Bella+Duncan

**#1 HOMEWORK JOURNAL-CELLS!**
Have you ever wondered how your body fights the influenza virus? To get into a body or host the virus has certain protein that latches to receptors that are on the outside of cells located in the lungs and airways. Then the latched virus goes through the cell membrane into the cytoplasm then releases ribonucleic acid (RNA). The RNA it releases is a mirror image of the good RNA that is already in the cell making protein. The viral RNA goes to the nucleus where the cell makes copies and sends it back to the cytoplasm. The cell treats them like the good RNA and continues to make copies of them. The viral RNA then bonds with proteins, the virus then goes out the cell wall and finds another cell to infect or finds a new host when it is coughed or sneezed out of the host it is already in.

References:
 * Flinn, K. (Photographer). (2009). //10 tips to staying healthyduring flu season//. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from []
 * Steele, B. (2005). Unlocking the puzzle of how avian flu virus works may be key to preventing widespread infection. Retrieved from []

It's that time of year again! Thanksgiving! Many of you are planning a nice, relaxing meal with your family! I know that I am. A lot of people, like me, go to the grocery store to get their turkey. There are some people tho, that hunt the main corse of their meal. One of the most common types of wild turkey is the eastern wild turkey. It can be found in in such places such as Texas, New England, northern Florida, Missuori and southern Canada. The tom or gobbler which is the adult male can weigh more then 20 pounds and be up to 4 feet tall. Their tail feathers are chetnut and chocolate brown while their chest feathers are black and wing feathers are black and white. The hen which is the adult female weighs lighter then the tom, they usually weigh between 8-12 pounds but are usually as tall. The hen's are more brown in color, their wings and brest area are tipped with brown feathers rather then black. Also their color is less bold because they don't have to attract their mate.

References: National Wild Turkey Federation. (n.d.). Wild turkey species and subspecies. //Eastern Wild Turkey//, Retrieved from []

Michels, T. R. (n.d.). T.r.'s tips: turkey breeding season phases. Retrieved from []

Chris and Mike. (2009). //Wild turkey// [Web]. Retrieved from []

**PERSONAL POST #2 Tryptophan is Whats in Turkey That Makes You Tired?**
Many people believe that an amino acid that is found in turkey called tryptophan is the reason that you get tired after you have a wonderful turkey supper. Although tryptophan travels through your bloodstream to your brain and turns into a chemical called serotonin and serotonin is what helps us sleep. It would only work if you were indulging in tryptophan and nothing else on a empty stomach because of all the other amino acids that are in turkey. Research has been conducted and scientists believe that it is not the tryptophan in the turkey that makes us sleepy, at least not by itself. There are many other amino acids that are in turkey, many of them want to get to the brain too, so the tryptophan has some competition making it harder to get to the brain. So if it is not the tryptophan, then why do we get tired? Good question! It could be the deserts we eat after our delicious meal. Pumpkin pie for example causes the pancreas to stop making insulin. The insulin is what is responsible to take sugars and most amino acids to the tissues but it hardly effects the tryptophan, resulting in less competition for the tryptophan and allowing more to travel to the brain. Some scientists believe we get tired after a big turkey meal because we have increased blood flow to our stomachs. The blood flow helps the food to digest. Meaning that less blood is going to our brains.

References: Ballantyne, C. (2007). Does turkey make you sleepy. Retrieved from [] Dowshen, S. (2009). Does eating turkey make me sleepy. Retrieved from []

//Herb-roasted turkey// [Theater]. (2007). Available from []

The Black Death or bubonic plague occurred in China in the 1330's and in1347 it spread it to Europe and western Asia. The bubonic plague was in the fleas that were on the rats. The rats climbed onto the boat, traveling to Asia and Europe. The bubonic plague did not usually spread from person to but from the flea to a person. Any animal such as a dog or horse could have been infected with the flea from the dog or horse the fleas is passed to the human allowing the flea to bite the human giving the plague to them. In winter the plague seemed to disappear because the fleas did not like the cold, staying where they were.

Everyone was impacted with the bubonic plague. It did not matter what class you were in, whether you were a noblemen or a peasent, the plague did not care. The symptoms of the bubonic plague are abdominal pain, headache, enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits, groin or neck area, fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite, broken blood vessels and vomiting. Within the 5 years that the plague was in western Asia and Europe it had killed 25 million people, that's a third of their population.

References: (2010). The black death:bubonic plague. //[]//, makeitworktim. (2008). //The black death a bubonic plague// [Web]. Retrieved from [] Schoenstadt, A. (2008). Symptoms of bubonic plague. Retrieved from [] Janes, E. (Photographer). (n.d.). //Black rat//. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from []

**Personal Post #4 The Maritime Ringlet Butterfly**
The maritime ringlet butterfly is a very special butterfly because it is one of only two species of butterfly in Canada that only live in salt marches. This endangered species is only found at four locations near the Chaleur Bay. The caterpillars eat Salt Meadow Chord Grass while the adults eat nectar from Sea Lavender flowers. Nobody knows why they are only found in such a small area while their food is plentiful throughout any salt marsh.

The reasons for the endangered species status is because most of the Maritime Ringlet’s habitat is on privately owed land with lots of run-off of harmful chemicals from things such as fertilizers and pesticides. Also waterborne pollutants are extremely harmful to this species because at all stages of life the Maritime Ringlet is exposed to water.

References: Webster, R. (2000). The endangered ringlet butterfly. Retrieved from []

Personal Post #5 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is an anxiety disorder that involves a person to have constant thoughts or to do specific actions that they feel they need to perform such as washing their hands constantly, checking again and again to see if things are turned off. Those with OCD have the compulsions to try and get the obsessions to go away, unfortunately they usually end up stronger. Washers, checkers, counters and arrangers, doubters and sinners, and hoarders are the categories that most people that have OCD fall into. Washers constantly wash their hands because they are afraid of contamination. Checkers check things many times to make sure they are off and will not cause damage. Counters and arrangers must have symmetry and order. Doubters and sinners think that if something is not perfect then there will be consequences. Hoarders can’t throw anything away they think something bad will happen if they do. Keep in mind just because you may have these thoughts does not mean that you have OCD. Therapy is available to help the person and their family`s understand what OCD is and how they can help to lessen or manage it.

References: Robinson, L., Smith, M., & Segal, J. (n.d.). //Obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd)//. Retrieved from []

Personal Post #6 Bacteria Destroying the Titanic
The titanic is rusting away a lot faster than scientists used to think because of a new form of rust-eating bacteria that the researches at Dalhousie University in Halifax discovered. After studying what’s eating away at the ship they discovered a new bacteria that is now called //Halomonas titanicae//. It is a form of rusticles which is a formation of rust that allows water to pass through them they are delicate, and will also eventually break down into fine powder. It’s nature’s way of recycling iron.

Unfortunately the //Halomonas titanicae// is destroying the titanic and because of the shape the ship is in, makes it impossible to preserve the magnificant ship. The rust-eating bacteria could be useful to break down ships and oil rigs that are unwanted and to help develop paint for ships that are being used now.

References: OurAmazingPlanet Staff. (2010, December 6). //New species of rust-eating bacteria destroying the titanic//. Retrieved from []

#2 Homework Post Stem Cell Research


I agree that the unused embryos that are discarded form in vitro fertilization should be made available to researchers for stem cell research because there are a lot of families that want their left over embryos to go to a good cause but there are others who just want them discarded so I believe that it should be up to the donor to decide what they want done with them.

I believe that if we have the technology to improve human life we should seriously take into consideration what good it will do and what harm it could cause. Some procedures and technology can do more harm than good. I do not believe that the government should fund embryonic stem cell research with taxpayer monies because not everyone believes in embryonic stem cell research therefore thee would be some protestors and with the tax I believe more people would protest especially those who don’t care what’s being done, all they know is that they know have to pay more money therefore they are against it.

I believe that stem cell research should be regulated by the government because of its many benefits but it would be dangerous to allow just anyone to use it.

I believe that if stem cell therapies are regulated, laws for adult stem cells should differ from laws for embryonic stem cells because they are two different things. I do not think that if stem cell therapies are regulated, therapeutic cloning for producing embryonic stem cells for research should not be permitted because there is enough cell lines already existing that there is no need for more.

References: //H////ow the term scientist came to be-// [Web]. (2011). Retrieved from []

**Personal Post #7: Koala Bear's**
Koala bears are actually not bears they are marsupials. In the southern region of Australia they have thick woolly fur while in the north they have short fur. The color of their fur depends on their age it’s different between individuals. At birth they weigh 0.5 grams they are about the size of a bee. In the south the full grown males weigh about 26 lbs and the females weigh about 17.4 lbs. The full grown males in the north weigh about 14.3 lbs and the females weigh about 11.2 lbs. They live for an average of 13-18 years depending on stress levels.

Koala’s usually have a single baby at a time. The first 22 weeks of the baby or cub’s life is spent completely inside their mothers pouch around week 22 is when they poke their heads out for the first time. At 30 weeks the baby spends most of its time outside clinging to the mothers stomach. The cub stays with its mother until it is around 12 months old.

References:

Lee, A., Martin, R., & Home, E. (n.d.). //Koalas//. Retrieved from [] (n.d.). //Wallpaper koala bear//. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from []

The melting ice in the Arctic zone is affecting more than you think. Some things in a good way and unfortunately others in a bad.The greatest things affected are the wildlife; the climate is getting warmer making changes to the way life is now. Polar bears and walruses are finding it harder to find the ice they use as hunting platforms. The warmer climate also means more tundra vegetation; there are more taller plants then lower ones which could affect the reindeer and caribous feeding. The whales benefit from the water being more open, more specifically the whales that migrate, they can stay longer and are able to access the Northwest Passage which was always blocked by ice. The open water absorbs carbon-dioxide that results in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas being more acidic which may erode the shells of some kinds of shellfish. On the positive side the open oceans will allow gas and oil companies along with tourists the access to the Arctic.

References: Zabarenko, D., & Reuters (2011, December 2). //Whales win, walruses lose in warmer arctic//. Retrieved from [] Flood, S. (Photographer). (n.d.). //Arctic animal pictures//. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from []

Charles Monet dies a horrific death from the Marburg virus in January 1980. He got Marburg from a cave on Mount Elgon.

Nancy Jaxx is introduced and the story about her near miss with the Ebola virus shows how dangerous level 4 hot agents are and the many precautions taken so they won’t infect those who are working with them. Mr Yu G was the first case known of a new virus outbreak later became known as Ebola Sudan. Although nobody knows where he got it from; he died and more people died after they got it from him. It spread really quickly through Sudan killing many of the people it infected died quickly after; it had a 50% death rate. For reasons nobody know the outbreak stopped. The Ebola Zaire strain was worse than the Ebola Sudan strain. The first human host of the Ebola Zaire has never been found. It was traced back to one of the Yambuku Mission Hospital’s patients but it is unsure which one and was passed along by used needles. The virus spread quickly and killed many people. Sister M. E. A nun at the Yambuku became very sick and was taken to the Ngaliema hospital; she died there. A nurse that was looking after Sister M.E, Mayinga N became sick and also died from the virus.  A young boy named Peter Cardinal was in the same cave as Charles Monet and also died from Marburg. Research is done in the cave but nothing is found; nothing about the origin of the deadly disease.

***WOAH***
The black vomit or //vomito negro// sounds horrific. The Hot Zone describes it by: ``black vomit is not really black; it is a speckled liquid of two colors, black and red, a stew of tarry granules mixed with fresh red arterial blood. ``The smell of regular vomit is bad enough I can`t imagine how bad that would be; let alone being stuck on a plane with someone puking it up...gross.

References: Preston, R. (1994). //The hot zone//. New York: Random House. (n.d.). //The hot zone by richard preston//. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://amateurbrilliance.com/recommended books.html (n.d.). //Search a secluded place to vomit//. [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from []

#4 Homework Post:The Hot Zone Part 2


In Reston Virgina there is a house where some of the thousands monkeys that are imported into the United States go to be quarantined. At this particular spot the monkeys were getting sick with what was suspected to be simian hemorrhagic fever which is extremely contagious to monkeys but has no effect on humans. As more monkeys died there was more research done and the possibility of it being Marburg became apparent. Marburg is a very lethal virus that kills almost all of the people it infects. USAMRIID or the United Sates Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease was alerted and their researchers concluded that it is not Marburg but possibly Ebola Zaire or a strain of that virus. Ebola Zaire is also a very fatal disease killing about 90% of the people it infects. URSAMRIID and the C.D.C. (Centers for Disease Control) are working together to figure out exactally what it is. They were setting up for research at the monkey house trying to keep it low profile so the public does not panic.

***Whoa***
It is scary to think that the disease is so close (10 miles away) to Washington D. C. Also with everyone that was working with the animals if the virus infected any of them then it could have easily spread to their families and if they went to the hospital then many more people could have gotten the virus. With all the people in Washington the virus could have easily spread all over the world.

References: Preston, R. (1994). //The hot zone//. New York: Random House. (n.d.). //The hot zone by richard preston//. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://amateurbrilliance.com/recommended books.html //2011 washington (downtown) city map//. (2010, December 21). Retrieved from []

There’s Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, and Rudolph. Everyone knows that they are Santa’s reindeer but what most don’t know is that

they are most likely female. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game male and female reindeers grow antlers in the summer. In early winter male reindeer lose their antlers so by Christmas the male reindeers do not have antlers. Female’s keep their antlers until early spring usually about a week after they give birth to help them get food. In all the movies and cartoons Santa's reindeer have antlers so Santa's reindeer must be female since the male reindeer have all lost them.

According to Greg Finstad who works at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and manages the Reindeer Research Program it is possible that Santa’s reindeer are male they could be castrated and castrated male are used what are used to pull sleighs because they are not worn out form rutting season.

References: Mikkelson, B., & Mikkelson, D. (2008, December 22). //Reindeer games//. Retrieved from [] Sweedberg, J. (Photographer). (n.d.). //Barren ground caribou spp. groenlandicus crossing stream//. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from []

#5 Homework: The Hot Zone Part 3
USAMRID and the C.D.C decided that all the monkeys in the monkey house in Reston Virgina were to be euthanized to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. They contained the house and had people in level four biohazards safety suits. They pinned the monkeys down, injected a needle that knocked them unconscious. Then they were brought to an area where some blood samples were taken and they were euthanized. After that samples of the liver and spleen were taken. The samples were taken back to the base to be further examined. The monkey’s bodies were incinerated with temperatures so high that the virus could not survive. The monkey house was sterilised and opened back up. A few months later the virus was back again in the same building but the varmy was not needed because the virus killed all the monkeys itself.

Although a few people got sick there were no deaths related to the Ebola Reston virus. They believe that the virus could be transferred through air. Upon closer examination the Ebola Zaire and the Ebola Reston are very hard to tell apart when looking at them through a microscope.



***Whoa***
There were some people who got sick while working at the monkey house luckily they did not die but they came really close. Some of the sick people went to the hospital where it would have had an excellent environment with lots of people to spread. The death count could have been terribly worse.



References: Preston, R. (1994). //The hot zone//. New York: Random House. (n.d.). //The hot zone by richard preston//. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://amateurbrilliance.com/recommended books.html (2010). //Emergency pictogram 3//. (2010). [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/mhYkuK6/Emergency pictogram 3

**#6 Homework Post:The Hot Zone Part 4**
Richard Preston, the author, travels to Africa to explore the Kitcum Cave himself. He discusses how for a little while growing up he lived in Africa. Also about how the road to Mount Elgon is a part of the aids highway also known as the Kinshasa Highway; the road that the AIDS virus traveled during its outbreak. Richard Preston wore a Level 4 field biological space suit when he entered Kitcum cave to protect himself from anything that could be inside. He found animals, tracks, fecies, and that it was a dry cave except a pool of water in a crevice. Dry caves are the perfect environment because most viruses don’t last long when they are exposed to sunlight and moisture. Richard also went to the monkey house in Reston and took a look around. The place was deserted and from what he could see peeking through the windows it was a mess.

*Woah* “It will be back.” That is a very scary thought considering how close Ebola Reston was to Canada. If it got to the states then it could just as easily travel here. If it mutates in to an extremely deadly virus the mortality rate could be very high. If the many close encounters that were in the book wernt close encounters and they actually got sick then they would have continued spreading the viruses throughout the world killing many people.



References:

Preston, R. (1994). //The hot zone//. New York: Random House. (n.d.). //The hot zone by richard preston//. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://amateurbrilliance.com/recommended books.html (2011). //large-big size world political map//. (2011). [Web Map]. Retrieved from []



Personal Post # 10-The Hot Zone Spin-Off: USAMRIID
The United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) begin in 1969. It has done research to develop drugs, diagnostics, vaccines and information. It has biosafety level 3 and 4 laboratories to protect the personnel working there. It also has animal research facilities. The work alongside the Centers of Disease and Control, Prevention and the World Health Organization and are a reference laboratory for the Department of Defence. They maintain a world-class scientific research base that is primarily focused on aiding the war fighter. It is known as “the birthplace of medical biodefence.” In 2003 USMARIID successfully immunised mice from an Ebola virus infection. <span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 120%;">Read more about it in this article: []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">References //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Ten most common phobias //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">. (n.d.). Retrieved from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">DeKoning, B. (n.d.). //Usamriid: biodefense solutions to protect our nation//. Retrieved from [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Linden, C. (2003, December 9). //Ola virus-like particles protect mice from lethal ebola virus//. Retrieved from http://www.usamriid.army.mil/press releases/bavari_VLP_press_release.pdf <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13px;">U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. (Photographer). (n.d.). //Researcher working in a biosafety level 4 laboratory//. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from []