1) This week, I was shocked to hear about the passing of my A-Levels Biology teacher, Mrs. Jeyaleela. Ever the eloquent orator, we were constantly reminded of her wit and sarcastic humour, in addition to her fountain of knowledge. She used to dole out snippets of extra information brought over from Form 6 (STPM). For instance, I recall fondly her explanation of the Michaelis-Menten kinetic equations, as well as the Meselsen-Stahl experiment of semiconservative replication of DNA. More than that, I remember her chastising me for being too "anthropocentric" in the field of genetics; and for her suggestion to convert D-glucose (dextrorotatory) to L-glucose (levorotatory) so that we could eat as much as we wanted without putting on weight. Of course, she had it all figured out - a 10% royalty for her idea once we had patented the non-absorbable form of sugar! On a personal note, I owe it to her for my excellent results in Biology, and for her glowing recommendation letter she wrote me when I left Tenby. My only regret is not being able to meet up with her during the Tenby Alumni Reunion last year. Rest in peace, Mrs. Jeya - you are sorely missed.
2) Since the last blog post, I have been quite preoccupied with my research. As the deadline for my thesis submission draws closer, the pressure mounts for me to finish analysing data and hopefully have something noteworthy to present. As it stands right now, I don't have a lot of interesting data to present, but I certainly have learnt a lot in terms of statistical analysis. Back in medical school, I did not really pay too much attention in stats class and instead chose to study to pass my exams. Only after conducting my own research have I realised the importance of good statistical acumen in guiding research output. Hopefully, I will be able to meet the deadline and finish my masters in time.
3) These past few days, I have noticed more food stalls sprouting up where I live. It is a welcome sight to see small businesses slowly but surely reopening, as it means more food options for me. From this Monday onwards, Transport for London (TfL) has made it compulsory to wear masks (or some form of facial covering) when using public transport. That is good news, as masks have been shown to be really effective in preventing the transmission of the virus. As it is, I've bought myself a reusable mask (KN95) for outdoors use, although I've not used public transport since before the lockdown began. Furthermore, I've heard news that those returning to Malaysia will no longer be required to quarantine for two weeks - instead they will undergo a rapid test and be allowed to self-isolate at home if the test is negative (with further monitoring for two weeks). This is obviously welcome news, as it means we won't need to fork out an additional RM1000+ for half the cost of quarantine at a hotel for two weeks.
4) This year has been a real doozy for us. Hopefully, the next half of the year will see a return to the "new" normal, as countries aim to bounce back from economic standstill. Until then, take care, stay safe, and stay healthy. Thanks very much for tuning in, and have a nice day. Cheers!
This was one of Mrs. Jeya's little brain teasers - what does the above diagram show?
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