HIV breakthrough - vaccines could cut infection by a third

Image shows a microscopic HIV virus.



I will be writing about HIV & AIDS sometime next month which will include some information not covered in the SPM syllabus.

In chapter 1 form 5, we learned that there is no effective vaccine yet to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. In view of the significant threat of HIV infection worldwide, an effective & safe vaccine is urgently needed to prevent infection & to help control the epidemic. The road to discover this vaccine is not all easy as many scientists have encountered failures, and some have even abandoned the project.

According to the recent findings released sometime last week, the prime boost combination (combining 2 vaccines) could lower the infection rate by a third. (It means about 30% of those subjects who have received this vaccines are 'protected' or become immune to HIV virus.) This is truly a breakthrough & an important milestone in the medical world after trying for decades to develop a HIV vaccine.

Every day, 7,000 people worldwide are newly infected with HIV; 2 million died of AIDS in 2007, the UN agency Unaids estimates.

Click here or here to read more about this important clinical trial.

Greenhouse effect & Global warming (1)

We learn about how greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapour, ozone) contribute to global warming in Form 4. (read Chapter 9 Form 4, page 10 & 11 of your notes).


To further understand this subject, an informative & educational DVD & VCD entitled An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore is already available in the market for less than RM20 each. It was released in 2006.
The first video contains trailer to the film. If you would like to view the film, click on the second video from video@Yahoo! . Hope you find these useful. Happy viewing!

An Inconvenient Truth - Al Gore @ Yahoo! Video

What you should know about A (H1N1) flu.

I have in a few occasions explaining about the above during our weekly meet up.

I think as biology students, we should know a bit more about this new virus which has caused a pandemic.

So, what is this virus? how are they different from the normal seasonal flu virus? What are the symptoms? What are the possible treatments? Why this virus can kill? Can the normal flu vaccine prevent people from getting this flu? Is the H1N1 vaccine available now?.... Find out yourself by clicking FAQ on swine flu and H1N1 flu.

The following steps can help decrease the likelihood of transmission.
1) Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

2) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

3) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

4) People who are sick with an influenza-like illness (ILI) (fever plus at least cough or sore throat and possibly other symptoms like runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea) should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine).

5) Avoid close contact (i.e. being within about 6 feet) with persons with ILI.

Practice good habits everyday to stay healthy, perhaps this cute video could help.

Teaching of Maths & Science in English

Let's look at the true facts about the above issue.

The current decision made to revert the teaching medium from English back to BM has raised many valid discussion amongst parents & teachers.

The revert to BM is definitely NOT a wise decision. I believe most of our young future generation will have a tough time competing globally. What about achieving our Vision 2020?


Vision 2020 - a way forward.

Synthesis of protein molecule

Another good video to share with those who are keen to know more about protein synthesis.

These are what you will learn in your A-level & STPM Biology about the synthesis of protein. Enjoy.

p/s: For SPM level, your notes (form 4 chapter 2 & 4) regarding the production of Extracellular Enzyme are sufficient.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) & Gene

During our biology lesson, we learn the followings:

Chromosomes can be found in the nucleus of a cell.
Each chromosome is made up of a long DNA molecules coiled around protein molecules called histones.
A DNA molecule contains thousand of genes which code for the synthesis of specific proteins.






What is DNA molecule?
DNA molecule is made up of basic units called nucleotides.
A nucleotide is made up of:

1. a deoxyribose sugar,
2. a nitrogenous base (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine or Guanine),
3. a phosphate group






How are the nucleotides linked?
Each nucleotide is joined to the next nucleotide through the phosphate group to form a long polynucleotide strand.
A DNA molecule consists of two polynucleotide strands coiled together to form a DOUBLE HELIX.
The two strands are linked together at the nitrogenous base by hydrogen bond. Thymine base is linked to Adenine base, while Cytosine base is linked to Guanine base.











In 1953 James D. Watson and Francis Crick suggested what is now accepted as the first correct double-helix model of DNA structure.





The sequence of nitrogenous base in a DNA molecule is called gene.
What is gene? It is a DNA segment containing particular sequence of nucleotides that code for synthesis of a specific polypeptide chain or proteins in an organism.
Proteins are needed to form enzymes & other structural proteins in an organism.
Gene control the traits of an organism by controlling the types of proteins to be synthesised in cells.

A better understanding about Anorexia Nervosa

We learned during our bio lesson that ...
Anorexia nervosa is a phychological disorder which usually occurs among female teen & young adults who experience an intense fear of gaining weight.
In general, they have distorted/negative body image which convinces them that they are fat.





Your body images is the mental picture that you hv of your body, along with your feelings, thoughts & judgement about it. When you dislike your body or specific parts of it, this is called having a negative body image.




In an attempt to boost their self-esteem, they do not want to eat/they lose their appetite to eat.
In the process, they lose both body fat & muscle (excessive loss of weight), becomes malnutrition, having mental & emotional problems. Can lead to disruption of the fn of the heart, endocrine system & reproductive system (menstruation stopped).
Can be fatal if not treated.

If you or someone you know suffering from this eating disorder, pls get HELP.
Anorexia KILLS.

How is energy generated?

Let's learn more about Aerobic Respiration.

In general, the human body cells are able to carry out both Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration depends on the availability of oxygen.
Both types of respiration are able to generate energy (ATP) for us.
Lets take a look at the Krebs Cycle that occurs in the mitochondrion during aerobic respiration where most of our ATPs are generated.

ps: Krebs Cycle is not part of the SPM syllabus.

Learn about frog dissection

A very good resource which i have found on frog dissection from Net frog by Mable Kinzie.

Development of zygote after fertilisation (F5 C4)

View this video clip to help you better understand the development of zygote after fertilisation.(Form 5)