Chinese Bird Flu Claiming Victims

Chinese Bird Flu Claims More Victims

Summary

A new bird flu has begun in China called H7N9, that has infected and killed many people and is continuing to infect daily. The first victim was a 4-year-old Beijing boy who did not show all the symptoms, which raised the question to officials that there are more unidentified carriers of the disease. In addition, the virus has been found in poultry and pigeons in numerous markets. But the virus in the birds are different from the ones in humans raising the question if people caught the virus from the birds or another animal, possibly a pig.

Relevance To Class:
H7N9 is a virus that was originally contracted from birds, meaning it is a foreign substance in our bodies. This brings the immune system into action, as we learned in class many cells come into place that help fight this virus, B-cells, T-cells, antibodies, and white blood cells. But as discussed in class, since the virus comes from a bird which is different from humans, it takes a longer period of time than normal to create a resistance to the virus,

Sources:

Url: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/349701/description/News_in_Brief_New_bird_flu_claims_more_victims

Date Accessed: May 20, 2013

Stem Cell research on Muscular Dystrophy

Stem Cell research on Muscular Dystrophy

Link:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130114133350.htm

Summary:

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy affects the production of the protein dystrophin in the body. This protein helps anchor muscles in place when they contract. The lack of dystrophin causes the recipients of D.M.D. to die in the late 20s or early 30s. Every time a muscle contracts, without Dystrophin, the muscle begins to tear. This is mainly felt at the heart, the many contractions wearing down and destroying the Heart. Although there has been drugs that can help out with this disease, none prolong life as long as some would hope. However, scientists are working with Stem Cells to see the affect the cells can have on D.M.D.

While testing on rats, Scientist have successfully transported cells from blood vessels of a healthy mouse to one that has D.M.D., and the result is spectacular. From observation and research, the data has pointed out that these tests have actually decreased or prevented wearing down of the heart, which can then lead to a longer life with patients that have D.M.D. Although further investigation is going on the see why this works, It is nevertheless an unremarkable feat that can lead to future solutions for D.M.D.

Relevance:

Last section we learned about the Muscle System; How it works, its main functions and the different parts and pieces that make up the Muscle System. This disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, affects the muscle system of ones body, thus relating the not only the muscle system, but what we have been recently studying.

Feeling sound

Summary:
           Scientists believe that some of the five senses in the brain have common circuits and are related. Scientist conducted an experiment to show that subjects' hearing is affected when vibration patterns are introduced to their fingertips. Subjects had difficultly telling the different pitched sounds apart when the vibration intensity also changed. Scientists concluded that the brain combined the information that the ears and fingers sent.

Connection to class:
          We recently learned about the nervous system and how parts of our body send nerve signals to the brain. We also learned about parts of our body like our ears and how they send signals to the brain.

Link:
http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/06/03/feeling-sound   

Why do we yawn?

Summary:
Your brain operates best at a specific temperature. Yawning cools down the brain, so when you're tired, you  yawn in order to cool down the brain. Yawning also increases blood pressure, stretches facial muscles, and increases focus. When you stretch all your muscles and yawn, you pendiculate, making your muscles more readily available to be used in any moment. Contagious yawning is advantageous because when the first animal in a group yawns, the other animals follow along and become alert, too.

Many animals have different reasons for yawning. Some yawn to intimidate enemies, while others yawn to attract mates. Some snakes yawn to re-align their jaws and open their tracheas after a large, body-disfiguring meal.

Relevance to Class:
Yawning is an example of homeostasis that our body uses in order to cool our brain down and let it function at an optimal temperature. Our body experiences a stimulus that it is too hot or needs to cool down, and the brain functions reacts and sends signals to our body to yawn. Yawning is also linked to the social portion of the brain since we can yawn due to other people yawning.

Video Information:
Url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGIbUK4nw00
Youtube Channel: Vsauce
Publication Date: May 12, 2012

Faulty Energy Production In Brain Cells Leads To Learning Disabilities

URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260694.php
Date: 5/18/13
Author: Sarah Glynn

Summary:
In recent studies, there has been some evidence towards the fact that irregular mitochondria could lead to learning disabilities. Basically, not having enough energy produced by the mitochondria leads to a lowered amount of neuron cells that have the energy to transport signals throughout the brain. The decreased signals means that there will not be the connections that are required for learning to take place. Also, the article focused on the levels of energy in the context of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's attacks the CNS and makes the person unable to do things requiring movement. Again, because the mitochondria don't produce enough energy for neurons to use, obviously there would be problems involving signals being sent throughout the brain.

Relevance to Class:
Last unit we learned about the nervous system, which is what this article is about.

Interesting Facts on the Human Body

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM2dtqpR1Qs

Summary:
1) Our left lung is smaller then our right lung to make room for our heart
2) Everyday an adult body produces 300 billion new cells
3) In one hour, our heart works hard enough to produce the equivalent energy to raise almost 1 ton of weight 1 yard off the ground
4) Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing
5)Our bone is stronger, inch for inch, then the steel in skyscrapers
6)The acid in our stomach is strong enough to dissolve razorblades
7) We use 200 muscles to take one step
8) We use 43 muscles to frown
9) On average, we use 17 muscles to smile

Relevance: This video has many facts about the human body that pertain to things that we have learned in class. this quarter. For example, facts 7 and 8 refer to the muscle system. Along with fact 5 which refers to the skeletal system.

How the Brain Works

Summary:

Our brain has two ways of thinking: fast thinking and slow thinking. Fast thinking is impulse-like and automatic which means it interprets things really fast but can often get tricked because it doesn't take enough time to analyze all the information. Fast thinking also tends to act based on experience and familiarity. On the other hand, slow thinking is when our brain has to deeply analyze given information and causes many different reaction within the body. For example, when doing long mental math, our pupils dilate, and our body uses much more energy. Fast thinking also leads to a process called priming in which our brain fills in information based on quick interpretation which may not always be missing link.

Relevance to Class:

Our class just finished learning about the nervous system. A crucial part of the nervous system is the brain where all of the interpretation occurs and it is basically the command center of the body. THe brain is the main part of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Without it, our body wouldn't know what to do and how to react to different situations.

Video Information:
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiTz2i4VHFw
Author's name: AsapSCIENCE
Publication Date: January 31, 2013