Principles for communicating effectively in writing
Research article is one of the way for the communication between scientists and other people. Participating in the knowledge sharing process in an educational community can be an academic's most important and rewarding work.
So, in this pager will summarise a good journal article that were published in Journal PLoS Genet, and sorting some points that are very usual in writing research article. |
- The example of Journal Article
- Title: The Caenorhabditis elegans T-box Factor MLS-1 Requires Groucho Co-Repressor Interaction For Uterine Muscle Specification. Journal PLoS Genet.
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Briefly explain the function of T-box, and mutant of T-box relate the disease in human (congenital disease, autoimmune disorder, and cancers).
- How the way that propel find T-box gene in c. elegans as well
- Explain the aim of this study, that investigate the interaction between MLS-1 and C. elegans Gro/TLE protein UNC-37. Described the cellular base, MLS-1 function at the specify uterine muscle fate in M-lineage during L4 stage, and the loss function of MLS-1 can lead to loss of um1 and um2 muscles cell and transform to excess vm1 and vm2 muscles.
- MLS-1 can interact with UNC-37 in both yeast and c. elegans fluorescence assays. An MLS-1 eh1 motif can be affected the interaction between MLS-1 and UNC-37. Therefore the mutant in motif would lead the lose function of MLS-1 in specify uterus muscle.
- Then if UNC-37 loss the function, it will result in a loss of uterine muscle and extra vulval muscle which similar with MLS-1 loss-of-function. At the last sentence of introduction, author basic summarised the basic information in MLS-1 and UNC-37 cells.
- Result
- 1) Subtitle: MLS-1 and UNC-37 interact in both yeast and worms via a conserved eh1 motif.
- In first paragraph, the description of MLS-1 and UNC-37 gene, and provide a possible reason of eh1 motif can mediate the interaction under genetic basis. Because eh1 motif is conserved in N-terminal of MLS-1 protein in C.elegans. and they hypothesise eh1 motif can be the transcriptional repressor of MLS-1 protein to control MLS-1 function
- In order to test above hypothesis, the first thing they did was to ensure MLS-1 can interact with UNC-37, and full length of MLS-1 gene was used for testing interaction with UNC-37 residues 70-612. The interaction can be constitute. After that, in subsequent experiment, MLS-1 mutation are required.
- To further explore this physical interaction, GFP marker need to be insert into their gene, and three transgenic line need to line with their gene by using heat shock promoter.
- To visualised the whether of this physical interaction requires eh1 motif, the mutant MLS-1 eh1 motif interaction with co expression with GFP stain was not successful for showing GFP, but wild type MLS-1 interaction with co-expression with GFP stain was successful. I means eh1 motif in MLS-1 reduce the interaction with UNC-37.
- At last short paragraph, it summarises the results in this section, that MLS-1 can interaction with UNC-37 depend on the MLS-1 eh1 motif. Then lead to next section of this study.
- 2) Subtitle: MLS-1 and UNC-37 interact in biologically relevant cell types
- Explain the cell types that express MLS-1 and UNC-37 in L4 and adult stage of C. elegans. Because only few cells can express MLS-1, which need to determine if MLS-1 and UNC-37 interact in cells normally expressing MLS-1.
- Three independent GPF stains were developed to coexpressing in MLS-1 and UNC-37 genes. It was found the the cell with the interaction could express MLS-1 normally.
- 3) The MLS-1 eh1 motif is necessary for uterine muscle specification.
- The GFP stains which expressed in vm1 both were co-expressed in WT and Mutant cells, but in mutant expression, four additional cells expressed. In addition, injection of wild type MLS-1 DNA fragment, MLS-1 mutant can be efficiently rescued.
- It had been found MLS-1 eh1 motif is required for MLS-1 to specify uterine muscle fate.
- 4) UNC-37 loss of function animals show sex muscle and mesoderm lineage defect.
- After investigating the MLS-1 defect, UNC-37 defect were next to be test. In first paragraph in this subsection, the hypothesis was made that MLS-1 requirers UNC-37 to specify uterine muscle fate. RNAi technique had been use to make UNC-37 defective. Different GFP stains had been use for marking different cells. First, it was found that UNC-37 defect can cause extra four vm1 cells, which similar with MLS-1 mutant. Second, the number of uterus muscle cells greatly reduced by UNC-37 defect.
- Next, the GFP expression in vm1, that two different UNC-37 defects were made. The comparison between two UNC-37 defect were made, different mutant phenotype were shown, one is the heterozygous mutant lead adulthood hermaphrodites have uncoordinated movement and protruding vulva. Another one is exhibited a wild-type pattern of GFP expression, but 5% of C.elegans expressed GFP in extra cells.
- Discussion
- 1) subtitle: MLS-1 represses transcription to specify uterine muscle fate.
- The conclusion of the first subtitle result
- Investigate the type of genes that MLS-1 regulated, and any direct target gene of MLS-1 protein to regulate the specify uterus fate. In addition the analogous negative regulatory by MLS-1 mutant results in a transformation o of uterus muscle and coelomocye cell fate change to M lineage, and M lineage change to SM lineage, which lead to wide spread of expression of GFP. Because the widespread of expression MLS-1 in M lineage, and then would convert back to uterus muscle fate. But direct target gene was unknown.
- The other cells can express MLS-1 and interact with UNC-37 such as vm2 vulval muscle and intestinal muscles, but function is unknown, but they suggest the similar function in vm1.
- The other factors have similar function with MLS-1 in M lineage function as UNC-37 dependent repressor
- 2) Subtitle: MLS-1 mutant may be a gain of function mutation
- Explain why suggest the mutant may be a gain of function mutation, because the mutation of eh1 motif may allow MLS-1 to function as a transcriptional activator, to gain function.
- 3) Subtitle: Relationship to T-box factors in other species
- Briefly summarise the T-box protein and its function.
- There are some subfamily closely to MLS-1, and interestingly found subfamily Tbx18 AND MLS-1 share conserved function in smooth muscle development.
- Materials and Methods
- The limit words are on the process of this study, the strains and plasmids in different line types were provide
- Biomolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), the brief describe about MLS1 and UNC-37 co-expressed with different GFP stains
- Yeas two-hybrid assays, MIS-1(CC569) revue assay, and RNAi function on UNC-37.
The effective way to write journal
After summarising the journal article with dot points. The clear structure for how to write a good and effective article is known.
In the abstract, words have limit, but better to describe from board background information to narrow background information, and then to illustrate the aim of the study. After that the main results in this study need to present in abstract.
In the introduction, the strategies are quite similar with abstract, first provide the board background information and then to narrow background information. After that, raise the questions, and explain the meanings of the study and the hypothesis needs to be made at the end to trigger the audience attention.
In result section, using subtitles are the best way to show each section results to audiences, and with the logical order to lead audiences deeply think progressively with authors along each result section processing. The linear sentences required being use at beginning of the paragraph to connect with the content above. At each result section, add a extra paragraph as small conclusion in this section.
In discussion section, the better way to show is that correspondingly add subtitle similar with the one in discussion part, which could make the discussion clearer and logical.
Usually, in formal journal, Materials and methods should be left at the last one. Not too many words need to write as long as can describe the experimental process clearly and audiences can understand what were done in the study.
Therefore, the tips for effective writing are:
In the abstract, words have limit, but better to describe from board background information to narrow background information, and then to illustrate the aim of the study. After that the main results in this study need to present in abstract.
In the introduction, the strategies are quite similar with abstract, first provide the board background information and then to narrow background information. After that, raise the questions, and explain the meanings of the study and the hypothesis needs to be made at the end to trigger the audience attention.
In result section, using subtitles are the best way to show each section results to audiences, and with the logical order to lead audiences deeply think progressively with authors along each result section processing. The linear sentences required being use at beginning of the paragraph to connect with the content above. At each result section, add a extra paragraph as small conclusion in this section.
In discussion section, the better way to show is that correspondingly add subtitle similar with the one in discussion part, which could make the discussion clearer and logical.
Usually, in formal journal, Materials and methods should be left at the last one. Not too many words need to write as long as can describe the experimental process clearly and audiences can understand what were done in the study.
Therefore, the tips for effective writing are:
- Write from an outline.
- First, outline imposes structure on your writing and your thinking. In your final product, retain the explicit structure -section and sub-section heading, which easy explicit organisation makes it easier for reader to follow your argument
- Second, outline forces you to critical evaluate which ideas and arguments are necessary components of your thesis and which are not.
- One paragraph one idea
- Aviod long paragraph, many people write long paragraphs with multiple ideas or assertions, and stretch across multiple pages.
- One paragraph one idea, and should usually lead with a topic sentence.
- Combined with point 1 above, which would help you outline to write the level of the paragraph.
- Write clear, punchy and compact sentences.
- In effective sentences, the subject and verbs should be close to the beginning of the sentence.
- Get to point
- Before start writing your paper, ensure you clear with your purpose
- With analytic prose, your reader will be happiest to find your point of the paper in the first few paragraphs.
- Additionally, the beginning sentence of sections and sub-sections should be the essential points in this section, that paragraphs should lead with the topic sentence.
- Don't begin a sentence with ''There'', ''And''.
- Don't over quote
- Most students do actually, quotations should be rare because too many of quote would break up the flow of your prose and give your essay a cut and paste look.
- Use data tables and charts sparingly
- Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
- Ensure all charts have consistent look.
- All tables should be formatted identically.
- Avoid Dumb Mistakes
- Spelling
- Grammar
- Don not confuse i.e. and e.g. (i.e. for the latin ''id est'' and means ''that is''.''e.g.'' stands for the latin ''example gratis'' which means ''for the sake of example'').
- Careful with the subject of latin abbreviation, for example: ''cf'', ''op cit'' ''vs'' ''et al''.
- Ensure basic formatting right!!
Reference:
Miller, R.R., and Okkema, P.G. (2011). The Caenorhabditis elegans T-box factor MLS-1 requires Groucho co-repressor interaction for uterine muscle specification. PLoS Genet 7, e1002210.
Niederhauser, D.S., Wetzel, K., & Lindstrom, D. L. (2004). From manuscript to article: Publishing educational technology research.Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 4(2), 89 -136.
Written Communication Toolkit, Part B:Effective Communicators and Team Members: 2 Capacity to communicate effectively with others in writing, Griffith Graduate Attributes.
''Editing Tips for Effective Writing'' by Walter MacDougall and Tomoharu Nishino, Penn Arts & Sciences.
Miller, R.R., and Okkema, P.G. (2011). The Caenorhabditis elegans T-box factor MLS-1 requires Groucho co-repressor interaction for uterine muscle specification. PLoS Genet 7, e1002210.
Niederhauser, D.S., Wetzel, K., & Lindstrom, D. L. (2004). From manuscript to article: Publishing educational technology research.Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 4(2), 89 -136.
Written Communication Toolkit, Part B:Effective Communicators and Team Members: 2 Capacity to communicate effectively with others in writing, Griffith Graduate Attributes.
''Editing Tips for Effective Writing'' by Walter MacDougall and Tomoharu Nishino, Penn Arts & Sciences.