Mrs. Clark's Science Blog

Kidney Donation

2008-10-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Poorly controlled diabetes
Poorly controlled high blood pressure
Kidney stones
Dehydration
Over medication (ibubrofen, etc.)

What do all of these have in common? Yikes – kidney failure… not all of these combined, but possibly individually can cause kidney failure.

Some people are lucky enough to benefit from a kidney transplant. Sometimes we might take for granted our organs working properly. After reading today’s article on kidney donation, research what all is involved in donating a kidney.

A) Post what you find out about the recovery from kidney donation
B) Post any personal information you have about kidney donation
C) Post what you find out about black market kidney donation

Go through the kidney tutorials to prepare for tomorrow's dissection:
http://www.getbodysmart.com/ap/urinarysystem/menu/menu.html
http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/labs/L40/050100.htm

Gastric Bypass Surgery

2008-09-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Wow-Decreased numbers of those with certain forms of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease and an instant cure for obesity...what more could we ask for in a treatment???
Gastric bypass surgery has taken our nation by storm. Today's article paints a bright ans positive picture for using gastric bypass surgery as an accepted form of treatment for at least three of our nation's top five killers (cancer, heart disease, and diabetes!). They cited many impressive statistics to back up their claims/findings.

What have you heard about gastric bypass surgery? Include your knowledge of personal stories of those you know, things you have seen/heard/read in the media, etc.

Find at least one other article to support or refute today's article and include a new detail that you learned from it.

Research & report what, if any risks there are to having this surgery.

What is your overall opinion on this procedure? Carefully research & weigh the risks against the benefits before making your final assessment on this procedure.

Endocrine Article Blog

2008-09-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

The endocrine system usually functions in a negative feedback loop system in which one hormone is released to stop another hormone from being released when enough of it has been secreted (kind of like an A/C thermostat). We read an article today that described the endocrine system also working in a positive feedback loop system that paired stress and aggression together. We mentioned a couple of examples of positive feedback loops: labor contractions become more intense paired with a pain stimulus; milk production increases paired with the suckling stimulus. Positive feedback loop systems can be useful! However, what about stress and aggression? Honestly, our bodies were designed in a good way. Under increased stress, the body becomes more aggressive. This is great for battlefield war, but how is this system affecting our everyday lives? Research the role of ACTH to cortisol and then to adrenaline. Discuss which gland secretes each of these hormones. Does this mean that our actions are beyond our control? Are we in charge of our behavior? What, if anything, can be done to prevent any long-term changes in our aggressive system?

Stressed Out Skin

2008-08-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

We read an article today that discussed the linkage of stress to skin problems. It's never a good idea to just believe everything you read. Do some checking to see if Mr. Russell, the author, seems to be accurate with the claims he makes. Some common skin disorders are acne, psoriasis, decubitus ulcers, melanoma (skin cancer, & eczema.
A) Find additional research to support or refute the class article.
B) Blog your reaction making sure to include
(1) your own knowledge
(past readings/discussions with others,personal experiences, etc.)
(2) your summary of the research in support or against this article
(3) additional thoughts and/or questions that arise
By the way, our class article mentions hormones release associated with skin trouble (adrenaline & cortisol). This must mean that different systems interact and/or affect each other. What system is responsible for releasing these hormones? Does the unnecessary release of these hormones cause any other ailments in the body?

Endocrine Disease Talk With Survey Students

2007-10-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

We will be researching Type I and Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

I. Complete A,B,C for each type and turn in on paper.
A) General information on each
B) Treatment
C) Prevention
II. Make two posts that are intended to spark a reply from someone else.
--one post should contain new information that you learned today
--the other post should contain information from your prior knowledge
(try to make it be a story about you or a friend/family member's experience with diabetes)
III. Post a quality reply to at least one other person's post(s).

Nervous System Disease Talk With Survey Students

2007-10-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

HELLO SURVEY STUDENTS--COMPLETE A-E.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAS THEIR USERNAME/PASSWORD SITUATION STRAIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND TIME BLOGGING WITH YOU.

I. Alzheimer's is different from dementia.
Sometimes people mistake dementia for "Alzheimer's."
A)What is the difference between these two?
B)How can either of these be prevented?
Answer A and B on your own paper and
post a question you have about these diseases as well as a piece of your prior knowledge. This can come from your experience with family members or friends and/or past readings that you have done.

II. Epilepsy: Another disease of the nervous system
C) Make a post concerning epilepsy that comes from your readings/writings that we did earlier this week.
D) Make a post concerning epilepsy that comes from your knowledge prior to this week.

III. Reply to each other.
E) Make good replies that cause others to reply to you/answer your questions.

Muscular Diseases

2007-10-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

We are beginning our muscular unit. There are two disorders that seem to have received a lot of attention over the last few years. Let's learn more about them including general information, but most importantly: prevention & treatment.
1) Chronic fatigue syndrome
2) Fibromyalgia
Create a notebook page for these two disorders like you did for skeletal diseases. When you are through, choose the most significant thing that you learned or already new. Create a post about it. Make it thorough or thought provoking enough for someone to be able to make a good reply to it. You are required to
5 pts (A) make at least one original post that would cause others to spark/reply back to it
5 pts (B) reply to at least one other person's post by asking them a question, making a connection to what they posted, etc.
10 pts (C) create a notebook page with general info on one side; treatments & prevention on the other side

*Additional points may be given for additional replies that are thought provoking, include great connections, etc.

2007-09-24T08:28:00.001-07:00

It says if you scratch scabies they will get worse sort of like chicken pox.

Disease Talk with Survey of Human Body Systems Students

2007-09-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

The integumentary system is the largest organ in the body, our outermost covering, and our first line of defense against foreign material that might enter our body. Use the website I paste below to learn about the three skin diseases listed. Choose at least one other disease to learn about. View at least one other website for each of the diseases to see pictures of what the diseased skin looks like and to gain additional information. Post a comment after you have completed your research. Be sure to include personal knowledge/experiences with the diseases. For example, you may have always heard how one of these spreads; you may have seen someone's skin you has had one of these diseases/disorders; etc. Describe your reaction to your new knowledge and your prior knowledge with these disorders/diseases. Remember not to mention names of people or refer specific people in your posts. Reply to at least one other person's post by asking them a question or commenting on their post.
http://www.skindisordersatoz.com/
1. Psoriasis
2. Scabies
3. Impetigo

Which threats to biodiversity caused several mammal extinctions?

2007-09-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, my biology students. We have been studying A LOT about biodiversity. The most recent subject we discussed was "threats to biodiversity." Remember, each group discussed a threat within your group and then we discussed all of them as a class. They are:
1) Habitat Loss 5) Habitat Degradation
2) Water Pollution 6) Habitat Fragmentation
3) Land Pollution 7) Edge Effect
4) Exotic Species
Your task:
A) Research the extinct animal that I assigned you and figure out the reason for its extinction.
B) See if it fits into one of the threats to biodiversity that we mentioned.
C) Reply to my blog and make a short description of your animal and its name.
D) Describe how its extinction occurred and which threat led to the animal's demise.
E) Make two additional posts as replies to other students' posts.

Serotonin induced craze?

2006-11-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

We've studied and discussed a lot about serotonin levels and behavior. There are some people that have committed serious crimes while experiencing PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome). Check your anatomy book to see a graph of serotonin levels just before and during menstruation (they are the lowest at these times each month for women). A temporary insanity defense has been used in court cases for these women. How do you feel about this?