http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120806161727.htm
The act of fainting (vasovagal syncope) has always seemed to me to be the human body's reaction to particular physiological or environmental situations. However, according to recent discoveries by the University of Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) in Neurology®, fainting is not necessarily just due to external triggers. Apparently people can have a strong predisposition to having problems with fainting based on genetics. This brings up the debate of nature vs nurture-- for instance, did a child faint due to a trigger like dehydration or does it just run in their blood? The author of this study, Samuel F. Berkovic, studied twins to determine if fainting can be genetic.
In this study of 51 same-sex twins (at least one had fainted before), 57% had a history of fainting in the family and those that were identical twins were shown to be twice as likely to have fainting problems as opposed to fraternal twins. This is because identical twins come from one fertilized egg (not two like fraternal) so therefore they inherit the same genes. And the risk of fainting with and without environmental triggers was higher for identical twins than fraternal twins. The article summed up saying that although fainting has been proven to be genetic, it is most likely coded by multiple genes and therefore doesn't have a strong genetic component in non-twin relatives. It also recognizes that fainting is not just genetic as it is often brought about by multiple environmental factors.
It was interesting for me to see in this article how what we've been learning about the beginning of life and DNA replication takes effect. That identical twins might share this fainting characteristic because they came from the same fertilized egg because of the DNA replication producing the same genes for each child. It also brought me a new understanding of what it means when people say things like, "heart problems run in the family" that it is not just physical characteristics, diseases, and disorders that are determined by genetics but possibly all kinds of physiological problems.
Admittedly, this study does not seem very revolutionary or dramatic. The science behind it was not particularly technical but it brought about new information nonetheless. Although it may not have drastic effects on the science community, it is still a piece of knowledge scientists have in their back pocket for the future and for further studies. For instance, if a doctor had a patient with frequent fainting they may be able to determine if it is because of genetics or environmental factors and if a twin might suffer the same problems too.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Wax Nano-tech "Muscle" Yarn
At University of Texas at Dallas a new revolutionary
material is being developed. A wax filled nanotech yarn is able to lift more
than 100,000 times its weight and acts like a super strong muscle. It is 10,000
times smaller than human hair but can be woven together to form a kind of
muscle fabric. Despite it being called an artificial muscle, this yarn cannot
function in living organisms at its current stage. Given what we have learned
about the human body with cells, this is most likely because it is composed of
candle wax (paraffin) and carbon yarn two materials that can’t function with
human cells.
This article interested me because of the possibilities that can result from its creation. It has the ability to rotate a paddle at 11,500 revolutions per minute and can contract at 25-thousandths of a second. These kinds of capabilities could lead the nano yarn to become a new kind of fan or windmill rotator. Given that it can essentially “move” (contracts or unwinds) with help of heating and cooling, means it may be possible as a source of energy transfer in a windmill or in a factory. At the same time it is strong and could be used as a support system for architectural developments such as bridges. Given they are temperature sensitive (contracting up to 1000 degrees Celsius above melting point of steel), the yarn can be used for temperature regulation situations. This excites me that even though this material is at an early stage, it may one day revolutionize machinery, laboratories, even clothes! Its thermal characteristics allow for the thread to increase in volume and decrease in length providing for possible new temperature controlled apparel. Unfortunately I am still skeptical of this creation.
This is a fairly new discovery (was published in journal Science two days ago) and it makes me think there may be flaws down the road or that it is not as successful as the scientists hope. In fact the article says it operates in high temperature situations but if it must reach a very high temperature or very low temperature to be successful, then it may not be very effective for thermal apparel. Similarly, if it does operate (contract and move) in moderate high and low temperatures it may not be the best material for buildings and bridges, structures that must stay sturdy in all weather. Also, scientists working with this yarn say that they have not completely mastered being able to create large actuators with many yarns working together. Not to mention that the yarn works by being constantly heated and cooled which may ultimately wear it down and cause it to become ineffective very quickly. The article stated the overall potential uses of the yarn and generally how it works/is expected to work but there weren’t many particulars. They didn’t really talk about what might not work with it as these kinds of developments often do have various problems. Although this article has little to do with the biological features that we are learning about in class, it is relatable because it has the potential to change the materials that make up our society. Maybe if it does end up being a successful product, it may be developed
This article interested me because of the possibilities that can result from its creation. It has the ability to rotate a paddle at 11,500 revolutions per minute and can contract at 25-thousandths of a second. These kinds of capabilities could lead the nano yarn to become a new kind of fan or windmill rotator. Given that it can essentially “move” (contracts or unwinds) with help of heating and cooling, means it may be possible as a source of energy transfer in a windmill or in a factory. At the same time it is strong and could be used as a support system for architectural developments such as bridges. Given they are temperature sensitive (contracting up to 1000 degrees Celsius above melting point of steel), the yarn can be used for temperature regulation situations. This excites me that even though this material is at an early stage, it may one day revolutionize machinery, laboratories, even clothes! Its thermal characteristics allow for the thread to increase in volume and decrease in length providing for possible new temperature controlled apparel. Unfortunately I am still skeptical of this creation.
This is a fairly new discovery (was published in journal Science two days ago) and it makes me think there may be flaws down the road or that it is not as successful as the scientists hope. In fact the article says it operates in high temperature situations but if it must reach a very high temperature or very low temperature to be successful, then it may not be very effective for thermal apparel. Similarly, if it does operate (contract and move) in moderate high and low temperatures it may not be the best material for buildings and bridges, structures that must stay sturdy in all weather. Also, scientists working with this yarn say that they have not completely mastered being able to create large actuators with many yarns working together. Not to mention that the yarn works by being constantly heated and cooled which may ultimately wear it down and cause it to become ineffective very quickly. The article stated the overall potential uses of the yarn and generally how it works/is expected to work but there weren’t many particulars. They didn’t really talk about what might not work with it as these kinds of developments often do have various problems. Although this article has little to do with the biological features that we are learning about in class, it is relatable because it has the potential to change the materials that make up our society. Maybe if it does end up being a successful product, it may be developed
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
daily blog 6/7
the first history class we've had in a long time! we discussed the morals and ethics of the business world as well as honest and dishonest graft. People had their opinions (as always) and we spent most of the class debating about what was right and wrong when it comes to how businesses are run. I think there is a fine line between honest and dishonest graft so you have to be careful when accusing someone of being a crook when really their methods are completely fair.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
daily blog 5/31
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol for immigrants that they have they reached the new land and as they arrived at Ellis Island. It certainly meant a lot back then but we talked about if it has a purpose now. At this point it's just there as a symbol I think and a memory of the days when ships came in to the "new land"!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
daily blog 5/26
I am pretty sure that everyone knows what I'm trying to say when I attempt to get a point across in a discussion but it seems that no matter what anyone says, someone else has to shut it down. I admit, I am guilty of doing this to people but it's actually really obnoxious when you're trying to make sense but people won't take you seriously. Like today in our discussion about how worker's rights should be dealt with. It was kind of difficult to understand at first what would really be the best way but soon enough, as usual, people formulated opinions and the class turned into one big argument. Like always. Don't get me wrong, I like to debate but it really does get tiring after a while.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
daily blog 5/25
Westing was all we talked about today. Like, if that is a a good enough way to judge someone's character for accepting people in to certain things (like police academy or something). And also the difference between knowing and understanding which actually don't mean the same thing (which people sometimes confuse). Ultimately, understanding encompasses both meanings because if you understand something, you typically know it.
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