Drugs from the Sea.
Drugs from the Sea Tyler Herrington Chemistry 11 Mr. Tuckwell Oct. 1, 2003 Medicinal drugs are a very important issue to many humans today. They are used to prevent diseases and to cure infected people. Unfortunately, many strands of bacteria are now becoming immune to many of our current vaccines, and we urgently need to find new sources of disease fighting entities. A marine biology based institution, by the name of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, located on the coast of California, in La Jolla, has realized that the ocean has many great opportunities for new medicines; it is just a matter of where we look. A marine biologist, based at this institution, by the name of William Fenical, is the director of marine based vaccine research. His current research could lead to future vaccines for cancer and possibly even today's incurable viruses. He explains that the days of being able to just wander a forest, take a dirt sample, and find a medicinal substance are over. Many of the past medicines, he says, are becoming obsolete. Many marine vaccines are currently in clinical trial and a few look like they could be successful in the near future. Ecteinascidin 743, for example is a marine-based drug, derived from a sea whip, Ecteinascidin turbinata, which has been proven in lab studies to be effective in fighting against human breast cancers and rodent leukemias.
Functionality of Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles
Functionality of Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles Sean Tavakoli April 14, 2010 Section: A020 Abstract: Lab exercises 8 and 9 were performed to learn about the physiological properties of skeletal and cardiac muscles. In lab exercise 8, the gastrocnemius muscle was isolated from a bullfrog and several experiments were performed with a kymograph to test the effect of stimulus intensity on a muscle, the timing of muscular contraction, and testing titanic contraction. In lab exercise 9, a bullfrog heart was used to understand the properties of cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle is very unique, because it can only be found in the heart organ. Experiments in lab exercise 9 included controlling the heart rate with four different agents: adrenalin, cold ringer's solution, warm ringer's solution, and acetylcholine. Additionally, the initiation and transmission of cardiac contraction was tested by stopping the SA node and finally looking at the reaction properties of cardiac muscle with the assistance of a kymograph (Stefaniak pg 84). Introduction: Skeletal and Cardiac muscles can be very similar. They possess the ability to contract due to the actin and myosin sliding filaments, which is a trait in every type of muscle tissue. They are also both striated and when stimulated, can cause action potentials. This means that they both follow the sliding-filament model, which is based on the
The Germ Theory of Disease. In the nineteenth century when the distribution of microscopes became widespread, the sheer degree of microbial life forms was more apparent and thus the two questions Does spontaneous generation occur? a
The Germ Theory of Disease Although the germ theory of disease is mainly accredited to Louis Pasteur for his work in disproving the theory of spontaneous generation, to Robert Koch for developing the criteria required to ascertain whether a microorganism has caused a certain disease (Koch's postulates), and to Joseph Lister for the introduction of antiseptics into surgery, a whole host of other scientists have contributed both directly and indirectly to the establishment of the theory (Snowden 2010). In the nineteenth century when the distribution of microscopes became widespread, the sheer degree of microbial life forms was more apparent and thus the two questions - "Does spontaneous generation occur?" and "What is the nature of infectious disease?" emerged (Madigan M. T. et al. 2009. pp. 10-11). The answering of these questions would lead to what would become the basis of the germ theory of disease. Question 1 - "Does spontaneous generation occur?" Many scientists have worked on and contributed to answering this question. In 1668, Francesco Redi, proved that the popular belief that maggots arose spontaneously from rotting meat was false. Even though this was on a much larger scale than disease causing microorganisms, the basic principle which would later be applied was the same. Redi did this by setting out meat in a variety of flasks, with varying degrees of
EFFECT OF Light wave Length on Photosynthisis
Introduction Plants are vital for the life of humans, animals and the ecosystem. They add beauty to the places that we live in and play a major role in the air purification process. Many of the medications we use to cure the diseases are made from plants. Plants and plant communities also provide the necessary habitat for wildlife and fish populations, which is very important to humans as particular wildlife and fish make up a significant portion of our diet. Most of all, the oxygen in the air we breathe comes from the photosynthesis of plants, and as a result, the quality of the air can be greatly influenced by plants. (Environment Explorers, 2008). Photosynthesis is one of nature's greatest miracles. Through this process, green plants absorb sunlight in their leaves and convert the photonic energy into chemical energy that is stored as sugars in the plants' biomass. Photosynthesis is the source of the oxygen, which we breathe. Before plants appeared, the earth's atmosphere was high in carbon dioxide but contained no oxygen. The present atmosphere, by comparison, is about 0.035% carbon dioxide and 21% oxygen - thanks to photosynthesis (Calvin M., 1962). Each year, 105 billion ton of biomass is produced by photosynthesis energy conversion (Quantum-mechanical) Optimization of Light-Harvesting in Photosynthesis, a biomass that is equal to two great pyramids of Giza is
Regional anatomy - case studies of the spinal region
Jun Wang NAECM2011-118007 Regional Anatomy Lab –Assignment 1 Case 1 Case Summary: Lymph node biopsy was performed on a patient to obtain a sample of her left deep cervical nodes. Following the surgery, the patient complained of weakness in her left shoulder, which is then closely examined to confirm her inability to raise the point of her shoulder. However, the patient’s new symptom was not associated with numbness in her shoulder, back or neck. Terms: Lymph node biopsy: Lymph nodes are part of the body's immune system, where produce and harbor infection-fighting white blood cells (lymphocytes) that attack and can be attacked by both infectious agents and cancer cells. For that reason, physicians do a needle biopsy to remove a portion of a lymph node and examine under the microscope to find evidence of these problems. Deep cervical nodes: are a group of lymph nodes situated around or near the internal jugular vein. Includes two groups, superior and inferior, based on the point where the omohyoid muscle crosses the vein. Case Discussion: In class, our group discussed about Case 1. Our first question was to identify which nerve has been cut during the biopsy that would cause the symptoms developed. After looking up the anatomical location of both deep cervical lymph nodes and all the major nerves neighboring, we were able to determine it was the Accessory
What Limits if any should be placed on the use of the following Biotechnologies. Cloning and Embryonic Stem Cell in Research and Treatment
Controversies & Ethical Dilemmas In Science & Technology Department of Humanities Imperial College London What Limits if any should be placed on the use of the following Biotechnologies. Cloning and Embryonic Stem Cell in Research and Treatment In this paper I will discuss the moral issues surrounding Cloning and Stem Cell research biotechnologies and whether appropriate restrictions need to be enforced to address many of the controversial aspects regarding the conduct of research. The use of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research is associated with many ethical controversies, as during the stem cell harvest process many embryos are destroyed. Many consider the destruction of nascent human life immoral and unethical. [1] To address this issue, the hESC policy debate in the United States focused on enforcing appropriate limits on the use of public dollar contributing to hESC research. [2] Many opponents to embryonic stem cell research believe it is morally unacceptable to fund what they perceive as being a highly controversial area of science. However, during the debate there was little disagreement on the legality of the research, and on August 9th 2001, President George W. Bush favored funding of stem cell research. [3] The guidelines set out by Bush agreed that the federal government should not fund hESC research, which required further destruction of embryos [2]
How do the physical properties of the ears help the brain decode and interpret sounds?
How do the physical properties of the ears help the brain decode and interpret sounds? Sound travels as osccialtion through some medium. The function of ears is to transmit the sound into electric messages which are sent to the brain which perceives and interprets the sound. Ears consist of three parts the outer ear, middle and inner ears. The outer ear consists of the pinna which collects the sound and transmits it to the ear canal, which amplifies the sound and transmits it to the tympanic membrane, the division between the outer ear and the middle ear. The middle ear consist of tympanic membrane, osiccles (three bones connected in sequence: hammer, anvil and stirrup) and oval window. When the sound vibration from the outer ear reaches the tympanic membrane it vibrates at the same rate as the vibration from the outer ear. The vibrating tympanic membrane causes ossicles to vibrate, which transmits the vibration to the oval window. The sound is amplified when transmitted as the tympanic membrane is much larger then the oval window, and the bigger force is needed to transmit the vibration from the air module to the fluid filled cochlea of the inner ear. This amplification is also aided by lever-like action of ossicles. This helps to permit the loss of sound energy. Two muscles connected to the ossicles (stapedius and tensor tympani) may damp down this amplification when
Investigation of the effect of increasing amount of lead nitrate on hydrolysis of starch was done using the enzyme amylase
The Effect of Inhibitors on the activity of enzymes Investigation of the effect of increasing amount of lead nitrate on hydrolysis of starch was done using the enzyme amylase. Hypothesis: . A non competitive inhibitor binds to a part of the enzyme away from the active site. 2. The shape of the enzyme is changed, thus changing the shape of the active site. 3. No enzyme- substrate complexes can be formed. Hence no products can be produced. 4. Increasing the amount of substrate does not overcome the effect of this type of inhibitor. 5. Reaction rate will fall as the concentration of inhibitors rises. Table 1: Variables Selected for this Experiment Variables Independent Variable Different concentration of lead nitrate Dependent Variable Transmission of light/arbitrary unit Control Variables Temperature, same amount of amylase, same amount of pH solution, same amount of lead nitrate Materials and Methods: The apparatus and materials required for this investigation are listed below: . 6 boiling tubes 2. 6 test tubes 3. Test tube rack 4. Labels/markers pen 5. 1% starch solution –allow 100 cm3 per repeat 6. Amylase solution 1%-allow 50 cm3 per repeat 7. Iodine solution- allow 10 cm3 per repeat 8. Distilled water -50 cm3 per repeat 9. 10 cm3 measuring cylinder 0. Stopwatch 1. Colorimeter cuvettes 2. Thermostatically controlled
Hypothesis-based Science. An example of hypothesis-based science given in the textbook is that of the Eastern Coral and Scarlet King snakes
Hypothesis-based Science A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or answer to a problem or question. One stipulation for a good hypothesis is that it must be testable. Science demands for actual data and facts to be used when testing a hypothesis. If no hard data or facts can be provided, the hypothesis exists outside of science and it is in the realm of faith, the paranormal or other things that can be neither proven nor disproven. Furthermore, if a hypothesis is to be tested, a hypothesis is only good until it is proven false; it must stand strong against all properly conducted tests, experiments or endeavors. Hypothesis-based science is science that is conducted by first making some observations. Next, the scientists make a hypothesis as an answer to a question or problem posed by the observations. From this hypothesis, a deduction or prediction is made on something else. This hypothesis can now be tested. This deduction must be proven as true if the hypothesis to also be portrayed as truth. An example of hypothesis-based science given in the textbook is that of the Eastern Coral and Scarlet King snakes. Two biologists and their student designed an experiment that was created to test the hypothesis that mimicry helps organisms avoid predation. The Easter Coral snake is poisonous and it exhibits a colorful pattern that helps it avoid predation in certain parts
Insulin activity on components of its signalling pathway and the effect of Ca2+ on these components
Biol301 - Insulin activity on components of its signalling pathway and the effect of Ca2+ on these components Abstract Insulin is a substrate which is involved in a signalling pathway concerned with blood glucose levels along with IR, IRS1 and PI-3 kinase. The activity of PI-3 kinase is affected by the influx of Ca2+ as was demonstrated by the addition of Ca2+ channel inhibitors to hepatocytes where PI-3 kinase activity dropped. As no effect to the phosphorylation of IR and IRS1 (insulin receptors and substrates) it was determined that the influx Ca2+ has a specific role in the pathway, ie only where PI-3 kinase is involved, in the latter stages of the pathway. Introduction The aim of this paper is to look at the effect of insulin, insulin receptors (IR), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and phosphatidyinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase) on rat hepatocytes. Insulin is a peptide hormone which is secreted by ß-cells which are found in the islets of langerhans and is secreted as a response to rising blood glucose levels. It is part of a complex signalling pathway which involves a large number of molecule-molecule complexes and is the stimulus of many different functions such as glycogenesis, glucose transport and the transcription of genes. IR, IRS1 and PI-3 kinase are also key components in the signalling pathway. IR is a diametric tyrosine kinase which is composed of α