Wednesday, April 14, 2004
I need ice cream... it's so bloody hot I'm going to evaporate! Previously it was 'going to melt', now it's 'going to evaporate' cos it's a higher temperature. Argh!
They should stop producing horror movies with mirrors, I'm so freaked out by mirrors now. Last night when NTU had a major blackout, my friend's neighbour still dared to go into the toilet and stare at the mirror. *screams* Even when the lights came back on, I was still hesitant about going to the toilet, for fear of the mirror. So sleepy, can't even get a good sleep and sat on buses until my butt hurt. Wah, I wasted 1 day. *sniff*
6.40pm
Oh man! More taxes to pay. Argh! Oh man, 6 fishermen got seafood poisoning (as in really poisoned), 2 died and 4 was paralysed at some parts of the face and body.
10.30pm
Just woke up from a nap, overslept by 1h. It's so hot...
1000 points (of blood) was just added to my vampire because of an irreversible mistake that the person behind the game server made, rounding everyone below 2000 points to 2000 points, so he added 1000 points to everyone else to perhaps remedy it a little.
"A master vampire just died and everyone sniffed a share of its powers."
Human babies have no functioning immune system. During the last month of fetal life, antibodies from the mother cross the placental barrier and protect the baby from infectious diseases until its own immune system begin functioning. If the baby is breast-fed, maternal milk provides additional antibodies for the baby, augmenting its developing immune system.
To determine if 2 recessive mutations are alleles of the same gene, cross their respective homozygotes to obtain hybrid progeny and evaluate the phenotype of the hybrids. If the phenotype is mutant, the mutations are alleles of the same gene; if it is wild-type, they are not. For a dominant mutation, no test of allelism is possible.
The inbreeding coefficient (F) is a measure of the intensity of inbreeding. It is defined as the probability that 2 gene copies in an individual are identical by descent from a common ancestor. To calculate the inbreeding coefficient, we first identify the common ancester(s) of the inbred individual. A common ancester is connected to the inbred individual through both the parents. Inbreeding loops are formed. Then, count the no. of individuals (n) in each inbreeding loop, not including the inbred itself. F is computed by summing the results of (1/2)^n of all the loops. This method works for most pedigrees. However, when a common ancestor is itself inbred, we multiply the factor (1/2)^n by the term [1 + F(CA)], where F(CA) is the inbreeding coefficient of the common ancestor, which accounts for the possibility that the "left" and "right" gene copies in the common ancestor are already identical by descent. The coefficient of relationship is the fraction of genes that 2 individuals share by virtue of common ancestry, and is calculated by multiplying the inbreeding coefficient by 2.
Flow cytometry
With this technique, the nuclear material of the cells is stained with a dye, and the cells are passed through a machine in a high-speed, single-file line. The cells are then separated based on the amount of DNA stain that is read by the machine (the X chromosome is larger, thus emitting more signal). This technique is reported to have the ability to sort X-bearing spermatozoa with approximately 85% enrichment, and Y-bearing with 60-75% enrichment.
It is important to know that this technique requires DNA staining with a fluorochrome (fluorescent dye) in addition to ultraviolet laser exposure. The long-term consequences of this procedure are not known, however, several generations of animals appear to be normal.
While attempts have been made over the years to select the gender of a child before conception, there is currently no process that can guarantee the selection of either a boy or a girl. For many couples, the ability to simply have a healthy baby is reward enough.
THE OTHER WOMAN
After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A little while ago I had started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife's idea.
"I know that you love her," my wife said one day, taking me by surprise.
"But I love you," I protested.
"I know, but you also love her," my wife said.
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
That night I called to invite my mother to go out for dinner and a movie.
"What's wrong? Are you well?" she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.
"I thought that it would be pleasant to pass some time with you. Just the two of us," I responded.
She thought about it for a moment then said, "I would like that very much."
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.
When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.
"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting".
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.
After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entree, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips.
"It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said.
"Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded.
During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation - nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.
As we arrived at her house later, she said "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you".
I agreed.
When I got home, my wife asked, "How was your dinner date?"
"Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.
A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined.
An attached note said:
"I paid this bill in advance. I was almost sure that I couldn't be there but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you."
At that moment I understood the importance of saying, in time: "I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off to "some other time".
They should stop producing horror movies with mirrors, I'm so freaked out by mirrors now. Last night when NTU had a major blackout, my friend's neighbour still dared to go into the toilet and stare at the mirror. *screams* Even when the lights came back on, I was still hesitant about going to the toilet, for fear of the mirror. So sleepy, can't even get a good sleep and sat on buses until my butt hurt. Wah, I wasted 1 day. *sniff*
6.40pm
Oh man! More taxes to pay. Argh! Oh man, 6 fishermen got seafood poisoning (as in really poisoned), 2 died and 4 was paralysed at some parts of the face and body.
10.30pm
Just woke up from a nap, overslept by 1h. It's so hot...
1000 points (of blood) was just added to my vampire because of an irreversible mistake that the person behind the game server made, rounding everyone below 2000 points to 2000 points, so he added 1000 points to everyone else to perhaps remedy it a little.
"A master vampire just died and everyone sniffed a share of its powers."
Human babies have no functioning immune system. During the last month of fetal life, antibodies from the mother cross the placental barrier and protect the baby from infectious diseases until its own immune system begin functioning. If the baby is breast-fed, maternal milk provides additional antibodies for the baby, augmenting its developing immune system.
To determine if 2 recessive mutations are alleles of the same gene, cross their respective homozygotes to obtain hybrid progeny and evaluate the phenotype of the hybrids. If the phenotype is mutant, the mutations are alleles of the same gene; if it is wild-type, they are not. For a dominant mutation, no test of allelism is possible.
The inbreeding coefficient (F) is a measure of the intensity of inbreeding. It is defined as the probability that 2 gene copies in an individual are identical by descent from a common ancestor. To calculate the inbreeding coefficient, we first identify the common ancester(s) of the inbred individual. A common ancester is connected to the inbred individual through both the parents. Inbreeding loops are formed. Then, count the no. of individuals (n) in each inbreeding loop, not including the inbred itself. F is computed by summing the results of (1/2)^n of all the loops. This method works for most pedigrees. However, when a common ancestor is itself inbred, we multiply the factor (1/2)^n by the term [1 + F(CA)], where F(CA) is the inbreeding coefficient of the common ancestor, which accounts for the possibility that the "left" and "right" gene copies in the common ancestor are already identical by descent. The coefficient of relationship is the fraction of genes that 2 individuals share by virtue of common ancestry, and is calculated by multiplying the inbreeding coefficient by 2.
Flow cytometry
With this technique, the nuclear material of the cells is stained with a dye, and the cells are passed through a machine in a high-speed, single-file line. The cells are then separated based on the amount of DNA stain that is read by the machine (the X chromosome is larger, thus emitting more signal). This technique is reported to have the ability to sort X-bearing spermatozoa with approximately 85% enrichment, and Y-bearing with 60-75% enrichment.
It is important to know that this technique requires DNA staining with a fluorochrome (fluorescent dye) in addition to ultraviolet laser exposure. The long-term consequences of this procedure are not known, however, several generations of animals appear to be normal.
While attempts have been made over the years to select the gender of a child before conception, there is currently no process that can guarantee the selection of either a boy or a girl. For many couples, the ability to simply have a healthy baby is reward enough.
THE OTHER WOMAN
After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A little while ago I had started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife's idea.
"I know that you love her," my wife said one day, taking me by surprise.
"But I love you," I protested.
"I know, but you also love her," my wife said.
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
That night I called to invite my mother to go out for dinner and a movie.
"What's wrong? Are you well?" she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.
"I thought that it would be pleasant to pass some time with you. Just the two of us," I responded.
She thought about it for a moment then said, "I would like that very much."
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.
When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.
"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting".
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.
After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entree, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips.
"It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said.
"Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded.
During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation - nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.
As we arrived at her house later, she said "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you".
I agreed.
When I got home, my wife asked, "How was your dinner date?"
"Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.
A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined.
An attached note said:
"I paid this bill in advance. I was almost sure that I couldn't be there but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you."
At that moment I understood the importance of saying, in time: "I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off to "some other time".
