Jonathan Medina
Biology Lab Extra Credit

“Brain Cells Made From Urine” And “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel”
Monya Baker explains in the article “Brain Cells Made From Urine,” how recent studies have shown that the cells in urine can be adjusted and used for brain cells. Baker describes that scientists have been able to trick some cells in urine into neurons that can be used in “therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.” Based on this method researchers have discovered that using cells from urine is more stable than others. Although for many years scientists have used embryonic stem cells, Baker has concluded that this method is easier and faster. Stem Cell Biologist Duanqing Pei, Baker expresses, has recorded that the “kidney epithelial cells in urine” can be adjusted to create stem cells. Pei’s research has proven that this method works. In a study, as written by Baker, Pei’s team tested this method on rat brains and concluded that the cells “had taken on the shape and molecular markers of neurons.” Baker’s research states that Pei and his team were able to test this theory and got to the conclusion that it works.
Aside from Bakers research on stem cells used in brain cells, Nicholas Wade wrote in “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel” that two scientists were able to use stems cell research in animal cloning. Wade states that, “The techniques they developed reach to the beginnings of life…” Wade describes that both scientists were able to foul living cells into generating stems cell and used in animal cloning. Both scientists, Dr. John B. Gurdon and Dr. Shinya Yamanka, discovered that by removing a cell nucleus from a “mature intestinal cell” and placing it into a frog egg without a nucleus the cell will accept and grow with the new nucleus. Wade describes that Dr. Gurdon and Yamanka were able to take cells and place them back in an egg and the egg grow with that new cell. This phenomenon shown in this article expresses a new idea that stem cells can be reprogrammed into new cells.

Work Cited
Baker, Monya. “Brain Cells Made From Urine.” Nature News. 9 Dec 2012. Web. 20 Dec 2012.
Wade, Nicholas. “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earns Nobel.” The New York Times. 8 Oct 2012. Web. 20 Dec 2012

!) personally, the effect of voices desribing the historical events move me in a way that any other scientist would. this would be by passion. the reason i said passion is because of the excitement in their voices speaking about the event.

2) no i do not think it was appropriate  to take the cells froms a biopsy for personal research with out consent because talking something from someone with out them knowing regardless of what it is shows  a great sgin of disrespect eveen if the people is dead or alive.

3)i do not think it was ethical for the lab assistant to go into the morgue to retrieve more celles from the corpse with out the familys consent because their already did it once with out the consent for the family and to do it again is even more disrespectful not only to her that is already dead but to her family that dont kno anything about this and have to find out about this on the net.

4) i do think henrietta’s racial background did factered into the removal of her cells for such purposes without consent because if this was a white woman the case would be different. the reason i said this would be the fact that back in  the 1950’s when this was done there were still segregation between whites and blacks and whites people had the money and power back then.

5)i do think henriatta’s economical status factered into the removal of her cells based on the fact that people with a high economic status always had the reaspect given to them by others and were always seem to be the most important people.

6) yes i do think they are obligated to provide compensation to the lacks family because one they took the cells with out consent and didnt tell any of the family matters that have a right to anything concerning the body. also to have the cells floating around the world and still not telling the family any thing.

Mariam Gogodze,

Bio 1101 Lab

We could all agree on the fact the everyone is different and everyone has their own lifestyle and their own perception on life. There are millions of mysteries out there in the world, among humans as well as nature and the world phenomena. Medicine has progressed unbelievably and noticeably in the past years. So why is it so hard to treat or even find the cause of the diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and psychiatric disorders. If we know how the body works, and how our cells work, why is it almost impossible to prevent these horrific diseases that turn people’s lives around?

After years of research scientist have discovered a major medical and scientific outbreak. They found out that human genome is full of gene switches that exist in pieces of DNA that once were rejected and considered as junk. But little did we know that they play crucial and huge role in controlling behavior of cells and organs. Many spread and complex diseases appear to be caused by small changes in hundreds of gene switches. The study involves 440 scientists from 32 laboratories from all around the world, that work and will continue working on this idea. Their main concern and question is to find ut how changes in non-gene parts of the DNA contribute to disease progression.

Scientists also discovered that most of the “junk” of DNA is needed and active. Scientists compare this study to the “Google Maps” and “Google Earth”, due to the fact that these programs only show you the directions and the map to the destination, but they do not show you the exact weather, time period and conditions in that place of matter. Human DNA is much more active than scientists have expected. Any slight change in human DNA sequence, and a human is under a risk of having multiple sclerosis, lupus, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease. It is the switches in the DNA that affect and trigger the diseases, it is most certainly not the change of the genes themselves.

This research would not only show and portray, perhaps cure for the diseases, it could also portray and show the genetic changes that trigger and cause cancer. They discovered that in cancel cell DNA, most of the changes were not in genes, they were in the dark matter. For instance in prostate cancer, the group found mutations in significant genes, that aren’t readily attacked by drugs.

This project has began back in 2003 and it has taken the group that long to find and publish their discoveries. But they are still searching and they believe that these experiments and observations will give a huge push forward for science. Before the experiment it was believed that only 5-10% of human’s DNA was being used, little did anyone know that more than 80 % of DNA is being put to use.

Alas, this study is taking a bit too long, but with time it will help to discover and help and perhaps even prevent outbreaks of cancer and other life threatening diseases. It is most certainly a project worth working for.

Citation: Bits of Mystery DNA, Far From ‘Junk,’ Play Crucial Role

Biology 1101/7952 (Extra Credit)

Natasha Decena

Review of Article: ‘‘How to Control an Army of Zombies’’

Provided in the New York Times is an article, written by Carl Zimmer, titled “How to Control an Army of Zombies” that describes numerous parasites that create “zombifying” effects by altering neurotransmitters in the brains of their hosts. The new fascination is not that these zombie causing parasites exist, but rather the methods in which they are allowed to take control over the minds of their hosts. Most of the observation and evidence presented are based on research pertaining to invertebrates, like insect species, since they contain less neurons in their nervous systems as opposed to vertebrates which contain double to triple the amount, making it more difficult to detect parasitic indication in the nervous system. However, mentioned is of one mainly known parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, known to affect vertebrates, and describes how it goes about invading its host.

Carl Zimmer begins to describe a type of parasitic wasp that takes over a particular species of spider, originating in the rain forests of Costa Rica. What enables the parasite to target the Anelosimus octavius, the spider, is a specific set of genes that is shared between the two. These genes produce proteins that send signals to the brain of the spider to do whatever the parasitic wasp desires. Explained in this instance is that the spider spins a web entirely different to the one it should spin, best suiting for the wasp instead. Once the spider is finished with its duties towards the wasp, it dies, leaving the parasitic wasp to complete its life cycle. In the same context, Baculovirus, a virus deadly towards caterpillar species, also creates a manipulating effect on caterpillars, or insects of similar species; the virus also shares a gene with the species, known as egt. Egt is when there is an encryption to an enzyme that attacks a hormone in the caterpillar, says Dr. David P. Hughes of Penn State University. That signals the caterpillar to stop eating and climb to the tops of trees, where its body dissolves in liquid form, spreading the virus all over the leaves below, restarting the cycle of the Baculovirus once again.

Another parasitic invader included in the article is a thorny-headed worm that operates in the same manipulating conduct; however, this parasite requires that its life cycle be completed by occupying two hosts. The thorny-headed worm lives in microscopic shrimp like specimen called a gammarid. When detecting danger, the gammarid is predisposed to find safety in dark areas underwater; conversely, the worm dictates the gammarid to swim to the surface of the water, exposing it for the consumption of a bird, where it will complete its natural life.

Alternately, vertebrates are also susceptible to the dangers of parasitic invaders, particularly to one known as Toxoplasma gondii. Research made on Toxoplasma gondii has shown that it can reach to the brain cells of its host and form cysts, and is most commonly found it the intestines of an infected cat; it sheds through the feces of cats and can infect humans by handling the infected cat litter. Behavioral changes also occur as a symptom associated with the detection of the parasite. Doctor Ajai Vyas of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has found evidence done on a research of rats and has explained that the parasite increased testosterone levels in the rats, making them more attractive to female rats; thus, spreading the parasite upon mating. In humans, there is a high risk of the development of schizophrenia and changes in one’s personality.

Shelley Adamo of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, co-editor of the Journal of Experimental Biology says that information that has been provided from research is slowly unraveling the complicated biochemistry behind the ways of these parasites. Dr. Adamo also believes that the study from this research, as she refers to as “neuroparasitology”, can best benefit pharmaceutical companies in regards to helping them find new methods of creating effective medicine for mental illnesses.

In closing, it was described that the past decade has been an exciting time for scientists. New data that has been acquired further explains the way in which the parasitic species manages to completely reverse the life cycles of their host, catering to their own needs for survival. Some examples provided showed that these parasites share similar genes with their hosts and are able to send direct signals to the brain assigning tasks, while others manipulate the immune system to attack their prey’s natural defenses. Essentially, Dr. Adamo advocates that something can be learned from these toxic specimens; understanding the biochemistry used by the parasites can serve as an illustration to create improved and more effective medical treatment for mental diseases.

Attached below is the link to the NY Times article:
How to Control an Army of Zombies

christina bloomfield open lab this is my post.