"Anorexia Nervosa cannot be satisfactorily accounted for by any single model of abnormality" - discuss

"Anorexia Nervosa cannot be satisfactorily accounted for by any single model of abnormality" Anorexia is a condition disputed by psychologists in attempts to find a cause for the problem. Anorexia is when an individual chooses to emaciate themselves in order to be thin. There are two main types of reasoning behind such behaviour. The biological and psychological explanation. Of course, there are many forms of branched out explanations within these, and the two of which that I shall be exploring are the genetic justification (in terms of biological) and the behaviourist approach, for the psychological relation. Biological psychologists believe that human behaviour and what makes us do what we do, is all down to genes. With the new advance in recent science, genes are becoming a more popular reasoning to many psychological issues. Anorexia nervosa for one. The genetic approach proclaims that the cause for anorexia is to do with genes: i.e. the genetic and inherited factors we have within our relations. The idea is that should one family member suffer from an eating disorder, then there is a higher chance that another family member (preferably those who share the same, or like genes) would contract an eating, or another obsessive-compulsive disorder. Holland et al, a group of psychologists, lead a study on the genetic link of anorexia nervosa in 1984. They perused a sample of

  • Word count: 1018
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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Parkinsons Disease

Parkinson's Disease (PD) The problem: At the moment there is no cure for PD and treatments still have a long way to go before PD is no longer a major issue. But the real problem is which treatments to use and which path shows the most potential to a full time cure? Introduction: PD normally affects people over the age of 50. It becomes more common with increasing age. 'About 5 in 1,000 people in their 60s and about 40 in 1,000 people in their 80s have PD'1. It affects both men and women but is a little more common in men. PD is not usually inherited, and can affect anyone. However, genetic factors may be important in the small number of people who develop the disease before the age of 50. PD therefore affects a lot of people in the UK and I have chosen this topic so I have a greater understanding of what they go through and how we can help those affected. Background: Biology of Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a chronic disorder of part of the brain called the substantia nigra. It mainly affects the way the brain co-ordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body. This area of the brain sends messages down nerves in the spinal cord to help control the muscles of the body. Messages are passed between brain cells, nerves and muscles by chemicals called neurotransmitters. Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter that is made by the brain

  • Word count: 3857
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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Research the use of recombinant DNA in the production of human insulin and two other named proteins of your choice.

Research the use of recombinant DNA in the production of human insulin and two other named proteins of your choice Recombinant DNA is DNA that has been created artificially. DNA from two or more sources is incorporated into a single recombinant molecule. There are three different methods by which Recombinant DNA is made. They are: Transformation, Phage Introduction, and Non-Bacterial Transformation. In this essay I will be discussing these methods which are used to make insulin, erythropoietin, and factor VIII. Insulin reduces the blood glucose level (BGL) which is raised by the intake and metabolizing of carbohydrates. High levels of glucose in the blood will cause problems so the sugar level must be returned to normal as soon as possible. When the blood sugar level rises, the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas release insulin into the blood. Insulin makes the liver convert glucose to glycogen, which is stored primarily in the liver but also in the muscles - this results in lowering the BGL. When the BGL is low, the pancreas stops producing insulin. Diabetics cannot produce any or enough of their own insulin so they must inject commercially produced insulin. The gene for insulin production that is inserted into bacteria comes from a human chromosome form a pancreatic cell. Erythropoietin is the hormone normally produced by the kidneys of humans, cats and dogs, and other

  • Word count: 1308
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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Biology Coursework: Does Acupuncture relieve pain?

Does Acupuncture relieve pain? Is this form of unconventional alternative medicine anything more than placebo effects? Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of needles in the body. Its practitioners variously claim that it relieves pain, treats infertility, treats disease, prevents disease, promotes general health, or can be used for therapeutic purposes.3 However, explaining the mechanism of acupuncture using conventional science and proving that it relieves pain has proved very challenging for scientists over the decades. This coursework will attempt to explore this topic further and determine whether there is any biological proof that acupuncture reduces pain. Ideas of what constitutes health and healing sometimes differ from concepts used in scientific, evidence based medicine. Acupuncture was developed prior to the science of human anatomy. Disease is believed to be caused, not by infectious agents, but by an imbalance of yin and yang (a metaphysical balance) caused by a "blockage" or "stagnation" of metaphysical energy known as qi (pronounced "chee") which is believed to flow within and without the body. Inserting needles into specific acupuncture points along a meridian unblocks qi and restores the body's healthy balance. 2 Jessica L (fig 1) says, "after my first session, I felt so much more balanced and in control,

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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In this paper I will be studying chromosome 11 of the human genome.

Biology ISU Chromosome 11 By: Rachel Williams SBI 4U Teacher: Mr. Pigeon December 5, 2003 In this paper I will be studying chromosome 11 of the human genome. Specifically, I will be researching some of the diseases that occur when there are mutations in the genes on chromosome 11. Five specific diseases will be looked at and studied in detail: the Sickle Cell Anemia gene, the MLL gene which causes Trisomy 11, the H19 gene which causes Beckwith-Weideman Syndrome, the WT1 and PAX6 genes which causes Wilm's Tumor syndrome, and finally, the work being done on the genes of Chromosome 11q22-q24 regarding cervical carcinoma. The following research was all acquired from the NCBI online database. The HBB gene which causes Sickle Cell Anemia, is found on chromosome 11p15.4. This gene causes an inherited blood disorder, mainly effecting people from the African continent (1/500), but also people from the Mediterranean and South Asian countries.(NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) Approximately 8% of the African American population are carriers; often, this gene is associated with malaria occurrence, as carriers are somewhat protected against malaria. (NCBI Online, 24 June 2003) Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal (not sex related) recessive disease caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin beta gene. When a mutation occurs, the HBB gene produces a structurally abnormal hemoglobin (Hb),

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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Is Genetically Produced Insulin The Right Way To Treat Diabetes

29/03/2004 James Is Genetically Produced Insulin The Right Way To Treat Diabetes? In this project I plan to research and evaluate different methods of producing human insulin for treating people with diabetes. The main methods I will research and evaluate are methods that use some sort of genetic modification process. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas by beta cells. Insulin is necessary to remove excess sugar from the blood, by moving it into other body tissues where it is used as energy(9). Insulin also helps the body to metabolize (process) carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the diet. Insulin was the first genetically engineered drug in the world. (4) People with diabetes have a problem with their pancreas; it does not produce enough insulin for the body's needs, so additional insulin is required or serious problems with the persons nerves, blood vessels, kidneys, and eyes will occur over time. Insulin has to be injected otherwise acid in the stomach would destroy the insulin if taken by mouth. Insulin controls diabetes, but does not cure it. Insulin must be taken regularly, so to keep the persons blood-sugar level stable (1). (2) Methods Of Producing Insulin. GE Insulin-Producing Bacteria. Nowadays demand for insulin is so great that the pig produced insulin method (below) couldn't

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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Research on mad cow disease and creutzfeldt-jacob disease

Prion Diseases Mad Cow & Mad Human Aamir Shaikh's SNAB AS coursework Unit 3: Paper 01 Visit or Issue Report Word Count: 1, 964 The two topics covered are Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD), with CJD being the main topic. This is aimed at students who are studying A levels and wish to gain further insight into BSE & CJD. This can be used as a handout or a small text booklet that can be supplied/handed out to student during class/lecture Topic 1 Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease What is CJD? 1 Symptoms and Effects of CJD 1 Causes of CJD 2 Structure of a prion 2 What do prions do? 3 Methods to combat prions 3 Research 4 Topic 2 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy What is BSE? 4 Symptoms of BSE 4 Causes 4 Prevention 5 Glossary 6 Bibliography 7 Validity 8 Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease? Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease is a rare yet

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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The Impact of genetic fingerprinting and gene profiling in Forensic Science

Helen Douglas 12.4 BIOLOGY COURSEWORK: The Impact of genetic fingerprinting and gene profiling in Forensic Science Gene profiling and genetic fingerprinting was unheard of in Forensic Science 20 years ago. DNA testing was initially introduced in the 1980s and the first court case, which saw a man put behind bars due to the forensic evidence was in 1985. Following the success of the use of physical proof, numerous cases around the world from paternity tests to identification of American soldiers from the Vietnam War have been solved. A person's DNA (de-oxyribonucleic acid) can be found from a single strand of hair, skin under a murder victim's nails or bodily fluids such as sweat, saliva, semen and blood. The chances of a sample of DNA being the same as another person, other than monozygotic twins is 1 in 24 million. This is why recent cases such as that of Sarah Payne rely so much on DNA samples found at the crime scene. In this case a single strand of Sarah's hair was found on Roy Whitting's sweatshirt and matching fibres from his sweatshirt were found on her shoe, although there was slight controversy as to whether the evidence was contaminated. The method for extracting the DNA from a sample is a complex one. The technique was first developed in this country in 1985, the year of the first proven case. Firstly the DNA must be extracted from the sample of body tissue

  • Word count: 1105
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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What different methods exist for studying genetic variation at a molecular level? How could an allele polymorphism mutation be shown to contribute to a disease/ trait?

What different methods exist for studying genetic variation at a molecular level? How could an allele polymorphism mutation be shown to contribute to a disease/ trait? Almost all human genetic variation is relatively insignificant biologically- that is, it has no apparent adaptive significance. Some variation such as a neutral mutations, alter the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein but produces no detectable change in its function. Other variation, for example, silent mutations, do not even change the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide. Furthermore, only a small percentage of the DNA sequences in the human genome are coding sequences (sequences that are ultimately translated into protein) or regulatory sequences (sequences that can influence the level, timing, and tissue specificity of gene expression). However, these supposedly silent variations may be useful in mapping specific genes in the human genome, is not allowing the study of variation amongst individuals in a population flourish. The co-existence of more than one variant of an allele is called genetic polymorphism. More precisely, an allele is usually defined as polymorphic if it is present at a frequency of >1% in a population. Variation among individuals however, need not only occur in base sequences in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which codes for the production of a polypeptide molecule

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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Explain how twin and adoption studies attempt to distinguish genetic and environmental factors underlying the onset of schizophrenia within families. Review the studies and discuss two limitations of this.

Psychology Essay Explain how twin and adoption studies attempt to distinguish genetic and environmental factors underlying the onset of schizophrenia within families. Review the studies and discuss two limitations of this. Schizophrenia is the label applied to a group of disorders characterised by severe personality disorganisation, distortion of reality, and an inability to function in daily life. Symptoms are mainly disturbances of thought processes, but also extend to disturbances of emotion and behaviour. There are two symptom categories - acute schizophrenia characterised by positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions; and chronic schizophrenia, characterised by negative symptoms such as apathy and withdrawal. However, DSM-IV has now moved away from these definitions and classified schizophrenia into three main sub-types: paranoid, disorganised and catatonic. Understanding Schizophrenia More research has, probably, been devoted to trying to understand the nature of schizophrenia than any other mental disorder. Somatogenic approaches have focused on the role of genetic mechanisms influencing the propensity to develop schizophrenia, while psychogenic approaches emphasise the effect of adverse childhood experiences, particularly abnormalities in family interaction in the aetiology of the disorder. Twin studies Twin studies offer a

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Science
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