Political Science

I have been planning on writing this post for quite awhile now, but I have been very busy. Now that I am all moved in, and I leave on a plane tomorrow, I have a little bit of "me" time. Sit back, relax, cliché, cliché, etc.

Something I never realized I would have to deal with is politics. Personally, I'm not a fan. Everyone with a pulse seems to have their own opinions and "expertise" and I have never been largely interested in joining them. I am extremely opinionated, don't get me wrong, but politics have never interested me, and I can't say that I completely understand them.

So, understanding this, you have to realize my surprise when I found out just how much politics has shaped science! Have you ever wondered why we do the research we do? I once thought that any research I did would be for the common good, because I really wanted to do good for the world. Despite that the work I do is good and can help a lot of people, research requires funding and to be funded, you have to do work that someone wants you to do. So say there is a corn surplus in America; farmers are, for lack of a better word, financially strapped, we have more corn than we can eat or sell, so what do we do with it? We learn how to manipulate corn into something new such as E85.

The problem is, politics seem to be invading more than our research topics. Working in a building full of scientists, I obviously know my place. I am an undergrad, a freshman even, who could be categorized as a nobody in the scientific food chain (although my coworkers appreciate me much more than that). Even now, I realize that even though I have the freedom to say and think what I want, if I do not watch what I say, I may pay for it later. My coworkers and I, along with everyone else, have experienced the way politics shape our work environment. Saying or doing something without thinking is not an option because so many people feel that they are highly entitled to something, and it isn't just my work place. I am so proud to be working in my lab, where everyone supports each other and their goals, and everyone collaborates peacefully. THIS is what teamwork and progress look like! But, if we think larger, perhaps the building, or the university, or even the world, are we all working towards the same goals? Despite the fact that we have different areas of research and that we work on different, sometimes opposing sides of research projects, are we evaluating our actions only for our own agendas, or the one that really matters?

It is time to put aside entitlement, pride, and money, and realize the truth in our work: our job is to innovate, imagine, and create a better world to live in. THAT is all. It does not matter if someone is annoying, or opinionated, or has different ideas. We need to see past it all, and work towards common goals, or the world is never going to get better. So let me ask you all, even the non-scientists, why is politics so important? Does it matter what side we're on? Why can't we just work to help each other?

To PhD or not to PhD, THAT is the question.

I had a very interesting conversation with two of my coworkers the other day. Both of them have PhD's (in different things) but they both work with me at the university. So what else would be better to discuss than the relevance of PhD's in the scientific field?

Well, I received a very unusual wake up from Reality, which inevitably shows up but still sneaks up on us. In agriculturally based sciences, in this day and age, the PhD has become almost irrelevant. No, I don't mean that you shouldn't become super focused and knowledgeable about your field; however, it might be a better choice to stick with a bachelor's or master's degree.

But, if I get a PhD, I'll make more money. No, you won't.

Here's the issue: companies are more willing to hire a person with their MS in certain fields rather than PhD's for the following reasons, to name a couple:

• MS's will do the same job for way less money. Seriously, they might work for around $60,000 a year, comfortably, but PhD's are on a completely different pay scale, often starting at $100,00.
• MS's aren't completely specialized, so a company can have a hand at training and shaping them.

Due to this unfair circumstance of fresh PhD's, you have a couple of options:

1. Get your Master's. Seriously, so you can start getting money right away (probably a good decision if you are in debt from grad school). You can always get your PhD later after saving money, getting great experience, and networking. Plus, Master's Degree credits transfer to your PhD, so it will take less time to complete.
2. Get your PhD and do post-doc work for the next 5-10 years.
3. Be like me and dream of being a genetic engineer, which would allow you to get a PhD and a high likelihood of getting hired soon after. (This field, as well as bioinformatics, are growing and in high demand of PhD's. So get ready for the big leagues!)

Unfortunately, like many other fields, there are major cutbacks being suffered all around science. You have made it so far as to decide that you have this passion, so be smart, save money, and follow your dreams. You don't have to deal with a PhD in Genetic Engineering just to make money, start with a MS in the field you like, and you can always gain pay grades later.

Working in a Science-like Fashion

Tonight I would really like to talk about something that I feel is very ambiguous. First of all, it is no secret that in science, we women are greatly outnumbered. I think this article and many others do a fine job of explaining, with statistical evidence, how vastly numbers decrease in the appearance of women in scientific fields as training increases. There are many articles out there, and I implore you to go and find some, because they are truly wonderful and delightfully thorough. However, this is not one of those articles.

No, I am not here this fine evening to discuss my frustration over the completely mind-blowing, heart-breaking deficit of females in science fields. Instead, I would like to talk about a matter that concerns those of us who are already in scientific fields. And that is no other topic than: *duh duh duh duh!* Laboratory fashion! *applause* Don't worry, I will try to not exaggerate the situation at hand, but the expectations of female scientists are very different than that of other fields, and we need to talk about it!

Obviously when you think about what you would wear to a job, or maybe a job interview, very specific fashion choices come to mind. Something trendy, sophisticated, that makes you look like you already have the job you want, right? Well let me tell you something, lady. I don't think I completely agree anymore. I mean, let's be realistic, as much as I'd love to be sweatpants comfy in the lab, we all know that's never going to happen, nor should it. It is my job, and I love it, so I will respect it and dress appropriately. Beyond that, depending on the safety level of your lab, you will most likely need to cover up regardless.

Typically, I wear pants, tennis shoes, and a t shirt. Why am I not the gorgeous, office professional scientist you would like to imagine? Well, it isn't practical. I work everyday, sanitizing everything I work with with ethanol and bleach. Do you think I want bleach to reach my fabulous professional attire? Heck, no! And I never will. So generally, it doesn't matter to me what I wear every day as long as it is appropriate (doesn't show large amounts of skin, is safe to wear in the lab, and doesn't get in the way of my important work).

On the other hand, I do genetic analysis. It isn't like I'm constantly presenting information to global communities in science! This stuff is appropriate inside of the lab, but what about when you finally leave and have to do professional work? Are we held to the same standard as other professionals?

I really enjoy this blog post about professional wear for female scientists. It's a little crude, but I feel that it includes great general guidelines from someone with plenty of experience about this topic.
Here are my feelings about professional wear for female scientists:

• You do not need to be completely uncomfortable, so put the stilettos down.
• Not everyone in the world deserves to see all of you, so don't be afraid to cover up. You decide who gets to see what. Please choose to show us your mind rather than your body.
• You are one of the few, marvelous women in science. Don't be afraid to be a woman. You got to this point in your life without being a man, so you don't need to be one now. You can most definitely be feminine while being the genius you obviously are!
• Be yourself. Wear what makes you comfortable and confident. You are the vector that delivers the knowledge you hold. In order to be competent, you must be treated with the proper outfit.

So, to my fellow lady scientists: Keep Calm, and Science on!

The Matters of Our Time

This post will not be about plant science, unfortunately, but rather, a severely needed lesson about basic science. The funny thing is, the more I think about today's topic, the more I wonder about its "basic" characteristic, because it is an entirely different way of seeing the world that many people just don't use.

Look around you. Everything you see, smell, taste, touch, etc, and everything you cannot see, smell, touch, etc are made up of atoms. Atoms are the smallest unit of matter (there are smaller units that make up atoms, but for all intents and purposes we can just be concerned with atoms for now). At the core of atoms are a dense package of protons and neutrons, and in shells buzzing about the core are electrons. The number of protons determines the type of atom: one proton in Hydrogen, six protons in carbon. Typically the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, but sometimes atoms lose or gain electrons to other atoms, creating a positively charged cation or a negatively charged anion respectively. The entire periodic table is set up this way, in increasing amounts of protons as well as other characteristics (think of how the Actinides and Lanthanides are separated, or ionization energy). Okay, so everything around us is made up of atoms, and these atoms are elements found on the periodic table. Well then, these elements form compounds that function every day. You breath in O2 and exhale CO2. Most of our bodies consist of H2O, but we still need to drink it to stay healthy.

These chemical compounds exist everywhere you go. You cannot live in avoidance of chemicals, because you are made of them. With the exception of radioactive chemicals that cannot be found in nature, the chemicals made in laboratories are no different than the ones you encounter every day. Lab produced NaCl is just like the salt that people mine. NaF is in your toothpaste and in our water to keep our teeth healthy. Your body is truly amazing, because when it is healthy, it can do chemical regulations all on its own. Your conscious brain doesn't have to worry about whether you can handle all that alcohol (even though it should), because your liver will work on it, and get back to you later. If you've never seen a decomposition reaction similar to what happens in our bodies when we digest food, you would be surprised to find out how violent it seems. That doesn't mean it is dangerous for our bodies to eat food!

So when it comes to the assumed danger of vaccines, all I can say about the chemicals you fear is learn more about how they are acting inside of the vaccine. Mercury is a dangerous element, but in this chemical compound, it is not. There is a large difference between elements and molecular compounds. Consider that Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making up about 75% of it. We have hydrogen bombs, hydrogen bonds in DNA, and water! These are three very different functions for one element! Of course, the element is utilized in different ways. In that same sense, nearly all of the elements could be dangerous or safe in different situations. It just depends on how it is being used. I mean, if I'm walking down the street and I trip, and suddenly a man with a knife appears, he could rob me, or he could cut me out of the thing that made me fall. Everything is about perspective, wouldn't you say?

You need to realize the scientific foundations of life to see the things you normally wouldn't. Physics: everything is falling and changing around us, and physics explains nearly all of it! Chemistry: I hope this little lesson showed how chemistry is everywhere around us in life! Biology: some of the more abstract lessons in science are given by the many branches of this field, including the intricacies of psychology down to our incredible circulatory system. You want to know the best part? These three sciences connect to explain all of the beauty and unusual things around us! A strong foundation in these sciences will allow you to see things for what they are.

Asthma, Allergies, and Money

Today has been such an exciting day, and since I've been home I have only had exciting days. What with getting my new laptop and buying dorm supplies...oh yeah, and then there's today.

I was very excited to go back to work. I got there at 8:30 am but no one answered, and I had to wait only fifteen minutes to be let in by a coworker. See, in a quarantine lab, and many other labs, the door is locked and you need a key. Otherwise, there's a doorbell. Which my coworker could not hear because she was in tissue culture. While I was waiting, I received a text from my father, telling me that I had an appointment to see the allergist of Las Cruces, Dr. Rupp. My appointment was scheduled for October, but my dad relentlessly called that office every day until there was a cancellation to confirm and get treatment for my asthma and food allergies.

Then, I received a call about twenty minutes later from the MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement, one of the multiple science clubs I lead in high school) head at NMSU. She told me she was making sure I qualified for the scholarship based on points I earned over three years. I was missing an event to qualify and she told me that if I wrote a letter promoting the club to an elected official, I would qualify for a total of nearly five hundred dollars in financial aid. That's right, I am going to receive money I didn't expect from being in science clubs. Word to the future wise, high school students need to join extracurricular activities for more than just fun and becoming well rounded!

Unfortunately, I did not get to work too long today, but tomorrow I get to see the results of the genetic sequencing I did on my last day. My coworker told me it turned out beautifully, so I am very excited.

Now, for the main event, some astonishing news about asthma and allergies.

First of all, I would like to begin by promoting Dr. Rupp. He is the most competent and caring doctor I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He is also a scientist, and we spoke about many aspects of our shared interests in science during our visit, as it pertained to my condition. He was very impressed with my well versed knowledge of his field, and I know he wishes more patients would be so easily understanding about allergies and asthma. He recommends the following websites to help you understand your condition, so please check them out before you go for a visit so you won't feel like you are drowning in all of his biochemical jargon.

This one is my favorite
But this is good too
And if you're having trouble coping with food allergies, I highly recommend this book about having food allergies. It is really funny and I first read it because it was part of a medical reading competition I was in (and won), but it was around the time my allergies were getting out of control, and it really helped put things in perspective. It is an easy read, and it is very informative and easy to relate to.

Yes, I learned quite a bit from my new pal, Dr. Rupp. We did a little physical examination before proceeding to anything for my allergies. We checked my height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, breath rate, breath sounds, and heart sounds. Normal stuff. But then we got to my least favorite part of every examination. If you've ever done it, you'll know what I'm talking about. There is a test for asthma where you take a deep breath and blow out really hard and fast and just when you think you can no longer blow, you have to keep blowing and at the end you inhale sharply. Yeah, that one; everyone's favorite (am I right?). Well, their equipment is a good deal better than that which I've been tested with before, and obviously their ability to do the test would be better than a school nurse. You are tested against people just like you (gender, age, etc). Well guess what world? The girl who has tested with lowered lung capacity for five years just found out that she doesn't have asthma!

Whoa, what the heck?

I know, I know, I was shocked too. I tested 100% each test I took (you take three every time, to be sure). Some even showed more than 100% breathing ability. So why have I tested positive for asthma all these years? I'm not really sure. More than likely it was due to poor quality testing instruments, or a nurse with a lacking in the experience department. But there you have it, I don't have asthma.

So wait, why do you have so much trouble breathing?

That's a marvelous question! I was surprised to learn that my vulnerability to all of my allergy triggers was not caused by asthma. In fact, my nose is about 90% swollen shut. There is something in your nasal cavity called turbinates, which warm cold air before it gets to your lungs. Mine are so swollen, I have a very weak ability to breath through my nose. This is only worsened by allergies and different conditions, which is why it seemed that I had exercise induced asthma. No one bothered to question the presence of allergies in me, so no one ever suspected that I might not have asthma. Due to this issue, I have had one emergency room visit ($400+), several inhalers (inexpensive), and five years of crappy breathing and decreased athletic potential. The cost of not knowing this for years is much greater than the $30 co-pay to see Dr. Rupp on my insurance plan. Now, I will begin using Nasocourt (now over the counter) every day. In about a month (est), I will begin noticing a large difference in my ability to breath through my nose. Who knows, maybe I'll take up running. I never got into it because I couldn't breathe, but maybe now I'll get a chance to enjoy more of life.
Tomorrow I will be going to get blood drawn for a RAST test (look it up, I gave you links!) for soy, banana, mango, pineapple, kiwi, and a vitamin D deficiency (more on that another time). I will share with you as soon as possible.

So take note, young people of the internet! If you suspect you have asthma or allergies, see a specialist! It is much less expensive than an ER visit, or not doing things you could have done under the correct treatment plan! You are not a doctor, you can't possibly know what to do until you get help! Thank you for reading!

The Food Allergy War

Hello and good day to you marvelous readers. I hope you are having lovely summer vacations, because I am not. No, my life has been forever challenged and changed by my food allergies, so my life has become severely complicated, not unlike many others all around the world.

But Jordan, why not just not eat soy or bananas?

Gosh, fine netizen, I wish it were so easy to avoid the things that could kill me, but it's not.

In fact, I would like to discuss today the dangers of food that exists literally everywhere, not just in America. It will help broaden your current knowledge of both food allergies, GMO products, and the food industry as a whole.

Just the other day, I had my wonderful graduation party in Kenosha, Wisconsin, my hometown. Unfortunately, a guest got a little inebriated and could not quite hold a conversation at the level I believe she would normally be capable of. She complained about her kids' food allergies and blamed the fact that her kids couldn't eat bread from a store the way they could eat bread she made at home with organic flour. Well, I don't believe she could understand my argument, but my points still remain true. Sometimes, we have to step back and look at different potential sources of problems rather than just blame someone that many people enjoy picking on.

Well duh, I thought, of course the bread you made from scratch was safe! She made it!

Her kids have a soy allergy, just like me, among others. I told her a little secret. If she had made the bread from scratch with normal, non-organically branded bread flour, her kids still would have been safe. The secret does not lie in the wheat, dear Watson, but the manufacturers of the bread! She told me that she is super careful about reading labels on what her kids eat, but she never asked about any of the food at the party, and in fact gave her kids s'mores later with Hershey's chocolate as well as other store bought things! She didn't even glance at them!

I have a pretty sensitive soy allergy, myself, so I had special s'mores supplies, which I will be using very soon again, as we are about to have a bonfire momentarily. Even though nearly everything at my party was soy-free, as per my demands, her kids suffer from other allergies, but she just gave them whatever they wanted. And people, that is NO way to treat food allergies.

So let's talk about why avoidance is so hard in this day and age.
I, for one, blame product labeling.

I mean, is it SO HARD to put real ingredient names on packaging? I would like to know why a loaf of bread has to have nearly forty ingredients, when it can be made, very easily I might add, with just a few when I make it. I understand the need to preserve things, but the complexity of food levels never stops amazing me. For example, here are a list of ingredients:

• Edamame
• Kinnoko flour
• Miso
• Okara
• Yuba
• MSG
• Tamari

You know what they have in common? They are all different words for SOY. And that's not all. You can search it yourself, but here is a site that might help you learn more. At the bottom, it talks about how soy oil and vegetable oil can be safe for most allergic patients. Well, what do you mean, most? Aren't they all the same?

Well, no. I actually do have a sensitivity to soybean oil and any vegetable oil containing it. Soy flour, soy milk, soy sauce...all potential killers. But if you are a parent and your kid has an allergy, it is SO important to know all the different names, or your child could wind up in a hospital, or worse, dead. I remember the day I finally realized I could no longer stand to eat bananas. I was sitting in my calculus class, hungry, so I decided to have a banana. Pretty soon I felt a familiar itch in my mouth, and immediately took a benedryl. However, my throat quickly swelled and I could not breath. I wrote a note to my teacher, which he signed, and I went to the nurse. She gave me a hot compress to relax my chest, because she was unable to give me any medicine and had to wait for it to pass. Eventually the swelling went down, and I was okay. To this day though, I can't eat it and it makes me sad. Even worse, no one knew what had happened to me until I returned and told them. No one could tell that I was slowly, potentially dying, right in the midst of class. It was actually really scary, but I knew I had to be more careful about what I was eating. I had had bananas before, but they only made my mouth itch, not caused my throat to collapse and my chest to have dull, aching pains.

Anyways, I know for a fact that this is not just a problem here, in the United States. My friend Kate, from the Czech Republic often gave me candy from her country. Candy that was also similar to some from Mexico, that my friend Val gave me. Each, in their own language, saying soy in the label, but not mentioning that in an extra line titled Allergy Information: that labels are supposed to have. And this is because not all products are regulated by the FDA, so they do not have to clearly state that they contain soy, and others are allowed to have a certain standard amount before it has to be on the label, for general safety reasons.

If you didn't already read my other post about GM plants, please refer to it immediately to understand why you can't just blame them for all of your problems when the real dangers lie in the negligence of the food industry. But please, don't just take my word for it. Some quick research will soon show you these same things. All the information is out there, all you need do is look for it.

Beauty: in the Eye of the Beholder?

While everyone is raving over the 2014 World Cup, and they physically gifted Jeremy Meeks, I feel inspired to talk about...beauty. I didn't really feel like talking about the physics of soccer, so I decided to give my spiel on genetics and beauty.

To begin, you need to understand a few basic concepts. You may recall learning about Punnett Square in biology. Remember, you crossed Xx and XX to figure out what offspring would be like. Unfortunately, not all genes work quite like this. Don't get me wrong, the Punnett Square is very useful in teaching the principles of random assortment. However, many phenotypes are generated using multiple genes at different loci. A wonderful example is seen in blue eye coloring. Just about everyone who has taken biology knows that blue eye coloring is a mutation, and it is recessive, meaning that in the presence of, say, brown eye color alleles, it would not be expressed. Theoretically, in a blue eyed person had a baby with a non-blue eyed person, that baby would most likely not have blue eyes. However, if the non-blue eyed person had an unexpressed blue color allele, they have a 50% chance of producing a blue eyed child. This does not take into account the presence of multiple genes controlling one phenotype. With so many eye colors, skin colors, hair types, and other bodily features, you have to wonder just how many different genes colors just one trait.

Even more mind blowing is the fact that most genes are over 500 base pairs long. In fact, the average human gene length is 10-15 kbp. That's kilo base pairs. That means the average gene length in people is 10,000-15,000 base pairs. Remember that one base pair is one bond between the adenines and thymines or guanines and cytosines. Consider that the recent estimate of genes in the human genome is 20,000-25,000. You now have millions of genes. A seemingly infinite amount of base pairs. And how many of those code for your eye color? Your liver functions? One change in those base pairs could make a vast change in any organism. Or it might not at all, because like many machines today, genomes account for mistakes down the line. So if a gene were interrupted, it might not make any difference because another gene could make up for the loss.

So what does this have to do with beauty?

Consider, if you will, that we possess this DNA copy in nearly every one of the cells in our body. Different studies say different things. Some suggest that we are attracted to those whose DNA, or perhaps just their immune system coding, is different from ours to produce the most resilient offspring. I know I definitely look for that in a mate, don't you? (insert corny laughter) However, a new study suggests that we look for people just like us. I know my boyfriend shares very little with me other than our interests. Perhaps in some areas of science, no general norm can be found. Should we stop trying to create an average person? If every study is saying different things about human behavior, how can we define what should be happening?

Maybe beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Motorcycle Lessons from a Scientist...and other stuff

First, an update:

This post is in honor of Father's Day. I really wanted to post it yesterday, but I was treating my father to a day of love and joy. So, you know, I was a little busy. Also, I hadn't synced my laptop to the wifi at my grandparent's house. I'm not sure I mentioned, but I'm in Wisconsin for awhile, and I might leave a bit early to see my sister and her two boys. You'll get tons of pictures of the cuties if I do!! Also, Walmart here has soy-free peanut butter for incredibly cheap. I bought a jar for $2 last night, and I haven't tried it yet, but I will and when I do, I will let you know if it is as amazing as I'm hoping! Right now, I buy organic stuff for $6-8 and it doesn't spread well at all. This jar promises to spread and taste good. My solider also shipped to Basic Training from processing, so I will be out of contact with him for quite awhile.

And now, the good stuff.

This is my Dad. It's kind of an older picture, but he looks exactly the same. He has somehow managed to not age physically; however, he's become rather crotchety and bitter. He is a truck driver and a biker. He is a father and a husband who just turned 50. His life isn't perfect, but I think it is happy. I know I may speak for my family when I say we love him to the ends of this Earth.

So, my dad is a biker, how about yours? First of all, a biker is not a thug dressed in leather, covered in tattoos. A biker is a person who enjoys riding motorcycles and favors the little culture of them. There is this community for bikers. They go to rallies and do fund raisers...it's as active as any other group! So just to get this straight, being a biker does not mean being a certain way. The only requirement is the love of the ride.

The other day while we were on our road trip, we saw a guy on a motorcycle, wearing jeans that rode up, cruddy tennis shoes, a t shirt, and that's about it. My dad's first reaction was, Wow, that guy is gay. No, my politically incorrect father did not actually mean this guy was a homosexual. What he really meant was, That guy is an idiot and he could get really hurt or die for not dressing the correct way. So in honor of my dad and his lifetime of safe driving (seriously, he has NEVER caused a car accident) I am going to talk about motorcycle safety.

1. Leather. The reason why so many bikers wear leather isn't because it looks cool. It keeps you warm, which is super important because even on a warm day, the wind you generate from driving will freeze you. Also, if you do wipe out on the road, leather will protect your skin from being violently ripped from your body. So you probably don't want to wear shorts and flip flops.
2. Helmet. There are two types of helmet, a full face and just a cap. My helmet covers my entire head, even the sides, but doesn't have a face shield. Some caps fit snugly to just the top of your head. When you wear a helmet, make sure you secure the straps as tightly as you comfortably can. Yes, you will get helmet hair. But helmet hair sure is prettier than your brains on the sidewalk. If your shield isn't a certain height in certain states, you have to wear sunglasses if you don't have a face shield on your helmet. Generally, my dad recommends wearing sunglasses no matter what, and many places require them regardless of shield size. Check your state's rule before choosing to leave them at home. Remember, all minors HAVE to wear helmets as far as I know.
3. Special gear. Speaking of sun protection, bikers often wear bandannas. Again, not just because they look cool. Unlike in a car, you have absolutely no protection from the sun! Bandannas are a good start if you are not wearing a helmet. Sunscreen is also a good idea, because UV rays can and will cause melanomas. Those aren't very fun. Skin cancer is no joke, everyone. You can also get rain gear, which is clothing for motorcyclists which will protect you in harsh conditions. As I said earlier, leather chaps and jacket are a good idea for keeping warm. If you like, you can also purchase special riding boots for motorcycle riding to keep your feet cool and comfortable. Make sure they are the correct size. On a trip to Alpine, AZ on the Devil's Highway, my mother made me wear hers and they were a size too small. That trip was made unbearable thanks to this mistake. Comfortable shoes are better than specialty ones that make you miserable.
4. Beware. Things that you normally wouldn't care about in a car are extreme hazards on a motorcycle. Lightning, hail, rain, sunlight, bugs-they hurt so incredibly much more than you would have expected. Wind is also something to consider if you are steering the bike. It's a lot harder to drive a motorcycle in the elements, so make sure you are well trained and take a motorcycle safety class.

That is all, so I hope you enjoyed my little safety tips. Stay safe on the roads everybody! Do not drink and drive! Have a beautiful, relaxing, totally joyful day.

Amazing Tip(s) for Future College Go-ers

It is only 7:19 am in beautiful, sunny Las Cruces, New Mexico, and today I will be leaving to go to my cooler, incredibly humid hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin. I told a coworker yesterday about where I was going for two weeks, and he was confused. When I told him I was from there he said, Oh yeah, it seems like you could be from there. I'm just going to take that as a compliment, because it is my favorite place in the world. I also love Las Cruces, as you can tell from my other, now ended, blog about it: The Land of Three Crosses. I was thinking about doing another short series blog about Wisconsin, but two weeks isn't enough when I have a graduation party to do as well as reconnecting with people I haven't seen in a year.

So, onward little soldiers to the amazing, incredible, completely phenomenal advice I'm about to give you. The only catch is that it mostly pertains to those of you wanting to be a scientist or a doctor (since science majors are common there) but I'm sure this is also something you may want to think about regardless of your future major.

So here's the thing-your high school probably offers a plethora of AP classes, right? Right. I, myself, have taken a large amount of these, sometimes horrifically stressful, year-long classes designed to prepare you for college. And it's true, they certainly do prepare you. I guarantee that if you take these classes and it is challenging, you will learn to work eight times harder than you normally would. Mostly the classes are full of the "smart kids" and we are used to procrastinating and slacking off because we could. In some classes, you simply cannot do that anymore. But we did try.

Sounds like AP classes are a dream come true for young, bright future college students, right? Maybe. The thing is, many colleges will not want to accept AP credits for special circumstances. If your major is Biology and you take AP Biology and Pass the test, you may want to still take the beginning level of Biology at your college. There's a possibility that you will cover material you haven't before and you will definitely cover it in more depth at the college level. Plus, there are these beautiful classes called labs that you take with science classes and, trust me, you would rather take entry levels to learn about what to expect there. Labs often require tedious, multiple page packets due at the end of lab, and you have to work with a, sometimes less quality, group. Skipping your first class would be like diving into the deep end of a pool without learning to swim, and all you know how to do is float there. Yikes.

For future Medical students, many medical schools do not accept AP credits for science classes. I'm sorry, I don't make the rules. When I thought I would go into medicine instead of plants, I centered my college plan around taking the MCAT. You might want to do the same. You will take it your junior year of college, second semester most likely. Make sure you have the classes you need to help you study and pass that test during that year. I highly recommend taking physics that year, because chemistry and biology are a lot more likely to stay fresh with you. At least, I hope so. If physics is your thing, you might consider changing your major.

Oh yes, you can change your mind in college. One of my coworkers just transferred to Agricultural Biology from Sociology or something. Kind of a weirder one, but you get the point. You should also note that Medical Schools do not strictly want one major or another, but they do have class requirements. Look up some Med schools you like and check out their requirements. If you are serious about going, you need to start making a plan because it will make your life a lot easier. You need internships, recommendation letters, volunteer work...Basically it's like trying to get into college again, but a lot harder. Unless of course you're currently going to an Ivy League school, kudos to you young achiever. Also, why are you reading this? Just kidding, stay and have some fun.

Lastly, understand that the college process is more than one of strictly educational matters. You're going to want to try other things. Do not overdo it at any point in time, but especially not the beginning or end of your college career. It can be hard when you don't know what you like to do, but try to find a couple things and stick to them. If you want community service, join a group so they can help you reach your goals. If you want to stay fit, there are tons of fitness activities, but beware that over indulgence of exercise isn't good for you either. Do not let yourself sit around in your dorm room. Don't stress about the fictitious "freshman 15" because it isn't real and who cares if you gain weight anyways? If you live on campus, don't get a car unless you plan on driving to see family every once in a while like my roommate (she lives 3 hours away). They get expensive, and one thing broke college students do not need is more expenses. Go out and make friends! They can help you study, share interests, and be there for you when you really need them. It can be daunting to say goodbye to childhood best friends, but the friendships you make in college might be even better!

I hope this has been informative for you. When I was in high school, no one told me about any of this. The planning thing is something I've done for years, because it made sense to me that if you had a plan, nothing could go wrong that you weren't prepared for. But things change and the reality is that no plan is perfect, no matter how solid you think it is. But it is a beginning and you should really consider no matter what your major is, because it will keep you on track if you follow it. All the rest are things I've learned at the very end of school, and I wish I'd known it sooner.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a super spectacular, extra incredible day!

In the beginning...

Depending on your view point, you will view the title of this post very differently. If you are religious or traditional, you might see the book of Genesis. If you are a scientist, you may think...Big Bang! Whatever your place is, I hope you find this to be a welcoming forum for thought. The topics I will be discussing will range vastly between scientific research, relationships, food (of course!), and so many other things! My wealth of knowledge will not escape you if you choose to read, and I'm hoping yours will not escape me! So please comment at the end of posts, because I would love to know how you feel about what I'm discussing. You cannot have a discussion or debate if you are talking to yourself.**

So let's get things rolling, shall we? How about my favorite topic? Alright, genetically modified foods it is!
If you haven't read the paragraph under my lab selfie yet, then you probably aren't aware that I work as a researcher at New Mexico State University-in plant pathology. Even though my degree will be in genetics, I do work predominantly in plant genetics. Why? Because I love plants, and I always have. Besides, there is nothing more satisfying than helping others by following your dreams, am I right? So Jordan, that's really lovely, but what does it have to do with GMOs? Well I will tell you, curious stranger. I am letting you know that this article is coming from the perspective of someone who creates and works with genetically modified crops! No, I don't work for Monsanto, though we can talk about them later. I am a scientist, and I have no goals here other than helping others. I have no agenda, I hate politics, and all I have ever wanted was to learn and understand this glorious place around me.

Time to stop beating around the bush. First of all, let me say that generally GMOs are neither good nor bad. Just like people and books and movies, some could be good and some could be bad. But for the most part, I am inclined to say that GM plants are not bad at all. I actually think they are the future. I have really wonderful reasons, too.

1. We cannot use GM plants that are dangerous. GM plants are heavily regulated, and for good reason. If they had the potential to hurt people, we could not, nor would we want to, put them in the fields.
2. If you didn't know, the typical GM plant has added DNA sequences. You know, extra As, Ts, Cs, Gs? All that good stuff. Funny story, that plant had DNA before we put more into it! And guess what? Your body digested it! And disposed of it, but that's not really my area... So a little extra DNA isn't going to harm you.
3. We improve plants exponentially! GM plants produce more and are more viable than regular ones. 
4. Organic, eh? Your body cannot tell the difference between these plants, and we are wasting tons of money to buy something they believe is really better quality.
5. If you think buying organic foods keeps the GM plants at bay, you couldn't be more wrong. Medicine, clothing, cosmetics, and more all contain GM plants, unless otherwise specified. That's right, you probably have GM cotton on your butt right now.

I believe this information has a lot of potential. You could be saying, I'm still not sure. Or, This person has no idea what they are talking about! Well, you certainly may have your opinion. But in the interest of removing just a little bit more ignorance about genetically modified foods, let me offer one last piece on the matter:

If you read somewhere that GM foods are creating new food allergies, know that this is a lie. Let me offer a scenario to show you why. I have an extreme soy allergy. I also have asthma, so it shuts down my respiratory system if I have a reaction (dependent on reaction). If they take the genetic sequence of soy that I am allergic to and put it into corn, I would then be allergic to that corn, because it has the sequence that I am allergic to. However, this would not happen, because that plant would never enter the fields. There was a case with Brazil Nuts, which many people are fearfully allergic to, where a protein from it was placed into soybean (go figure) in a study which proved this. You can access it here: Brazil Nut Study.

That's it for me today, so I hope you enjoyed this little rant/totally informative piece. Have a wonderful, incredible, full-of-life day.

**If you believe you can, please seek a mental health specialist.