Weekly Blog 1/8/17 - Genes

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Summary

Genes are made of DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid. A genotype is a pair of alleles or forms of a trait. n addition to all this, traits can be either dominant (represented by uppercase letters) or recessive (lowercase). Genotypes can be either heterozygous (hybird) or homozygrous (purebred). Homozygous means having two of the same alleles of a trait while heterozygous means having one of each. For example, a genotype of Aa would be heterozygous while AA or aa would be homozygous. A phenotype is an observable trait resulting from someones genotype. You inherit your traits from your parents, half from your mom and half from your dad. If you wanted to predict what traits your child will have you could use something called a Punnett square. Punnett squares help scientists make predictions about genotypes.

S&P 2: Developing and Using Models

This week, I filled out several punnet squares and flipped a coin to determine the traits of my superhero child. I then drew a model of that data by creating a drawing of my superheroes child demonstrating the results I got in the coin flip. Creating a drawing or model of the child helped me better visualize what he looks like and see the resemblances between father and mother. I also flipped a coin to determine the healthiness of my superhero based on his mothers and his decisions. Next week, I will create another model of that data by creating another drawing based on the new results I got. 

XCC: Cause and Effect

It turns out the decisions you and even your mother makes while you're developing inside her will affect your health later in your life. The foods moms eat while they are pregnant with their child, how stressed she is, how much she sleeps, whether or not she drinks alcohol and takes drugs, or cause, will all affect the child she is holding after it is born. For example, if you smoke while pregnant, the effect will more than likely be that your child is born too early as well as underweight. Your habits will also determine what illness your child might develop or how healthy he/she will be. However, decisions made by the mom isn't the only thing that affects health, decisions made by the child later on in life will also. For example, if you choose to always stay up  rather than get a healthy amount of sleep, it will lead to sleep deprivation which symptoms include hallucinations and depression. 

Hot Cocoa Co. - Charity Fair Project Blog

A Picture of our Product

Summary

The charity my group choose to support and present about is called the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. BBRF gives grants to scientists to allow them to further their research. They have given over 5,000 grants. According to charity watch, 92% of the money BBRF receives goes to the actual case, which is research about treatment options, prevention, the cause of brain disease and disorders and more. The other 8% goes overhead. I also learned that 1 in 3 people in the US live with a mental illness. Also, 20 to 30 % of teenagers will experience one episode of major depression before reaching adulthood. My group sold homemade hot cocoa mix in jars with marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and peppermint bark.

Backwards

In what ways have you gotten better at this kind of work?

Compared to last year's charity fair. I think I improved a lot. For one, this year my group and I completed every aspect of the charity fair in a timely manner. Unlike last year, Is wasn't staying up the night before finishing up my board with my group. I also think the product that I created turned out better. This year the product I created was definitely better quality and more worth the money. When we taste tested our product, it tasted great. 

Inwards

What was especially satisfying to you about either the process or the finished product?

One thing especially satisfying about the finished product was how our presentation during the charity fair went. I think our group did a really great job and tried our best. We really took into account what feedback we got during our practice presentations in class and practiced a lot. After the presentation, I felt really proud of how we did and also relieved that we got it over with.

Outwards

What the one thing you particularly want people to notice when they look at your work?

One thing I particularly want people to notice when they look at my work is the effort we put into decorating our jars. Though you probably can't tell through the picture of our product or even just looking at it. It took a lot of error and trials. Each jar is brushed with gold glitter lined with a different colored ribbon based on the flavor of the hot cocoa and wrapped around with a hand drawn tag. It took us an especially long time to make the tags because on each one we had to untie the already made know (which took awhile for all of them), put on a bell, and retie it an appropriate length for the jar.

Forwards

One thing I would like to improve upon is ...

I thing I would like to improve upon is thinking more ahead before we do things considering our product. Doing this would have saved us a lot of time. This is because when we put the glitter on the jars, we just placed the jar upside down and dripped glue with glitter in it on the bottom of the jar and down. The glue ended up drying around the top part of the jar where the cap would screw on. We had to take out this glue because it made the jar messy looking and hard to screw and unscrew. If we thought about it before we did it and covered the top part with tape, then this problem would have never occurred. We could have just peeled off the tape and the glue on it.

Weekly Blog 12/2/16: The Lyrebird

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Summary

There are two species of lyrebird: Albert's Lyrebird and the Superb Lyrebird. These two birds are very similar, (the Superb Lyrebird is slightly larger). The lyrebird is best known for its beautiful tail and ability to mimic sounds. They have long claws, large sturdy feet, strong legs and a strong sense of smell. The Lyrebird is mainly found the rain forest regions of Australia and can live up to 30 years in the wild. Their main predators are dogs, cats, and foxes. I based my superhero off the Superb Lyrebird giving her the ability to mimic voices.

SP2: Developing and using models

I developed a model when I worked on drawing a picture of my superhero, Lady Lyra. I drew and colored a detailed drawing of my superhero so I could visualize who I'm creating and figure out exactly how she looks like. Drawing a model of my superhero also helped me make sure what I imagined my superhero to look like actually resembled the animal I based it off of (The Superb Lyrebird).

XCC: Structure and Function

The unique structure of the Lyrebirds vocal organ is what allows it to mimic all kinds of sounds (function). Out of all of the songbirds, the lyrebird's syrinx (a bird's vocal organ) is the most complexly-muscled. The more developed the structure of the syrinx is, the wider variation of sound can be produced. This is what gives the lyrebird it's extraordinary ability to mimic other sounds.

Project Blog: Human Body System 2.0 11/18/16

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Summary

Acid reflux or GERD is an extremely common digestive disease. In fact, every year there are more than 3 millions cases of it in just the US. It occurs when stomach acids slip past the LES and irritate as well as burn the lining of the esophagus. One of the most obvious symptoms of acid reflux is heartburn. Overtime, acid reflux can even lead to esophageal cancer which has to cure. By adding in a "Goose" muscle, acid reflux can easily be prevented. The "Goose" muscle is a strong smooth muscle that contracts from the top to bottom. This muscle is located just above the LES. It has two functions, to help push food down (especially when food gets stuck in the esophagus) and pushing acid out of the esophagus when acid refux occurs. Thanks to its strength, and toughness food and acid can easily be pushed down the esophagus without it being burned.

Backwards Looking

How much did you know about the subject before we started?

Before we started, I didn't really know much about the esophagus itself (other than the basics) and acid reflux at all. In addition to that, I never realized heartburn was a symptom of something rather than a condition. However, I knew that heartburn was caused by stomach acids burning the esophagus but I didn't realize that was called acid reflux. The only thing I knew about acid reflux was that it was somehow connected to heartburn. I had also never heard the term GERD. 

Inwards Looking

What does this piece reveal about you as a learner?

Our group's presentation shows that I enjoy learning and presenting information in fun and engaging ways. For me, it was really fun to present our information to the class in a funny but informational skit. I also think that it was an interesting way to get and keep the audiences attention. As for the design brief and essay, it reveals that I include a lot of detail when writing. I noticed after our group completed the components that we wrote two pretty lengthy pieces of writing. 

Outwards Looking

Did you do your work the way other people did theirs? In what ways did you do it differently? In what ways was your work or process similar?

Though we completed the design brief and essay pretty similarly to other groups, when it came to the presentation, things were pretty different. Half of the groups presented live and another half created videos. Our group fell into the first category. However, we were the only group that created and acted out a skit. While other groups took a really factual approach, we also focused a bit more on how to engage the audience without making them bored. As for our work process, I also noticed how we drew a lot of different diagrams to help us visualize and figure out what exactly we were writing about and creating. We even color coded them. As far as I could tell, none of the other groups were doing that while creating their pieces.

Forward Looking

One thing I would like to improve upon is...

One thing I would like to improve upon is our presentation. Though I was happy with it, I feel like it could have gone smoother if we practiced it enough to not need scripts. Since we didn't know our lines that well, we often had to look down at them and read to a bit to remember what we were supposed to say next. By improving our presentation, we would be able to better engage d teach our audience.

 

Weekly Blog 11/11/16 - Human Body 2.0

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Summary

At the bottom the esophagus there is a bundle of muscles called the LES. The function of the LES is to prevent stomach acids from flowing up the esophagus. However, when the LES doesn’t close all the way or is open too much, acid reflux can occur. Every year, there are about 3 million US cases of acid reflux. It is extremely common especially in ages 19-60+. Acid reflux is when some of the stomach’s acid content flows back up the esophagus and burns as well as irritate the lining of the esophagus. Though the main symptom of acid reflux is heartburn (a burning sensation in your chest), it may also include bitter taste, discomfort in upper abdomen, dry cough, belching, and nausea. The most common cause of acid reflux is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia which occurs when the LES and upper part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the stomach from the chest and helps keep acid in the stomach. However, if you have hiatal hernia, acid can move up your esophagus and cause acid reflux. A severe case of acid reflux is known as G.E.R.D.

SP1: Asking questions and defining problems

I defined problems when I worked with my human body re-design 2.0 team to identify a problem in the digestive system that we could fix. The problem we identified was acid reflux in the esophagus and stomach. I then asked questions like "What is the original design of the esophagus and how can we improve it?", and "Why will re-designing the esophagus be beneficial?". However, the main question my group and I asked and are trying to answer is "How are we going to re-design the esophagus and what will be the outcome?". Our group is still in the process to trying to answer that question.

XCC: Structure & Function

The esophagus is a tube connected to the pharynx and mouth that goes down to the stomach. The main function of the esophagus is to move food and liquids from the mouth down to the stomach so it can be digested. In order to be able to do this, however, it needs to have a specific structure. It is lined with a moist pink tissue called mucosa, which allows the food and liquid smoothly run down the esophagus. In addition to that, there are two bundles of muscles in the upper part and lower part of the esophagus. The upper bundle of muscle or UES (upper esophageal sphincter) serves the purpose of preventing food and liquids from going down your windpipe and ensures that they are going down the correct tube. The lower bundle of muscle or LES (lower esophageal sphincter) serves the purpose of preventing stomach acids from going up the esophagus and causing acid reflux. However, malfunctions happen.

WAC: Is it healthier to be a vegetarian or an omnivore?

          Is it healthier to be a vegetarian, or an omnivore? For the past centuries, people have been arguing over that simple question. And though a majority of the world's population is omnivorous, there are still lots of compelling cases explaining the benefits of having a vegetarian diet. Due to the fact that vegetarian diets are found to lower the risk of chronic disease linked to animal fats, strengthen your bones, and improve glycemic control in the bodies of diabetic people, being a vegetarian is healthier than being an omnivore.

          Vegetarian diets will reduce the risk of certain diseases linked to animal fats such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension making your body healthier overall. Why does this happen? Well, as explained in the article (Is it healthier to be a vegetarian or an omnivore?) by Sencer, with more plant-based foods in your diet, you will consume more phytochemicals which will reduce the risk of specific chronic diseases by getting rid of unhealthy fats in your body. Since animal products are generally high in those unhealthy fats (cholesterol and saturated fats), consuming animal products is essentially increasing the amount of cholesterol and saturated fats in your body making you unhealthier.

          Vegetarian diets will also strengthen your bones and improve the healthiness of your bones overall. This is due to several reasons. For one, since meat has high renal acid levels, when you consume any meat your body will have to neutralize the high renal acid levels caused by the meat. Your body does this by "leaching calcium in your bones", as stated in the article (Should people become vegetarian?) by ProCon.org. The calcium used to neutralize the renal acids is no longer useful for the body and is then passed on into urine and lost. By not eating meat, you can reduce the amount of calcium lost in your bones making them stronger overtime. There is also many forms of healthy vegetarian calcium sources including dark greens like kale, collard greens and spinach as well as tofu and fortified cereals.

         Eating meat increases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. We know this because in 2004, through a peer-reviewed study Harvard researchers found that consuming meat increases the risk of having type 2 diabetes in women. Another study conducted in 2002 proved that eating processed meat increased the risk of it in men. If your diet consisted of no meat at all, you wouldn't have to worry about any of this. In addition to that, a vegetarian diet rich in whole grains, nuts, legumes and soy proteins will even help improve glycemic control in people who already have diabetes.

          Some people may argue that our bodies absorb a higher percentage of the iron (an essential mineral for your body) in meat than in vegetarian sources. This is actually true, the body absorbs 15% to 35% of the heme iron in meat and 2% to 20% of the non-heme iron in vegetarian sources. However, the lack of iron in a vegetarian diet can easily be fixed by consuming more non-heme iron filled vegetarian sources including leafy greens and beans. In addition to that, studies have found that the heme iron found in red meat is linked with an increased risk of rectal and colon cancer. "A vegetarian diet provides a more healthful form of iron than a meat-based diet." wrote ProCon.org in the article (Should people become vegetarian?). Though you can argue that vegetarians absorb less iron from vegetarian sources, the pros of eating non-heme iron outweighs the cons.

         Like I stated earlier, being a vegetarian is healthier than being an omnivore. This is due to how meat increases the chance of getting type two diabetes, vegetarian diets will strengthen your bones, and vegetarian sources provide a healthier form of iron for your body. Despite how most of the world's population is omnivorous, hopefully more people can see the benefits of being a vegetarian and change their eating habits for the better.
       


          

Human Body 2.0: The Immune System

The Immune System

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_of_the_Immune_System_by_AIDS.gov.jpg

Basics

Function:

The immune system protects your body from bacteria, viruses, and poisons you might encounter every day. They keep you healthy by attacking unknown and foreign invaders in your body and going after cells that creating in your body that might able to endanger your life.

Organs:

The major organs of the immune system include:  Bone Marrow, Thyme, Lymph Nodes, Spleen, Appendix, and Tonsils.

BONE MARROW: Bone Marrow is extremely important to the immune system. This makes sense considering ALL CELLS in the immune system is originally produced by Bone Marrow. They are formed in a process called hematopoiesis. Bone Marrow also creates natural killer cells, immature thymocytes, red blood cells, and more.

THYMUS: The thymus is divided into two lobes. Its function is to produce Lymphocytes T-cells and B-cells as well as dispatch them to secondary organs. Basically, its purpose is to initiate antibody formation and create Lymphocytes (or white blood cells).

LYMPH NODES:  Lymph nodes are bean-shaped clusters of lymphatic tissue. There are about 500-700 of them spread out within or bodies. Their function is to capture cancer cells and bacteria that are traveling within the body in something called the lymph fluid.

SPLEEN: The main function of the spleen is to recycle old red blood cells and stores white blood cells. In addition to this, the spleen also helps fight certain types of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.


APPENDIX: The appendix is a thin 3-4 inch long tube that hangs off of the cecum (the end of the large intestine). Its function is to inform the lymphocytes exactly where they have to go to attack infection. It also a enhances the large intestine's defenses to a larger vareity of foods and drugs.

TONSILS: Your tonsils are the two lumps of tissue on either side of your throat. Their job is to trap viruses and bacteria that you might breathe in. 

Interactions With Other Systems

The immune system works with the circulatory system but helps all body systems.

Circulatory System

The circulatory system provides all transportation needs for the immune system. For example, when the immune system identifies some bad cells, it then tells your circulatory system to send some lymphocytes (white blood cells) over to deal with the problem.

All Other Ones!

The immune system constantly patrols and gets rid of harmful cells, viruses, and bacteria in all of the organs and tissue in the body. They protect, watch over, and aid ever system in the body making sure they are safe.

Analogy: The Immune System is Like 
A Mall Security System

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The immune system is like a mall security system because...

• someone in it watches over the entire building through cameras and looks for burgulars or people that might do harm just like how the immune system looks for cells, virusis, and bacteria that might do harm in the body.
• when a burglar is found, security guards are sent to the location to get rid of them and are informed by someone through walkie talkies similar to how in the immune system when something harmful is found the appendix tells the circulatory system to send over the white blood cells to get rid of the harmfull things.

If the immune system was a mall security system, then the person watching the security camera's would be the appendix since they are what inform the lymphocytes and security guards about where the problem is. The security guards would be the lymphocytes or white blood cells since they both do the actual job of fighting the invaders. The bloodstream that the white blood cells travel through would be the many passages throughout the mall while the security camera's themselves would be the appendix and white blood cells since they are the organs that look for and find the invaders.                                                                        

Structure and Function: Tonsils

The functions of your tonsils is to trap bacteria and virusis you might breath in. They are the first line of defense in your immune system. How does the structure of it help it perform these functions?

1. You have two tonsils located on both the right and left side of your throat. The location of the tonsils make sure that they are able to easily capture as much germs as possible in the air that you breathe in. If you only had one tonsil, it wouldn't really be able to efficiently capture the bacteria, and viruses.
2. The tonsils are also squishy and flexible instead of hard and stiff. This also allows them to more efficiently capture air since it can cover more area if it is flexible. In addition to that, it's flexibility allows air to more easily travel down your windpipe.

The location as well as flexibility of the tonsils allow them to efficiently perform their function.

Sources:

http://www.immune-system-expert.com/immune-organs.html

http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_immune.html