In BIOL 301 (Comp A & P I), my lab partner and I chose to try and quantify joint angles using FreeMoCap. Although our project didn’t produce any quantitative results due to failures in the software, we were able to apply knowledge from our chemistry and physics classes to understand our topic.
For the physics aspect of our project, we were looking at the torque applied to the joints when lifting various objects of known and unknown weights. The software would have allowed us to quantify those movements in each frame of a recording and analyze how the muscles and joint angles adjust to different weights. Most of the information I know about torque did not come from Phys 120 or 121, but rather from my anatomy class. This is probably due to the fact that I was able to apply it to something I am very interested in, human anatomy.
For the chemistry aspect of our project, we were not necessarily focusing on how the brain controlled the muscles to help us quantify our results, but we did a lot of literature research to understand how it happens and how muscles are able to be stimulated. We learned about organic molecules such as proteins that are essential for human functioning, and this allowed us to know and understand the literature we were reading.
Both of those classes helped me prepare for the lab component of anatomy. Throughout that class and the lab, I am the most proud of how my lab partner and I were able to make the best of the situation. We were not only able to learn more about how the human body worked, but we were able to learn more code for FreeMoCap and hopefully help individuals in the future who want to use this software.
All three of those classes combined helped me for one of the hardest class I have taken at Longwood, biochemistry (BIOL 412). This class truly challenged me, not only through the copious amounts of information we needed to know to succeed, but because of the labs we did. In this lab, we used many laboratory techniques including gel electrophoresis and micropipetting. Through this class and the other three prior, I was able to learn more about the human body. The major challenges I faced in this class were trying to understand the material and keep up in the labs. My favorite part about the class, however, was the last lab project we were assigned which lined up with my independent biochemistry research I had been doing with Dr. White over the course of that semester on chemotherapy drugs. I have always had an interest in oncology, so it was awesome being able to study that in class and in independent research.
I feel that all four of these classes helped expand my options for my future medical specialty and helped solidify that oncology is a department I can definitely see myself pursuing. These courses also helped me in with my MCAT preparation because they are all major topics covered in the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics sections of the MCAT. I do not think my studying would be as good as it is now without these classes, nor could I have succeeded in the upper-level courses without BIOL 250, BIOL 251, Organic Chemistry, and Physics I & II laying the foundation for them.
Click here to view my BIOL 301 poster.
Click here to view my BIOL 412 final lab report.