Blogs by the students of Bio-movies at Habib University

By,   Hiba Tanvir

By Abira Jeoffrey Photo: Abira Jeoffrey/ “Splice” Is sex always determined by genetics and fixed from birth in animals? In the movie Splice, Fred and Ginger were two creatures of the opposite sex who engage in a delicate mating ritual known as imprinting. They both contain genes from various creatures including but not limited to: a horse, a bird, a fish, and a kangaroo, and some kind of plant, and that the pair produced some enteric proteins that are medicinal to livestock. Enteric means “relating to the intestines”. Later on in the movie, they both killed each other as Ginger's sex changes from a female to a male. So it is really possible to change sex in animals? The answer to this interesting question is, Yes!. When animals are born in this world, it is assumed that genes determine whether it is a male or female. However, there exist other factors such as the environment and the temperature that can change the sex of some animals. Do you want to know which animals can change th...

Viruses are tiny microbes living within our environment. Their simple structure comprises either RNA or DNA - a genetic material with a coated protein layer. While their structure is simple, their categorization is a bit complex. Viruses are neither living nor non-living creatures. They are activated only when they have infected a potential host cell; otherwise, it is safe to assume them dead. This is also one of the reasons viruses do not fit in any phylum or kingdom in biology. There are multiple theories of the origin of viruses. According to scientists, viruses are a result of billions of years of evolution. According to one hypothesis, viruses are the reason human life came into being - as a result of a cell enveloping a virus . While there may not be an exact number of years to show when viruses came into being, it is a fact that viruses are now an integral part of our lives. The working of viruses varies from virus to virus; therefore, in this blog, I will be giving a general o...

By Eraj Rizwan Hollywood Sci-Fi vs. Reality: Could “ I am Legend ” Actually Happen? Disclaimer- This blog contains spoilers (obviously) Imagine a world without crowds, no queues, no traffic, no hustle and bustle- basically no other humans except you and your dog (and occasional a herd of deer, and lions). It is not as great as it sounds, ask Dr. Robert Neville about that ! A lightning-paced ride through a post-apocalyptic world where all the human beings except Robert Neville (Will Smith), an ex-military virologist, have been killed by a virus called Krippin virus or transformed into angry cannibalistic species called Darkseekers, who emerge at night, hunt anything that moves, and cannot be relied upon for civilized conversation. Between a highly regimented schedule hunting deer with his dog, Sam, and driving to the rental store and chatting with mannequins, Neville tries to find a way to reverse the virus using his own immune blood. He has not had much luck in three long, lonely...

By Syed Mohammad Raza Hamdani  The Science of Zombification If you were to ask an accountant or someone in your family if a zombie apocalypse can ever occur they would probably say no or laugh at the question, but a bio-physicist might have a different response. In this technological age, zombie apocalyptic movies and video games are around every corner. If you, like me, have ever wondered if a zombie apocalypse can ever become a reality then you’re at the right place: today we’ll scientifically analyze how realistic the portrayal of a zombie apocalypse is in the Brad Pitt blockbuster hit, World War Z. In general, let’s start with what we know about the zombies in the movie: apparently, the ‘Zekes’ don’t need to consume food or water as they don’t eat their prey, they rather just bite them and move on. Moreover, the zombie bite victim loses control of their bodies and mind in a minimum of 12 seconds, the zombies rely on sound as their biggest trigger yet their host's other senses ...

Comparing MEV-1 to Coronavirus Behjet Ansari With the consistent rise in the spread of the Covid-19 virus, people can’t help but point out the similarities of the current situation with the one shown in the movie Contagion (2011). The plot of the movie revolves around a rapidly spreading infectious disease which the scientific community is trying to cure by developing a vaccine. The eerie similarities between the MEV-1 virus and coronavirus are something worthy of notice. The origin of the virus, the mediums through which it can spread, prevention methods, the symptoms an affected person experiences, and the scale of the spread of the virus are all strikingly similar characteristics for both viruses.  

By: Sara Illahi Panhwer Impacts of Misinterpreted Scientific Methods It is not untrue that Hollywood has blessed us with some fantastic movies based on the ideas of dystopia, anarchy, and full-blooded, full-scale, complete destruction of mother Earth followed by an eventual but definite process of healing (in most of the endings). These movies include the highest block-busters like Contagion, World War Z, Will Smith starring viral epic I am Legend - a film that dreaded us all as children - etc. This blog, unlike typical sci-fi reviews, will highlight the science in Smith's I am Legend. Disclaimer: This blog contains spoilers. If you have not watched I am Legend, we recommend you stop reading right away and start doing the house chores that your mom has assigned to you. Before getting started on the misinterpreted scientific methods in I am Legend by the super severe and solus character of Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, here is a quick synopsis to recapture the movie and the ...