Down Syndrome (Gentics Blog)

Down syndrome, also called Trisomy 21, was named after John Langdon Down the British doctor who first described the condition in 1887. It wasn't until 1959, that an extra chromosome was identified as the cause. DS is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the process in which a child develops mentally and physically. This syndrome varies widely from child to child. It affects about 1 in every 800 babies. Some can go one with normal lives, but others are not so fortunate. Down syndrome can't be cured, or prevented. Although it can be detected before a child is born. Also the children may be treated to help some of the health problems that come along with the disease.

What is Down Syndrome?
Normal babies inherits genetic information from its parents in the from of 46 chromosome, half from mother (23 chromosomes) and half from the father (the other 23 chromosomes). But with down syndrome the child gets an extra chromosome 21, making a total of 47. It might seem small and like it should make a difference, but it does. This little insufficiency causes the delays in the child. The child could begin to become associated with medical problems such as: congenital heart defects, pulmonary hypertension, and also develop problems with their hearing and sight. Other medical conditions that may occur more frequently in kids with the illness include thyroid problems, intestinal abnormalities, seizure disorders, respiratory problems, obesity, and increased susceptibility to infection. The good thing is many of the follow are treatable.

Vocabulary:
1.syndrome - a group of symptoms that consistently occur together or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms
2.insufficiency - the condition of being insufficient
3.Susceptibility - the state or fact of being likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing

--(Sickle Cell)--

Sickle cell is a disease, or group of disorder that affect the molecule in red blood cells that deliver oxygen to the cell throughout the body, called hemoglobin. People with this disease have hemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a crescent shape. That is why its called sickle cell. Its also the most common inherited blood disorder, occurring in 70,000 to 80,000 Americans. Sickle cell affects million everyday. Although it is most common in people who are ancestors come from Africa or the Mediterranean countries. What is the signs or symptoms of Sickle Cell? The symptoms of sickle cell usually are noticeable at a young age. A low number of red blood cells (anemia), repeated infections, and sudden periods of pain. Anemia can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and delayed growth and development in children.
What causes sickle cell? Mutation in the HBB gene cause it. The HBB gene provides instructions for making beta hemoglobin. In sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin S replaces both beta hemoglobin subunits in hemoglobin.

Sickle cell is a very common disease and could be inherited. The pain is overbearing with sudden episodes. Its good to know about the things, but the sometimes can't be prevented. If you want to learn more click on this link: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=sicklecelldisease

Vocabulary :
Sickle Cell Anemia - a severe hereditary form of anemia in which a mutated from of hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape at low oxygen levels.
HBB (Beta Hemoglobin) - is a protein that, along with alpha globin that makes up the most common form of hemoglobin in adult humans.
Inherit - receive genetically from ones parents.

{Bottled Water VS Tap Water}

Water has always been essential to our body’s system and our survival, but lately, it has become one of the most recent fitness crazes as people all over the world seek to increase the certified health benefits of drinking enough amounts of water. Although people used to rely largely upon tap water to fulfill their daily share of drinking water, in the last two decades, consumers have begun to move away from this water source, due to such public health scares as the 1993 Milwaukee cryptosporidium outbreak that infected more than 400,000 city residents. Bottled water companies, promising a purer, healthier water product than tap water, have expanded greatly in order to supply growing demands for quality drinking water. NRDC conducted a four-year review of the bottled water industry and the safety standards that govern it, including a comparison of national bottled water rules with national tap water rules, and independent testing of over 1,000 bottles of water. Our conclusion is that there is no assurance that just because water comes out of a bottle it is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap. And in fact, an estimated 25 percent or more of bottled water is really just tap water in a bottle and is sometimes further treated, but then again maybe not. If bottled water does not necessarily offer purer water than tap water, surely it provides a better tasting water product, right? The answer to this question is no. Bottled water does not always taste better than tap water. While taste is certainly highly subjective, this study shows that bottled water essentially holds nothing over tap water. Bottled water is no purer than tap water, and it may not even taste better. So next time you go all out to buy you some purer, more crisp water, don't spend your dollar or more on something that u can drink out of your faucet at home. :)

Vocabulary :
Essential - important factor to the body to sustain life
Demand - need for more of the product
Purer - cleaner than that of many

If you want to learn more about this subject go to the ABC News website.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/Story?id=728070&page=1

The First Bionic Woman...

There was a U.S. Marine, Mitchel, a woman who got on a friends motorcycle and had an accident. She lost her arm. The tragedy was reopened when she volunteered for a surgery that helped her get not just nerves that allow her to operate it, but also sensory nerves.

I think that its awesome that technology can give something special like an arm back to someone. It is a great thing that people who have the surgery not only have the ability to operate the arm by nerves, but the ability to feel something that isn't there anymore. Giving somehing like this back to them is incredible :) .