top of page
Search
Writer's pictureGuruprasad Athani

Connection Galore

I happened to sit for half an hour in Vanishree ma'am's class on Tuesday to learn about how the

brain works. Here is my experience of those 30 minutes.


She was explaining how our eye is connected to brain through optical nerves from retina. She

mentioned the names of two chemicals that are present in rods and cones (brightness and color

sensors) that absorb light and transmit electric current to brain which is responsible for our vision.


She underlined one of the chemical's name written on board and immediately one student

recognized that chemical and said that the chemical was mentioned during photosynthesis class

where this chemical absorbed light and sent electrons for performing photosynthesis. Ma'am said here also it performs the same function, but the electron so produced goes to brain and helps vision.


Immediately she mentioned why we need to eat green leafy vegetables for proper functioning of our eyes, and she said this was the A vitamin everyone talks about.


This made innumerable connections in my brain as though lightning has struck.


So many connections were made and so many new questions emerged. It made me read about so many things and increased my knowledge in unknown areas.


Some questions that came to my mind are

  1. A vitamin is rich in Carrot. Why? It is below the ground. Why should it absorb light?

  2. What is the structure of this chemical that converts light into electrons? Why can't we use them for solar panels?

  3. Is the same compound present in the eyes of other animals?

And many more


Trying to answer these questions took me to uncharted areas and increased my interest in biology immensely.


She mentioned two more similar connections that were mind-boggling and I am still trying to gather info on them. These are related to

  1. Eye defect because of diabetes

  2. Rheumatoid arthritis


Connecting the embryo growth stages to immune system was mind-blowing. If this can happen to me, it can happen to students as well. Now, I understand why so many students want to pursue research in biology.


(I am trying extract generic teaching techniques out of this and see how it can be applied in other

subjects as well)

5 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page