Melatonin Lab Report

In this project, C. Elegans are hermaphrodite worms that will be used since they are easy to maintain in lab, as well as have short life cycles. The gene that the project attempted to knockdown in C. Elegans with RNAi treatment is the unc-22 gene. RNAi disrupts gene expression in the presence of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is complementary to target gene sequence. The unc-22 gene codes for a muscle protein called twitchin in wild-type worms. The Unc-22 is required for muscle regulation and maintenance in C.Elegans. To verify that the RNAi treatment worked, would check the unc-22 mRNA levels in the worms, in addition to phenotype observation.

The synthesis of acetaminophen involves the attraction of the electrophilic carbonyl group of acetic anhydride to the nucleophilic NH2

When examining the D. Melanogaster mutants in the lab, our group immediately noticed an apparent difference from the wild-type flies. None of the mutants were able to fly. This led us to believe that we were dealing with a wing mutation. Upon further examination, we concluded that it was the overall wing shape that prevented the mutants from flying. The wing shapes among the mutants varied in both size and shape. Some were long, while others were short. The mutant wings could be distinguished into two general classes. One division of the mutant wing was short and stubby, almost a fourth the size of the wild-type wing. The rest of the mutants ranged in wing size and length, however many mutant wings were the same length as the wild-type wings. Although the

The above structure is melittin, which, as discussed earlier, has lytic properties when it encounters several types of membranes. Experiments in selectivity have been done with two different analogues of melittin that were produced, one in which the leucine at position 13 was replaced by alanine, and one in which the 6th and 13th leucine residues were replaced by alanine. The first analog exhibited 10-20% of the hemolytic activity and similar antimicrobial activity when compared to melittin, while the second analog showed 1-2% of the hemolytic activity and similar microbial activity. These results indicate that the leucine zwitter-motif is responsible for the hemolytic, but not the antimicrobial, activity of melittin. (Asthana, p.2)

Abstract: Using hypochlorous acid to convert secondary alcohol called cyclododecanol to the corresponding ketone which is cyclododecanone by oxidation.

The circadian rhythm is very important in analyzing ones sleep pattern like when they are a sleep pattern like when they are a sleep and when they are awake. One’s normal circadian clock is based on light-dark times over 24 hours.()

This is a very interesting subject. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, which is what makes us sleepy. Melatonin is produced when it is dark. In the dark, eggs are protected in women that are fertile and ovulating. The eggs are better preserved and healthier. Women who are already pregnant who do not get enough sleep and have enough time in the dark, are likelier to have children born with ADHD and other behavioral problems. At least 8 hours is recommended for women, especially in the final trimester, to help produce sufficient melatonin. This helps the fetus receive sufficient melatonin which helps his/her biological clock as well as helps the fetus brain.

Scientists have tested and proved that teenagers need nine to ten hours of sleep each night, sadly that does not happen. Various studies from several sleep foundations have been conducted and they have found that teens do not get the amount of sleep they need. “68% of high school students sleep less than eight hours” (Bratsis). Out of all the teens in America only 14% actually gets the correct amount of sleep each night (Boergers 4). Schools are accepting these later start times to help their students with getting the sleep they need and so melatonin can not get in the way of how much sleep teens get. Melatonin is a big

Sleep is undoubtedly one of the most essential requirements for the human body to function properly. It plays a very important role in ensuring the wellness of the human body both physically as well as mentally. In fact, the importance of sleep is clear from the fact that it helps you in maintaining a good lifestyle throughout our entire lifetime. Not only does it help maintain our physical and mental health; rather it also helps in maintaining a decent and healthy lifestyle along with ensuring safety from a number of fatal diseases. It is usually said that the mood in which you wake up is largely dependent on the type of sleep you have been in. This in itself is a big proof of the importance of sleep in our lives. While sleeping, our body finally gets its share of rest and it also gets ample time in rejuvenating from all the wear and tear that it went through during the entire day. Not only this, the body is in its own working condition when we are sleeping as this is the time when it supports the healthy functioning of the brain as well as physical attributes of our body.

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland - a small gland in the brain - under the baton of serotonin, which helps regulate other hormones and control "biological clock" or called. circadian rhythms of the body (alternating states of alertness / sleep, seasonal adaptations). The human organism synthesized a larger quantity melatonin with the coming of night and reduced during the day.

Although the original function of HbHNL is to produce HCN from acetone cyanohydrins for plant defense purpose, its reversible reaction to produce enantiopure cyanohydrins makes it an industrial relevant enzyme (Fig. 1.6a). Besides acetone, it is also able to take a bigger substrate such as benzaldehyde and turn it into mandelonitrile with optical purity up to 99%.15 HbHNL is known to turn different aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes and methyl ketones into different cyanohydrins.15 Cyanohydrins are useful precursors to agrochemicals and pharmaceutical products. For example, (R)-2-chlorobenzaldehyde cyanohydrin is the precursor of Clopidogel (Plavix), which is a blood clot inhibitor.16 Pyrethroids, made from (S)-phenoxybenzaldehyde cyanohydrins, are an important synthesis route to insecticides.16

All living organisms have a biological rhythm. Biological rhythms are patterns of physical and psychological abilities overtime. In this lab, the biological rhythm that we studied was called circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is a twenty-four hour cycle and it includes patterns such as body temperature, alertness, eating, and sleeping. To evaluate biological rhythms, our class measured physiological parameters such as body temperature, heart rate, time estimate, arithmetic speed, and fine movement speed.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter in the brain that has an enormous influence over many brain functions. It is synthesized, from the amino acid L-tryptophan, in brain neurons and stored in vesicles. Serotonin is found in three main areas of the body: the intestinal wall; large constricted blood vessels; and the central nervous system. The most widely studied effects have been those on the central nervous system. The functions of serotonin are numerous and appear to involve control of appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation, mood, behavior (including sexual and hallucinogenic behavior), cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, endocrine regulation, and

The results show that caffeine does not provide any significant impact on aerobic performance for human bodies. The mean of final pulse rate and the mean change of the group of caffeinated coffee is only 5 and 8 beats/min higher than the group of decaffeinated coffee. The pulse rate is directly corresponding to the heart rate and the normal heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats/min (Brady, 2012). This shows that 5 to 8 more heart beats per min, compared to the 40-beat range of normal rate, is not significant. The mean of final respiration rate and the mean change of caffeinated group has also shown the same narrow difference, with differences of 0.3 breaths/min and 1.6 breaths/min mean change.

         When children hit puberty they experience a delay in their biological block which in turns causes a shift in melatonin. Melatonin is the natural hormone in a person’s body that notifies them if it is time to sleep or time to wake up. A distraction in this can cause many behavior health and mental health issues such as substance abuse, depression or sadly suicide. Only about a tenth of the population actually get the right amount of sleep they need. The minimum amount someone should sleep is eight full hours. In the