BIOL367/F10:Class Journal Week 9

Reflection Questions

Margie Doyle

1. There has been an outbreak of cholerae in Haiti in the last week amongst the people already affected by the earthquake. How, specifically, do you think that research like that we are doing this week can contribute to an improvement in publich health? What do you think the barriers are for this research to lead to viable treatments that can reach the people in Haiti?
   • By helping to make the genomic data more accessible to scientists, we allow researchers to focus on their research rather then creating databases. When information is at their fingertips, solutions adn new treatments can be discovered faster and more efficiently. The more inexpensively and efficiently the research may be done, the greater the chances that it can be made available for use in areas of economic strain, such as Haiti.
2. Next week we will be selecting the teams for the class final projects. What qualities do you look for in a good teammate? What are some of the things that make or break a team project?
   • Qualities of a good teammate include reliability, a good work ethic, and a willingness to work with others. Team projects are highly dependent on the compatibility of the group members, as well as individual desires to produce quality work.

Margie Doyle 13:13, 29 October 2010 (EDT)

Richard Brous

• There has been an outbreak of cholerae in Haiti in the last week amongst the people already affected by the earthquake. How, specifically, do you think that research like that we are doing this week can contribute to an improvement in publich health? What do you think the barriers are for this research to lead to viable treatments that can reach the people in Haiti?
  • The Vibrio cholera research between pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains is already providing insight into the following:
    • How the pathogenic strain remains highly contaigous after passing from a human host.
    • How adaptable the pathogenic strain is to survive in different environments.
    • How the pathogenic strain seems to have high mobility when in nutrient poor environments increases survivability.
  • By comparing the two strains further there might be a way to minimize its ability to stay highly contaigious post passing or even to possibly block its ability to survive in specific environments.
  • In regards to likely barriers of research solutions to the people of Haiti:
    • Poverty will likely rank at the top of the list. For pharmacutical companies to develop treatment from research there needs to be profit in it for them. Countries like Haiti and others that suffer from high poverty and unclean living conditions just can't affor to pay. Which is in itself a catch-22 since if they had money...housing, sanitation, medical services, etc. would all be better, minimizing the type of environment where Vibrio cholera would be a risk.
• Next week we will be selecting the teams for the class final projects. What qualities do you look for in a good teammate? What are some of the things that make or break a team project?
  • The qualities I look for in a good teammate are:
    • Understands the subject matter or a particular portion intimately.
    • Highly organized.
    • Flexible availability.
    • Values all opinions, not just their own which leads to easier group decisions.
    • Motiviated to start sooner rather than later.
  • I believe the previous qualities can make a great team but when team members don't embrace them problems will arise.
    • Not being available until the last minute.
    • Unmotivated to do the work thus being carried along by others.
    • Unorganized.
    • Not following through on individual responsibilities (sub-tasks) which would then be combined into the greater project.