BIOL398-01/S11:Class Journal Week 5

Instructions

Formatting

• Link to your journal entry from your user page.
• Link back from the journal entry to your user page.
• Sign your portion of the journal with the standard wiki signature shortcut (~~~~).
• Add the "BIOL398-01/S11" category to the end of the wiki page (if someone has not already done so).

Reflections

Part One: Reflection on Chemostat Model

1. What was the purpose of this assignment?
2. What aspect of this assignment came most easily to you?
3. What aspect of this assignment was the most challenging for you?
4. What (yet) do you not understand?

Part Two: Landers Paper

1. What distinction does Lander draw between modeling to "discover new knowledge" and modeling for "understanding"?
2. Which point of view resonates with you more? Why?

Class Responses

Sarah Carratt's Journal Entry

CHEMOSTAT ASSIGNMENT

1. This assignment is designed to help us understand how to better create models for real life biological systems. It gives us practice with different equations.
2. The easiest part of this project was understanding the background material and working with the IT rep at the hotel help desk to get the internet to actually work.
3. The hardest element for me continues to be Matlab. I'm not sure why I have such a hard time starting each program, but it has been really difficult for me.
4. Sorry Jaimz and Dr. Fitzpatrick, but I can't confidently say that I understand Matlab. The programing is getting easier, as is understanding the programs, but knowing where to start and if I'm correct is frustrating.

LANDER READING

1. Landers says that to "discover new knowledge" is a misleading phrase that lures people to the field of biology. The way he views the world, "understanding" is much more appropriate because the term acknowledges that rejecting/approving hypotheses is not satisfactory. Understanding requires a scientist to look into the "hows" and "whys" of a mystery, and is the better way to learn.
2. I think that Lander draws an interesting distinction, but I'm not convinced that understanding is always best. I think sometimes "discovery" and simply being able to acknowledge truths can be highly satisfying. While it would be cool to understand more about the world, I know that I will be happier if I don't spend all my time exploring truths.

Lander Reading

Alondra Vega's Journal Entry

Reflection on Chemostat Assignment

1. The purpose of this assignment was to understand how the nutrient/ cell population works, when different constants are put in place. It shows us how the system behaves. We were also able to see how the system shapes differently when it is shaped to the logistic model.
2. The easiest part of this assigment was reading the simple chemostat model of nutrients and population growth that was written by Dr. Fitzpatrick. It was easy to see how the equations interacted with each other and how the system worked step-by-step.
3. The hardest part of this assignment was working with matlab, since it took me forever to get the program right, or what I think is right.
4. I think I am starting to begin to understand how the nutrient income works. For now, I think i understand everything.

Landers Paper

1. Landers says that to modeling to "discover new knowledge" is wrong for a lack of better terms. Scientists should not model to test their hypotheses, they should model to understand what is going on. When modeling a person should be answering the questions why and how. He says that a person should not characterize models just as a form to test hypotheses because they have an even greater function now more than ever towards understanding biology.
2. I think that learning in general is the best way to go. If it is believed that understanding models and their functions is of greater help than just discovery, then we should focus on them. I like discovering new knowledge and seeing how people used to think how things work. Going further into making models for grearter understanding is great, but I think that it is hard for many people to apply new ideas when the old are still being taught. When we look at the curriculum, there are more "discovering new knowledge" classes than there are "understanding" courses. the emphasis is still greater in the discovery department, which is the one I like best.

Alondra Vega 00:47, 13 February 2011 (EST)