This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
The MIT video lecture on coronavirus was truly educative. Dr. Bruce Walker's presentation was really good, well organized and I loved how he answered most of the frequently asked questions about the virus and the ongoing vaccine. Being graduate students and of course most of the times being in the lab doing research, how has this pandemic impacted on your research? Either positively or negatively. I liked how Dr. Bruce and his team in Boston worked around in coming up with a vaccine (in their research). Good job! What is your take on the on-going vaccination exercise, especially the "said" side effects? Do you think testing for COVID-19 is necessary? Lastly, as Dr. Bruce said, masks work. Wearing a mask prevents transmission. Lets WEAR OUR MASKS. Be safe.
Research has been slow since Covid hit at least in my lab, because we were collecting samples from people's house cats and that has made it more challenging to do so.
I think testing is important because we then can keep a history of before covid infection and after and I think that will bettter help us understand the disease.
(Also if anyone has a mystery polymerase kit Accuu-Prime, it is a very G-C rich kit in their fridge. I am still looking for the one that was said to have been delivered when covid first shut things down)
The lecture was presented well and informative. I would have thought that the action of T-cells would have been addressed a bit more since they are more directly involved with cellular immunity, viruses, and account for why older populations are more at risk from the virus. However, what I did not know was the affect that the virus had on impairing B cell responses in the lymph nodes or the inflammatory storm and the effects that it has.
It was also interesting hearing a little about the new types of vaccines and the questions that had to be considered, especially since vaccines have become available and some are still in development. As for these new available vaccines, I have not read too much about them other than to have a very general, and very non-detailed idea as to how they work in comparison to more traditional vaccines (meaning, I’m no expert). But my take on the vaccine in general is that some vaccine is better than no vaccine to train the immune system without actually getting the virus. In terms of side effects, in my non-expert opinion, (other than in allergic reactions) I remain skeptical that there is anything more than an immune response which is too often mistaken by people thinking that vaccines make people sick.
As for research and lab work as a grad student, I know and agree that the actions that were taken since the spring 2020 semester to slow the spread of the current pandemic were and are still necessary. However, I feel as though the main impact of the pandemic comes down to two main areas – resources and time. With the demand for COVID-19 testing, the availability of some materials for some methods, primarily with PCR, are in shorter supply. But the larger and more universal effect on grad student research, I feel, is the scramble making up for lost time where we could not be in the lab.
Regardless, these precautions are necessary. Wash your hands, disinfect surfaces, and keep your distance. And importantly, wear your mask CORRECTLY (i.e. cover your nose!). It’s like putting cloths on BEFORE getting in the shower. Kinda defeats the point. Anyone else feel the same on this?
With most of us depending on supplies and deliveries in our research labs, COVID 19 has slowed most of the research activities .I do also believe that there are other research labs that have been positively impacted by this virus not necessarily here at YSU and especially those with research closely related to the covid 19 virus. So much questions have been raised surrounding the covid 19 vaccination, but I would like to think that just like any vaccine, this vaccine has mild side effects. But the question is, is it ultimately safe to get vaccinated? My response would be a yes since i have not heard anyone die because they received the vaccine but If there is any, then I would think that could be due to an underlying or a pre-existing condition and not due to the vaccine. Continue the theme; Lets remember to always CORRECTLY MASKUP!
Nice presentation by Dr. Bruce Walker!! With regard to COVID-19 vaccine, I have some reservations but personal! Not so certain about the side effects. COVID-19 has brought in its wake fear and panic and changes in plans,and events. We do hope it goes away sooner than expected. At the moment, let us stick to the WEARING OF MASKS and PROPER HAND WASHING.
Dr. Bruce's presentation was very enlightening to me. It's good to know that hopefully we will all be safe and free again. I do not mind wearing my mask and I am glad to hear that they DO work.
My research came to a stop last year when everything shut down and I did not start it back up until fall semester. This left me scrambling to collect data. I am still trying to collect all the data for my research and I still need to analyze this data in order to present for this class. COVID really hurt my research. I am hoping to graduate this summer but it is going to be very difficult to accomplish because of the pandemic.
I think that the testing of COVID is NECESSARY. Especially because Dr. Butcher recently tested positive for COVID. This affected me especially working in his lab and talking to him everyday. Thankfully we were always 6 feet apart or wearing masks. I got tested on Monday but this still caused me to miss the whole weekend, Monday, and Tuesday of precious time for research. I tested negative thankfully but it is nice to have that test so I did not have to quarantine for 2 weeks and can get back to doing research.
Being a first semester graduate student, I have not faced the difficulties most have gone through with research; however, working in the Emergency Room at Trumbull Regional Medical Center has given me a first-hand view of this deadly virus.
Working on the front lines has given me the opportunity to be one of the first people vaccinated. I will receive my second dose of the Moderna vaccine on Monday. Addressing the question asked, the only side effects I experienced was soreness at the injection site and a mild headache.
Lastly, even though I have been vaccinated and every day more individuals are, I still believe it is vital to continue to wear our masks and social distance.
Dr. Bruce Walker's presentation was very interesting to me. The night before the lecture I was reading different articles doing research on the antibodies after having the virus. I am excited about the vaccine even after hearing about some of the side effects. With my father being high risk if contracting COVID-19, taking every precaution necessary is important to me. My brother just recently received both of his doses and only reported being slightly tired after the second. I hope that most people continue with wearing their masks and social distancing so that we can get to the end much quicker.
The MIT video lecture on coronavirus was truly educative. Dr. Bruce Walker's presentation was really good, well organized and I loved how he answered most of the frequently asked questions about the virus and the ongoing vaccine. Being graduate students and of course most of the times being in the lab doing research, how has this pandemic impacted on your research? Either positively or negatively. I liked how Dr. Bruce and his team in Boston worked around in coming up with a vaccine (in their research). Good job! What is your take on the on-going vaccination exercise, especially the "said" side effects? Do you think testing for COVID-19 is necessary? Lastly, as Dr. Bruce said, masks work. Wearing a mask prevents transmission. Lets WEAR OUR MASKS. Be safe.
ReplyDeleteResearch has been slow since Covid hit at least in my lab, because we were collecting samples from people's house cats and that has made it more challenging to do so.
ReplyDeleteI think testing is important because we then can keep a history of before covid infection and after and I think that will bettter help us understand the disease.
(Also if anyone has a mystery polymerase kit Accuu-Prime, it is a very G-C rich kit in their fridge. I am still looking for the one that was said to have been delivered when covid first shut things down)
The lecture was presented well and informative. I would have thought that the action of T-cells would have been addressed a bit more since they are more directly involved with cellular immunity, viruses, and account for why older populations are more at risk from the virus. However, what I did not know was the affect that the virus had on impairing B cell responses in the lymph nodes or the inflammatory storm and the effects that it has.
ReplyDeleteIt was also interesting hearing a little about the new types of vaccines and the questions that had to be considered, especially since vaccines have become available and some are still in development. As for these new available vaccines, I have not read too much about them other than to have a very general, and very non-detailed idea as to how they work in comparison to more traditional vaccines (meaning, I’m no expert). But my take on the vaccine in general is that some vaccine is better than no vaccine to train the immune system without actually getting the virus. In terms of side effects, in my non-expert opinion, (other than in allergic reactions) I remain skeptical that there is anything more than an immune response which is too often mistaken by people thinking that vaccines make people sick.
As for research and lab work as a grad student, I know and agree that the actions that were taken since the spring 2020 semester to slow the spread of the current pandemic were and are still necessary. However, I feel as though the main impact of the pandemic comes down to two main areas – resources and time. With the demand for COVID-19 testing, the availability of some materials for some methods, primarily with PCR, are in shorter supply. But the larger and more universal effect on grad student research, I feel, is the scramble making up for lost time where we could not be in the lab.
Regardless, these precautions are necessary. Wash your hands, disinfect surfaces, and keep your distance. And importantly, wear your mask CORRECTLY (i.e. cover your nose!). It’s like putting cloths on BEFORE getting in the shower. Kinda defeats the point. Anyone else feel the same on this?
With most of us depending on supplies and deliveries in our research labs, COVID 19 has slowed most of the research activities .I do also believe that there are other research labs that have been positively impacted by this virus not necessarily here at YSU and especially those with research closely related to the covid 19 virus.
ReplyDeleteSo much questions have been raised surrounding the covid 19 vaccination, but I would like to think that just like any vaccine, this vaccine has mild side effects. But the question is, is it ultimately safe to get vaccinated? My response would be a yes since i have not heard anyone die because they received the vaccine but If there is any, then I would think that could be due to an underlying or a pre-existing condition and not due to the vaccine.
Continue the theme; Lets remember to always CORRECTLY MASKUP!
Nice presentation by Dr. Bruce Walker!! With regard to COVID-19 vaccine, I have some reservations but personal! Not so certain about the side effects. COVID-19 has brought in its wake fear and panic and changes in plans,and events. We do hope it goes away sooner than expected. At the moment, let us stick to the WEARING OF MASKS and PROPER HAND WASHING.
ReplyDeleteDr. Bruce's presentation was very enlightening to me. It's good to know that hopefully we will all be safe and free again. I do not mind wearing my mask and I am glad to hear that they DO work.
ReplyDeleteMy research came to a stop last year when everything shut down and I did not start it back up until fall semester. This left me scrambling to collect data. I am still trying to collect all the data for my research and I still need to analyze this data in order to present for this class. COVID really hurt my research. I am hoping to graduate this summer but it is going to be very difficult to accomplish because of the pandemic.
I think that the testing of COVID is NECESSARY. Especially because Dr. Butcher recently tested positive for COVID. This affected me especially working in his lab and talking to him everyday. Thankfully we were always 6 feet apart or wearing masks. I got tested on Monday but this still caused me to miss the whole weekend, Monday, and Tuesday of precious time for research. I tested negative thankfully but it is nice to have that test so I did not have to quarantine for 2 weeks and can get back to doing research.
Thankful for MASKS.
Sorry this was my comment. I messed up with not putting a name.
DeleteBeing a first semester graduate student, I have not faced the difficulties most have gone through with research; however, working in the Emergency Room at Trumbull Regional Medical Center has given me a first-hand view of this deadly virus.
ReplyDeleteWorking on the front lines has given me the opportunity to be one of the first people vaccinated. I will receive my second dose of the Moderna vaccine on Monday. Addressing the question asked, the only side effects I experienced was soreness at the injection site and a mild headache.
Lastly, even though I have been vaccinated and every day more individuals are, I still believe it is vital to continue to wear our masks and social distance.
Dr. Bruce Walker's presentation was very interesting to me. The night before the lecture I was reading different articles doing research on the antibodies after having the virus. I am excited about the vaccine even after hearing about some of the side effects. With my father being high risk if contracting COVID-19, taking every precaution necessary is important to me. My brother just recently received both of his doses and only reported being slightly tired after the second. I hope that most people continue with wearing their masks and social distancing so that we can get to the end much quicker.
ReplyDelete