Amrita Krishnakumar
Source: Virginia Commonwealth University
Author: Liza Bishop
Published: November 12, 2014
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141112102646.htm
Summary:
Over the years many scientists, doctors and researchers have been
looking for cures and solutions to fighting cancer. As we know, many types of
cancer can be treated and many people have been helped. However, one
type of cancer that has a survival rate less than six percent is, pancreatic
cancer. It is said to be one of the deadliest of cancers. "Pancreatic
cancer is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the US.
Developing an effective treatment is a vital step, and immuno-chemotherapy may
be the key," said Luni Emdad, member of the Cancer Molecular Genetics
research program at VCU Massey, assistant professor in the Department of Human
and Molecular Genetics at VCU School of Medicine and member of the VIMM. The
reason for the high mortality rate caused by the cancer is the failure to
diagnose the disease before spreading to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy
and radiation are not strong enough to fight such an aggressive disease, so
scientists at VCU Massey Cancer center and VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine
have discovered a new way to treat pancreatic cancer using immuno-chemotherapy.
Immuno-chemotherapy is a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which
uses the patient's own immune system to help fight the disease. Many scientists
including Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., and Luni Emdad, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., have
found that a combination of a molecule polyethlenimine (PEI) and
polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (pIC), can help kill cancerous pancreatic cells and
leave alone all the normal cells.
Connections:
This article and topic relates to our Molecular Biology unit and our Cells unit. In our discussions and in chapter 12.4 of the textbook, we talked about cells and how mutations in cells can cause the cells to become cancerous. The cancerous cells that are found in pancreatic cancer can be acquired or inherited. Those who have pancreatic cancer, could have cancerous cells replicating in their bodies since it runs in their families. Also, those who acquire the cells could have been exposed to carcinogens, like cigarette smoke. People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent or have the BRCA2, p16, STK11 gene mutation or chronic pancreatitis have a greater risk of developing/producing cancerous cells as well. The problem that most doctors have with identifying pancreatic cancer is that, the symptoms are not defined and could be symptoms of other diseases as well. It has been calculated that ten percent of pancreatic cancers are hereditary. Mainly these mutations can be inherited from a parent. Most individuals that inherit the cancer, inherit one mutant copy from the parent. As time passes, those with the inherited cancer syndrome, will end up damaging the good copy of the gene and as a result the pancreas will grow abnormally. Another scenario involves the DNA being damaged by chance. There is a small percentile chance that when copying the DNA, there are mistakes made and a gene that involve cancer cells are mutated. These two reasons are the main reasons as to why people could have pancreatic cancer.
Showing posts with label Cells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cells. Show all posts
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Experimental Technique Coaxes Muscles Destroyed By War To Regrow
Julia Friend
Author: Rob Stein
Published: April 30th, 2014
Link (NPR)
Summary:
A medical team has discovered a way to encourage the regeneration of muscle tissue after its destruction in some sort of trauma. The experiment subjects were five men disabled from war - one, for instance, stepped on a land mine. The scientists found a way to stimulate muscle growth using extracellular matrix, a substance surrounding cells. It is similar to glue in that it keeps all of the cells together; in addition, the matrix has signals that can instruct the cells in certain ways. By transferring new, unaffected matrix from pig bladders to the damaged leg muscles of the men, scientists were successful in promoting new muscle growth. The matrix signaled to dormant, immature muscle cells to grow, thus regenerating the muscles. The men subjected to the experiment all saw improvements on various levels: some could now walk without their canes, and some could even complete harder tasks such as jumping jacks or hiking - men who originally had trouble even getting out of a chair independently. This method is being developed further as a replacement for ineffective options, such as muscle replacements and physical therapy.
Connections:
The muscles affected in these men were voluntarily controlled, and were thus skeletal muscles (as opposed to the involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles). The damage to these muscles came from an acute form of trauma: a single particular action destroyed those muscles, such as stepping on a land mine. This trauma is a form of homeostatic imbalance, where the muscles cannot function as they are supposed to. The leg muscles of these men could not support their body or aid in physical movement. The regeneration of their muscles restored, or partially restored, homeostasis so that those men could take part in the activities they once did before their injuries. The article as a whole relates to the muscular system, its parts, and its functions - all of which we discussed as a class with the powerpoint and book notes.
Author: Rob Stein
Published: April 30th, 2014
Link (NPR)
Summary:
A medical team has discovered a way to encourage the regeneration of muscle tissue after its destruction in some sort of trauma. The experiment subjects were five men disabled from war - one, for instance, stepped on a land mine. The scientists found a way to stimulate muscle growth using extracellular matrix, a substance surrounding cells. It is similar to glue in that it keeps all of the cells together; in addition, the matrix has signals that can instruct the cells in certain ways. By transferring new, unaffected matrix from pig bladders to the damaged leg muscles of the men, scientists were successful in promoting new muscle growth. The matrix signaled to dormant, immature muscle cells to grow, thus regenerating the muscles. The men subjected to the experiment all saw improvements on various levels: some could now walk without their canes, and some could even complete harder tasks such as jumping jacks or hiking - men who originally had trouble even getting out of a chair independently. This method is being developed further as a replacement for ineffective options, such as muscle replacements and physical therapy.
Connections:
The muscles affected in these men were voluntarily controlled, and were thus skeletal muscles (as opposed to the involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles). The damage to these muscles came from an acute form of trauma: a single particular action destroyed those muscles, such as stepping on a land mine. This trauma is a form of homeostatic imbalance, where the muscles cannot function as they are supposed to. The leg muscles of these men could not support their body or aid in physical movement. The regeneration of their muscles restored, or partially restored, homeostasis so that those men could take part in the activities they once did before their injuries. The article as a whole relates to the muscular system, its parts, and its functions - all of which we discussed as a class with the powerpoint and book notes.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Clearance in Detecting Skin Cancer and Curing It
By Adhirath Bollapragada
Published: October 4th, 2013
Author: Gaurav Krishnamurthy
Source: http://www.medgadget.com/2013/10/esteya-system-for-skin-cancer-treatment-gets-fda-510k-clearance.html
Summary:
Skin cancer is one of the most common cases of cancer, combined with incidents with the breast, lung, prostate, and colon. Even though one of the main forms to cure and treat skin cancer is surgery, research has found an alternative way in which skin cancer can be treated and cured; Electronic Brachytherapy. In addition, High Dose Rate (HDR) are alternatives to treating skin cancer, but a third way has been cleared. The Esteya system uses a click on applicator and easily maneuverable, using high LED brightness. As a result, the time it takes to complete the treatment is very short. In addition, the Esteya system can be used anywhere, as it requires minimal shielding and is highly portable. A tungsten applicator shield protects healthy tissue from excessive radiation exposure. Also, the Esteya system lowers the patient lines. This all seems like advertisement, but the Esteya system is mainly used for areas on the human body where it is dangerous to undergo surgery in. The Esteya system is especially relevant for cancers of the nose, ears, eyelids or lips, where surgery may cause disfigurement or require extensive reconstruction.
Connection:
Even though this is a complicated article, consisting of a video as well, it touches upon the role of a cell in the human body and how dangerous any type of cancer can be. Cancer is an excess of cells in the human body, concentrated or not, in which cells do not undergo mitosis and have a function in the body. There are many types of cancer; brain cancer, breast cancer, etc. However, this article connects to the unit about cells because it focuses on the importance of the cell cycle; most importantly mitosis. Mitosis is a phase when the parent cell doubles its chromosomes to distribute to the two daughter cells that will form later on. But when cells keep reproducing and do not die, increasing a concentration of cells in one area or all over the body, known as a malignant tumor, it is known as cancer. The cells don't function in a way to help the body, and do not maintain a balance within the body too. So, this article talks about another way in which skin cancer can be cured. This is just only a small accomplishment in curing cancer, but there are many more to come.
Published: October 4th, 2013
Author: Gaurav Krishnamurthy
Source: http://www.medgadget.com/2013/10/esteya-system-for-skin-cancer-treatment-gets-fda-510k-clearance.html
Summary:
Skin cancer is one of the most common cases of cancer, combined with incidents with the breast, lung, prostate, and colon. Even though one of the main forms to cure and treat skin cancer is surgery, research has found an alternative way in which skin cancer can be treated and cured; Electronic Brachytherapy. In addition, High Dose Rate (HDR) are alternatives to treating skin cancer, but a third way has been cleared. The Esteya system uses a click on applicator and easily maneuverable, using high LED brightness. As a result, the time it takes to complete the treatment is very short. In addition, the Esteya system can be used anywhere, as it requires minimal shielding and is highly portable. A tungsten applicator shield protects healthy tissue from excessive radiation exposure. Also, the Esteya system lowers the patient lines. This all seems like advertisement, but the Esteya system is mainly used for areas on the human body where it is dangerous to undergo surgery in. The Esteya system is especially relevant for cancers of the nose, ears, eyelids or lips, where surgery may cause disfigurement or require extensive reconstruction.
Connection:
Even though this is a complicated article, consisting of a video as well, it touches upon the role of a cell in the human body and how dangerous any type of cancer can be. Cancer is an excess of cells in the human body, concentrated or not, in which cells do not undergo mitosis and have a function in the body. There are many types of cancer; brain cancer, breast cancer, etc. However, this article connects to the unit about cells because it focuses on the importance of the cell cycle; most importantly mitosis. Mitosis is a phase when the parent cell doubles its chromosomes to distribute to the two daughter cells that will form later on. But when cells keep reproducing and do not die, increasing a concentration of cells in one area or all over the body, known as a malignant tumor, it is known as cancer. The cells don't function in a way to help the body, and do not maintain a balance within the body too. So, this article talks about another way in which skin cancer can be cured. This is just only a small accomplishment in curing cancer, but there are many more to come.
Test-Tube Burger
Link: http://science.time.com/2013/08/05/meet-schmeat-say-hello-to-the-stem-cell-hamburger/
Some vegetarians object to meat for the reason of killing the animal. If there was a way to fix that maybe they could eat meat. Scientists are in fact working on a way to produce meat with out killing animals. This meat is made from stem-cells grown in labs with proteins and amino acids. The cost of producing meat from animals is a lot more than we think, the costs of land for the animals, food for the animals, land to grow the food for the animals, medicine for the animals, slaughtering the animals, processing the meat is all factored into the total. Removing those extra steps and necessities makes meat production far more efficient and cost effective.
In class we discussed many things relating to this article. Early in the quarter we talked about the efficiency of eating meat against eating plants due to the cost of feeding the animals we eat instead of that food going directly to us. Later we learned about all the parts that make up a cell and the molecules that make up the parts. To "grow" meat these molecules are very important, the amino acids, nucleic acids, proteins, etc.
Some vegetarians object to meat for the reason of killing the animal. If there was a way to fix that maybe they could eat meat. Scientists are in fact working on a way to produce meat with out killing animals. This meat is made from stem-cells grown in labs with proteins and amino acids. The cost of producing meat from animals is a lot more than we think, the costs of land for the animals, food for the animals, land to grow the food for the animals, medicine for the animals, slaughtering the animals, processing the meat is all factored into the total. Removing those extra steps and necessities makes meat production far more efficient and cost effective.
In class we discussed many things relating to this article. Early in the quarter we talked about the efficiency of eating meat against eating plants due to the cost of feeding the animals we eat instead of that food going directly to us. Later we learned about all the parts that make up a cell and the molecules that make up the parts. To "grow" meat these molecules are very important, the amino acids, nucleic acids, proteins, etc.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Turning on key enzyme blocks tumor formation
Katie Liu
October 20, 2013
Published: August 27, 2012
Link: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/turning-on-key-enzyme-blocks-tumor-formation-0827.html
Summary:
Cancer cells put most of their energy into reproduction and growth, unlike regular cells. They rely on the help of certain enzymes to construct molecules that build up cell structures. When chemical compounds interrupt the function of this enzyme, it can prevent tumors from forming in mice, according to a study done at MIT. Cancer cells use a specific type of enzyme called pyruvate kinase that allows the cell to focus on growing and dividing quicker than normal. In normal cells, this enzyme allows a large ATP to be produced from the product of glycolysis. However, in cancer cells, the alternate form of this enzyme is less active, so instead of having more ATP produced, the products of glycolysis are being made into macromolecules essential for building and growing cells. This study suggest that cancerous growth can be stopped by raising the level of pyruvate kinase activity so the cell will have normal reactions. Drugs that change the properties of the altered enzyme into its original state hold possibilities for treating cancer. Tests have been run where chemical compounds that reverse the properties of the altered pyruvate kinase have been added into mice, and none of them developed tumors when they were exposed to human tumors.
Connection:
This article relates to our curriculum for this term since we've talked about enzymes in our second unit and cells for our third unit. We discussed the role of enzymes in chemical reactions, and how they work. This article talks about the role of a particular enzyme in cancerous cells, and how it’s causing cancer by causing less chemical reactions than normal cells which results in the cell producing building blocks like carbohydrates instead. We've also discussed cells and cellular reproduction by mitosis. Cancer cells are able to be harmful through massive cellular division and damage tissues that way. They grow uncontrollably and cancer is consider a disease of the cell cycle.
The Movement of a Cell with Messenger Proteins
Isabelle Terranova
October 21, 2013
Published by: John Hopkins University
Published on: October 20, 2013
Url: http://phys.org/news/2013-10-random-cell-movement.html
Summary:
Biologists at John Hopkins University have made a ground breaking discovery on how cells move. It was previously thought that messenger proteins were only involved in directional movement. They thought that without messenger proteins a cell could only preform random movements. Now, however, we know that the messenger proteins are also involved in the random movements of the cell. The cytoskeleton is a complicated network of proteins that wrap around the inside of the cell and dive it it's shape and construction. The cytoskeleton allows the cell to move by pushing outwards in a certain spot and creating a projection outside of the cell that pulls the cell forward. The cytoskeleton moves by getting signals from the messenger proteins that are directed by the sensor protein on the outside of the cell. To perform their experiment, they bathed the cell in a drug that prevents the cytoskeleton from moving, and as they suspected the cell could not move, however the random responses of the messenger cells still happened. Then they tested what would happened if they paralyzed other parts of the system. They thought that if they removed the sensor proteins that no movement would occur, but they notice that the messenger proteins can still work on their own telling the cytoskeleton how to work. This discovery explains in more detail how cells move, but much is still unknown.
Connection:
In class we did a unit on cells. We talked about how there are three different types of proteins in the cell membrane, channel proteins, receptor proteins and marker proteins. These proteins help the cell get messages from others cells and allow the cytoskeleton to get the message on where and how to move. We also learned about macromolecules and the function of a protein. Proteins have very diverse functions; some main functions are structure, defense, enzymes and receptors on the outside of the cell's membrane. The proteins in the cytoskeleton hold the cell's structure while allowing parts of the cytoskeleton to bulge out and enable the cell to move. In class we also discussed how cilia and flagella enable the cell to move. This relates because the article discusses how these organisms get the message from the messenger proteins and move the cell like propellers! In class we learned a lot about the functions of proteins and the movement and functions of cells. This material is enriched by the study carried out at John Hopkins University School of Medicine and recorded in the listed article!
October 21, 2013
Published by: John Hopkins University
Published on: October 20, 2013
Url: http://phys.org/news/2013-10-random-cell-movement.html
Summary:
Biologists at John Hopkins University have made a ground breaking discovery on how cells move. It was previously thought that messenger proteins were only involved in directional movement. They thought that without messenger proteins a cell could only preform random movements. Now, however, we know that the messenger proteins are also involved in the random movements of the cell. The cytoskeleton is a complicated network of proteins that wrap around the inside of the cell and dive it it's shape and construction. The cytoskeleton allows the cell to move by pushing outwards in a certain spot and creating a projection outside of the cell that pulls the cell forward. The cytoskeleton moves by getting signals from the messenger proteins that are directed by the sensor protein on the outside of the cell. To perform their experiment, they bathed the cell in a drug that prevents the cytoskeleton from moving, and as they suspected the cell could not move, however the random responses of the messenger cells still happened. Then they tested what would happened if they paralyzed other parts of the system. They thought that if they removed the sensor proteins that no movement would occur, but they notice that the messenger proteins can still work on their own telling the cytoskeleton how to work. This discovery explains in more detail how cells move, but much is still unknown.
Connection:
In class we did a unit on cells. We talked about how there are three different types of proteins in the cell membrane, channel proteins, receptor proteins and marker proteins. These proteins help the cell get messages from others cells and allow the cytoskeleton to get the message on where and how to move. We also learned about macromolecules and the function of a protein. Proteins have very diverse functions; some main functions are structure, defense, enzymes and receptors on the outside of the cell's membrane. The proteins in the cytoskeleton hold the cell's structure while allowing parts of the cytoskeleton to bulge out and enable the cell to move. In class we also discussed how cilia and flagella enable the cell to move. This relates because the article discusses how these organisms get the message from the messenger proteins and move the cell like propellers! In class we learned a lot about the functions of proteins and the movement and functions of cells. This material is enriched by the study carried out at John Hopkins University School of Medicine and recorded in the listed article!
The 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Shaina Sikka
Period 2
Mr. Mathieu
October 20, 2013
Author: Nobel Media
Publication: October 7, 2013
"The 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine - Press Release".Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 20 Oct 2013.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2013/press.html
Summary:
Three scientists, Randy Schekman, James Rothman, and Thomas Südhof were awarded with the 2013 Nobel Prize for medicine for their discovery of how the cell organizes its transport system and how its cargo is delivered to the right place at the right time. According to the scientists, each cell acts like a factory by producing molecules and then exporting them in small membrane-bound sacs called vesicles. Randy Schekman solved the mystery of how vesicles know where and when to deliver their cargo by studying its genetic basis. Using yeast, he found flawed transport machinery, which lead to a defective transport system. Randy found that three genes controlled different areas of the cell’s transport system, and that the problem was due to a mutation of these genes. These genes were the controllers of vesicle traffic. Using cells from mammals, James Rothman discovered a protein machinery that allows vesicles to fuse with their targets, permitting transfer of cargo. Thomas Südhof, using nerve cells, researched how the release of a vesicle's contents was accurately controlled. He also discovered signals that instructed the vesicles to release their cargo. All of these findings gave insight on how cargo is delivered with timing and precision within and outside the cell. Without these findings, the cell would become chaotic.
Connection:
Period 2
Mr. Mathieu
October 20, 2013
Author: Nobel Media
Publication: October 7, 2013
"The 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine - Press Release".Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 20 Oct 2013.
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2013/press.html
Summary:
Three scientists, Randy Schekman, James Rothman, and Thomas Südhof were awarded with the 2013 Nobel Prize for medicine for their discovery of how the cell organizes its transport system and how its cargo is delivered to the right place at the right time. According to the scientists, each cell acts like a factory by producing molecules and then exporting them in small membrane-bound sacs called vesicles. Randy Schekman solved the mystery of how vesicles know where and when to deliver their cargo by studying its genetic basis. Using yeast, he found flawed transport machinery, which lead to a defective transport system. Randy found that three genes controlled different areas of the cell’s transport system, and that the problem was due to a mutation of these genes. These genes were the controllers of vesicle traffic. Using cells from mammals, James Rothman discovered a protein machinery that allows vesicles to fuse with their targets, permitting transfer of cargo. Thomas Südhof, using nerve cells, researched how the release of a vesicle's contents was accurately controlled. He also discovered signals that instructed the vesicles to release their cargo. All of these findings gave insight on how cargo is delivered with timing and precision within and outside the cell. Without these findings, the cell would become chaotic.
Connection:
This article relates to our study on cells. In lessons 6.4 and 6.5, we learned that vesicles are small membrane sacs that specialize in moving products into, out of, and within a cell. This connects to the article because it explains how the contents of vesicles are transported with precision and timing. In addition, in our curriculum we learned about proteins and organelles in cells. This article names some molecules that are transported in vesicles, proteins being one of them. Further more, in chapter six we learned about the concepts of the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, and the processes of endocytosis and exocytosis. Vesicles were the main topic of the entire article, and all of these concepts learnt in chapter six depend on the use of vesicles for the transportation of molecules.
Breakthrough in cell walls helps making bio-fuel more efficient
Cole Winsor
10/20/13
Author: Celia Luterbacher
published: 8/15/13
http://www.news.wisc.edu/22033
Summary
Scientist have recently discovered a new gene in plants that may make the creation of bio-fuel from foods more efficient. Lignin is a compound in the cell walls of plants that give their tissue structure and sturdiness, however it also limits the use of plants as a bio-fuel because in order to gain access to the energy of the plants you must first break down lignin which often requires both heat and harsh chemicals. Researcher from the Department of Energy have recently identified a new gene responsible for producing a newly found enzyme, called caffeoyl shikimate esterase, which creates lignin. these discoveries have helped the world better understand how lignin is produced and is the first discovery in ten years that has helped scientist understand how lignin is produced in plants. When Ghent University in Belgium grew Arabidopsis plants with the gene responsible knocked out the amount of lignin in the plants stems was reduced by 36 percent. By lowering the lignin in plants the process of making bio-fuel could become faster and cheaper for industry, making it a much more viable source of fuel in the future.
Connection
this article relates to much of what we are learning about enzymes. This shows how important enzymes are in cells and how little we know about how much of the cell functions. It connects to what we have learned about synthesis reactions caused by enzymes create things such as the lignin in cell walls, and how without these enzymes to help with these reactions it would be much harder for them to occur
10/20/13
Author: Celia Luterbacher
published: 8/15/13
http://www.news.wisc.edu/22033
Summary
Scientist have recently discovered a new gene in plants that may make the creation of bio-fuel from foods more efficient. Lignin is a compound in the cell walls of plants that give their tissue structure and sturdiness, however it also limits the use of plants as a bio-fuel because in order to gain access to the energy of the plants you must first break down lignin which often requires both heat and harsh chemicals. Researcher from the Department of Energy have recently identified a new gene responsible for producing a newly found enzyme, called caffeoyl shikimate esterase, which creates lignin. these discoveries have helped the world better understand how lignin is produced and is the first discovery in ten years that has helped scientist understand how lignin is produced in plants. When Ghent University in Belgium grew Arabidopsis plants with the gene responsible knocked out the amount of lignin in the plants stems was reduced by 36 percent. By lowering the lignin in plants the process of making bio-fuel could become faster and cheaper for industry, making it a much more viable source of fuel in the future.
Connection
this article relates to much of what we are learning about enzymes. This shows how important enzymes are in cells and how little we know about how much of the cell functions. It connects to what we have learned about synthesis reactions caused by enzymes create things such as the lignin in cell walls, and how without these enzymes to help with these reactions it would be much harder for them to occur
Messenger Proteins Direct the Cytoskeleton to Move the Cell
Thanoshi Balasuriya
10/20/13
Author: unknown; based on materials provided by Johns Hopkins Medicine, via Newswise.
Published: October 20th, 2013
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131020160500.htm
Summary:
Peter Devreotes, a professor and director at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, and other co-workers found out that cell movement caused by the cytoskeleton isn't only organized by the messenger proteins on the outside of the cell; the movement is reliant on the proteins. Before, it was thought that the movement depended on the sensor proteins. However, through the experiments carried out by the team at John Hopkins, the data showed that the cell kept moving even though it was random movement when only the sensor proteins were eliminated, but when only the messenger proteins were inhibited, the cell did not move anywhere. This showed that the sensor proteins tell the messenger proteins to direct the cytoskeleton to move in a certain direction, but the messenger proteins were what initially cause the movement whether it is random or controlled by sensor proteins. This discovery could lead to stopping cancer metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one organ to another part of the body, since scientists could now create medicines to paralyze the messenger proteins of the cancer cell instead of only the sensor proteins in order to stop cell movement.
Connections:
This article connects to our study of cell structure. We have discussed the cytoskeleton which is a structure of the cell directly inside from the cell membrane which gives the cell some support and also helps the cell move. Cell movement is important for the cell to be able to reach other parts of the organism's body or in order for the cell to interact with other cells. Also, we briefly talked about the different kinds of proteins on or in the cell membrane which can be used for transport or other jobs, such as marker proteins used for self recognition, receptor proteins used for receiving messages, and channel proteins used for regulating or transporting the large charged particles into and out of the cell through the semi-permeable cell membrane. In this article, the sensor proteins and the messenger proteins are types of receptor proteins and they communicate with the cell's surroundings as well as with each other, or in the case of the messenger proteins, the cytoskeleton.
10/20/13
Author: unknown; based on materials provided by Johns Hopkins Medicine, via Newswise.
Published: October 20th, 2013
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131020160500.htm
Summary:
Peter Devreotes, a professor and director at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, and other co-workers found out that cell movement caused by the cytoskeleton isn't only organized by the messenger proteins on the outside of the cell; the movement is reliant on the proteins. Before, it was thought that the movement depended on the sensor proteins. However, through the experiments carried out by the team at John Hopkins, the data showed that the cell kept moving even though it was random movement when only the sensor proteins were eliminated, but when only the messenger proteins were inhibited, the cell did not move anywhere. This showed that the sensor proteins tell the messenger proteins to direct the cytoskeleton to move in a certain direction, but the messenger proteins were what initially cause the movement whether it is random or controlled by sensor proteins. This discovery could lead to stopping cancer metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one organ to another part of the body, since scientists could now create medicines to paralyze the messenger proteins of the cancer cell instead of only the sensor proteins in order to stop cell movement.
Connections:
This article connects to our study of cell structure. We have discussed the cytoskeleton which is a structure of the cell directly inside from the cell membrane which gives the cell some support and also helps the cell move. Cell movement is important for the cell to be able to reach other parts of the organism's body or in order for the cell to interact with other cells. Also, we briefly talked about the different kinds of proteins on or in the cell membrane which can be used for transport or other jobs, such as marker proteins used for self recognition, receptor proteins used for receiving messages, and channel proteins used for regulating or transporting the large charged particles into and out of the cell through the semi-permeable cell membrane. In this article, the sensor proteins and the messenger proteins are types of receptor proteins and they communicate with the cell's surroundings as well as with each other, or in the case of the messenger proteins, the cytoskeleton.
Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded for Cell Transportation Discoveries
Victoria Zhou
10/20/13
Published: Monday Oct 7, 2013
URL: http://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2013/oct/07/cellular-transport-2013-nobel-prize-physiology-medicine-video
Summary:
On Monday, October 7th, 2013, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman, and Thomas C. Sudhof for their discoveries in regulating vesicle traffic. These discoveries have a major impact on our understanding of timing and precision of vesicle docking, which is impacted by genetics. For a long time, how a cell organizes its transportation system has been a mystery to mankind until these three professors' discoveries. Each cell produces and exports molecules which are transported around the cell in packages called vesicles. It is a must that these vesicles arrive at the right place and exactly the right time for a cell to function properly. This transportation system is controlled by molecular principles. Schekman discovered a set of genes that are required for vesicle traffic. Rothman discovered the machinery that allows vesicles to fuse with their targets to transfer molecules, and Sudhof uncovered how signals in the cell inform vesicles to release their cargo. The vesicles deliver molecules between different organelles in the cell. The missing presence of this transportation system causes major diseases such as diabetes and other neurological or immune system disorders.
Connection:
This video connects to our unit about cells, their organelles, and their functions. We learned about how proteins and other molecules are transported around the cell for it to properly function, but we never exactly got into much detail about how important it is for the vesicles to get to the right place at exactly the right time. This explains how vesicles work in a cell to transport molecules in and around a cell. These discoveries further inform us about the complexity of a cell and how similar it is to a factory, which was a comparison we even made in class. These discoveries show how important it is for each organelle and system in a cell to function properly. The video talks about how even removing the organization of this transportation system can lead to diseases and disorders that impact the whole body which shows how important everything in a cell is.
10/20/13
Published: Monday Oct 7, 2013
URL: http://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2013/oct/07/cellular-transport-2013-nobel-prize-physiology-medicine-video
Summary:
On Monday, October 7th, 2013, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman, and Thomas C. Sudhof for their discoveries in regulating vesicle traffic. These discoveries have a major impact on our understanding of timing and precision of vesicle docking, which is impacted by genetics. For a long time, how a cell organizes its transportation system has been a mystery to mankind until these three professors' discoveries. Each cell produces and exports molecules which are transported around the cell in packages called vesicles. It is a must that these vesicles arrive at the right place and exactly the right time for a cell to function properly. This transportation system is controlled by molecular principles. Schekman discovered a set of genes that are required for vesicle traffic. Rothman discovered the machinery that allows vesicles to fuse with their targets to transfer molecules, and Sudhof uncovered how signals in the cell inform vesicles to release their cargo. The vesicles deliver molecules between different organelles in the cell. The missing presence of this transportation system causes major diseases such as diabetes and other neurological or immune system disorders.
Connection:
This video connects to our unit about cells, their organelles, and their functions. We learned about how proteins and other molecules are transported around the cell for it to properly function, but we never exactly got into much detail about how important it is for the vesicles to get to the right place at exactly the right time. This explains how vesicles work in a cell to transport molecules in and around a cell. These discoveries further inform us about the complexity of a cell and how similar it is to a factory, which was a comparison we even made in class. These discoveries show how important it is for each organelle and system in a cell to function properly. The video talks about how even removing the organization of this transportation system can lead to diseases and disorders that impact the whole body which shows how important everything in a cell is.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Brains Sweep Themselves Clean of Toxins During Sleep
Julia Friend
October 19, 2013
Author: Jon Hamilton
Published: October 17, 2013 4:59 PM
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/10/18/236211811/brains-sweep-themselves-clean-of-toxins-during-sleep
Summary:
October 19, 2013
Author: Jon Hamilton
Published: October 17, 2013 4:59 PM
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/10/18/236211811/brains-sweep-themselves-clean-of-toxins-during-sleep
Summary:
Scientists have long since wondered why animals need sleep.
After all, it seems like an evolutionary weak point: sleep is the perfect time
to be preyed upon. But studied mice and baboons illustrate a brain sanitation
process central to proper functioning of the body; this is thought to use too
much energy to work during consciousness. This cleansing is by an increased
rate of cerebrospinal fluid pumping through the brain, caused by the actual
shrinking of brain cells during sleep. The fluid can circulate more freely with
the increased space between cells, and sweeps the brain of harmful toxins such
as waste proteins. This study may connect to the cause and possible solution of
Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases: one of the wastes cleansed from the brain
during sleep is beta amyloid, a substance related to such conditions.
Connection:
The current unit is all about cells and organelles, which
relates to this article. We learned about how the cytoskeleton assists the cell’s
ever-changing nature, and specifically how the microtubules offer the cell its
shape. In the article’s case, the brain cells are shrinking during unconsciousness;
this altering of size and therefore shape is possible because of the
cytoskeleton. Just as well, proteins were a focal point in our class. Although
the article only mentions them briefly, ridding the brain of waste proteins
that are potentially harmful is significant to the animal’s health. Lastly, the
body’s process of fighting off toxins connects to the importance of our body
finding ways to safeguard itself from hydrogen peroxide. H2O2 is a naturally occurring
toxin in the bodies of animals, and we have evolved with processes that counter
act that harm. Similarly, the toxins mentioned in the article in the brain are
innate, as is the process of clearing them during sleep through pumping
cerebrospinal fluid.
Friday, October 18, 2013
BRANDING CANCER STEM CELLS: Discovery of a hot new intestinal cancer ste...
Grant Larson
P. 2
Mr. Matheiu The origin of cancer cells: could they be from stem cells?
21 October 2013
(http://www.yourekascience.com/Branding_Cancer_Stem_Cells.html)
Summary:
The video above describes the recent discovery of certain stem cells being the producers of the rapid reproducing cancer cells that create tumors in the body. These particular stem cells can copy themselves and produce many more rapidly producing cancer cells. Scientists isolated a protein called DCLK1 found in some normal stem cells, but also primarily in the cancerous intestinal stem cells that produce rapid reproducing cells which lead to intestinal tumors. They conducted an experiment using the cells in the intestines of mice and a blue marker which they used to track the DCLK1 as the cells reproduced. Their goal was to find the origin of the rapid producing cancer cells which could possibly find a more effective therapy that has less of a chance of a reoccurring tumor than chemo. This is because chemo kills the rapidly producing cells, not the stem cells that they originate from.
Relevance:
This subject is related to cell reproduction and cancerous cells/tumors. It is also related to the scientific method. The scientists propose a question, which leads them to form a hypothesis, which in this case was: where do fast reproducing cancer cells come from? which leads to: well, they might come from stem cells. From there, scientists run an experiment and make a series of observations which was the blue dye experiment and observing where the blue dye marker showed up. After they come out with results, they are lead to asking another series of questions like: how can I eliminate the stem cells as a treatment?
P. 2
Mr. Matheiu The origin of cancer cells: could they be from stem cells?
21 October 2013
(http://www.yourekascience.com/Branding_Cancer_Stem_Cells.html)
Summary:
The video above describes the recent discovery of certain stem cells being the producers of the rapid reproducing cancer cells that create tumors in the body. These particular stem cells can copy themselves and produce many more rapidly producing cancer cells. Scientists isolated a protein called DCLK1 found in some normal stem cells, but also primarily in the cancerous intestinal stem cells that produce rapid reproducing cells which lead to intestinal tumors. They conducted an experiment using the cells in the intestines of mice and a blue marker which they used to track the DCLK1 as the cells reproduced. Their goal was to find the origin of the rapid producing cancer cells which could possibly find a more effective therapy that has less of a chance of a reoccurring tumor than chemo. This is because chemo kills the rapidly producing cells, not the stem cells that they originate from.
Relevance:
This subject is related to cell reproduction and cancerous cells/tumors. It is also related to the scientific method. The scientists propose a question, which leads them to form a hypothesis, which in this case was: where do fast reproducing cancer cells come from? which leads to: well, they might come from stem cells. From there, scientists run an experiment and make a series of observations which was the blue dye experiment and observing where the blue dye marker showed up. After they come out with results, they are lead to asking another series of questions like: how can I eliminate the stem cells as a treatment?
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The top five cancer-causing foods
Published by Mike Adams
NaturalNews.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/021808_cancer_prevention.html
Summary:
Modern science has developed a way for us to now begin to understand what foods and ingredients in processed foods can cause cancer, these are known as carcinogens. There are a few major offenders: hot dogs, doughnuts, French fries, cookies/ crackers/ chips, and processed meat/ bacon. These foods are known to have hydrogenated oils (helps to preserve food, and simultaneously add trans fat to it), acrylamides (what forms when starchy food is subjected to very high temperatures), or sodium nitrate (used to make meat look fresh, and doesn't have to be put on the ingredients list) which all have been found to cause cancer.
By looking more closely at the ingredients in our food as well as making attempts to regularly get vigorous exercise and stay hydrated, we can potentially prevent cancer. According to the World Health Organization, we can prevent up to 70 percent of cancers with these diet and lifestyle changes.
Connection:
This connects to both our cells unit and matter & energy unit. Our matter and energy unit discussed fatty acids having to due with the macromolecule lipid. One of the points in the cell unit was about cancer and how cells mutate and divide more than they should. Chemotherapy and radiation can treat cancer, but this article proves that we can make attempts to prevent it.
NaturalNews.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/021808_cancer_prevention.html
Summary:
Modern science has developed a way for us to now begin to understand what foods and ingredients in processed foods can cause cancer, these are known as carcinogens. There are a few major offenders: hot dogs, doughnuts, French fries, cookies/ crackers/ chips, and processed meat/ bacon. These foods are known to have hydrogenated oils (helps to preserve food, and simultaneously add trans fat to it), acrylamides (what forms when starchy food is subjected to very high temperatures), or sodium nitrate (used to make meat look fresh, and doesn't have to be put on the ingredients list) which all have been found to cause cancer.
By looking more closely at the ingredients in our food as well as making attempts to regularly get vigorous exercise and stay hydrated, we can potentially prevent cancer. According to the World Health Organization, we can prevent up to 70 percent of cancers with these diet and lifestyle changes.
Connection:
This connects to both our cells unit and matter & energy unit. Our matter and energy unit discussed fatty acids having to due with the macromolecule lipid. One of the points in the cell unit was about cancer and how cells mutate and divide more than they should. Chemotherapy and radiation can treat cancer, but this article proves that we can make attempts to prevent it.
Multivitamin Use Linked to Lowered Cancer Risk
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/health/daily-multivitamin-may-reduce-cancer-risk-clinical-trial-finds.html?_r=0
Summary: Through a large clinical trial of nearly 15,000 male adult doctors, followed for more than a decade, researchers have found that taking a daily multivitamin can in fact lower your chance of getting cancer. Of the total amount of doctors involved in this clinical trial, those who took a daily vitamin experienced 8% fewer doctors with cancer, compared to the subjects taking "dummy" or fake pills. Usually clinical studies similar to this focus on giving the subjects high doses of specific vitamins, but this study dealt with the basic daily multivitamin. This study was a randomized double-blinded trial, considerably one of the most rigorous and in-depth clinical trial involving vitamin linked cancer reduction to date. These findings were reported at an American Association for Cancer Research conference on cancer prevention, and were also published online in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The results are as follows: The amount of fewer cancers reported in doctors taking a multivitamin daily was small but statistically significant. Having said this, taking a multivitamin is only a modest way of reducing cancer, and is not as effective as other means of preventing cancer, such as wearing sunscreen and quitting smoking. Dr. J. Michael Gaziano, the study's main author, recognized that other measures are more likely to prevent cancer as taking a daily multivitamin. In conclusion, taking a multivitamin is healthy and does reduced the risk of getting cancer, but only moderately, and there are more measures that are more likely to prevent or reduce cancer.
Connections: This article directly relates to our studies of cell division. Cancer is a disease caused by the disruption of the cell cycle, specifically cell growth. It is caused when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except leukemia). These tumors then interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, which are all necessary in bodily function. In this way, the article, which talks about cancer reduction, relates to our study of life, including cell processes and cell division.
Summary: Through a large clinical trial of nearly 15,000 male adult doctors, followed for more than a decade, researchers have found that taking a daily multivitamin can in fact lower your chance of getting cancer. Of the total amount of doctors involved in this clinical trial, those who took a daily vitamin experienced 8% fewer doctors with cancer, compared to the subjects taking "dummy" or fake pills. Usually clinical studies similar to this focus on giving the subjects high doses of specific vitamins, but this study dealt with the basic daily multivitamin. This study was a randomized double-blinded trial, considerably one of the most rigorous and in-depth clinical trial involving vitamin linked cancer reduction to date. These findings were reported at an American Association for Cancer Research conference on cancer prevention, and were also published online in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The results are as follows: The amount of fewer cancers reported in doctors taking a multivitamin daily was small but statistically significant. Having said this, taking a multivitamin is only a modest way of reducing cancer, and is not as effective as other means of preventing cancer, such as wearing sunscreen and quitting smoking. Dr. J. Michael Gaziano, the study's main author, recognized that other measures are more likely to prevent cancer as taking a daily multivitamin. In conclusion, taking a multivitamin is healthy and does reduced the risk of getting cancer, but only moderately, and there are more measures that are more likely to prevent or reduce cancer.
Connections: This article directly relates to our studies of cell division. Cancer is a disease caused by the disruption of the cell cycle, specifically cell growth. It is caused when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except leukemia). These tumors then interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, which are all necessary in bodily function. In this way, the article, which talks about cancer reduction, relates to our study of life, including cell processes and cell division.
First Windpipe Transplant a Success: Could Lead to Other Breakthroughs
http://www.ivanhoe.com/science/story/2010/01/665a.html
Published January 2010
Ivanhoe Broadcast News and American Institute of Physics
Summary: Claudia Castillo has two kids and was unable to even play with them due to the tuberculosis she had preventing her from breathing freely. Dr. Paolo Macchiarini fixed her problem with the first ever windpipe transplant. This took place at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain. Dr. Macchiarini was able to repair the windpipe with Castillo's on stem cells. First, he took a donor windpipe and cleaned all the cells off of it and then he took stem cells from Castillo's bone marrow and added them to the donor windpipe. To stop further growth of the donor windpipe, it was placed into the Clinic's bioreactor for 4 days. Castillo noticed a difference right away and she currently does not have to take any medication to assist in the healing process.
Connection: This amazing breakthrough relates to our unit on cells. Also, it is a great example of Mr. Mathieu's lecture on stem cells. A donor's stem cells have to closely match up with the recipients stem cells or the body will reject the organ. Since the cells were washed off the organ and Castillo's cells were added to it, the transplant worked seemlessly. This is very similiar to the case Mr. Mathieu told the class about when one identicle sibling had a problem with a kidney and his identicle twin donated a kidney to him. The reason the transplant worked was due to their similarity in stem cells because they were related.
http://www.ivanhoe.com/science/story/2010/01/665a.html
Published January 2010
Ivanhoe Broadcast News and American Institute of Physics
Summary: Claudia Castillo has two kids and was unable to even play with them due to the tuberculosis she had preventing her from breathing freely. Dr. Paolo Macchiarini fixed her problem with the first ever windpipe transplant. This took place at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain. Dr. Macchiarini was able to repair the windpipe with Castillo's on stem cells. First, he took a donor windpipe and cleaned all the cells off of it and then he took stem cells from Castillo's bone marrow and added them to the donor windpipe. To stop further growth of the donor windpipe, it was placed into the Clinic's bioreactor for 4 days. Castillo noticed a difference right away and she currently does not have to take any medication to assist in the healing process.
Connection: This amazing breakthrough relates to our unit on cells. Also, it is a great example of Mr. Mathieu's lecture on stem cells. A donor's stem cells have to closely match up with the recipients stem cells or the body will reject the organ. Since the cells were washed off the organ and Castillo's cells were added to it, the transplant worked seemlessly. This is very similiar to the case Mr. Mathieu told the class about when one identicle sibling had a problem with a kidney and his identicle twin donated a kidney to him. The reason the transplant worked was due to their similarity in stem cells because they were related.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Skydiver breaks sound barrier over New Mexico in highest jump ever
Jack Billings
Published October 15, 2012
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/skydiver-breaks-sound-barrier-over-new-mexico-in-highest-jump-ever-657631/
From post-gazette.com
Author: Juan Carlos Llorca
Published: October 15, 2012
Summery:
Daredevil skydiver Felix Baumgartner made history when he broke the sound barrier for the first time in the highest sky dive ever. Baumgartner is a 43-year-old former Austrian paratrooper with more than 2,5000 jumps who, on Sunday October 2nd, took off in a capsule carried by a 55-story ultra-thin helium balloon to break the sound barrier. He jumped from over 24 miles up and hit Mach 1.24, or 833.9 miles per hour- becoming the first man to reach supersonic speed in free-fall. At 128,100 feet above the Earth, Baumgartner jumped out of the capsule not into the atmosphere, but into the stratosphere. Because of the extreme conditions of this altitude, he had to wear a pressurized suit for protection. Coincidentally, his feat came on the 65th anniversary of the day the sound barrier was first broken by a jet. In order to get the funding for this highly expensive expedition he was sponsored by Red Bull but also NASA, who is eager to improve their blueprints for future spacesuits. This jump broke the record for the fastest free-fall, the highest manned-balloon flight and the jump from the highest altitude but Baumgartner did not break the longest free-fall record (held by Joe Kittinger- who was on the team that made this jump possible).
Connection:
This article connects to biology because the conditions which Baumgartner faced at over 24 miles up demanded that he wear a special space suit for protection. Without this pressurized spacesuit (which weighed 100 pounds), Baumgartner never would have been able to survive the temperatures at 70 degrees below zero Fahrenheit or lower and the atmosphere was so thin that his blood would have vaporized without sufficient protection (not to mention that he would have suffocated without the oxygen provided by his helmet). Any contact with the capsule on his assent could have torn his suit and a rip could have exposed him to a lack of oxygen and the extreme temperatures as well as the atmosphere which would have caused lethal nitrogen bubbles to form in his bodily fluids. Luckily, there was no tear in the suit and so he was able to survive the jump and was protected from the explosive noise he made as he broke the sound barrier and the rush of air as he jumper out of the capsule.
Published October 15, 2012
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/skydiver-breaks-sound-barrier-over-new-mexico-in-highest-jump-ever-657631/
From post-gazette.com
Author: Juan Carlos Llorca
Published: October 15, 2012
Summery:
Daredevil skydiver Felix Baumgartner made history when he broke the sound barrier for the first time in the highest sky dive ever. Baumgartner is a 43-year-old former Austrian paratrooper with more than 2,5000 jumps who, on Sunday October 2nd, took off in a capsule carried by a 55-story ultra-thin helium balloon to break the sound barrier. He jumped from over 24 miles up and hit Mach 1.24, or 833.9 miles per hour- becoming the first man to reach supersonic speed in free-fall. At 128,100 feet above the Earth, Baumgartner jumped out of the capsule not into the atmosphere, but into the stratosphere. Because of the extreme conditions of this altitude, he had to wear a pressurized suit for protection. Coincidentally, his feat came on the 65th anniversary of the day the sound barrier was first broken by a jet. In order to get the funding for this highly expensive expedition he was sponsored by Red Bull but also NASA, who is eager to improve their blueprints for future spacesuits. This jump broke the record for the fastest free-fall, the highest manned-balloon flight and the jump from the highest altitude but Baumgartner did not break the longest free-fall record (held by Joe Kittinger- who was on the team that made this jump possible).
Connection:
This article connects to biology because the conditions which Baumgartner faced at over 24 miles up demanded that he wear a special space suit for protection. Without this pressurized spacesuit (which weighed 100 pounds), Baumgartner never would have been able to survive the temperatures at 70 degrees below zero Fahrenheit or lower and the atmosphere was so thin that his blood would have vaporized without sufficient protection (not to mention that he would have suffocated without the oxygen provided by his helmet). Any contact with the capsule on his assent could have torn his suit and a rip could have exposed him to a lack of oxygen and the extreme temperatures as well as the atmosphere which would have caused lethal nitrogen bubbles to form in his bodily fluids. Luckily, there was no tear in the suit and so he was able to survive the jump and was protected from the explosive noise he made as he broke the sound barrier and the rush of air as he jumper out of the capsule.
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