What this blog is about:
Reviews in the journals are great, but sometimes a short synthesis of the basics is just as good. As scientists, we all know our research inside and out, but a larger perspective on biology as a whole is needed. Diving into unchartered waters helps draws connections about our research that we might not have otherwise seen; this is essential for progress.
Here, I am attempting to blog weekly about a specific area of immunology, briefly summarizing background and then the current state of the research. The point is not to list everything that happens with pathogen A, then B and C, but to generalize what is known and provide some thoughts for future directions. Sometimes, I will talk about only one paper. Ideally, although my main focus is immunology, this blog will also be somewhat interdisciplinary, encompassing such areas as bioinformatics, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and genetics.
As a graduate student pursuing a doctorate in immunology, I’ve started this blog for four reasons revolving around science education and discussion.
1) To provide links and resources from people much smarter than I to people much smarter than I.
The web is full of information, so much so that now computer scientists have to develop data mining tools and strategies in order to make some sense of all this new data. Bioinformatics and computational biology are emerging fields encompassing Web2.0, but have more traditional biologists been able to keep up? I will be posting links to tools and webpages that make research easier
2) As a resource for the dreaded upcoming qualifying exam.
I’m a tactile learner, what can I say? But beyond that, in order to write about a subject clearly, I have to know it inside and out. And, this is more interesting than reading a textbook. I also hope other students will find the information posted here useful.
3) As an educational tool.
Ever read a thick primary paper? How many papers did you have to backtrack before you found out what the authors were actually taking about when they used transgenic XYZ system (validated in paper 1) to extend research (first described in paper 2) on a new T helper subtype ( reviewed in paper 3)? Besides reviews in the top journals, another perspective might be useful.
4) Incite discussion
Science is always a discussion of ideas. That’s where progress is made.
