Me and my two friends from the Department of Entomology.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
My First Scholarship
Me at the Undergraduate Award Ceremony (May 9, 2013) receiving my Hilldale Award (the first scholarship in my life), with the chancellor, Mr. David Ward. I received the scholarship for my research project on the Manduca juvenile hormone binding protein.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
The Two Assumptions of Heritability Studies
Evolution cannot occur without at least some traits being heritable. Heritability is a measure of parent-offspring resemblance; so a trait with high heritability has a high genetic component to it, right?
No.
This is one strange and paradoxical thing about heredity studies: heritability is defined as something specific to a certain population in certain circumstances. It is neither a property of an individual nor a property of a trait.
In parent-offspring correlation studies, heritability is simply the slope that measures the resemblance between the average trait value of the two parents and the trait value of the offspring. In twin studies, heritability is the correlation between the trait values of the twins.
From my reading about scientific and philosophical articles on heritability, I figured that two assumptions are implied in those studies without even being mentioned:
(1) Parents and offspring always resemble, instead of differ from, each other. (In other word, the slope of heritability on the parent-offspring graph is always positive.)
(2) Heritability can never equal to zero. This is because of how the math works out. Heritability is a correlation: a covariance over the product of two standard deviations. Covariances and standard deviations are always positive numbers.
Think about it: pick any measurable trait, its heritability will be a non-zero positive number, even if in reality it does not have genetic component. So what does heritability really tell us?
What would our evolution looks like if parents and offspring always tend to differ, not resemble, each other? Would we evolve backwards? Within one generation, the evolutionary response in the offspring will shift in the opposite direction as the selective pressure; however, the response will be cancelled in the grand-offspring generation under the same selective pressure. Just thinking about this weird scenario gave me a giggle fit in my philosophy-biology class.
No.
This is one strange and paradoxical thing about heredity studies: heritability is defined as something specific to a certain population in certain circumstances. It is neither a property of an individual nor a property of a trait.
In parent-offspring correlation studies, heritability is simply the slope that measures the resemblance between the average trait value of the two parents and the trait value of the offspring. In twin studies, heritability is the correlation between the trait values of the twins.
From my reading about scientific and philosophical articles on heritability, I figured that two assumptions are implied in those studies without even being mentioned:
(1) Parents and offspring always resemble, instead of differ from, each other. (In other word, the slope of heritability on the parent-offspring graph is always positive.)
(2) Heritability can never equal to zero. This is because of how the math works out. Heritability is a correlation: a covariance over the product of two standard deviations. Covariances and standard deviations are always positive numbers.
Think about it: pick any measurable trait, its heritability will be a non-zero positive number, even if in reality it does not have genetic component. So what does heritability really tell us?
What would our evolution looks like if parents and offspring always tend to differ, not resemble, each other? Would we evolve backwards? Within one generation, the evolutionary response in the offspring will shift in the opposite direction as the selective pressure; however, the response will be cancelled in the grand-offspring generation under the same selective pressure. Just thinking about this weird scenario gave me a giggle fit in my philosophy-biology class.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Dumpling Making (Chinese New Year)
I posted those photos on Facebook, but they could only be seemed by group members so I'm posting them here so other people can see them. Those are not all the photos, though.
February 16, 2013: Chinese New Year celebration - dumpling making with oSTEM
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| It took a long time just to cut the pork and the cabbage. |
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| We enjoyed it. One of the girls said, there is not a thing we added in the dumpling that I don't like. |
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| I was so prepared in my Chinese shirt. I was teaching ancient Chinese secret! LOL |
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| I think he really had fun chopping the pork. |
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| Good arm exercise. :D |
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| Why that expression? LOL |
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| My friends were amazing. We made about a hundred dumplings. It was their first time making dumplings, they learned it by just watching me once, and none of the dumplings broke after boiling. |
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| "My mind just had a little imploding (when I saw how a dumpling is folded)," he said. |
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| It was so delicious! I was so happy and proud! :D |
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| I let them try different sauces. I had soy sauce, white vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil, and spicy bean sauce. They love it, even the spicy bean sauce. It must be a very different taste to them. |
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| She was vegetarian, so she made a batch of vegetarian dumplings. |
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| I think dumpling making is a great New Year tradition to carry on, isn't it? |
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Interview at Madison Children's Museum
The manager of the Rooftop of Madison Children's Museum interviewed me. She liked the fact that I love insects and I come from Taiwan. Interested in ethnobotany and indigenous agriculture, she hoped to hear about what vegetables and herbs Taiwanese people grow and eat. She also hoped that I could help take care of their cockroaches and meal-worms, and start a cricket culture; so the animals living on Rooftop will have food source, and children can look at those insects. I think it meant that she gladly accepted me as the summer volunteer, so I'll be going to Children's Museum one morning 9 to 1 o'clock per week to help take care of their garden, animals, and play with children!
Growing Food and Sustainability, after reviewing my application for their summer paid internship, said they were impressed by my application and wanted to interview me soon. I hope the interview will go well. I think one of the greatest things university taught me is bettering my BS ability. I wrote so much for the application but I already forgot what I wrote!
Growing Food and Sustainability, after reviewing my application for their summer paid internship, said they were impressed by my application and wanted to interview me soon. I hope the interview will go well. I think one of the greatest things university taught me is bettering my BS ability. I wrote so much for the application but I already forgot what I wrote!
Dysdera crocata
I found a medium-sized spider in my house. At first, I was a bit alarmed because I didn't know if this red- and ivory-colored spider with big fangs was poisonous. I checked online and found it's a Dysdera crocata, commonly known as the woodlouse spider. It feeds exclusively on woodlice and its big fangs are used to grab and pierce through the exoskeleton of woodlice! Luckily this spider doesn't cause problems to humans. When I tried to find it again, it was gone, probably went hiding somewhere in my house. It was a pretty spider!
Pictures of spiders of the same species from the internet:
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Newspaper Banned My Comic and Audience's Reaction
After publishing two of my comic stripes, the Daily Cardinal, a
student-run newspaper, made a sudden decision that they could not
publish Molecules I Have Known and Loved. The release of MIHKAL
ended without receiving reader complaints or objection. Several people
expressed their disappointment or anger after hearing my apology that
MIHKAL was banned.
The Daily Cardinal staff said they were very concerned about depicting dangerous drugs, such as Speed, as cartoon characters. I was very excited to see my works published, but I understand that not all people can tolerate drug-related topics. My comical depiction can be easily interpreted by some people as advocacy for drugs. Here I'm saying again that the intention of my comic is neither promoting nor against recreational drugs. I'm more frustrated with the editors' inconsistency - granting me the opportunity then taking it away within a month.
Professor W. noted that there is always phobia of drugs in the society. He saw the outcome as discouraging but understandable. My lab professor did not see a good potential in MIHKAL as a comic series, but said it surprised him that the Daily Cardinal, well-known on campus for their liberal and undaunting attitude, turned it away.
Other people deemed the newspaper editors' decision as narrow-minded. They understood that MIHKAL is meant to be a humorous take-on of the subject. My current classmate S. K. thought newspapers should publish controversial materials to promote the diversity and freedom of expression. A post doc in philosophy and a physics faculty said it was "ridiculous", because Speed whom was blamed is just a comic character. People who do drugs would have done them anyways, regardless if they read my comic. The faculty said with disbelief that the Daily Cardinal, which publishes offensive and controversial things all the time, including articles that teach people how to have sex, would reject such funny and artistic work.
Some faculties felt sorry for losing an opportunity to educate the public. C. D., a research fellow specialized in sedative-hypnotics, wrote in a message that "they clearly did not get the scope of [the] comic" and that people just can't make rational judgement on certain topics. The physics faculty imagined MIHKAL would be very informative, which could potentially help reduce drug-related problems in the society. "The problem is we don't talk about it," she said.
A few people thought the newspaper should never publish such material. Perhaps with some misunderstanding, Professor G. said, not unhappily, "[The comic] suggests that you [the author] took and enjoyed those drugs. I was surprised that the newspaper agreed to publish it."
Despite people's divergent opinions, they agreed that the quality of my art is good. I've got a feeling that this is not the end of this incident. The Daily Cardinal staff said they still hoped my art to be a part of their paper and wanted to discuss with me, though with hesitation and possibly denial. Two of my friends eagerly wanted to see MIHKAL published on paper and volunteered to show my online samples to the city-based newspaper office.
So far I'm happy with just doing a web-based comic series and sharing it with my dear friends and professors. It should be a work enjoyed by people who do drugs as well as people who don't. In fact, I've received positive responses from both kinds of people. I'm also getting prepared to be notorious if I'm determined to deal with this subject in long-term. This is definitely not the end of MIHKAL. It just got started.
The Daily Cardinal staff said they were very concerned about depicting dangerous drugs, such as Speed, as cartoon characters. I was very excited to see my works published, but I understand that not all people can tolerate drug-related topics. My comical depiction can be easily interpreted by some people as advocacy for drugs. Here I'm saying again that the intention of my comic is neither promoting nor against recreational drugs. I'm more frustrated with the editors' inconsistency - granting me the opportunity then taking it away within a month.
Professor W. noted that there is always phobia of drugs in the society. He saw the outcome as discouraging but understandable. My lab professor did not see a good potential in MIHKAL as a comic series, but said it surprised him that the Daily Cardinal, well-known on campus for their liberal and undaunting attitude, turned it away.
Other people deemed the newspaper editors' decision as narrow-minded. They understood that MIHKAL is meant to be a humorous take-on of the subject. My current classmate S. K. thought newspapers should publish controversial materials to promote the diversity and freedom of expression. A post doc in philosophy and a physics faculty said it was "ridiculous", because Speed whom was blamed is just a comic character. People who do drugs would have done them anyways, regardless if they read my comic. The faculty said with disbelief that the Daily Cardinal, which publishes offensive and controversial things all the time, including articles that teach people how to have sex, would reject such funny and artistic work.
Some faculties felt sorry for losing an opportunity to educate the public. C. D., a research fellow specialized in sedative-hypnotics, wrote in a message that "they clearly did not get the scope of [the] comic" and that people just can't make rational judgement on certain topics. The physics faculty imagined MIHKAL would be very informative, which could potentially help reduce drug-related problems in the society. "The problem is we don't talk about it," she said.
A few people thought the newspaper should never publish such material. Perhaps with some misunderstanding, Professor G. said, not unhappily, "[The comic] suggests that you [the author] took and enjoyed those drugs. I was surprised that the newspaper agreed to publish it."
Despite people's divergent opinions, they agreed that the quality of my art is good. I've got a feeling that this is not the end of this incident. The Daily Cardinal staff said they still hoped my art to be a part of their paper and wanted to discuss with me, though with hesitation and possibly denial. Two of my friends eagerly wanted to see MIHKAL published on paper and volunteered to show my online samples to the city-based newspaper office.
So far I'm happy with just doing a web-based comic series and sharing it with my dear friends and professors. It should be a work enjoyed by people who do drugs as well as people who don't. In fact, I've received positive responses from both kinds of people. I'm also getting prepared to be notorious if I'm determined to deal with this subject in long-term. This is definitely not the end of MIHKAL. It just got started.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Standardization of production and purification of Manduca hemolymph JHBP (Abstract)
The abstract of my research project for applying the Hilldale award (my project hasn't have a result and conclusion). Many students have attempted on this project and didn't work out a desirable yield of rJHBP. If my future work is anything useful, the results will contribute to the scientific community. It's kind of hard to believe I'm doing it.
The hemolymph juvenile
hormone binding protein (hJHBP) is a specific Lepidopteran protein that binds
and transports juvenile hormone (JH). JH plays a number of crucial roles in the
regulation of insect development and reproduction. This project will employ a
transformed E. coli cell line to
express recombinant JHBP (rJHBP). Immunological analysis, cell preparation, and
protein purification will be explored to produce and purify rJHBP of optimal
quantity and quality. Binding studies will confirm the functionality of rJHBP.
The results will provide a stable supply of JHBP for future studies on the
binding and target cell docking mechanisms and contribute to increasing our
knowledge of insect physiology and pest control.
Friday, February 8, 2013
History Professor
好幸福之火腿蛋炒飯
這禮拜每天睡眠不足，上統計學課一直打瞌睡。我想可能是拿到$3000的獎學金的希望讓我撐著，哈！
在Facebook上看到以前的一個高中同學居然晚餐吃電鍋蒸一整顆花菜加三粒魚丸和白飯加鹽；據她本人說不是人吃的。回家做了高麗菜火腿蛋炒飯，把冰箱裡放了一星期快凍成冰米磚的飯用掉，果然飯(美國米比較乾)炒一炒又復活了。一邊吃著這道簡單的家常菜一邊覺得自己好幸福。
今天在廁所撿到某人遺失的學生證和駕照。在用iPad通信的幫助之下，兩小時內順利將證件交還給主人。我想她一定很著急，幫助同學找回遺失的東西感覺真好。
話說學校報社的漫畫版編輯姓Moriarty，每次他寄信來，寄件者都是Moriarty。雖然前面的名字不一樣，我每次看到還是很想笑。
在Facebook上看到以前的一個高中同學居然晚餐吃電鍋蒸一整顆花菜加三粒魚丸和白飯加鹽；據她本人說不是人吃的。回家做了高麗菜火腿蛋炒飯，把冰箱裡放了一星期快凍成冰米磚的飯用掉，果然飯(美國米比較乾)炒一炒又復活了。一邊吃著這道簡單的家常菜一邊覺得自己好幸福。
今天在廁所撿到某人遺失的學生證和駕照。在用iPad通信的幫助之下，兩小時內順利將證件交還給主人。我想她一定很著急，幫助同學找回遺失的東西感覺真好。
話說學校報社的漫畫版編輯姓Moriarty，每次他寄信來，寄件者都是Moriarty。雖然前面的名字不一樣，我每次看到還是很想笑。
Friday, February 1, 2013
Student Organizations
I'm excited! There are some student organizations that sound very interesting. Some of them are old; some are new. I'll try my best to see which ones I could continue participating.
Besides continuing going to AHA and oSTEM, there's a new group called electronic music production. The group leader is a DJ and people there are all EDM lovers, who may or may not know how to produce music on a computer. Though the majority are male. I don't know how much time I could actually devote into trying the sound manipulation software, but I go there to make friends (lots of dubstep, house, and trance-lovers), and at least learn about the terminology, so I can understand people's conversation on electronic music production.
There is another group that doesn't have meetings, but the leader will arrange you to pair up with a woman in Kenya. Those women are poor people who are learning sewing as a living and English as the second language. Their English might be good or very elementary. If just writing a letter to a person once every few days or few weeks is helping a poor person with limited resources to learn, that sounds like something I'd love to do.
I visited the International Socialist Organization's meeting today. I was curious, and people there seemed to have some interesting ideas and debates. They were friendly too. I might stop by some time during the semester.
There's a Cheese Club that meets every three weeks. They teach you about cheese varieties and let you taste samples. Sadly it conflicts with my other meetings. Oh and the Cyclist Club. It sounds awesome to ride bike with people around Madison for the sake of exercising and relaxing. I could get to know some other parts of Madison too. Of course, we'll have to wait until the weather gets better.
Besides continuing going to AHA and oSTEM, there's a new group called electronic music production. The group leader is a DJ and people there are all EDM lovers, who may or may not know how to produce music on a computer. Though the majority are male. I don't know how much time I could actually devote into trying the sound manipulation software, but I go there to make friends (lots of dubstep, house, and trance-lovers), and at least learn about the terminology, so I can understand people's conversation on electronic music production.
There is another group that doesn't have meetings, but the leader will arrange you to pair up with a woman in Kenya. Those women are poor people who are learning sewing as a living and English as the second language. Their English might be good or very elementary. If just writing a letter to a person once every few days or few weeks is helping a poor person with limited resources to learn, that sounds like something I'd love to do.
I visited the International Socialist Organization's meeting today. I was curious, and people there seemed to have some interesting ideas and debates. They were friendly too. I might stop by some time during the semester.
There's a Cheese Club that meets every three weeks. They teach you about cheese varieties and let you taste samples. Sadly it conflicts with my other meetings. Oh and the Cyclist Club. It sounds awesome to ride bike with people around Madison for the sake of exercising and relaxing. I could get to know some other parts of Madison too. Of course, we'll have to wait until the weather gets better.
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