ReCap of First Two MRP Meetings

Master's Research Project

A 3D animation, highlighting Dr. Ratcliffe's research on B  

cell development in the Bursa of Fabricius in the chicken

Committee Members:

Supervisor: Nick Woolridge

Content Supervisor: Dr. Michael J. H. Ratcliffe

Voting Member: Dr. Shelley Wall

Preliminary Goals:

• distill topic of B cell development down to a central focus 
•    a) gene conversion
  
•    b) while still having a strong introduction, and end 
  
•         i) i.e. set the scene by bringing the audience from the macroscopic level of the chick -> bursa -> follicles -> bcells -> cytoplasm -> molecules (DNA strand(s), AID, template repair proteins), and back out again
  
• define target audience, possibly targeting two audiences
•     a) by using two different scripts for the same animation (with vocabulary and concepts geared to undergrads in one, researchers in the second)
  
• have 'scene selection' capabilities in animation
•    a) this will: introduce an element of interactivity
  
•     b) allow a lecturer or presenter to select and replay desired sequences of the animation
  
• possible visual question:
•     a) how to visualize a molecular process, the exact mechanisms of which are still theoretical and not directly observed in nature? (gene conversion)
•         i) three potential mechanisms
  
•        ii) analogs in other species: trypanosome and yeast
  
• interesting visual effects:
•     a) alternating between a static camera view (like a porthole from a submarine, watching a moving landscape outside)
  
•     b) a dynamic camera view observing a static scene (so that the animation appears frozen in time, but the viewer is moving, revolving around, and examining the landscape)
  
•     c) and incorporating 'sliding stills', where a camera moves linearly, or zooms in / out, from a 2D image
•        i) this will provide a visual break or point of contrast interspersed throughout animated scenes
•        ii) will also be an economical (less rendering involved) method of communicating information
•        iii) homework: watch Ken Burns' documentary films, for inspiration
  
•  theme brainstorming:
  
•     a) colour palette?
  
•        i) potentially similar to illustrator / intracellular visualization piece
  
•        ii) golds, purple, an underwater or twilight atmosphere 
•        iii) with illumination radiating from molecules or characters that are the focus of interest
  
•     b) background music?
  
•        i) intro with a fast-paced piano for base and tempo (instead of drums)
  
•        ii) cellos for chorus
  
•        iii) cymbals used for dramatic events (i.e. successful template repair and gene conversion, antigen binding)
  
•        iv) inspiration song: Regina Spektor's 'Us'
  
•        v) may try to recruit friends / colleagues who play cello and piano . . .
  
• timeline and time management:
•     a) make sure not to incorporate too much information
  
•        i) render and design the key elements of the story first
  
•        ii) incorporate extra 'epilogues', intro sequences, and interesting effects (two scripts, scene selection), if there is time
  
• research
•     a) gene conversion
  
•     b) chick anatomy
  
•     c) gene rearrangement
  
•     d) cinematic inspirations