of art. It is very beautiful. It can be in the shape of flower or just an abstract.

Bacteria in the form of art

I also feel amazed  when I know about watermelon snow. Watermelon snow is a type of algae in the snow that will turn to red when it sense pressure, for example human's footstep. The algae is Chlamydomonas nivalis.

Watermelon snow

Chlamydomonas nivalis

I also know new things that there are the biggest virus in the world. It is even bigger from some other bacteria.

Pandoravirus

The thing that changed my view toward microbiology is that how to memorize the name of the microbes. Before this, I thought it is very hard because it is so confusing to memorize them.But now I know that I need to understand the origin and history of the microbe to memorize their name.

In the class, I learn a lot from our way of discussion that is to share the information we know with everyone. We also use the internet a lot to find information. This way of learning helps me a lot to understand and do not stress out myself. I love to play the quiz on Kahoot because it is really fun and I enjoy it. But the bad side of it is that it needs internet connection which is a little bit hard to get.

Now I know that this subject is very important to me. The benefits of the microbe will be important in my course when I am doing any research. At this moment, bit by bit I am going to continue to love microbiology.

Summary from Week 1-7

Throughout the weeks that I have learned with my lecturer was very fun. At first I thought my lecturer will be very very strict but it is not like that. She is very friendly and cheerful person. I have a good time learning from her.

Everything that I had learned in the few weeks some had change my views towards it, some had add my knowledge, some were unlogical and some made me confuse whether to trust it or just learn it.

In the class, I enjoyed doing SCL because the discussion is very relaxed and convenient. I also found that the discussion stimulate my thinking skills. In school the discussion are held outside of the class so we are quite lost but here the lecturer are with us and ready to guide us. It is a very new experience to me as I get to know my friends in a different way. Other than the stereotype one, which we say our name and others, I know my friend by the way they are thinking and the way they interact with friends.

The best experience is when I get to be a cartoonist to draw and design the comic assignment. I don’t even know that I can draw that good actually. I just like colouring before and I will just draw when I am bored and have nothing else to do other than sleeping.

The other experience that I will not forget is walking to BioTech 3. I don’t know if it is good or bad experience. Sometimes it feels okay but sometimes it is hard. The good feeling comes when at least I know where is the building located. I also know that there are two ways to go there and while walking I can see animals that I cannot found at other places other than that street in UPM such as goat, snakes, flamingos and birds. I was quite excited actually. The hard thing is when it is raining, we don’t have other choice other than just walk through it. Even with an umbrella I am still soaking wet when I reached my room. The building is far away from other buildings in the campus so it took quite a long time for me to reach there. The furthest I walked is from Faculty of Science to BioTech 3.

The last experience is the most informational experience I know when preparing this journal. It is knowing how to create a blog. Before this I am not interested to have a blog and still I am. But for this task at least I know how to create a blog. I have asked my friends how to create a blog but most of them just tell me to google the way. I am quite frustated actually because no one want to teach me so I just find the way to create it in the internet on my own. It takes me a day of my weekend just to create it. At last I can create it and feel relieved. So this is the result even it does not look professional. 

This is maybe the last post in this blog. I just want to give my appreciation to Dr. Parames for teaching me passionately for over 7 weeks and my friends that had help me in a lot of ways for this course. I hope I can pass this subject with flying colours.

This is my faculty (BioTech 1). It is the main building of the faculty where the main offices located.

This is BioTech 3. It is where a lot of lab and lecturer's offices located.

Week 7: Hormone in Plants

This week will be the last lecture with my lecturer because she had finished teaching her part. The last topic is Hormone in Plants. This also not new to me because I had learned it in high school but not that specific. I just know their name and their function.

Unfortunately, this week the haze is so thick. The Air Pollution Index had increased to 260. It is in the range of very unhealthy so the class for that day were all cancelled. Because of that the class were not held. We only had another 1 hour for lecture and it is not enough for us to finish the topic. My lecturer just can explain the first part of the topic so she said that we can read by our own or if we still don’t understand we can still had another class with her.

Plant hormone

I think I learned the best from watching video so I will just find some video about plant’s hormone. If I found the video is boring I can switch to reading mode to read the lecture note and understand more about it.

Week 6: Pollination and Development of Plant

The next week of my campus life, I learned about Pollination and Development of Plant Embryo. The topic is quite familiar to me because I have learned it in high school but for me the process of pollination is quite complicated for me especially the double fertilization and I have forget some part of the fertilization.

Double fertilization

The thing that made me interested in the topic was when the lecturer explained about the cultured plant. Actually I have heard about it for the first time when I am in Form 4. From that moment I was interested to know more about it. But unfortunately I am not exposed too much about that after I finished high school. So I almost forget about my passion but when I was going to choose the course to study in degree I remember it back and try my luck by selecting the course. Then I get the spot in the course in UPM even it is not my first choice, but it is still in my passion. After I see the subject I will learn when I am in the course, I am quite excited because there were subject Applied Science for Plants that I will learned maybe in the third or fourth year. It made me remember straight away to callus because that it the thing that I was very excited to see.

Process to culture plants

During the class my lecturer brought some example of the cultured plant. At first I am very excited because I thought at last I can saw callus in real life. But I am just a little bit disappointed because my lecturer brought the one that had differentiated. I am expecting to see the undifferentiated one but after I had learned about it I just know that not all plant undergo callogenesis and there are some parts of the plant that we need to use to make sure it undergo callogenesis.

Callus

During the class we also did some SCL activities about cell division. We need to complete a flow chart about cell division. For me that activity is quite fun. We also get to discuss the thing that we were not sure before so that we can complete the flow chart. I think that discussion was one of the most productive discussion I had done before in the class.    

 Flow chart

If I were to get the chance to turn back the time. I would pay more attention in the class and maybe do some research before I entered the class so I will not be so lost as I was before and can understand better in the class. My lecturer had done a good job explaining to me but I am the want that need to work harder.

Week 5: Endosymbiosis

The next topic that I learn is about Endosymbiosis. This is not the first time for me to hear the word but I never know the meaning of the word. After knowing the meaning, the idea of it I have heard from my foundation studies lecturer but she said the idea is still fresh and the scientists are still finding more proof about the idea.

In this topic I can’t think how bacteria cell can enter a eukaryote cell and function to help the cell undergo process to produce energy. The theory that eukaryote arose from prokaryote is not relevant for me as it also related to the topic History of Life that I also cannot believe it enough. Maybe in the future someone will find more solid evidence that can make me believe it. Never mind about that because I need to learn it anyway.

Before the class started, my lecturer asked the class to answer a forum in Putra Blast about endosymbiosis and that help me a bit to know about the topic before entering the class. It is also a preparation before I enter the class. 

Forum 

This time the SCL activity helps me a lot in the class as me and my group mates need to cooperate to find the difference and similarities of mitochondria and chloroplast that both known as endosymbiosis bacteria. Before doing the activity I am quite blurry about that topic but Thank God I can digest it after doing the activity because to understand the topic we need to discuss it in a group.

Venn Diagram

Other than that I also learn about cell division in human. It is also a kind of revision session as I have learn about it in secondary school and foundation studies but my lecturer also explain in detail the process in interphase that I don’t know before this.

Cell division process

Mitosis

Week 4: Cell Theory

For the next class I learned about cell theory. The topic is not new to me because I have learned it before in the foundation. But after I learned about the topic it does not only discuss about the person that contributes to cell theory but also about bacteria and archaebacteria that I have heard but do not know their characteristics. I also just know that viroid is not the same as virus and I just heard about prions.

Bacteria

Archaebacteria

Virus

Viroid

Prions

Before the class started, our lecturer asked us to do a pre-class assignment about the person that contributed in the cell theory. At the same time I can revise a bit about what I have learned before. I also get to know the inventions invented by the person such as Robert Hooke, Anton van Leeuwenhoek, Theodore Schwann and Rudolf Virchow. I also get to revise the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell that I almost forgot.

Robert Hooke

Antoni van Leeunhoek

Theodore Shwann

Rudolf Virchow

In the class, after the lecturer explained to us about the topic, she asked us to do a SCL activity about the similarities and differences between bacteria and archaebacteria using Venn diagram. From that activity I can interact with my friends and my friends can explain to me the thing that I don’t understand about archaebacteria and bacteria. The discussion helped me so much to understand more about the topic.

Venn Diagram

After the class, my lecturer asked us to watch a video about cell theory. The video is very hilarious for me because it is an animation that portrays the life of the person that contributed in cell theory and how they interact with each other. I also need to do assignment. I and my group mates need to make a poster about either good or bad bacteria. My group choose the bad bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is a good experience because I get to cooperate with my group mates and learn how to make a poster. I think it is very funny experience because we sometimes argue about the information that we want to put in the poster in a cute way.

In conclusion, the course had taught me to develop as a student that can identify similarities and the difference of microorganisms as they are very small and look alike.