JOURNAL REFLECTION : VIRTUAL MICROBE 2017

This is reflective journal on Virtual Microbe 2017 collaboration with students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Malaya (UM). Last year, Virtual Microbe was introduced by Dr. Wan to our department as one of the student-centered learning (SCL) to enhance student communication skills and widen networking in biotechnological sciences field. At that time, we only discussed on a type of microorganism that has beneficial value or harm effect and discussed in depth using video-conferencing apps, Zoom and sharing websites including Blendspace, Trello, and padlet.  Therefore, in this year, a few modifications have been made to improve Virtual Microbe. In this year, UM has been decided to join us discussing on the pathogen that has significant effect to cause harm to human or other living organism. In addition, each group must complete their task by doing literature review based on journal and research finding.   My group agreed to choose Influenza Virus as our topic as we were interested to know more about this virus that affects human health.

            In the group, each of us was assigned with questions that were provided. My friends and I taught our team members on how to use the apps for video conferencing, websites that can be used to share information and how to do literature review since this is their first exposure towards e-learning. For me, it is quite hard to teach everything just by talking to the screen since the recording time in zoom apps only allows 40 minutes for each session. Besides that, it is easy if they already have the basic ideas on how to make a literature review because it is quite hard to do perfectly since it is the first time they make it. Not only that, from my personal opinion, it is important to assign task to people that are agreed to be committed to complete the task given. This is because it gives extra pressure to the team members to continue the unfinished task to cover their part and it makes the assignment cannot be completed at specific time. Therefore, I would like to suggest for the next Virtual Microbe to form a collaboration with people that is committed and willingly to learn on e-learning tools otherwise they will just take easy because they are forced to (we are also were forced to but at least we do this for assignment mark). Besides that LR is one of the big tasks to be assigned to combine with VM.

However, despite the difficulties that we faced during making Virtual Microbe teach us on how to cooperate in a group and keep sharing knowledge with other people. I believe that what I have achieved today can be used for future referees. 

FIFTH SEMESTER : VIRTUAL MICROBE

Hi everyoneee! Its good to make come back again. I guess it’s the first time I write journal in this semester. Hehe. As you know that, I’m on my first semester of third year. How time flies, right? To think back, there a lot of things I’ve learnt. From the academic up to life learning either from the classroom to the outside. I am practicing myself to become someone who are multitasking in doing work. I’m so thankful to lecturers, parents and friends who have shaped me the way I’m today. Thank you! So, back to the purpose I’m writing this entry is actually to reflect on what we have done in this semester which is Virtual Microbe.

Virtual Microbe is the task in which we have to do a collaboration with UKM’s student.  We have to choose and discuss in detail about a type of virus. So, we all are agreed to choose Rotavirus as we are interested to find more about this virus. Knowing that, this type virus has caused an outbreak in Malaysia once upon a time in which they infect gastrointestinal in most infant and children. Besides discussion, we also had given a task to teach our friends in UKM on how to use educational online applications such as Powtoon, Cliptomize, Blendspace and many more. This type of assignment is actually a good idea because we are able to share our knowledge and information with people out there.

To be honest, it feels so fantastic on how we manage to complete this assignment eventho there are many challenges we faced to do this assignment. One of the biggest challenges is the internet problem because the online video conference, Zoom need a strong internet connection. Besides that, most of us have our own commitment and busy for our test and assignment for other subject. However, we still manage finished our Virtual Microbes successfully. Lastly, I would like to say Thank you to our friend in UKM who gives a full commitment and cooperation to make this thing end well. Hehe. Its nice to collaborate with you guys! Not to forget, Thank you to Dr. Wan for putting all together and sorry if I, myself have put you down. J   

THATS ALL FROM ME!
THANKYOU!
SEE YOU NEXT SEMESTER :)

[2016 JOURNAL REFLECTION] LEARNING OUTCOMES

HELLO PEOPLE!
HOW ARE YOU?
I HOPE YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

This week is 14th week which means we are going to have our study week before of Final Examination begin. Let's pray for our success.

As a part of Dr. Wan class, she asked us for Learning outcome for her course that she taught us, which is Microbial Ecology. Therefore, in order to gain A for this course, we write this. hehe


The first question is, what have you learned?
Throughout this MIcrobial Ecology, i learnt on many habitat that microorganism lived in such as soil habitat, atmosphere habitat, aquatic habitat, food habitat and many more. Interestingly, microbes also can live in outer space which we would never imagine how they can survive, but they can actually! Besides that, microorganism also have distinct features that enable them to lived in the particular ecology. And the most important thing,microorganism plays vital role in maintaining homeostasis. For example, microorganism in the soil help in the process nitrogen fixation whereas some of microbe able to aids in bioremediation especially in sewage water treatment. so many thing lah we did learnt actually, hehe:)

Next, elaborate the experience in doing the Microbes and Us project.

First of all that comes to mind, umm actually, I was clueless because when Dr said that our project will be publish in the mass media such at the ktm or railway station so that we can create awareness to people out there about microorganism. I was scared and fear if we didn’t meet the expectation from lecturers from this course especially Dr. Wan. Besides that, I also think that we should do well in this to complete this project. However, working in a team makes me be more confident and believe that we going to finish our project successfully. Therefore, I am totally grateful to be in group with Malik, Fatin, Raidah, Aina, Syafiq and Megat because they have a great team work and give commitment despite busy with our college programmes and events on that time. I still remember on a night that we spent together to complete our 15min video, AR video and article at the same time! Other people start doing their project from early semester, but our group finish all them in a night. Which is very bad actually L Sorry for disappointing you, Dr. Wan. However, I’m still glad that we had make it until the end of our project presentation.

The final question is, How do you relate microbial ecology to other microbiology courses you have covered in the earlier semesters and how you can apply in the future knowledge?

Actually, microbial ecology is very closely related to other microbiology courses because its all about the microorganism. However, through this course, it intensify the population of microorganism according to the particular habitat thus help us to identify and classify them easily. In future knowledge, this course can be very helpful in our understanding which will be discuss in more detail in the upcoming semesters. 

THAT'S ALL FROM ME
THANKYOU
SEE YOU NEXT SEMESTER!

[2016 JOURNAL REFLECTION] - 1ST WEEK

H E L L O O O O O O  people!

New semester just coming right through the way and now we are in the year of 2016. How fast time flies, isnt it? I know it already TOO late to wish you guys a happy new year, but I still wanna do that. happy New Year  May our day brighten with the smile on our face and keep strong even the storm gonna hit us.

This year basically I'm taking subjects Enzymology, Microbiology Practical Lab 3, microbial Ecology and Applied Food in Microbiolgy. I 'm pretty sure all of you know which one subjects that require us to write a blog if it isnt Dr. Wan class right? so by through thick and thin, I have to do this to get a splendid mark from her. HOPEFULLY :)

In our firtst class, Dr. Wan came with her cyborg feet. She had broken one of her feet, around the tarsal or something but still manage to moving around despite her condition. I just wanna tell you how much I admire and adore you so much, Dr.- One of the Ironlady I ever know. 

In Dr. Wan class, you will always get your first assignment and project to do for entire semester. If you didnt, it kind of rare ykow. And I know all of us have aware about this so it doesnt matter anymore. This semester, she  ask us to do a project on MICROBES AND ME. A project of awareness to people out there  more about the benefits/ or you can do misbenefits as well on the importance of Microbes around us. so, we are requires to create a group on 6-7 people and make a video or newsletter, infographic, montage and few other things and this requires us to interview an expertise on our current project. In addition, Dr. Wan want to publish our work to community through media networking such as newspaper and etc. Very interesting but I was thinking HOW WE GONNA DO THIS PERFECTLY OMG. 

The first topic we discussed was about THE INTRODUCTION TO PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY. 

we learnt how to define ECOLOGY which originated from the Greek Words, - Oikos : 'household', "home", or "place to live".

Meanwhile, logos means "the study of"

Basically, we study Ecology to know the relationship on environment (including biotic and abiotic) and how to maintain homeostasis and sustainability. There are positive and negative relationship occurs, The positive include the mutualism and commensalism. They are grouped in positive because the host and the hostile either both gets benefit and outcome, or one of them gets the benefit but the other party does not harm. Meanwhile, Parasitism, Competition and Predation are grouped in negative Relationship as one party is harmed by the other. 

new things that i learnt was about vampilic? Actually i wrote this word on my lecture note but i dont know what the term is exactly. even after i have googled it. 

THATS ALL :)

JOURNAL REFLECTION : THE AWESOME MICROBE CARNIVAL

HELLO EVERYONE,

It has been a hectic week for a student like me. Tests, assignments, programmes and workshop are all around for a few weeks before we having final examination in the end of the semester. Only now, I got a chance to to write this post. (Actually after being triggered by Dr. Wan in WhatsApp group)

Our model 

For now, I'll just tell you guys what happened during our Awesome Microbe Carnival. So, our carnival was held on 19 & 20 November. It is an educational programme that highlighted on the benefits of Microbiology and all about it. Poster, games and sales booth are the main programme.
So, in the department of Microbiology, every batch have their roles and task that are needed to be accomplish. The first year student need to do poster about diseases that are cause by Microorganism. Meanwhile, the second year student have to do poster about the organelle and handle the booth games. The third year student and Fourth year handle the sales booth. all of the sales booth sold food that related to the production of microorganism. For example, kimbap (they use seaweed;algae to wrap the glutinous rice), yoghurt, mini donut (yeast) and etc.

kimburb

cupcakes!

brownies

Oh ya, do I forgot to mention that we also have Age of Tunnel that describe the historical and development of Microbiology! This tunnel caught attention visitor that came to our carnival.

And for your informnation, our carnival had 980 visitor from various school and instuition from all over the place. For example, Uitm, Kolej Mara Kuala Nerang and Smk ....... (I cant remember the school name) hee.

So , from my personal comment for this topic, i do think that this programme is a very good programme that give a lot of exposure to people that do not know about microbiology and what we studied in institution. However, since thi programme was held during our test week, most of us unable to study properly because we are so busy with this programme. and this saddened me a little bit. I just hope the mark is above the redline. hahahhaha.

i just wanna thanks to Dr. wan and my felow friends, seniors, junior for this wonderful moment and experience. And Im so happy to work with you guys. heheeh Goodbye!

JOURNAL REFLECTION [ WEEK 13 ]

We had our replacement class on monday as Dr. got another work to do on Friday.

this is our last class with Dr. Wan in BMY 3202.

The topic that we discussed was about Biogeochemical cycles.

basically, this topic is about the recycling cycles that occur in natural environment.

this cycles include :

1. carbon cycle/ Kelvin Cycle
2. Nitrogen cycle
3. Sulfur cycle
4. Iron cycle
5. Manganese cycle

all above the cycle, Nitrogen cycle really caught my attention as im interested with this process. first is because i have learnt them during high school, so it is much easier for me to understand and memorise them. im also still canr remember how i memorise the microbe that help the nitrogen fixing. How the nitrogen are being change to nitrate and then nitrate. so that plant can absorb them to undergo their metabolism and growth

nitrogen cycle

For me,what is new in this topic are sulfur cycle and manganese cycle. in the sulfur cycle, the processes include sulfur oxidation, sulfur reduction and sulfate reduction. the sulfur cycle occur when moves to and from waterways and living system. they are important because they can affect many mineral. this biogeochemical cycle is important because sulfur is an essential element, being constituent of many protein and cofactor. 

sulfur cycle

In Manganese Cycle, the manganese ion is undergo change to manganic ion via the process of aerobic respiration. this process is reversible. when the manganic ion change to manganese ion, it undergo anaerobic respiration. But here, i still cant understand the significance of this process.

manganese process

Perhaps this might help you and me a little bit. 

I guess thats's all from me

Wish us luck in Finalee!

Journal Reflection [ WEEK 12 ]

Wednesday, 20th May 2015

We had our lecture at 8.30 am today~

so the topic that we discussed was Microbial Group. Basically, in this topic we must know the microbial reproduction, the physical and chemical growth requirement for development of microbial community and also the biofilms.

im going write what i jotted down in my notes.

• The microbial growth is based on Size of population and not individual growth.
• The methods of microbial reproduction consists of : Binary Fission, Budding, Fragmentation, Formation of Spores and Sexual Reproduction.
• Water activity and osmotic pressure is one of the physical growth requirement. the scale goes between (0.0-1.0)   The maximum  level is 1.0.
• Xerophilic  is microorganisms that can resist dessication.
• Fungus growth best at log phase (because of the enzymme)
• Other organisms grow optimumly at stationary phase.
• They are two strategies to develop a population which are r strategies and K strategies. To create a stable population, K strategies is used.
• "Autochnotous" is the term used to describe first/native microbe.
• Autogenic Succession is the microorganism that modify the habitat in a way that permits new population to develop.
• Allogenic Succession is the microbial species succesion that occurs because the habitat is altered by environmental factors.
• Climax comunity is rarely  achieved.
• Biofilms is composed of living, reproducing microorganisms such as bacteria that exist as a community.
• Oil &gas form a lot of biofilms

Thursday, 21th May 2015

The class at 9 but most of my classmates went late. So, we started as soon as everyone came.

Dr. Wan began our lecture with her story: her experience having a late class. thats was so scary!

so, today we continued our lecture on Principles of ecology. Dr. shows us a Powtoon video made by Radin on this subtopic. Ecology is the systematic study of organisms and their interaction with the environment.

Interaction occurs in our ecology. There are also negative interaction which are competition, prey and predators and parasitic.

we also discussed on 

• abiotic factors
• Homeostasis
• The flow of energy
• Factors that may affect the stability of the ecosystems and
• The approaches to effective ecosystem management

I think Thats all. Thankyouuu 

Journal Reflection [ WEEK 11 ]

Wednesday, 13th May 2015

okayyy, in our lecture , we discussed on Fungi and Mashi's group was the one which presented on this subtopic.  so, the general characteristics of fungus:

• eucaryotic
• spore-bearing organisms
• no chlrophyl
• reproduce sexually and asexually 
• absorptive nutrition

So, basically we called the body or vegetative structure of fungus =  THALLUS

THALLUS- single cell/ multicellular

Other speciality of fungus is its cell wall. Normally, the kingdom of plantae or algae have cellulose as their cell wall. But, the cell wall of fungi is made up CHITIN. This type of cell wall adds rigidity and structural support. They are so interesting, aint they?

I'm not going to write all the notes, but I will attach here a video that Ive watched about Fungi.

so, here are the extra information that I obtained from the lecture :)

• The disease that caused by fungi is called "Mycosis"
• Spore that produced by the fungi can be transmitted into the air. as we inhale,  our lung will be infected by this spore.
• The most studied enzymme is B-glucan.
• Tuberculosis is caused by the fungi-bacteria called "Mycobacterium tuberculosis"
• Fungi reproduce asexually by budding. fragmentation and sporulation
• There are five dividon in fungi. They are : Zygomycota, ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Deuteromycota.
• Antifungal agent can produced from fungi or bacteria
• Deuteromycota is the type of fungi that are lack of sexual reproduction.
• The treatment that used fungi to treat pollution is called Mycoremediation

Thursday, 14th May 2015

Today is our replacement class held at DKU at 4pm-6pm. I really dont like when we have our replacement class at evening. but, we've got no time anymore, right. dr. Wan entered the hall with her cherishness. Once she spoke up using the mike, we cant see her face. So,  she need to step on a stage. Dr. Wan is so cutee. (^.^)

So, the group who did not present their subtopic yet presented their part. They were Protozoa and we end it with Virus.

As, I mentioned before that i didnt like when the lecture is in the evening, so, I was spaced out going to elsewhere. What Ive just chotted down are :

• phagocytosis is the process where phagocyte engulf pathogen.
• pinocytosis is the process where phagocyte engulf the droplet of liqiud.

Hahaha. Im sorry Dr. Wan. I will look on the lecture notes once again, okay ?

That's all !

Journal Reflection [ WEEK 10 ]

I know I'm kinda a little bit late to post (actually very late.. hehe XD)  my journal reflection. I'm so sorry Dr. Wan. So, here Iam. Im gonna spam my post on previous lecture with Dr. Wan.


Tuesday 5th May 2015

okaaay, we learnt about Archaea after Dr. Wan finished her lecture on microbial group.

So, Choy's group presented on Archaea. They compiled up the archaea characteristics, classification, and unique feature of archaea. if we talked about Archea, what comes to my mind from the previous semester about archaea is archaea is procaryote organism wich have a special ability to survive in extreme conditions such as extreme high temperature(extremophiles), extreme low temperature (phsycrophiles), extreme high salt concentration (halophiles),  and etc..

so, different archaea have different shape and size depending on the condition they live in. but, most of them are in irregular shape as this help them to make a rapid adaptation to the surrounding. Archaea can be classified into

• based on phylogenetic classification. 2 phylum : Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota
• recent 16S rRNA : Thaumarchaeota (Mesophile crenarchaeota)

anddd... after that , Dr. Wan asked us to be in group. she assigned each group archaea extreme condition and asked us to present all our finding in front the class. so, my group were asked to search about methanogen. So, we did search about this type of archaea in the journal and highlighted the contents. when it comes to present in front, our group got difficulty because none of us didnt want go in front. hehe. its not we afraid but we didnt understand deeply bout this. hurmmm. at the end, Aina and Raidah went in front. when they about to present, Dr. said that we misunderstood her question. the correct is, "how methanogen can survive in thio-environment." As the time comes to 12 noon, Dr. asked us to present in the next class.

~phew

Friday, 8th May 2015

We only did "Quiz on Procaryote" today! for me, its quite " krik krik" because most of my friends went for Baksis. but dr. Wan said "Life must go on" ehhehe, so the 2hours lecture is just for the qUIZ.

I THINK THATS ALL FROM ME! 

Journal Reflection [ Week 8 ] : Introduction to Microbial Systematic

Assalamualaikum and good evening I bid to all of you!

In this post I'm gonna talk about a new chapter that we have learnt with Dr. Wan which is the Introduction to Microbial Systematic. Life on earth can be classified into 5 kingdom. This include Monera, Protists, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.

Whittaker's Five kingdom

Before that, we need to know what is the systematic microbiology first. Systematic microbiology is the study the diversity of microorganisms and their relationship.

Do anyone think what is the purpose of learning all of this? lemme tell you.

1) This is because as the microbiologist we should be able to differentiate the microbe wether they are culturable or not.

2) To know the special growth factor

3) To understand the unique feature in each organisms.

In the kingdom of monera whic is the procaryote, we can divided them into four categories based bacterial cell wall.
1) Gram -ve bacteria and cell walls
2) Gram +ve bacteria and cell wall
3) Wall-less bacteria
4) Arcaebacteria


Next, we also learnt about the bacteria. For your information, bacteria is the group of monera/ procaryote. As I mentioned above, they can be divided into four categories. Each categories hold different feature. For example, gram +ve bacteria have thick peptidoglycan while gram -ve have B-lactamase and porin. The wall-less bacteria is able to become pliable which mean they can be in any shape. Mycoplasma is in this group.  


p/s :  The extra information that I gained in the class :
1) Beta-lactamase is the enzymme than can  provide resistance to B-Lactam bacteria such as penicillin,  cephamycins, and carbapenems. This enzymme can be found in the porin in GRAM -VE BACTERIA ONLY.


We also did a grouping activity which is the mind map. So, the website that we used was POPPLET.COM ! YOU  CAN CLICK HERE 
Dr. wan is the one who suggested to us as it can form connection between many people in one mind map. COOL, RIGHT?

My muddiest point : I SHOULD ALWAYS REVISED WHAT IVE LEARNED AND SO FAR I GOT NO PROBLEM IN THE LECTURE. :)

Thats all from me!

A Visit to Portuguese Village, Melaka

Happy Sunday fellas.

(I will conduct today's post in malay, okay as it is easier for me to translate the feeling)


Oraitt, rasa a lil bit different sebab post sebelum ni conducted in english, kan? Afterall, I'm still malay and preffered  more to speak/write in mother tongue. But, I also can speak/write in english. 
Bezanya harini malas nak fikir ayat, tak pe kan? hihi



Okay, aku dengan gang aku ( Fatin, Raidah, Aina dengan Sarah ) bertolak ke Melaka kira kira pukul 1.15 tengahari dan sampai  Melaka pada kira kira pukul 3.00 petang. Ni sebab abang Sarah merangkap driver kami pecut 110 km/h walaupun kereta banyak tau. Sampai ke destinasi kami iaitu, Perkampungan Portugis pukul 4. Kenapa kiteorang sampai lambat sangat? pada hal, tempat ni cuma 5km dari Bandar hilir, Melaka. hah....  Disebabkan kiteorang  tengok waze. Nak kata tak reti tengok waze, tu idok lerr, cumanya kadang kadang tersalah jalan. Lepastu kena U-turn jauuuuuhh gilaaa.

Sampai-sampai sana je, kami masuk tempat dia. Kenapa tak nampak museum pun. Yang ada cuma bar-bar (macam tiger, Carlsberg and etc..). Tipu lah tak terdetik rasa takut kan? Jalan punya Jalan, terjumpa uncle ( Portugis+Chinese) tengah duduk dekat dalam restoren tanya kami nak pergi mana. Aku suruh Sarah cakap, sebab aku takut walaupun uncle ni nampak ramah jerr. hehe

Mula-mula uncle ni macam marah kiteorang sebab datang lambat, dia dah nak tutup museum tu baru kiteorang datang. tapi kiteorang bagi alasan tadi sesat. tak ngeti nak tengok waze. maap leerrr Uncle.

lepastu, uncle tu bawa kami masuk ke museum. Museum ni macam dah berkurun lama gila. Rasa berhabuk tapi penuh lah dengan tinggalan Sejarah. Banyak gambar lama, artifak, duit zaman dahulu dan banyak lagi. Normal lah jumpa benda-benda ni kat museum kan? Tapi apa yang paling fascinated  ialah, ada pakaian orang portugis yang boleh kita cuba. Aku gunakan kuasa veto, suruh Aina dan Raidah yang pakai. Sebab.. aku tengok tu memang size diorang . hehe

Comelkan Aina and Raidah dengan pakcik Portugis

Uncle tu ceritakan everything pasal Portugis macam mana kehidupan mereka termasuk lah dari segi agama diorang ( Roman Katolik ), Perkahwinan, Perayaan yang mereka sambut semuanya lah dengan gigihnyaa. Kiteorang pun mengangguk je lahh bila uncle terangkan dengan panjang lebar sambil tersengih.

Kampung ni memang terletak di tepi laut. Menurut uncle tu, 85% of the villagers are fisherman pada suatu masa dahulu. sekarang dah tak banyak nelayan dah. Semua dah kerja dasyat-dahsyat dah. Peredaran masa lah katakan. they're the fifth generation, he said.

Pemandangan laut di kampung ni.

aku pun tak melepaskan peluang buat aksi melompat, konon-kononya hipsturr gitu

shelpieee

So, alang alang dah sampai melaka kami pun tak melepaskan peluang ke pantai Klebang, salah satu destinasi yang menjadi port-port histurr ambik gambar. Perjalanan dari kampung ni ke Klebang lebih kurang 30 minit. Tu pun sebab jammed. Kalau pecut 110 km/h 15 minit sampai lah sebab jalan dia straight je. so.. hasil photoshoot kami..., hehe

wajib  post acah-acah candid jalan dekat pantai

aksi jumping pun wajib jugak

Fatin dah pandai dah buat muka. The rest dekat belakang nak nyanyi lagu Negaraku

Thats all from me. Thank you for reading.

Adios Amigos!