Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the skin and bowels. The symptoms and possible complications of people with this disorder are:

• very salty-tasting skin

• persistent coughing, at times with phlegm

• frequent lung infections

• wheezing or shortness of breath

• poor growth or weight gain in spite of a good appetite

• frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movement

30,000 people in the United States have Cystic Fibrosis, and 70,00 people worldwide. Children and adolescents are most vulnerable to the disease. People that had cystic fibrosis used to die young, but now, with new treatments, they live into their 30's, 40's, and beyond, though the median age is 37.

At the molecular level, there is a mutated gene. For example, genes G542X, G551D, N1303K, W1282X, and ΔF508. The gene mutation ΔF508, the most common mutation involved in Cystic Fibrosis, is a deletion of three nucleotides.

Though there is no known cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a good nutrition and active lifestyle can help. Knowing this, I am sympathetic to people with Cystic Fibrosis. With the median mortality being 37 years old, that does not seem like a very long- or comfortable- lifetime. I hope that in the future, there is a cure for this dreadful genetic disorder.

Source:
Wikipedia.org

Social Studies Blog

This week, New Jersey Senate committee approved a bill to decrease taxes in small buisnesses. The bill, as stated by an online article on www.nj.com, "was an element of the economic stimulus package proposed in October by Gov. Jon Corzine". Simply put, it was based on an idea that Governor Jon Corzine stated in October. This gives the state of New Jersey more money for other causes that the government feels is important. The vote was unanimous, all fourteen representitives for New Jersey voting for this bill. This may help small buisnesses not go out of buisness, also helping the economy. I think this was a good decision, and more small buisnesses will probably succeed because of this new law.

"Senate committee approves bill to spur loans to small businesses, individuals"

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/senate_approves_push_for_econo.html

My Roller Coaster

Sachmokido

Roller Coaster Project

In science, we are making roller coasters out of paper towel tubes, milk cartons, and other common items. The requirements of the roller coaster are:

-it has to have at least three hills

-it has to have at least one other roller coaster feature

-it must be completed in the time given

-you must buy all materials using "Omega Money" that you earn from teachers

Our group's roller coaster, which we have decided to name "Sachmokido" for the two first letters of everyone's name in our group, unfortunately does not meet requirements. Though Sachmokido does not meet requirements, my group and I had fun assembling it. While this assignment was a lot of fun, it also related to Newton's laws. For example, the marble does not move until it is dropped into the start of our roller coaster, as stated in Newton's First law of motion. Newton's Second law is demonstrated by the marble picking up more speed at some points, and slowing down slightly at others. Our roller coaster relates to Newton's Third law because when the marble hits the tape we put at the end to stop it, we then tilt the roller coaster the opposite way, making the marble go in the opposite direction it was going before it hit the tape. I think this was a very fun and very educational assignment, and my group and I enjoyed it a lot. If only all assignments were this much fun...

LCD televisions vs. the enviroment

Yes, your LCD television is destroying the world around you. But the real question is, how? One reason is that producing plasma screen televisions releases a greenhouse gas called nitrogen trifluoride, which is about 17, 000 times more destructive than carbon dioxide. It is even more of a concern because the levels of this gas have not been measured, and it is not known wheather it is "captured on sight or broken down before release into the atmosphere". Nitrogen trifluoride is not covered by the Kyoto protocol, an enviromental treaty that was established at a United Nations conference. This is because in 1997, when the treaty was signed, nitrogen trifluoride was only produced in small amounts, because LCD televisions were not popular yet. As their populariy grew, and more needed to be manufactured, more harmful gasses were released into the air. It is estimated that 4,000 tons of nitrogen trifluoride was produced in 2008, and it is likely to double in 2009. What a cheerful way to kick off the new year!

In my opinion, nitrogen trifluoride should be included in a future treaty like the Kyoto protocol. If this is not put into effect, the enviroment will become even more damaged, and some animal species may become extinct.

Article by Yahoo! Green http://green.yahoo.com/blog/ecogeek/624/are-lcd-tvs-worse-than-coal-plants.html

Dissecting Owl Pellets

In science class, we are dissecting owl pellets from a barn owl. Owl pellets, although many people mistake them for feces or vomit, are regurgitated matter which an owl can't digest. This includes the bones and fur or feathers of the animals that the owl ingested. The prey of barn owls is mostly vertebrates, or a group of animals characterized by a segmented spinal column and a well differentiated head. Rodents seem to be the most popular kind of prey for a barn owl. Though barn owls aren't picky eaters-- they eat practically anything they can get to that's more than a beakful. So far, my partner and I have found two rodent skulls, a rib, and a bone we have not yet identified. I think that this assignment is educational and unique, and helps students both learn and better understand predators and prey.

Symbiosis

In science class, we are learning about symbiosis. Symbiosis is a close relationship between two organisms in which one organism lives near, on, or even inside another organism and in which at least one organism benefits. There are three kinds of symbiosis: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism. Mutualism is when both organisms involved in the relationship benefit. Parasitism is when one organism benefits, and the other is hurt. In a commensal relationship, one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Symbiosis is believed to be one factor that makes evolution possible. This is because it is said that evolution is based on co-operation, interaction, and mutual dependence. Also, it is typically only the symbiotic relationships that are lifelong and involve biochemical contact can be considered symbiotic. This means that typically only relationships that last for an organism's entire life that are involved with the process of chemicals through an organism can be considered symbiotic. Another fact is that at one point in its life, an animal is a host to one or more parasites, in a parasitic relationship.

I know that symbiosis is vital to the life of all organisms. I think that the most important role that symbiosis plays is aiding evolution. Without symbiosis, humans may have never existed. I also feel that although it is neccisary, parasitism is unfair to a parasite's host. A parasite can kill its host, although its relationship is neccisary, which is unfair to the host.

Sources:

Wikipedia.com-- symbiosis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiosis biochemical: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochemical