Post 4: GMO

Hi everybody! Today’s topic is transgenics, or GMO (Genetic Modified Organism). In a few words, transgenics are any organism, like bacteria, fungus or plant, whom have an intervened genome by biotechnology. A classic example: new tomato variety is resistant to all known diseases, but it has a fish gene.

I’ve heard an argument pro-transgenics: we are getting ahead the evolution! But, where are the limits? Will a fish gene naturally incorporate to a tomato? I don’t think so. There are examples less dramatic: crops with higher yields, plants resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. In these cases, biotechnologists used to work within the same family, or specie, to change genome.

Inside the agriculture, transgenic appear like a hunger solution. This idea will be truth, if the world hunger are caused by low yields. In fact, humanity are rising yields with agronomic management, from ancient times. The world hunger will disappear with political and social changes, not genetics. The current food that we are producing, is enough to feeding the whole humanity. Although, in USA the edibles are wasting. In the meantime, child are suffering hunger pangs in Africa.

I’m against trangenics, if you are still doubt. I have another reason: we are giving our genetic heritage to a few enterprises. Imagine our future: people will have to pay royalty by seeds and plants, and these companies will manage what food will produce, where and when will sow. We are creating another mafia. 

Post 3: The best concert ever

Hi, my dear bloggers. Today, I’ll write about the best concert I’ve ever attended. The decision was very difficult to me. Even, I’m still thinking about it, while I writing this.

I had to call one of my BFF, who have been my concert-partner at many events, and she gave me some advices. The criteria includes staging, emotion (once we cried!), known songs, kind people around us and the distance to the artist.

The winner is Babasónicos at Caupolicán Theatre, in december 2011. Caupolicán is two blocks from my house, so was easy to get early.  My friend and I bought field tickets; therefore, we stand close to the stage. First, Javiera Mena and Gepe played, as the supporting artists. We analysed her custom; it was really awful (see Picture 1).

 Picture 1. Javiera Mena and Gepe

Babasónicos is an argentine band compose by five musicians. Adrián Dárgelos is the singer (see Picture 2), and they play progressive rock. Once at the stage, they performed their last album at 2011: “A Propósito”, mixed with their most popular songs, like “Putita”, “Irresponsables”, “Carimático” and many others.

Picture 2. Adrián Dárgelos at concert (Caupolicán Theatre, december 2011)

It was a great experience; even we appeared in a photograph at Terra.cl (see Picture 3, the shirt of my friend is blue striped). The next Saturday, we’ll attend our second Babasónico’s concert. They’ll present their newest album “Romantisísmico”. Now, we recognize ourselves as fans, and we have waited by almost three years! 

Picture 3. My best friend and I, near the stage.

Post 2 : Food and Sustainability

Today, I’m going to review a Youtube video about permaculture: "7 Food Forests in 7 minutes with Geoff Lawton". He explains the food forest evolution, using 7 stages of development over time.

The establishment requires a soil well-conditioned (that’s why he plays with soil through the video), and the most important component for this achievement is organic matter. On the next stage, Geoff shows how annual plants have been growing and forming the winter cover. In the summer cover, the presenter finds nodules in the legumes roots, and plants are higher. After that, we can observe the first harvesting. Of course, on the next stage the annual plants are chopped, which will improve the soil quality. Since now, Geoff shows a complex community, where every plant contribute for the entire ecosystem.

I think this type of agriculture combines the best of agronomy and sustainability. Although, these yields probably cannot feed the world. So, people who have access to land, seeds and knowledge, have to incorporate permaculture in their lives, caring a better future for humanity. 

Post 1: Another country that I'd like to visit

Hello everyone! This return on blogging merit a remembrance! This post is about travelling, again. Last time I said I would to visit Africa, but now, I’ll tell you about a nearest place.

I always have been attracted to Latin America and Caribbean. These countries have a similar history, because we are the “New World”. I especially curious about Guatemala. Guatemala has a great past, particularly before colonization. I want to visit Tikal, an ancient Capital of the maya civilization. Besides, the nature is wonderful: includes mangroves, forests and beaches. The most prized bird is the Quetzal (Figure 1).

I would like to meet the society, I’m wondering if guatemalans are more happy than chilean people. They lived three decades of a civil war! Also, architecture is special: you can find little colonial houses in Antigua Guatemala city.

I will travel to Guatemala as a tourist, but without a vacation package. I want to schedule my own places to visit (all nature I mentioned, and more!). 

Figure 1. Quetzal

Post 10: Blogging Experience

Hi everyone! This is my last post. The experience of being a blogger was fun! I developed my writing skills and learned some vocabulary. Maybe, the principal warring was the word extension, but most cases I was developing an idea and surprise! The limit has been over. I expect this post will not be an exception.

The post’s themes was great, except for the one that I have to write about a scientist or a paper. I did not understand it! My favourite post was about a TED talk, because I have to listen first, and then try to summarize all the ideas.

For the next instance, I would like to write about something real, telling a story, or even, write a paper about my thesis (with the real data, I hope). Another theme that can be very interesting is “facing the real English” like the first web test. Day a day, I must to search papers and information, but if someday I have to live in an English country, I would like to be prepared on the real life.

I will miss my blog (only a little). For now, I cannot say, “oh God, I have to write about my life on the internet! My blog!”

Post 9: A country I'd like to visit

Hi everyone! I have to write about a country I’d like to visit. It’s hard to choose one country, I prefer to write about a continent! I’ve always been attracted to Africa, because it’s a place where you can do anything you want.

Africa is well known about its nature; many people go into a safari and meet a wild experience. I’d like to meet a lion or an elephant, but I concern about the impact of a safari on a natural park. Indeed, Africa is a fragile ecosystem, where a minimal injury can cause an unrepairable damage.

The social issues is another characteristic that I’d like to experience in Africa.  This is the poorest continent, and a great part of the children is undernourished. My profession is related to feeding people, so I want to contribute to eradicate hungry of this continent.  

You can notice that Africa get two opposite sides: nature and poor. Someday, I want to travel to Africa and enjoy its wonderful natural marvels. At the same time, I’d like to meet the Africans,  and build a better place to live. 

Post 8: a career-related article

Hi everyone! I have to write about an article related to my specialism. Physiology is a specific knowledge! My research deal with plant stress, so I will try to explain an article that describe plant mechanisms to avoid the stress. 

“Photoprotection in plants: a new light on photosystem II damage” is a review article, written in 2011 by Shunichi Takahashi and Murray R. Badger, both from the Australian National University. 

Under certain circumstances, the leaves receive a lot of radiation, and they can be expose to photoinhibition. This problem leads to a minor photosynthetic capacity, thereafter, it will reduce yield (the principal variable on plants). 

Takahashi and Badger explains different mechanisms to avoid photoinhibition: the photoprotection. The most important mechanisms are:

- Paraheliotropism (Fig 1a): some plant species can move their leaves, to intercept less radiation. If the leaves are vertical, the radiation exposition will be minor. 

- Epidermis pigments (Fig 1c): some pigments in the leaf epidermis can serve as screen, so the chloroplasts will be expose to a minor radiation.

- ROS scavening (Fig 1d): This is a detoxification mechanism, because it works when the photoinhibition just begins. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are molecules that are produce by photoinhibition.  Ascorbate can eliminate these molecules, and avoid more damage.

As I said, this article is important because summarize all known plant mechanisms about photoinhibition. You can find this on http://libgen.org/scimag4/10.1016/j.tplants.2010.10.001.pdf 

Figure 1. Photoprotection mechanisms. Takahashi and Badger, 2011.