The Cambridge Chat Thread

I got a letter and I'm pretty certain I didn't get an email, though it may well have changed. My letter was on time (though my dad didn't tell me about it, so I was getting a bit worried).

No email. I also got mine two days later than everyone else (admittedly I was overseas, but other Guernseyish people got them before me)

I feel for your brother though, I remember how awful the day I didn't get my letter was. (Definitely the worst bit of the process)

I think I wrote that essay in my 1st year tripos exam :P

..

I have just finished reading over an essay I wrote on different shapes of action potentials. It has to be, by far, the worst essay I have wrote. I really just didn't know what to write and how to write it. Really did not like the queastion... I feel I am going to have some explaining to do to my supervisor

i have one essay left and 4 days left to do it in. i can guarantee i will somehow only manage to finish it a only few hours before the deadline.

Over 9000.

Wait until you get feedback. Quite a few times I've felt the same about the essay and my supervisors have actually liked it.

Oh dear.

I do not envy you. I would never have choice that essay if I got it in my Tripos exam. There really is only 3 main types of excitable cell that has been covered, and skeletal myocytes and neurons are basically the exact same.

Any tips? I really don't want to hand in the essay as it is. I have described the shape of action potential in axons and skeletal myocytes and then in cardiac myocytes. I then said the reason there is a difference is is due to the different ionic currents across the membrane. I also wrote about the voltage clamp experiments. The problem is thats only 3 pages. And 3 pages of rubbish as well Maybe I am just being too critical.

I've spent too long doing clinical medicine to be able to help you properly without re-reading a lot of stuff :P. I used to know that stuff really well too.

I do not envy you. I would never have choice that essay if I got it in my Tripos exam. There really is only 3 main types of excitable cell that has been covered, and skeletal myocytes and neurons are basically the exact same.

Any tips? I really don't want to hand in the essay as it is. I have described the shape of action potential in axons and skeletal myocytes and then in cardiac myocytes. I then said the reason there is a difference is is due to the different ionic currents across the membrane. I also wrote about the voltage clamp experiments. The problem is thats only 3 pages. And 3 pages of rubbish as well Maybe I am just being too critical.

who's lecturing you on it? h? It sounds like you've covered most stuff- have you put in anything on smooth muscle myocytes?
I wouldn't worry about it too much, supervisions are meant to help you develop your technique etc and make sure you're covering all the points so if you've missed something its not the end of the world

I know its a common name but you might want to edit Lecturer H's name out, just in case, especially if you don't like his style

Yeah it was Muscle man. I didn't particularly like his style of lecturing, though I have to say his handout was really good. Smooth muscle myocytes was the only thing I have left out, but that is mainly due to the variation of smooth muscle myocytes. I think I will put them in anyway.

I know I have covered everything, but I don't think I have wrote a very good essay. I think its just my technique. The next essay I have to write is how the heart can function without nerve innervation, which should be much easier to write about

Boron and Boulpaep gives a lot of neat information on stuff like that. I was kinda miffed when I was given an essay that was essentially "write a whole load about coronary blood flow". That was horrific to start off with, but then found out a whole load about Adenosine and it made everything a lot better

Yep, the heart functioning without any innervation sounds a lot nicer to be honest. You can bring in a lot about morally controversial animal testing methods during the essay xD

I like the heart stuff so I think the coronary blood flow wouldn't be that bad. I think its more my essay technique that is the problem than what I have covered.

Yeah I plan to... also means I can bring things in like exercise and haemorrhage and how it cannot actually cope at times

That is true. My major, stupid problem at the moment is that my knowledge of receptors and channels could be a lot sharper, which would make life a whole lot easier xD I've been procrastinating on that matter, might take a few hours out just learning that before any exams.

Yeah I think I am going to ask my supervisor for tips on how I can improve my essay technique. The topics I am having most bother with is Cell signalling because of my very poor notes that I took during them lectures and respiration etc because there is far too many pathways to learn.

Also you wouldn't mind editing my original quotation in your previous post so it says Mr H? its just best to be safe