Brianna Davis

Biology, AP & IB Bio teacher at Worthington Kilbourne High School. I 💚 reptiles👩‍🔬 she/her/hers

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Another GREAT day to be doing field studies #itsworthit #apbio #wkhswolves

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

To you, bugs, to us …SCIENCE. #apbio #itsworthit #streamquality #wkhswolves

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Some science nerds at the convocation! #wkhswolves #itsworthit

[Slava Bobrov @slava__bobrov]

How gene transcription works. DNA to RNA

Credit: D. Berry

[Korie Grayson, PhD (she/her) @teamkorie]

Today is RNA Day. It’s August 1 and AUG is the start codon.

[Akos T. Kovacs @EvolvedBiofilm]

Nice Review paper in Microbiology by @natalie_bamford @sciorama and @bacteriacities

Microbial Primer: An introduction to biofilms – what they are, why they form and their impact on built and natural environments

https://t.co/RwqqLqBAF4

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

What’s a class lizard do in the summer you ask? ☀️🕶️🐲 #summerthings #itsworthit #apbio #biology #winniethebeardie

[Veera Rajagopal  @doctorveera]

A mind-blowing paper has come out today in @Nature

In 2016, JC Venter Institute scientists trimmed a bacterial genome to its barest minimum required for life to synthesize what they called a "minimal genome" (https://t.co/Rk8oZJ0bUj).

Today, a group of scientists from Indiana University reports how that minimal genome evolved over 2000 generations in comparison to the non-minimal genome.

The authors found that even when you reduce a bacterial genome to its absolute minimum where every nucleotide matters, the genome undergoes mutational events generation after generation as much as the non-minimal genome. One simply cannot stop the evolution.

Just over 300 days of evolution (equivalent to 40,000 years in humans) the minimal cell has gained everything it lacked in fitness on day one in comparison to the non-minimal cell.

When comparing the evolved traits between the minimal and non-minimal cells, the scientists found something striking. The evolutionary process increased the cell size of non-minimal cells but not that of the minimal cell. But that is not the striking part.

The scientists were able to identify the key mutation that resulted in cell size evolution. And it turned out that the mutation that helped the non-minimal cells to grow bigger is the same that helped the minimal cells to stay smaller. Growing bigger had a survival advantage for non-minimal cells and not growing bigger had a survival advantage for minimal cells. So, the mutation had a context-dependent effect. This just demonstrates that the evolutionary effects on traits have no absolute direction. All that matter is what is beneficial for the organism's survival.

The conclusion of the paper is metaphorically a quote from the Jurassic Park movie:

“Listen, if there’s one thing the history of evolution has taught us is that life will not be contained. Life breaks free. It expands to new territories, and it crashes through barriers painfully, maybe even dangerously, but . . . life finds a way". (https://t.co/UlxRlb86CT)

https://t.co/zA9OAqSoAu

[WKHS IB @IBWKHS]

We are incredibly proud of our 11 IB Diploma Candidates and their newly-awarded 11 IB Diplomas! These students and their commitment and quality make us all smile.

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Learning about development from egg cells, to the genetics of shank feathers and creating graphs of their growth, we have had a fun time in Davis Biology! #itsworthit #biology

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Happy Worthington Wednesday from this nerdy science crew! #twinning #itsworthit #worthingtonwednesday

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Many chick selfies will be taken this week! But can you blame us?! #science #biology #hatchday #itsworthit 🐣💛

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Happy chicks have hatched in Davis biology. So many fun genetics and cell biology connections being made! #itsworthit 💛🐣

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Chick this out! #biology #itsworthit HATCH DAY! 🐣💛

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Finally got around to photographing our March Mammal Madness champs! #itsworthit if you are learning you are winning! #mmm23 @Mammals_Suck @MMMletsgo

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

We got that glow!!!! pGLO bacterial transformation lab was a resounding success this year, these students did not mess around! #itsworthit #apbio #geneticmodification #biotechnology #pGLO

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Some of our rockstar donors who gave blood today! #itsworthit #clubbiomed @RedCross ❤️🐾

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

Club Biomed hosting the blood drive at WKHS! These kids and the generous donors are saving lives today ❤️🐾 #itsworthit #clubbiomed @Brooke_Carter10

[Trent Bowers @TBowers3]

Worthington Schools will be closed today 1/25/23 due to snow! Enjoy your day. Please be safe! @wcsdistrict #ItsWorthIt #SnowDay

[Brianna Davis @bzbridavis]

IB biology students are in the lab this week and next… doing their individual research projects (IAs). What better way to learn science than to DO IT!? @IBWKHS #ibbio #itsworthit